How Many Bullet Points Per Job Should Be Included On A Resume?
By Resume,
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Learning how many bullet points per job should be included on a resume is extremely helpful. Not only do you want to ensure that you add enough info about a previous job, but those bullet points should include meaningful content. You have a limit, so making the most out of that free space can make a huge difference. In this article we will help you narrow down the number of bullet points you should use, but also how you can make the most out of that space.

How Many Bullet Points Per Job Should Be Included On A Resume?

The short answer is anywhere from 3 to 6 bullet points. Of course, if you only have a few companies shown in the resume, you can go up to 8-9 bullet points for each one of them. Making sure you show only meaningful info and content is exactly what you need to focus on. Sharing info that doesn’t show your achievements or highlights is a missed opportunity, so keep that in mind.

We also recommend you make each bullet point roughly 1-2 lines each. The reason you want that is because not only can you share enough info, it also helps deliver a proper insight into the matter. You can’t list achievements in just a single word, so using more than one line is fine. 

A good trick is to use more bullet points for the relevant, most recent experience. You want to show what you learned recently, your achievements and other things that made this workplace meaningful. Having all of that info under the belt is a huge advantage and certainly one of those things to focus on as much as possible. Stick to 4-5 bullet points for older roles, but you can add more bullet points for the newer roles. 

Should you add bullet points for a job you had over a decade ago?

That depends on the niche, how many workplaces you have had since then, but also how meaningful the job was to your specific career. Generally, you can omit a job you had 10 to 15 years ago or more than that. However, if you want to add it, then it’s fine. You should however include 1 or 2 bullet points at most. Not only will it allow you to showcase achievements, but you’re leaving enough space for other, more recent workplaces to shine.

5 Tips For Creating Powerful Bullet Points On Your Resume

  • A good rule of thumb is to always maintain specificity when it comes to the workplace. Showcase things that stood out during your tenure at that company. We believe that creating stellar bullet points for a resume can help immensely, and it can provide an exceptional result.
  • Ideally, you want to have the first bullet point as the most meaningful piece of information. Here you can showcase what you achieved at that workplace and how important it was for you. 
  • Specificity is key because you don’t have a lot of space to work with. Making sure that the information is short and to the point is certainly a crucial aspect to focus on in a situation like this. Keep it short and sweet, but also specific. That’s how you will make the most out of job bullet points in your resume.
  • A good rule of thumb is to use interesting action verbs. Employers want to see if you took action, so things like acquired, coordinated, launched, orchestrated, worked on, all of these are very appealing to them. Adding such words within your bullet points can make a difference, so keep that in mind.
  • Always try to keep the bullet points simple. That means pushing away things like hyphens, squares, circles is a good idea, although you can use them sparingly if necessary.

How Long Should Resume Bullet Points Be?

It’s very hard to outline a specific number since it depends on many factors. But in general, you don’t want to have very long bullet points. Not only are they very hard to read, but they can detract the reader from the overall value you want to share. If you keep these bullet points short and sweet, then you’ll have the best results.

When it comes to length, we recommend keeping these bullet points around a line or two. If you want to add more text than that, maybe consider using another bullet point. Or maybe you can use the alternative, which in this case would mean condensing information. It can work extremely well, just make sure you amend everything accordingly. 

Is It Okay To Have Sub-Bullets In A Resume?

Sub-bullet points can sometimes be a necessity, but that’s a rare situation. Generally, you just want to stick to bullet points and nothing more than that. However, if there are special circumstances where you need to mention certifications, certain awards, etc, then these things are warranted. But in general, you will rarely need to worry about including sub-bullets into the resume. You want to keep it very easy to read, so adding too many bullet points can be an issue. 

How Many Accomplishments Should Be Included On A Resume?

When you write the number of achievements and accomplishments you had, it’s a very good idea to keep it short. Listing up to 3 accomplishments is ideal, and make sure that you pick those that are extremely important for your niche/industry. 

Listing the wrong accomplishments that lack any value or meaning can be a disadvantage. That’s the reason why you need to pay attention and stick only with the most relevant pieces of information. You may think that adding as many achievements as possible is a great thing, but that’s not the case. It can easily backfire, so listing only a few, yet very important accomplishments is the right way to go.

How Many Job Descriptions Should Be Included On A Resume?

The issue that most people face is they don’t know how many job descriptions they should include on the resume. You may feel inclined to add all the info, but for many employers that can lead to a lot of clutter and not a lot of meaning. That’s why people with a lengthier job record can omit less meaningful workplaces they had in the past.

Sticking to 5-7 bullet points is the best idea here, because it will help showcase meaningful workplaces for your industry. On top of that, you can ensure the resume looks appealing by sticking to job info pertaining to your industry. It’s not an easy thing to do, but the results can be second to none if you manage everything correctly. You can add volunteering/internship roles as well, if you don’t have a lengthy job record or if they are not meaningful for that specific workplace.

How Much Should You Write About Each Job On A Resume?

Sticking with up to 6 bullet points per role is more than ok. We recommend bullet points over text because it’s easier to skin through and capture all the info. If you go for a large block of text, that’s hard to read and some HR people might even skip over that. Which is why it’s a great idea to stick with bullet points, because it’s much better and certainly more specific.

Conclusion

It’s never easy to find the right number of bullet points you could add to your resume. As always, it’s crucial to focus on quality and not quantity. The same thing is valid in regards to achievements. Listing only meaningful, relevant information for the workplace you are applying to is what will help your resume stand out. If you stick with a short number of bullet points that are filled with comprehensive info, then that’s going to help your resume stand out!

Piotr Gacon
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