Determining the number of bullet points per job is more of an Art than a Science
The number of bullet points under each of the jobs listed on your Resume plays a crucial role in determining how successful you are in the job application process. It determines how much information about each experience you will include and how quickly a reader will be able to grasp the essentials of your qualifications. However, there's no one-size-fits-all solution for bullet point quantity – it depends on the kind of role you're applying for and the number of jobs currently available in that field.
In this article, we'll explain why different numbers of bullets per job can make sense depending on where you're applying and what kind of experience you have. Read on and start building your Resume with the optimal number of bullet points.
The number of bullet points per job on your Resume depends on the field that you're in. Niche areas = less bullet points
If you have experience in a specialized field like Architecture where there are generally very few jobs available and the competition is fierce, write about 4-5 detailed bullet points per job to make your experiences and skill sets stand out. Ensure that every bullet point touches on specific traits being sought after by the prospective employer (pick these out from the job posting).
This may seem counter-intuitive, but if you are applying to targeted roles within a niche area, less bullet points per job will help you stand out from other candidates who may have more years of experience, as long as all 5 bullet points hit as many of the job requirements of your prospective employer as possible.
In addition to making sure that each bullet point stands out individually (by using active verbs to target specific traits being sought after by prospective employers), think about how these bullets will work together as part of one cohesive statement about who you are as an employee:
If you're applying to a broad field or many roles, write a Resume with many bullet points per job.
An example of a broad field is something like Business Administration or Customer Service – these are functions of almost any industry. In this situation, use a larger number of bullet points (up to 7-8 detailed bullet points per job) to show the skills and expertise you have gained from each of your previous positions or any other relevant information from your experience that might be useful for the hiring manager or recruiter reading through your Resume. Each bullet point should touch on a different trait or skill set.
For example, if you have a lot of experience in Hospitality and Food Service, write a Resume with about 7-8 bullet points per job. Generally speaking, jobs in broader fields call for a wider variety of duties and associated traits. If you have little to no experience in the industry, try to reference at least 2 bullet points per job.
If there are more than 8 bullets per job on your Resume, it looks like too much information for the reader to take in at once--and it could be distracting from what matters most: your qualifications for the position!
No such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution. Each job application deserves an individualized Resume.
Although we generally break it down into the formula of using less bullet points as the field you’re submitting a job application for becomes more specific/niche, other factors can come into play: degree of managerial responsibilities, whether it’s an internal or external job posting (does the review committee already know you personally?), whether the prospective employer uses ATS scanning software, the position of the hiring manager (is he/she part of HR, or directly involved in the hiring process), etc.
If you are unsure whether your Resume is going to fare well against the competition for a specific job or type of job, reach out to us for a free Resume Review! Jonathanseah.87@gmail.com
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