I've reviewed hundreds of resumes over the years, and one question keeps coming up: "How many bullet points per job on resume should I include?" This simple question has caused more stress for job seekers than almost any other resume element.
After working with countless professionals and seeing what actually gets results, I can tell you the answer isn't as straightforward as you might think. Your resume isn't just a list of duties – it's your personal story told through achievements.
Most hiring managers and resume experts agree on a sweet spot: 3-6 bullet points per job. This range gives you enough space to showcase your impact without overwhelming the reader. Resume experts at Kickresume confirm this consensus works because resumes should be only one page long.
Here's how I recommend breaking it down based on experience:
| Experience Level | Recommended Bullet Points | Why This Works |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (1-2 years) | 3 points | Focuses on key achievements without padding |
| Mid-Level (3-5 years) | 4-5 points | Shows growth and expanded responsibilities |
| Senior Level (5+ years) | 5-6 points | Demonstrates leadership and strategic impact |
David Fano, a recruiting expert, recommends keeping your total resume bullet points to 10-15 across all jobs. For your most recent role, aim for 3-5 bullet points, and for previous roles, stick to 2-3 bullet points.
Meanwhile, professional resume writer Ed Herzog suggests a maximum of 6 bullet points per job. He notes you can stretch beyond this only if you worked in a position for a really long time.
Let me share two approaches I've seen. Sarah, a marketing coordinator with 2 years of experience, used this format:
Marketing Coordinator | ABC Company | 2022-2024
Compare this to what doesn't work:
Marketing Coordinator | ABC Company | 2022-2024
The first example tells a story of impact. The second just lists tasks that anyone could do.
I learned this lesson early in my career. When I was helping my friend Mike revamp his resume, he had listed 12 bullet points for his sales role. Most were weak statements like "Answered customer phone calls" and "Updated client files."
We cut it down to 4 powerful points:
The result? Mike got three interviews in two weeks.
A former Google recruiter developed a "Levels System" after analyzing over 1,000 resumes. This system uses a 5-level checklist to improve bullet points and aims for the top 1% of resumes. The system focuses on three key questions:
This approach shows that quality matters more than quantity when writing resume bullet points.
Here's something most people miss: your bullet points should change for different jobs. I always tell job seekers to think of their resume as a highlight reel, not a complete documentary.
For a project management role, emphasize:
For a customer service position, focus on:
After seeing what works and what doesn't, here are my non-negotiable formatting rules:
Do This:
Avoid This:
From my experience reviewing resumes, these mistakes happen way too often:
Too Many Bullets: I once saw a resume with 15 bullet points for a 6-month internship. It looked desperate and unfocused.
All Duties, No Results: Listing what you did without showing the impact makes you forgettable.
Inconsistent Tenses: Mixing past and present tense shows poor attention to detail.
Generic Language: Using the same bullets for every application shows you're not serious about the specific role.
The best resume bullet points follow this formula: Action Verb + What You Did + Quantifiable Result
Instead of: "Managed social media accounts" Write: "Grew Instagram following from 500 to 5,000 followers in 6 months"
Instead of: "Improved customer service" Write: "Increased customer satisfaction scores from 3.2 to 4.8 out of 5"
Sometimes you need more than 6 bullet points. Career experts note that highly complex or senior roles may need up to 8 bullet points. I've seen this work for:
But even then, never go beyond 8 bullet points. Your resume should fit on 1-2 pages maximum.
The question "how many bullet points per job on resume" doesn't have a one-size-fits-all answer. But 3-6 well-crafted bullets will serve most job seekers well. Focus on impact over tasks, results over responsibilities.
Remember, hiring managers spend about 6 seconds scanning your resume initially. Make those bullet points count by showing clear value and measurable achievements.
Your resume should tell the story of someone who gets results, not someone who just shows up to work. Every bullet point should make the reader think, "I need this person on my team."