How Paper Length Correlates to Paper Depth

It’s one of the greatest miscommunications in education, business, and writing in general: paper length doesn’t just mean “paper length.”

Instead, the length of the paper, whether it’s measured by words or pages, indicates how deeply the boss/teacher/publication wants the writer to go into the subject matter.

Resumes

Let’s start with one of the worst offenders: the resume writer. Unless specific instructions differ, a resume, particularly for an entry-level position, is one page. (This is different from a CV, which we’ll discuss next time.)

First, “one page” is not something to mess with. It’s not “one page” if the text is tiny (smaller than TNR 12 pt.) or the margins are narrow (less than 1” all around).  You’re also not supposed to cheat with excessive abbreviations or links to online content that hasn’t been requested.

Resume one-page padding is also taboo. No repetition, big fonts, graphics, underlines, or the like are acceptable. If your information fills half the page, that’s what you go with.

Information Is Counted, Not Just Words

All of this makes sense if you remember that it’s not just about keeping the resume to one page but also about offering one page’s worth of information. A resume is not a biography or an admissions essay. It’s an almost brutal paring down of what you can do for whoever’s hiring.

The one-page resume is supposed to cover:

• Contact Information: This one should be easy, with your first and last name, phone number, and professional email. After that, only add a link to your social media, including your LinkedIn profile, if it’s appropriate for the position. If you’re applying to be Social Media Director, your TikTok is relevant. If it’s for managing mini-golf, it’s probably not.
• Professional Summary: This includes professional experience, top skills, and what you’re looking for. It’s no place for dreams, personal inspiration, the invoking of deities, or name dropping.
• Employment History: Your jobs so far (Teenagers, do not include babysitting; older folks, do not include your burger flipping unless it’s relevant.) are listed in reverse chronological order. You name the company, the dates you worked there, and (Here’s the tricky part.) bullet points of what you did there, with the ultimate goal of showing what you can do, not what you accomplished. Things you did at one job should not be mentioned again under other jobs. Details and explanations should be saved for the interview.
• Skills: Only mention those relevant to the job. Do not mention Microsoft Word if you’re not applying to something clerical or your ability to touch your nose with your tongue for any reason at all.
• Education: List your degrees, schools attended, and years of attendance. Don’t list great courses you took, and if they want your GPA, they’ll ask for your transcripts.
• Offer references upon request.

And that’s it. One page. If you’ve had twenty jobs, don’t list those that don’t relate to the position you’re applying for. If you speak a “little” Spanish, no one cares except the waiter.

Essays

The page limit (with regular font and margins) indicates how far into the subject matter the instructor wants you to go.

Let’s say the assignment is a comparison/contrast paper of the US vs. UK judicial system. Paper Assignment A is three pages, and Paper Assignment B is thirty pages.

A: Having three pages to work with means three or four well-made points supported with evidence , examples, and explanation. You’ll have room for a little nuance, but not much. You want to hit the major issues and do not need to make some sort of complex argument about abilities and scope.

So, for contrast, you could discuss the US “court attire” standards of a suit vs. the UK wearing of robes and wigs and the US use of specific courts for various types of litigation vs. the UK tribunal system. For comparison (similarities), you might discuss that in both systems, the burden of proof is on the prosecution in criminal cases, and witnesses are sworn in before giving testimony.

And there: you’ve made firm, demonstrable points and backed them up. You have a little room for an observation or two, perhaps pointing out that the two systems are much more alike than different.

B. Having thirty pages to work with means you’re supposed to come up with a much more nuanced argument that digs well below the surface. You’re expected to go into the details of the differences and similarities and make personal commentary on them (supported by evidence) that shows you know what you’re talking about. You even have room for a case study or two.

Moreover, at thirty pages, you’re expected not to waste the reader’s time with obvious, self-evident points. You’re to have an overall argument that holds the length together, such as that the presence of Christianity is evident in both but in different ways that hold to some sort of pattern or conclusion about the systems in general.

Articles and Reports

What I said about essays is also true about articles and reports. The major difference is that instructors are typically tolerant of essays that go a little long. For articles headed to the boss or publication, being over can be even worse than being under, both in length and in depth. When the manager asks for a quick email, skip the forty-point breakdown of a labor process.

So, the next time you’re told to write 2,000 words, think about the length in terms of content. How far into the subject matter do 2,000 words let you dive?

Julia H.