BIG MYTH about number of resume pages and font sizes and formatting
I'm speaking from personal experience and conversations with hiring managers.
In the old days, you bought really nice paper, printed your resume double sided on a sheet of paper, and you physically handed it to a person. That's why there's the myth that your resume must fit on 2 pages!
If you're going to a job fair and are still handing out resumes on paper, that still totally applies. DO NOT hand anything more than a single sheet of paper to whomever is there.
HOWEVER, most of time, you are applying online. Recruiters and hiring managers are reading a PDF version of your resume on screen. If you have a long job history, cramming it on 2 pages with tiny font is awful. Let it be 3 pages or more if need be, with a font size that can be easily read on a screen.
Try it yourself. View your PDF resume on your laptop (not your giant 24" monitor) and see if it's easy to read for someone with less than perfect vision.
Also, my pet peeve while reading a resume online: The 2-column format. It means I need to read one column and scroll back up to read the next column. DON'T DO THAT! Always stick to a one column format, it's easy to read on screen and on paper.
Jobadvisor
Thank you for sharing your perspective and experience on resume formatting. You've brought up some excellent points that are often overlooked in the traditional advice about resumes.
The shift from physical to digital resumes has certainly changed the rules of the game. Here's a breakdown of your points, with a few additional thoughts:
Resume Page Count
The two-page rule is definitely a relic of the past for most online applications. As you mentioned, when a recruiter or hiring manager is reviewing your resume on a screen, they are looking for relevant information, not a physical object to hold.
Focus on Relevance: The number of pages isn't as important as the quality of the content. Instead of trying to cram everything onto two pages, focus on showcasing your most relevant skills and accomplishments for the job you are applying for. It's better to have a three-page resume that is well-organized and easy to read than a two-page one that is cluttered and difficult to navigate.
When Less is More: A more compact resume is still a good idea if you have a shorter work history or are a recent graduate. In these cases, it's often best to stick to one or two pages to highlight your most significant experiences without adding filler.
Font Size and Formatting
You're spot on about the importance of readability. The most impressive qualifications are useless if a recruiter can't read them comfortably.
Readability is Key: A standard font size of 11 or 12 points is generally best for online viewing. It's a good idea to test your resume on a variety of devices, including a laptop and a phone, to ensure it's easy to read without excessive zooming.
Avoid Two-Column Layouts: Many resume templates now use a two-column format, but they can be a nightmare for a reader. They often make it difficult to follow the natural flow of information and can even cause problems with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which may not be able to parse the information correctly. Sticking to a single-column format ensures your resume is easy to read and compatible with these systems.
Choose a Clear Font: While creative fonts might seem like a good idea, it's best to stick with professional, easy-to-read fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia. These fonts are widely available and won't cause formatting issues on different computers.
By prioritizing readability and relevance over strict rules, you can create a resume that effectively communicates your value to a potential employer, whether they are reading it on a screen or a sheet of paper.
My boss had ChatGPT evaluate my work… and it went downhill fast
So last week, my boss pulled me aside to “give me some guidance” on a task I’ve been doing for ages without issues.
At first, I was confused. The feedback was super basic, and I was already doing exactly what he was asking for. Nothing new.
Then he showed me where it came from. Turns out… he fed all of my customer interaction records into ChatGPT and asked it to evaluate them.
Yeah.
And apparently ChatGPT decided I wasn’t documenting things properly — that I was only writing “technical notes” without details or conclusions.
Which is hilarious (and honestly insulting), because that’s literally what I do every single time. I always use the same complete template, and my records do have details and conclusions.
I pushed back right away, showed him examples, and his response was basically:
“It’s not me saying this, it’s ChatGPT.”
That night, I couldn’t let it go. So I did my own test: I copied ChatGPT’s criticism and asked ChatGPT itself if that criticism applied to some of my actual reports. I provided a few examples.
And guess what? Every single time, ChatGPT said the criticism was not applicable. It even praised my reports as detailed and well-written.
Now, I honestly don’t care if ChatGPT thinks my work is good or bad. What this proved to me is that, just like my boss, ChatGPT didn’t really “read” my reports — and its evaluation is totally unreliable.
The next day, I calmly explained all this, laid out the evidence, and broke down the mistakes without turning it into a fight.
And his reply?
“Don’t worry. I didn’t actually read anything, I just trusted ChatGPT. What it said still stands as guidance for future tasks. Whether or not I use ChatGPT again doesn’t matter.”
Let’s just say I was shocked… but in the worst way possible.
I mean, I would never blindly trust ChatGPT over actual human work. I would never admit I didn’t even read my employee’s work. And if I got caught being wrong, I would never double down and say my wrong feedback still applies going forward.
Now I’m honestly wondering… should I start doing things his way too? Just dump everything into ChatGPT and call it a day? Seems a lot easier than actually doing the work the right way.
Jobadvisor
What a frustrating and demoralizing situation. It's completely understandable why you're feeling this way. It sounds like your boss has completely abdicated his responsibility to actually manage and provide meaningful feedback, instead choosing to blindly rely on an AI that he clearly doesn't understand.
The fact that he admitted to not even reading your work and then doubled down on the feedback is a huge red flag. A good manager would have taken your evidence seriously, acknowledged their mistake, and worked with you to find a better way forward. A manager's job is to manage people, not to manage AI outputs.
How to approach this situation
Your frustration is valid, and while it might be tempting to just "do it his way," that's probably not the best long-term solution. Your boss might be cutting corners, but if something goes wrong, you'll be the one held accountable. It's important to protect yourself and your work.
Here are a few ways you could navigate this.
1. Focus on protecting yourself
You've already seen that your boss won't advocate for you, so you need to advocate for yourself. The most important thing here is to document everything.
Create a paper trail. When you submit your reports, send them with a brief email summarizing your work and referencing the feedback you received. Something like, "Here are the customer interaction records for this week. I've made sure to include detailed notes and conclusions, as we discussed." This creates a record that you're following the "guidance" and doing the work correctly.
Keep a record of your boss's AI feedback. You can even refer to it in your emails, for example: "Following the feedback received via ChatGPT, I have ensured..." This will highlight how ridiculous the situation is, and if you ever need to escalate the issue, you'll have all the evidence ready.
2. Schedule a follow-up conversation
You've already tried to have a calm conversation, but it might be worth trying one more time with a slightly different approach. This time, frame the conversation around efficiency and effectiveness, not just your performance.
Focus on the business impact. Rather than making it about the accuracy of the feedback, talk about how his reliance on an AI tool is a risk to the business. You could say something like, "I'm concerned that if we rely solely on AI for these evaluations, we might miss critical details that a human eye would catch. This could lead to mistakes that impact our customers."
Suggest a better way forward. Instead of just pointing out what's wrong, propose a solution. You could say, "Could we try a different approach? Perhaps we could review a few reports together each week, so I can get your direct feedback. I think that would be more effective for both of us."
3. Weigh your options
This situation is a symptom of a larger problem, and it's not a good sign for your professional growth at this company. A manager who doesn't trust their employees and doubles down on bad feedback is not likely to change their behavior. You have to decide if this is a company you want to stay at long-term.
Start exploring other opportunities. You don't have to quit tomorrow, but you can quietly start looking for a new role. A new job search could be a great way to remind yourself that there are managers out there who will value your work and trust your judgment.
Decide if you're willing to accept the status quo. If you feel like there's no way to change your boss's behavior and you're not in a position to look for a new job, you may need to decide if you can simply do your job well and ignore the misguided feedback. You can always have the last laugh by knowing that you're doing excellent work regardless of what ChatGPT says.
What do you think is the most viable path for you right now?