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A Two-Page (or More) Resume is Ok! But Only in These Cases

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One of the most persistent pieces of job-search advice floating around concerns resume length: They should be one page.

Resumes are skimmed quickly, this idea goes, so you don’t want to turn off hiring managers or human resources (or the system) with too much information – or give the impression that you’re not aware of this “basic rule.”

But in fact, this well-worn piece of advice is simply incorrect for a lot of job-seekers.

Let’s say it clearly: a two-page resume is perfectly acceptable. In fact, it’s desirable for many job seekers!

One-page resumes are for folks in certain categories, such as entry-level job seekers, for example. One-pagers are also a good choice for professionals who have worked in the same position or company for many years, who can effectively show their experience and qualifications in that single page.

People who are making a  career change can also use a single page resume, because it may cover the information relevant to the sought-after career sufficiently. If you’re pivoting, you want to zero in on the most relevant information to help hiring managers quickly see why they should open the door for you.

In all these cases, a resume longer than one page might look padded – and that’s one thing that does turn off hiring managers and HR professionals. A resume should never read (or look) as if you’re laboring to fill up space.

Who Should Have a Two-Page (or Longer) Resume?

So what  categories of job seekers  should have a two-page resume? Everyone else! The following groups find a two-page (or more) resume especially helpful.

People with 10 or more years of experience.

If you’ve been working for 10 years or more, you likely need a two-page resume to highlight your achievements and experience, especially if you have a record of promotions and movement among companies.

Senior-level professionals.

If you’re seeking a senior level position, you need to highlight a series of quantifiable accomplishments, along with a record of promotions, significant experience, and (likely) multiple employers.

People in positions requiring extensive certification.

Job-seekers in academia, engineering, information technology, and similar occupations often need to show extensive professional qualifications, including advanced degrees, certifications, technical skills, and publications.

People seeking government positions.

Most government jobs require job-seekers to complete specific applications that ask for extensive detail about past jobs. The resulting resumes are often longer than two pages.

Benefits of a Two-Page Resume

Two-page resumes offer very specific benefits to contemporary job seekers as well.

Make it through the ATS.

First, a longer resume allows you to craft a resume that will successfully make it through the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). ATS are used by the vast majority of companies. They are designed to choose only those that most closely match the job description and weed out the rest.

Your resume will only be seen by a human if it successfully makes it through the ATS scan. As a result, part of your goal needs to be ensuring that your resume meets ATS requirements.

What are those requirements? First, the ATS scans to ensure that resumes  match the keywords  in the job description. You must match the keywords to make it through successfully.

Second, they also scan for the  frequency  of keywords. As a result, successful applicants need to ensure both the existence of keywords and sufficient frequency throughout the resume. Frankly, ensuring keyword frequency without monotony may be hard to do without two (or more) pages.

Offer more in-depth information.

Additionally, longer resumes allow you to present your achievements and qualifications in a winning light. You should always highlight your most significant quantifiable achievements toward the top of a resume in a way that catches reviewer attention.

Remember as well that job seekers with a longer resume can include sections many employers find helpful in reviewing resumes of more advanced professionals, such as an executive summary and list of core competencies.

Improve your resume’s formatting.

Finally, a longer resume allows you to pay attention to readability and presentation. Some job seekers resort to small type and meager margins to make a resume fit in one page.

But small type and narrow margins are  not  good for readability and presentation. In fact, they make resumes hard to read. Many hiring managers may shrink from reading teeny-tiny type all, even if the resume has made it through the ATS.

Human personnel spend just a few seconds skimming resumes. Successful resumes need to incorporate that fact, and be very easy to skim. Easy-to-read type and reasonable margins contribute to readability, as do bullet points and lists.

Specifically, use at least an 11-point typeface in a standard business typeface, such as Arial or Calibri. Each margin should be at least one inch.

When you’re using a two-page resume, part of the presentation should consider the second page, too. Be sure to fill at least one-third of the second page. Why? Because if the second page covers less than that, it may strike a reviewer as a tacked-on afterthought. In fact, if it fills just a few lines on the second page, it may look like a mistake. Make sure it neither looks nor reads that way!

What If Your Resume Is More Than Two Pages?

What if you’re aiming for a two-page resume and it’s running three pages or longer? You’ll need to cut it down. Part of developing a great resume lies in the revision!

Remember, the most important goal of a resume is obtaining an interview, because an interview can actually get you the job. The most important goal-contributing part of a resume is thus the quantifiable achievements, because they tell a hiring manager “this is what I could do if you hired me.”

When you revise, focus on the goal of obtaining an interview. Any information that doesn’t contribute is secondary, and can be pared down. If your resume lists a number of early jobs that don’t contribute to your prospective role, for example, they can be streamlined.

Two-page resumes allow job seekers to present their qualifications, ensure readability, and successfully navigate the ATS. They are especially helpful to those with a decade or more of experience, prospective senior managers, and those in highly specialized fields.

Get an expert to improve your resume! Find the right Resume Writer for your needs today.

Rita Williams

Rita Williams is a freelance writer on a wide range of topics, including careers, human resources trends and personal finance. She works with both job-seekers and companies to educate and inform them about best practices – and shows humor and understanding while doing it.

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How Long Should a Resume Be in 2024 [For Any Profession]

You’ve probably heard time and time again that a resume should be strictly one page. 

What if you have a TON of experience, though? What if you just can’t fit all the cool stuff you’ve done on a single page?

With that comes the dilemma:

How long should a resume be? 

Can you exceed the strict one-pager?

A simple Google search will reveal conflicting opinions. 

Some career experts emphasize time and time again to stick to the golden one-page rule. Others suggest this practice is preferred, but not mandatory. 

So, which one is it?

Here’s the thing - there’s no magic one-size-fits-all rule on how long should your resume be. It really depends on several factors.

Luckily, we’re here to help set the record straight. 

• How long should your resume be?
• What’s the ideal length for your resume depending on your experience level
• How to fit your resume on one page
• How long should a CV be

How Long Should a Resume Be

Short answer: it depends, but in most cases, you should stick to the one-pager.

The long answer?

Well, here’s the thing. There’s a very good chance that you don't actually need to get past one page.

Unless you have 20+ years of experience, a single page should be more than enough. Your resume should be a summary of your most relevant, most recent work experience.

It’s not supposed to be a detailed account of everything you’ve ever done in your life.

For a mid-level professional, here’s what you’d add to your resume (which would result in 1-page MAX):

• Contact information section
• 2-3 work experience entries
• 1 or 2 education entries
• Skills section
• Languages section

Now, if we turn this into a real-life resume, you’ll see that it’s going to be hard to go past one page.

If you do have a decade’s worth of work experience, though, or if you’re a senior executive, you can actually break this rule and go for 2.

Make sure to ask yourself, though, “am I aiming for quality over quantity? Are all the work experience entries I’ve mentioned relevant?”

Now, you might be thinking, “do I ever go beyond 2 pages?”

Well, you can potentially go for 3, but that’s only if you’re…

• A senior-ranking executive with a remarkable track record.
• Applying for a federal job that requests more information contrary to a civilian application.
• Have a long, lengthy background and you need to hand over case studies, testimonials, project highlights.

Never write above three, though. If Elon Musk's experience can fit on one page , so can yours. 

How far back should a resume go?

Your resume shouldn’t go back further than a maximum of 10 to 15 years . 

You want to keep the information on your resume relevant to the job you are applying for.

The HR Department is most likely not interested in what you were doing 20 years ago. Even if it’s very impressive, chances are, you've done much more significant things in your past 3 positions than whatever you did 18 years ago. 

• Not going back very far also sidesteps age discrimination. If your resume dates back more than 15 years, the HR department might guess your age. And if it’s a young applicant they’re looking for, your resume can be rejected right away.

Are there times you need to absolutely include more than 10-15 years ' worth of work experience in your resume ? 

Yes, occasionally.  

More specifically, you would want to include dated experiences if:

• You are applying for a job in a field you used to work for more than 15 years ago and you don’t have the recent professional experience to account for. In that case, old relevant experience is better than no experience.
• Your dated experience is actually of extremely high importance. Maybe you used to be president of the United States or CEO of Coca-Cola. You can choose to use that to your advantage since it speaks to your qualifications and prestige, even if it’s old news.

How long should a student resume be? 

If you’re a student, you should never, ever, go past the one-page limit. You barely have any work experience, so whatever information you’re adding that goes past one-page, it’s probably not that relevant.

If you’re having difficulty fitting everything into one page, look at every point in your resume critically.

Do you really need to let your prospective employer know about every single one of your volunteering experiences and extracurriculars, or make your summer lifeguard job occupy one-third of your resume?

The answer is no, not really.

Instead, focus on your most impressive qualifications, best academic achievements, and fields of study relevant to the job you are applying for, and you’ll find out you probably don’t even need a full page.

Want to learn more about how to write the perfect student resume ? Check out our complete guide with samples & tips!

Resume Length for Your Experience Level 

Still uncertain about how long your resume should be? Check out our cheatsheet to find out. 

The table below displays the recommended length of your resume, based on your years of experience.  

How to Fit a Resume on One Single Page 

Let’s get real. 

An entry-level applicant can insert all relevant information under one page because he/she doesn’t have much relevant experience. The alternative is appearing like they’re not making a serious enough effort to write a concise application. 

For folks with more experience, however, this can be a bit trickier.

Here are some tips on how to turn your resume into a concise one-pager:

• Use an online resume builder. Pick a free template resume that is optimized for length and let it do all of the work for you. You don’t need to mess around with the font and formatting: the resume builder will fit everything in one page for you.
• Focus on relevant information. Yes, this again. It’s crucial you carefully go through the job description and the main skills your employers are searching for. If you are applying for a job as a software engineer, don’t mention your internship as a social media manager. Cut your “yoga” from your list of interests. If the employer is not looking for it, you don’t need to have it in your resume.
• Achievements over responsibilities. Don’t list everything you were responsible for. That will not only prolong your resume and bore the employer, but won’t make you stand out. Your prospective employer knows what your main responsibilities were if you list “Sales manager” on your resume. They are the same as 50 other applicants that applied with the same work experience. Focus on tangible performance indicators instead. Instead of saying “did sales at X,” go for “Hit and exceeded department KPIs by 20-30% for 5 months in a row.”
• Customize spacing. You can always make room for more entries if you reduce the document margins space. You can, for example, customize the margins to 0.5” instead of the regular 2.5”. You can also mess around with the space between bullet points and sections.
• Smaller fonts . A 12pt font might have been the norm for university papers, but that doesn’t mean you have to follow it for your resume. Try out an 11 or 11.5 font to win some more room. Make sure everything is readable without zooming in, though!
• Bullet points. Instead of listing job or education descriptions as paragraphs, use bullet points instead. Keep your sentences short and to the point.
• Remove unnecessary headers. Contact information or the resume summary will do just fine without their own personalized headers.
• Don’t include your high school. Unless you used to study in a very specialized high school, or your employer went to the same high school as you, exclude it. It’s hardly ever relevant to the job you’re applying for.
• Exclude repeated bullets. If you undertook similar responsibilities in more than one company, don’t repeat the same job description. No need for the hiring manager to read how you “analyzed industry trends” three different times.
• Cut your resume summary short. Keep in mind that a resume summary is supposed to wrap up your most impressive qualities for the job. It doesn’t need a 6 line introduction and 10 bullet points. Cut it down to three text lines. For a better understanding of how to properly write your resume summary, check out this guide.

How Long Should a CV Be? 

We’re going to say it before you ask:

Yes, in the USA, a CV is different from a resume.

A resume is customized to each individual job you are applying to and is strictly one page.

A CV, on the other hand, covers the in-depths of your career and academic journey. It is usually used in Academia. 

Because the goal and nature of a CV are different than that of a resume, you shouldn’t necessarily strive for the shortest pitch possible.

Most recruiters agree that the average golden length for a CV is two or three pages . 

However, depending on your years of experience, accomplishments , training, and education, it can go up to eight pages .

Not sure if you need a CV or a resume ? Check out our guide that explains the difference between the two.

Key Takeaways

Now, let’s go through everything we’ve learned:

• For most candidates, a resume should be only one page . Be brief and concise with anything you write on your resume. Customize your resume for the job you’re applying for and include only relevant experience. If you’ve done everything right, you shouldn’t get past one page.
• If you have 10-15+ years of experience, it’s okay to write a 2-page resume as long as all the information presented is relevant to the job.
• You can play around with the spacing, margins, and format of the resume to make all your information fit on one page. If you want the easy way out, use a resume builder .
• For Americans, a CV is different from a resume. It is primarily used in Academia and serves as an academic and experience diary. Since it’s not a short pitch, the length of a CV is usually 2-3 pages but can go up to 8 pages depending on your background.

Suggested reading:

• How to Pick the Best Resume Format [+Examples]
• 150+ Must-Have Skills for Any Resume [With Tips + Tricks]
• 340+ Resume Action Verbs And Power Words [Complete list]

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Resume Length: Should Your Resume Be One Page?

Filter Your Job Details

Declutter your resume, remember your audience, condense your text further, tighten up format.

When writing your resume, one of the top questions on your mind is probably what length it should it be. But if you try to find the answer by consulting the many resume advice books and articles out there, you may feel a bit confused. Some people will suggest a resume that is a maximum of one page, and other sources will say that is too short.

The good news is that when it comes to resume length, there’s actually a pretty wide margin of success. For the vast majority of job seekers, a resume should be between the better part of one page and three full pages. Within that range, the best resume length will really depend on your particular job goals and experience.

You don’t need to think of resume length as a rigorous rule to follow. Instead, it’s the natural result of your following a precise process designed to filter out all but your most relevant details, with two key steps:

Step 1. Brainstorm all career details you’re proud of, and gather them into a single long document. You can name this document something like “Master Career Document.”

Step 2. Any time you’re drafting a new resume, save a copy of your master document. Then review all the information one item at a time, always asking yourself if it is relevant to your job search. If not, delete that item.

For the purposes of your resume, it doesn’t matter how recent or lengthy (or even how objectively impressive) any given career experience was. If the experience doesn’t have much relevance to your current job goals, it doesn’t need much detail at all on your resume. Strictly speaking, the only information you’re required to give on your resume is your name, contact information, and basic outline of recent work history. Everything else is optional and should depend on this “relevance filter.”

This process of filtering information has a surprising resemblance to the home decluttering method championed by expert organizer Marie Kondo. She recommends clearing your living space of clutter by holding one object at a time in your hands, asking yourself if it sparks joy — and tossing out anything that doesn’t. For your resume, the equivalent question could be: “Does this spark relevance?” In other words, does the detail describe an activity you’ve done that’s similar to the activities you’ll be doing in your next job?

Kondo’s approach resonates with resume variability because two different people can follow the exact same procedure yet arrive at completely different results. It’s acceptable if a resume reaches two pages, or even three, as long as all the information is truly relevant to the person’s job search.

Resumes are flexible, taking whatever shape and structure is needed to serve their sole purpose: getting you interviews for jobs you want.

Don’t let anyone tell you your resume is wrong because it’s a certain number of pages. The only way a resume is ever wrong is if it’s not getting you interviews. And that happens primarily because the resume is not providing or focusing on qualifications that matter to a hiring manager. For this reason, avoid adding irrelevant details to your resume just to reach a certain length, and never take out crucial details just to get it down to a number of pages. Give the hiring manager the information they need to make an informed call about your candidacy, and you’ll maximize the chances that your resume gets you traction in your job search.

If after completing the filtering process your resume is well above three pages (or just seems too long), some additional pruning may be in order. Here are three types of relevant information that you may safely take out:

• Early career details. All other things being equal, your older work experience is less relevant than your newer roles, so try condensing those early positions first.
• Standard job duties. Under any given job description, your standard duties are less important than your results and achievements. Try paring back your task-based information for a more concise look.
• Repetitive details. When you have a long list of similar items that are all equally relevant to your goals, it’s often a good idea to select just a few of them to highlight on your resume. A common example of this is presentations. If you’ve given a lot of talks and seminars, consider removing all but the most important ones and naming the section “Select Presentations.”

If you’re still looking for ways to shorten the look of your document (or if your text runs just a couple lines over the last full page), consider adjusting these formatting areas:

• Font style . Some fonts occupy more space on the page. If you’re looking for a font style that takes up less space, try Arial Narrow. It can tighten up the overall format while retaining a clean, professional look.
• Font size. Many assume that their name and section headers need to be a large font size on their resume. But if you’re already setting off those elements with different formatting (such as bold, italic, or all caps), they don’t need to be much larger than the body text.
• Headers and footers. These are optional, and can add unnecessary space at the top and bottom of the page. Consider taking them out entirely.
• Character spacing. You’ll find this in the Advanced tab of the font dialog box in Microsoft Word (to access, just click Control-D on a PC or Command-D on a Mac). This lesser-known tool lets you reduce the amount of space between letters. Try setting it to “Condensed” by as much as 0.3 points.

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Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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The 5 Biggest Resume Debates Among Recruiters—Finally Answered

There's a lot of resume advice out there—and some of it conflicting. Which makes it pretty hard for you, the job seeker, to know what to do. Should you stick to the one-page format, or is it OK to veer onto the second page? Will a creative resume catch the eye of a hiring manager, or do most people still prefer the tried-and-true traditional layout?

We know it's confusing, so we've broken down the five most common resume debates. Here's what the experts have to say—and how you can read between the lines and send the best resume for the job.

Debate #1: The Multi-page Resume

Let’s start with one of the most hotly debated issues we’ve seen at The Muse . While one camp believes that a candidate’s story can definitely be told in the confines of one page (and gets annoyed when it isn’t), other recruiters say that a second (or third) page is fair game, as long as you make every word and bullet point count. Some even truly despise the one-page rule. (“If I had the names and addresses of every so-called expert who keeps telling professionals that you must have a one-page resume at all costs, I'd egg or toilet paper their houses in the dark of night,” says our friend Jenny Foss, founder of recruiting firm  JobJenny  and author of The Ridiculously Awesome Resume Kit .)

What Should You Do?

Here’s the truth. What’s much more important than the length of your resume is that it tells a story to the hiring manager about why you’re the right fit for the position. This usually doesn’t mean listing everything you’ve ever done for every position; rather, you want to pick and choose the parts of your background that are most compelling, and make sure they don’t get lost in pages and pages of background information. (Fact: Recruiters spend an average of six seconds on most resumes.)

That said, if you’re applying for an upper-level management gig or a position that requires a wide breadth of skill sets, telling that story means you’ll want to opt for more detail rather than less. Translation: Probably more than one page.

In addition, it’s important to do your research and poll friends and colleagues about your industry norms. In the IT and tech worlds, for example, more than two pages is totally normal (and expected). On the other hand, I know a consulting firm that tells its hiring managers to throw away any resume that comes in over one page. Try to feel out what you're getting into—so you can target your resume accordingly.

Debate #2: The “Creative” Resume

You’ve likely heard about applicants using videos, infographics, or other creative resume formats ( origami , anyone?) these days. And with good reason! Thinking outside the bullet-pointed PDF can be an awesome way to stand out from the stack, especially when you’re applying to a startup or creative company or to a position that values design or interactive skills. "Doing extra credit like a video (even if it’s an unedited webcam clip) can go a long way in distinguishing yourself from other candidates," says Steffi Wu , PR Lead at ZenPayroll .

That said, some hiring managers really still appreciate the good ol’ 8.5x11” piece of paper. If not done really well, a creative resume could go terribly wrong—I’ve seen (and tossed) more than one resume that used bad clip art, a rainbow of colors, or unfortunate photography and did far more harm to the job applicant than good. “If you act like a clown or do something ludicrous just to stand out, then it’s disingenuous and can put people off,” echoes Dr. Michael Woodward , an executive coach author of The YOU Plan: A 5-Step Guide to Taking Charge of Your Career in the New Economy .

What’s more, a recent study showed that “…visual elements reduced recruiters’ analytical capability and hampered decision-making” and kept them from “locating the most relevant information, like skills and experience.” Not exactly what you’re going for.

When you’re in a creative field, applying for a creative role, or gunning for a highly competitive company, it’s definitely worth considering. Margot Leong got her dream job after sending an incredible Sliderocket presentation to startup Ridejoy—and we’re pretty sure that Robby Leonardi , creator of the coolest video-game-inspired resume we’ve ever seen, landed a job offer or 50.

Remember, though, at the end of the day, your skills and experience are what matters, so make sure that whatever format you choose showcases—rather than overshadows—them. Also, don’t even think about going down this path unless you’re willing to put in the time, creativity, and design work (or the money to pay someone else) to make it truly awe-inspiring. A great traditional resume will be better than a mediocre creative one, every single time.

Debate #3: The “Pretty” Resume

Common resume wisdom says to stick to a legible font that everyone uses, like Times New Roman or Arial, and basic formatting: Your name at the top of the page, followed by your work experience and bullet points—you know the drill.

But some of the most compelling resumes I’ve seen think outside the norm—and as a result, really do stand out in a huge stack of basic black-and-white resumes (take a look at some of these beauties ). Stepping it up in the design department can also make you stand out as a candidate who really gets and appreciates aesthetics.

First, consider where you’re applying. A traditional law firm? You should probably stick to the basics. A creative (and competitive) place like Pinterest or Warby Parker , on the other hand, might really appreciate something a little more styled.

Then, think about your own skills as well. As Ryan Kahn, founder of the Hired Group and star of MTV's HIRED, says, you should always seek to “maximize your strengths and outsource your weaknesses.” If you’re not a designer, spend your energy on crafting perfect bullet points, and skip the fancy formatting (or hire a designer or design-savvy friend to give your page a makeover).

And again, make sure you do it right. Use fonts that are clean and legible—doesn’t matter how pretty it is if a hiring manager’s going to have to squint to read it. Your resume should feel like a breath of fresh air, not a PITA to read. Oh, and PDF, PDF, PDF (that is, save it as one). It’s the only way to ensure that the font styling will show up the right way on any screen.

Debate #4: The Interests Section

You’ve probably heard—consistently—to stick to the basics on your resume: Work experience, education, job-related skills, and professional awards and accolades. “Unless the hobbies are relevant to the types of positions you’re pursuing (or amazing, non-controversial conversation starters), leave them off,” says Foss.

But “the non-traditional camp, of which I am a proud member, dissents in part,” says recruiting consultant Michael Wade . “Our view is that there is nothing wrong with an applicant disclosing some personal interests, so long as those inclusions are not bizarre or distasteful.” (True story: A friend of mine added “ice cream making” to his interests section, and it was brought up in every interview he went on.)

When it’s relevant for the position, go for it. Adding your guitar playing abilities to your resume when you’re applying to an entertainment company or your photography hobby to a social media role makes a lot of sense—and can nudge you above other candidates with similar work experience. Sharing your scrapbooking skills with a healthcare organization? Probably won’t have the same effect.

You might also want to get a little personal when you’re applying to a company that clearly cares about its employees’ lives outside of work. Some good cues: The company blog talks as much about picnics and happy hours as it does product updates, or it has a fun-loving team profiled on The Muse . “I’ve heard employers say they are tired of seeing cookie-cutter candidates. They are pleased when an applicant comes along who appears to be human,” adds Wade.

Debate #5: The “Updated” Job Title

“Usually, job applicants list their ‘official’ job titles on their resumes,” says Sean Weinberg on SimplyHired . Sounds pretty basic, right? Well, “the problem with doing this is that most job titles are bland, and your work comes off as equally uninteresting.”

Weinberg—and many other career experts—advocate updating your job title to reflect what you actually did. Say, for instance, your official title is associate producer. That could mean a whole range of things depending on your company, your industry, and your role. But adding some descriptors—“associate social media content producer,” for example, can tell a hiring manager a lot more about what you did—and catch his or her eye much more quickly.

If you have a vague or unique-to-your-company job title, this approach can be incredibly helpful. In a previous role, for example, my company didn’t use the word “manager,” so my title was “marketing lead”—a term that, as I learned, didn’t work very well in keyword-sensitive applicant tracking systems. When I edited my title and used “marketing manager” instead—I got many more calls back.

But here’s the rub: Remember that employers (very) often call previous employers to fact-check the information you’ve provided on your resume and in your application. So don’t ever update your title to something so obscure, inflated, or, well, wrong, that your former employers wouldn’t be comfortable saying you did it.

Advice on your resume, like anything else, isn't going to be spot-on for 100% of people, 100% of the time. The bottom line? Do your research, then think about what will work best for you—and the positions to which you're applying.

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• Should a Resume Only Be One...

Should a Resume Only Be One Page?

2 min read · Updated on July 30, 2024

In most instances, a resume should not be only one page.

Contrary to what you may have heard, a resume should rarely be only one page. Most professionals should use a two-page resume — this applies whether you have seven or 17 years of work experience.

Only entry-level professionals — those who recently graduated from college and are just entering the workforce — typically use a resume that's only one page.

In fact, thanks to a recent study that involved nearly 500 recruiters, hiring managers, and HR professionals, even entry-level job seekers no longer have to use a resume that's only one page. According to the research, recruiters were 2.3 times as likely to prefer resumes that were two pages over resumes that are only one page, regardless of a candidate's job level. That means if you recently graduated from college and have a number of relevant internships, co-ops, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities to boast about, then you may have enough information to warrant a second page. If you don't have those “resume boosters,” then you're better off using a resume that's only one page. 

Click on the following link to learn more about how to determine the optimal resume page length .

People also asked:

Can a Resume Be More Than One Page?

• Is It OK to Have a Two-Page Resume?

How Many Pages Should Be in a Resume?

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The One-Page Resume Is Ideal for Most Job Seekers (+How to Keep It Short) 

Anyone can use a one-page resume no matter how many years of experience you have.

Anyone can use a one-page resume no matter how many years of experience you have. 

But you might’ve come across conflicting advice online regarding the best length to keep your resume at. 

That’s why in this guide, we’ll be going through whether or not it’s the better option, including:

• The advantages and disadvantages
• One-page resume examples for all job levels 
• How to keep your application one page long
• What information should come first 
• What information could be removed 

Here’s all that you need to know. 

Are One-Page Resumes the Best? 

It’s ideal because it’s easier and faster for recruiters to go through your application.

The average amount of time employers spend reading resumes is less than 10 seconds. Within that short span of time, get them to remember the most important parts of your resume. 

By keeping your application condensed into a single page. As opposed to a two-page resume, one-page resumes take less time and effort to read through.

A two-page resume means having to get through both pages from start to finish. It’s the same with a one-page resume except there isn’t an extra page to review. So, they’ll be putting all their attention on what they have in front of them without worrying about what comes next. 

And assuming it’s well written, they’ll stop for an extra second to finish reading a point. This can leave a lasting first impression.

The Advantages of a One Page Resume 

You might have heard of the saying “less is more”. But here’s what it actually does for your resume:

• It makes your achievements stand out 
• Your application becomes easier to read 
• Respects your employer’s time 
• Demonstrates writing skills, efficiency, and creativity

The Disadvantages of a One Page Resume 

The only cons of keeping your resume to a single page are that:

• Less space means having less things to include in your resume
• Listing more than 8 years of work experience could look cluttered

So… Should You Not Use Two-Page Resumes? 

A can a resume be 2 pages isn’t recommended as an option unless you have more than 8 years of work experience. They’re used only to fit in all relevant information possible. As seasoned professionals use this type of resume, they’ll have a lot to talk about and a single page simply isn’t enough. 

Even then, it doesn’t change the fact recruiters spend only a few seconds reviewing your application. This is why we still suggest one-page resumes to job seekers at all levels. 

One-Page Resume Examples for Different Job Levels 

To be more precise about the value of a one-page resume, let’s go through a few examples for different job levels. 

Each of these is free to use and optimized to beat the applicant tracking system (ATS) . In other words, they’re designed for you to overcome the initial hiring phase to increase the chances of landing an interview. 

If your job wasn’t listed below, you might find it in our free samples library of over 300 resumes here . 

Entry-Level One Page Resume 

Below is an entry-level resume example for a web developer . One way to entry level resume tips is to use additional sections. 

Mid-Level One Page Resume 

The front-end developer resume below is another good example. It keeps the additional section of coursework minimal. This way, you can maximize the amount of content you write for your work experience. 

Manager One Page Resume 

The technical project manager sample uses a bold resume format. It’s different yet highly readable. The candidate is selective with what they’ve chosen to write about. 

Senior Level One Page Resume 

The senior business analyst resume example below was designed to help a candidate apply for Deloitte. 

Executive Level One Page Resume 

The chief product officer resume template below is a great example of being minimal. 

Workers at this level will have many different things they could talk about. However, it’s clear how intentional you are when you keep everything down to a single page. 

How to Keep Your Resume One Page Long Even If You Have More Than 8 Years of Work Experience

What job seekers tend to do is include as many things as they can. Whether that’s hobbies and interests, or coursework they’ve completed… They determine the quality of their application based on quantity rather than relevance. 

The only exception to quantity here is when you have how to make a resume with no experience .

In total, there are 12 things you can do to condense your application into a single page. Let’s get right into it. 

Adjust Your Resume Format Settings

The ats resume format include things such as: 

• Line height

Try adjusting each of these to a tolerable point where your application can still be read by both an ATS and human reader. 

Use a Resume Template Optimized for Space

Did adjusting the format settings not work? Then it might be worth changing the resume template you’re using. 

It’s not surprising if you feel you haven’t got enough space when you’re using Google docs or a Microsoft word document. Most times, the default template here isn’t fully optimized for:

• Maintaining a one-page resume
• Beating the resume scanners

ATS resume templates like the compact resume template are designed in a way that allows you to write more words in less space without sacrificing readability. 

Try a Different Resume Font

A different professional font could do the trick. 

Some fonts take up more space than others. Likewise, there are fonts that take up less space than others. A few of these alternative options are also highly readable and aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Be Deliberate About Your Work Experience

You don’t need to begin listing your what to write in a resume for work experience from your very first job. 

While corporate experience is valuable, there’s no rule stating you need to list everything you can. The more important aspect is how relevant the job positions are and if there are a range of transferable skills you’ve learned or developed. 

A minimum of 2 jobs would be good, 3-4 is also a good number to aim for. But feel free to include more as long as they’re useful. If you decide to list jobs from more than 5 years ago, then you can omit the description for these roles. 

Focus on Work Achievements Rather Than Responsibilities

Make your work achievements the priority. Not all the job duties and responsibilities you carried out in the past. 

It’s not necessary to talk about your daily routine and what you did during every hour in previous companies. The recruiter will already be aware of what the job entails. What they want to know about you is whether or not you’re the best person to hire. 

So ask yourself, what are things that truly demonstrate your expertise? 

Cut Down the Summary Section

Even a single sentence can be more than enough for the summary section of your resume .

It should be no more than 3 sentences long and 3 lines long. This is also an optional element in your application, so you have the option to leave the entire section out if necessary. 

Cut Down the Education Section

The main details required for your how to list education on resume are the following:

• Qualification title
• Place of study
• Year of graduation (optional if you’ve graduated more than 10 years ago)

List your place of study and year of graduation horizontally to save space. Or if you have more than one qualification you want to mention, all these details could be listed horizontally too.

Here’s a few examples below.

Cut Down the Skills Section

When you have a variety of skills you want to list, categorize them. It makes the section more readable by adding specificity. 

Alternatively, you might only list a few. In this case, make sure they’re resume keywords as well as crucial skills for carrying out the job. Going back to what we said earlier, be deliberate with what you write about. 

Get Rid of Optional Sections 

Only focus on what’s most relevant to the job criteria.

The additional sections on your resume such as hobbies and interests might not be as compelling to the hiring manager. 

Everything you write about should help employers get a measure of what you’re capable of. So put your technical skills and knowledge first before all else. Writing fluff makes an application less convincing compared to a how to tailor your resume to a job that pinpoints your strengths. 

Reconsider Your Word Choices

Some resume buzzwords to avoid that you’ve used could be replaceable. The same applies to your weak action verbs resume . 

Although there are ways to rephrase your sentences, there might also be words you could replace with another that takes up less space. When used in the right context, it can help with keeping your resume condensed into a single page. 

Follow the Best Bullet Point Practices

Following the best how many bullet points per job on resume enables you to keep your application concise. 

Some sections such as your work experience will use bullet points as a vertical list to make it readable. In contrast, other parts of your resume such as the skills section may not need bullet points at all.

Here are some more common practices:

• Ensure sentences are one line long
• Start with an action verb
• Quantify your descriptions 

Forget the Resume References Section

It’s normal to leave the references section out of your resume. 

From the ats resume , you’ll notice that there’s no references section mentioned. It used to be a thing in the past but now they’re not necessary unless it’s been stated in the job description. 

Not only does it take up valuable space. It prevents you from writing about other things which are more important. 

What Sections Should Be Prioritized the Most?

The essential resume sections you’ll need are:

• Work experience

Everything else other than these is optional. That said, don’t let it stop you from including other resume sections. Most importantly, it needs to demonstrate your skills and reinforce your professional summary . 

Analyze the job description. If you’re conflicted about what you should remove, try to keep them both. Edit the format and sentences first before resorting to removing blocks of content. 

What Information Could Be Removed in a Resume? 

There are bits of information that don’t always belong in a resume. The only time these should be mentioned is if it’s a job requirement or if you’ve been directly asked by your employers to include them.

Here’s what could be removed:

• Street address – the only location details required is the country and city. 
• References – as mentioned, it’s common to leave this out. 
• Older jobs – job positions exceeding 10 years could be omitted. 
• Personal details – only your contact information is required. 

Moreover, the descriptions for jobs exceeding the 5 year mark can be omitted. The bullet points of minor details under your qualifications such as your GPA could also be omitted. 

After completing your resume, go through it again and how to edit resume accordingly. 

Never Get Conflicted Again Over What Should Be Deleted

Being forced to choose one resume section or sentence over another is painful.

You know those details match the job description and they’re strong representations of what you’re capable of.

But then again – it seems like you don’t have any other choice.

It keeps going over the one-page mark and it feels near impossible unless you remove one of those key bits of information…

You’re not the only one. 

More than 245,000 job seekers had similar struggles initially but were able to create a one-page resume with ease. In the end, over 50% of all those candidates managed to secure an interview for the job they were applying for. This includes top companies like Apple and Facebook. 

Here’s the tools that helped them get there:

• AI bullet point writer
• AI bullet point editor
• Real-time content feedback

If you want free access to all these resources including 300+ fully optimized resume templates, all you need to do is sign up here .

One-Page Resumes Are Your Best Friend

There are two things to look at to shred your resume down to a single page: 

• What you’ve written in your resume
• The format of your resume 

It’s not as difficult as it seems when you know what details are essential and what aren’t. 

On top of making it easier for the reader to find your strengths at first glance, it makes your application more compelling since these are the things they’ll notice. 

If you have less than 8 years of work experience then one-page resumes are a must. 

And if you have more than 8 years of work experience, they’re still a must. But it’s up to your professional judgment to decide how important the extra details you want to include are. If they’re really that important, then don’t shy away from a two-page resume. 

Astley Cervania

Astley Cervania is a career writer and editor who has helped hundreds of thousands of job seekers build resumes and cover letters that land interviews. He is a Rezi-acknowledged expert in the field of career advice and has been delivering job success insights for 4+ years, helping readers translate their work background into a compelling job application.

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Best Resume Advice According to Reddit: 6 Tips That Actually Work

• Júlia Mlčúchova , 
• Updated January 29, 2024 9 min read

Do you often turn to Reddit for answers to your burning questions? And, have you considered exploring this popular online forum to uncover what the best resume advice according to Reddit is?

Of course, Reddit can be notoriously difficult to navigate and not all of its users actually know what they're talking about.

Still, Reddit and other public forums can be valuable sources of first-hand experience in all things resume. 

We've painstakingly sifted through countless subreddits, all dedicated to resume writing and career tips, to save you the trouble.

Now, we present to you the crème-de-la-crème of Reddit resume advice. 

In this article, you'll find:

• 6 best resume advice according to Reddit;
• What we think about them; 
• And, of course, examples. 

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

TL;DR: 5 Best resume advice according to reddit

1. use a single column layout to pass the ats.

• 2. Don't name your resume 'resume.pdf'

3. Keep your job descriptions short. Use bullet points and action verbs

4. use numbers to quantify your achievements, 5. less is more for both word count & job applications per day, 6. use resume builders to make your life easier, key takeaways: best resume advice according to reddit.

First, for those in a hurry, here's the TL;DR version of our top five resume advice gathered from Reddit:

• Use a single column layout to pass the ATS.
• Don't name your resume 'resume.pdf'.
• Keep you job descriptions short. Use bullet points and action verbs.
• Use numbers to quantify your achievements.
• Less is more for both word count & job applications per day.
• Use resume builders to make your life easier.

Now, let's look at the best resume advice according to Reddit users more closely. Here's what we think:

If you thought that layout doesn't play any significant role in the success rate of your resume, you thought wrong!

In case the company you're applying to uses an Applicant Tracking System, always opt for a single column layout . 

The reason? ATS compatibility. 

Even though all ATSs are designed to read text from top to bottom, left to right , not every ATS is programmed to distinguish between columns. 

And you just can't know with certainty which software you'll encounter. Therefore, reduce the risk of your resume being incorrectly processed or rejected by picking a one-column ATS friendly resume template . This will make the process of parsing and interpreting information easier and safer.

HOWEVER. That doesn't mean you should discard the two-column resume all-together. Here are some reasons why a two-column layout can still be beneficial :

• Non-ATS employers . Many companies still don't use ATS systems, making the ATS compatibility argument less relevant in these cases. For these employers, the visual and organizational benefits of a two-column layout could be more advantageous.
• Aesthetics . A two-column format can be more visually engaging, making your resume stand out.
• Ease of reading . Smaller chunks of information can make the resume easier for the human eye to navigate.
• Space management . For those with less experience, a two-column layout can help evenly distribute text and avoid large empty spaces.
• Strategic organization . It allows for a more strategic presentation of information, guiding the recruiter's eyes through your resume efficiently.

Moreover, if you're just entering the workforce with no experience , your resume is probably still quite sparse. 

Because of this, you may end up with a large, unattractive empty space at the bottom of your document. And with one-column structure resumes, this is often the case. 

There' s an easy fix! Organizing your resume sections into a two-column structure can help spread the text more evenly.  

2. Don't name your resume 'resume.pdf'

Indeed, putting together a good resume is quite a tedious process.

There're so many rules and principles to think about, for instance:

• Every single resume section, whether it be the resume summary , work experience section, education section, skills section, or any other optional section, requires your full and undivided attention. 
• You must remember to always tailor your resume to fit a specific job description . 
• Not to mention the subsequent formatting and proofreading!

By the time you've finished writing your resume, you're likely mentally drained. 

It's at this time that errors creep out from the most unexpected places.

One such error is not naming your resume file appropriately .

How to name your resume file: step-by-step.

When naming your resume file for submission, it's important to consider clarity, professionalism, and the likelihood of it being easily found by the recruiters.  

Here are our recommendations for naming your resume file:

• Use your name. Start with your full name. This is the most crucial piece of information because it clearly identifies the document as yours. For example, "PeterStones" .
• Specify the document type. Make it clear that the document is a resume . This helps distinguish your resume from other documents like a cover letter . For example, " Resume ".
• Add the job title. This can be particularly helpful if you are sending the resume directly to a hiring manager. For example, " ProductManager ".
• Use a professional format. Avoid using any unnecessary symbols or fancy formatting. Underscores (_) or hyphens (-) are acceptable to separate words.

A good file name for your resume could look like this: "PeterStones_Resume_ProductManager.pdf".

Finally, before hitting send, consider carefully what to write in an email when sending a resume . Of course, when you're applying for a job, every detail matters. Don't neglect the content of your email – it's also responsible for making a positive first impression.

Undoubtedly, you know that the work experience section is the heart and soul of your resume.  

The recruiters always pay it the most attention, and so you need to be extra diligent and patient while writing about your past employment. 

Consequently, many will try to fit in as much information as humanly possible, disregarding the readability and quality of their entries. To steer clear from such mistake, follow these two simple principles:

• Organize your work descriptions into bullet points . Under each work experience entry, list 4-5 bullet points underlining your most notable responsibilities and achievements. That is to say, you should focus on demonstrating the impact your presence had on your former employment, rather than just stating your daily duties. 
• Open the said bullet points with action verbs . The recruiters don't care about long winding sentences! That's why it's a good idea to start each bullet point with an action verb . This will not only make your writing more concise, but it'll also depict you as a proactive, and therefore valuable, employee.

For example, a well conceptualized work entry description can look like this:

Work experience entry example:

Senior Product Manager XYZ Tech Solutions, New York, NY | June 2019 – Present

• Led a team of 8 in the development of an innovative mobile application, increasing user retention by 35% within six months.
• Collaborated with cross-departmental teams to streamline product delivery, reducing time-to-market by 20%.
• Managed product lifecycle from concept to launch, including market analysis, positioning, and rollout strategy.
• Oversaw a budget of $1M, optimizing resource allocation and cutting costs by 15% without impacting product quality.

This is another great resume advice according to a Reddit user!

The recruiters adore to see numbers in your resume! Why, you ask?

It makes life a bit easier for them. By quantifying your accomplishments, you simultaneously allow recruiters to better gauge your abilities ; and add more weight to your words . 

Be as specific as you can - numbers are universal. 

Struggling to figure out how to incorporate numbers into your resume? Here are few examples of what you can quantify:

• Revenue and sales increases. If you contributed to growing revenue or sales, specify the percentage or dollar amount of the increase. For example: " Boosted sales by 20% within a six-month period. "
• Cost reduction. Similarly, if you implemented strategies that reduced costs, mention the amount or percentage saved. For example: " Cut operational costs by 15% through process optimization ."
• Time efficiency. If you streamlined processes, indicate how much time was saved. For example: " Reduced project turnaround time by 30% ."
• Team management. If you manage a team, you can specify the number of people you supervise. For example: " Led a team of 12 sales professionals ."
• Project scope and delivery. Quantify the size or value of the projects you managed, then mention if you delivered them under budget or ahead of schedule. For example:  " Managed projects worth $2M, consistently delivering 10% under budget ."
• Training and development. If you were involved in training, mention the number of people you trained or the improvement in performance post-training. For example: " Trained over 30 employees, leading to a 40% increase in overall team efficiency. "

Resume advice two-in-one!

As this Reddit user rightly pointed out, less is sometimes more . 

This is especially true when it comes to the content of your resume as well as the amount of job applications you send out each day .

When crafting your resume, keep in mind that you must show the recruiters that you have everything they're looking for . Chances are, you actually have much more – more diverse job experience; more interesting hobbies; or more fulfilling volunteer work you'd like to share with them. 

Obviously, resumes have their length limitations . Once you've started to write yours, you'll soon learn that you have to be picky! 

Recruiters prefer resumes that are focused, relevant, and straight-to-the-point. In other words, don't make them read information they didn't ask for. 

The same applies to applying for jobs.

Many in this situation start panic-applying to every single job posting they find. Because they assume that the more applications they send, the bigger their chances at landing a job will be. 

Makes sense right?

In theory, maybe. In practice? Hardly!

Believe it or not, there's such a thing as sending too many applications. Basically, if your solely focus on the quantity of applications, you're running the risk of sacrificing their quality . 

And that is a problem. If you'd like to learn how to go about this problem, including tips on how to manage the pressure of job hunting, take a look at what research says about the ideal number of job applications .

Now, hand over your heart!

Would you prefer to sit in front of your computer for hours, battling with Microsoft Word and its many settings? Trying to create a perfect resume design from scratch? 

Admit it, even the thought of setting margins and spacing makes you roll your eyes. 

Hence, arguably the best resume advice according to reddit is to make a resume with an online resume builder to avoid these inconveniences (politely said).

No need to scratch your head over a layout or the best colour palette! Instead, simply pick a resume template that best suits your needs (both aesthetic and practical), fill in all your information, and watch your resume come to life in seconds. 

Additionally, resume builders can proofread and correct any misspellings or typos you might've otherwise missed. 

Sounds good? If so, your perfect resume is one click away.

Resume template by Kickresume

This resume was written by our experienced resume writers specifically for this profession.

In conclusion, Reddit and other public forums can serve as a good starting point for seeking resume advice.

Apart from first-hand applicant experience, many posts are sumbitted by actual hiring managers.

However, there's a lot to weed out first to find the best resume advice according to reddit.

Plus, you should always compare your findings with reputable sources. Which is exactly what we did.

• Don't forget to name your resume file appropriately.
• Keep your job descriptions short with bullet points and action verbs.
• Keep your resume concise and the number of daily applications reasonable. 
• Use online tools (like Kickresume) to build your resume.

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Julia has recently joined Kickresume as a career writer. From helping people with their English to get admitted to the uni of their dreams to advising them on how to succeed in the job market. It would seem that her career is on a steadfast trajectory. Julia holds a degree in Anglophone studies from Metropolitan University in Prague, where she also resides. Apart from creative writing and languages, she takes a keen interest in literature and theatre.

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A Breakdown of a Successful One Page Resume – And How to Write Yours

In This Guide:

Should your resume be one page, how to fit 25 years of experience in a single page – william’s one-page resume., a ceo and co-founder’s one-page resume – how pavel fit his professional life on a single page., founder, director, and vp of product – gal’s double-column single-page resume., how to write your resume to fit on one page – a handful of actionable resume tips., key takeaways.

Having a one-page resume is possible, even if you have decades of experience behind your back.

In this article, we’ll analyze concrete examples of one-page resumes built by Enhancv users – from William, a Japanese entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience to Pavel whose professional background took him to three countries, and Gal that has spent a decade in the product management and business development world.

All three of them share one common thing – a single-page resume.

So, how do you fit that many years of experience into an effective resume without omitting important details?

Keep reading and you’ll learn:

• If your resume should be one page long.
• How to focus on relevant skills and experience to cut down your resume to a single page.
• Which resume sections are a must in single-page resumes.

Hands down the best and most intuitive resume builder I've used. Go for the pro plan - it's the best bang for your buck. You get a lot more sections, which helps with the different variations of your cv, especially if you want to tailor it to different industries.

Alex Lafreniere, a happy user

Make this your resume

Use Enhancv’s Resume Builder and make a resume that stands out.

Is your resume good enough?

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

Yes, your resume can be one page, regardless of experience. Single-page resumes focus on the most relevant parts of your work history. Put important and relevant information first, as this makes for an efficient format for any professional field.

If you can’t fit all relevant experience on a single page, only then go for a two-page resume.

How to make a one-page resume if you have a ton of experience?

The secret to making a one-page resume when you have 10, 15, or even more than 20 years of work experience is to include information that’s highly relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Study the job description – hiring managers usually include what experience and skillset they’re looking for. Show that. Remember, that may mean you’ll have to make a tailored resume for each job position you apply for.

Thankfully, with Enhancv you can easily copy, edit and download your resumes as many times as you need. It also saves time that you don’t have to worry about design or layout – check our resume builder .

So, does a resume have to be one page?

A resounding no. Professionals with a lot of relevant experience  in a field can benefit from two or even three-page resumes . If you’ve spent the past 15 years working as a business transformation manager and you have a lot of examples to communicate on your resume, then definitely go with a longer one.

Does it mean the one-page resume format is dead?

No. A resume should focus on your relevant experience  and  give insight into the impact you’ve had at previous companies  you’ve worked for and give a glimpse into who you are .

Fit all three on a single page and you’ve got yourself a pretty impactful resume. In the examples we’re going to review below, we’ve made sure to analyze how each has made their resume.

William’s single-page resume takes advantage of our compact resume format . The best way to fit more information on a single page is by browsing the Enhancv resume templates  and choosing a two or three-column layout .

With a single click, you can fit around 50% more content on a single page, compared to what a Microsoft Word template allows you to do.

Still, William took things up a notch. Here’s what he did especially well when writing his resume.

Right under his name, William wrote what defines him as a professional: “Entrepreneur, keynote speaker, advisor & cyber czar’’. This quickly gives you an idea of the kind of jobs he’s held previously, and what is most significant about his career – all in seven words and contained to the resume header.

Next, William shared his life motto in a single sentence: “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”.  A simple quote can speak volumes about you as a person and your attitude to work and life itself.

Beyond showing how you see the world, it signals to companies whether you might fit into their culture. This shows us that William is not the kind of person that gives up. He perceives problems as opportunities.

Taken together, these sections give a brief and quick insight into who William is and the energy he would bring to his role and the team. As opposed to a lengthy personal summary, William said all he needed to in two short sentences. Now, let’s continue with William’s experience section…

• • Guided 50 + products from inception through development to market, with maximum efficiency
• • Established strong connections with investors, banks, members of the legal profession, consulting firms incl. Fujitsu, NEC, Sony, and Toshiba
• • Invested in 24+ companies, 14 of which are run by women
• • Supporting an ecosystem that encourages experimentation and opportunity to learn from mistakes
• • Launched at the age of 14
• • Sold to Microsoft for a price that would have let me retire at 33

William includes 3 jobs within his experience section. These are the most recent and significant jobs that relate to the field he hopes to work in. They’re also quite diverse.

Rather than writing pages on every job he has ever had, he has tailored his experience to three impactful descriptions of the jobs that relate most to the job vacancy.

He also decided to name the section Entrepreneurial Experience . This suggests that it covers only a portion of his work experience. This is a case where careful decision-making really pays off.

William goes on to make use of an Enhancv exclusive – the “My Time” section. This allows users to show their time spent during the week or a typical day-in-the-life.

For example, the section makes it obvious that Cybersecurity is something he does best. Again, using this quick visual saves a ton of space.

Furthermore, William utilizes an awards section to mention advising the Japanese Government as well as over twenty tech companies  regarding business, technology, and security.

His other point is ‘’Giving back to the community’’, where he mentions that he’s been supporting charitable and community-based organizations. This saved William another page where he listed all his advisory positions and achievements. All in a few sentences, with bits of his character.

William backs up his previous experience with a notable metric that shows his impact on the bottom line. In a few short words, we see the results of his work. His Authored Books section (another section offered by Enhancv)  contributes to this, too. Here, we get a quick visual of the books he’s published, rather than a long description that would take up many paragraphs.

Pavel’s resume is a great example of someone who has taken our modern resume template  and made the most of it.

Pavel has utilized the Technology section of our resume builder to give a snapshot of the programs he is familiar with. Here, we see five highlighted technologies. It’s simple but effective. This cuts down on writing full sentences to show what systems you’re comfortable with.

• • Lead a strategic project defining where and what type of accommodation supply our marketing and commercial teams (200+ people) need to acquire for our marketplace.
• • Identified a collection of business opportunities for the company helping it to earn 1MLN+ EUR.
• • Mentored 10 people in frame of the collaboration with a research group from TU Delft.
• • Introduced and advocated a culture of 1-pagers for every project in the business unit which improved communication and decreased the need for redundant catch-up meetings.
• • Developed classification techniques to predict inaccurate assignments in crowdsourcing platforms (e.g. Amazon Mechanical TURK, CrowdFlower) utilising the browser behaviour data of workers (e.g. keyboard, mouse, tab events) achieving 97%+ precision and 80% recall.
• • Introduced an approach to collect high quality training data for natural language understanding for arbitrary chatbot domain using crowdsourcing.
• • Organised a Slack community of 200+ researchers and practitioners in the field of crowdsourcing ( http://hcomp.community ).
• • Mentored 3 master students.
• • Introduced regression-based methods to predict abandoned assignments in crowdsourcing tasks, eliminating which leads to 200% speed up with an extra cost of less than 10%.
• • Conducted quantitative and qualitative analysis of workers experience in crowdsourcing platforms. Detected task searching, rewarding, and execution issues. Designed, implemented, and launched (with 400 users, 3 clients) a mobile crowdsourcing platform addressing these issues.
• • Cofounded and lead the company in Italy with a mission to bring the experience of watching space objects to masses.
• • Showed the Moon and planets via telescopes to 5000+ people.
• • Conducted a user study about task searching experience.
• • Developed a prototype of task listing page, optimising task searching experience. It was partially adopted in production.

Taking a look at Pavel’s experience section, we can see how job-rich it is. We’re looking at 6 job titles – from a researcher to a co-founder and CEO. Data science  is a relatively new and expansive area of tech.

For this reason, it’s beneficial to include as many previous experiences as you can that relate to possible duties. Each job is accompanied by a quick bullet point that explains all of Pavel’s responsibilities, and everything is written concisely.

Much like William, Pavel intertwines his impact with his previous experience by providing a significant metric to measure his achievements.

For example, he showed the moon and stars to 5000+ people.

This short description focuses the recruiter on tangible evidence that does not take up a lot of space. If a recruiter wants to know more, they will ask in an interview or over email.

Pavel’s experience is further explained in a simple list of his Selected Courses . Here, space is saved by collecting all relevant and important courses he’s taken in a single section. The titles are enough for the recruiter to understand his skill.

Gal shows us that any resume template can be used when building a one-pager. Using Enhancv’s staple – the double-column resume  – Gal makes an impact without drawing things out.

Accomplishing this in two-three sentences will do wonders to signal to companies that you fit within their culture – ultimately getting you an interview sooner.

Gal makes use of Enhancv’s technologies section but renames it as an “Expertise” section. With this, the recruiter can easily see that Gal is gifted when it comes to B2B, B2C, SaaS, and more. This is an excellent example of cutting paragraphs down to singular words with the same impact.

• • Leading the company's platform product management team and operations across five business units
• • Accelerate the delivery of cross product features by 50% QOQ, resulting in higher retention and ARR growth of platform customers
• • Delivering disruptive email marketing product, reducing x10 time to create stunning emails & frictionless setup: x1,000 less complex
• • Driving company-wide eCommerce innovation, including being the first to offer retention analytics & unified campaigns & flows management
• • Leading product strategy, ownership, marketing and UX of B2B2C video AI platform with +50M users
• • Driving 2,000% revenue growth: product value to existing & new customers, infrastructure optimization & unique AB test product
• • Delivery of new products in 1 to 3 months, tapping into user goals: VOD, data, self-service, existing platforms
• • Driving new business with tier-1 customers through new product design and go-to market: edge cloud virtualization solution
• • Designing open, cross-platform and automated solution empowering customers to launch new services in minutes instead of weeks
• • Leading the growth of the companies eco-system from a single partner to over 15 best of breed technology partners
• • Development from idea to 50,000 active users’ acquisition and initial paying users, including team buildup, delivery & online marketing
• • Build partnerships & custom offering with leading payment gateways
• • Product offering & ecosystem continuous evolution driving 100% to 200% annual revenue growth
• • Establish strategic partnership with Accenture and driving business with strategic accounts such as DoCoMo, Vodafone & Travelocity

Again, Gal introduces his impact by providing a significant metric to measure his achievements. For example, “driving 50% to 100% annual revenue growth”. This captures his ability in one bullet point, as opposed to several sentences on ways he brought a change in a previous company.

Whether you’ve got 25 years, a decade, or a month of experience, making a strong impression is essential. A single-page resume helps you do that.

We gathered the career counseling team at Enhancv  and put all their know-how around writing impactful one-page resumes.

Use a double-column or compact resume template.

A one-pager resume with plenty of experience will not fit on a single-column template. At Enhancv, our double-column template is specifically designed to meet applicant tracking systems requirements and with one-page resumes in mind. You can fit up 50% more information compared to what general resume templates allow for.

Write short, action-oriented bullet points.

Cut the fluff and focus on the make-it-or-break-it moments in your career. Stick to active words and use buzzwords properly .

Draw inspiration from the examples above, or recollect the moments that made you the professional you are today. If you need more inspiration, we have over 500 job-specific resume examples  for you to explore and inspire from.

Use smaller fonts.

Choose a smaller font size but make sure the text remains legible. Size 10 or 11 looks fine and passes readability checks, anything smaller would make your resume hard to read.

Fonts like Oswald , Bitter , and Volkhov  are more compact and allow you to fit more text on a single page.

Remove unnecessary sections.

When you have a lot of relevant experience, you can skip the Education section. Unless you have Cum Laude  from an Ivy League university, you’re generally okay with not including your education. Leave off references as well, unless they’re highly relevant for the job position.

Make sure that your summary is short but packed full of information. It’s the best way to communicate who you are and your skill set in a single sentence.

Decrease the margins' size.

When you decrease the margins of your resumes you get to add more information, however, you have to keep in mind the readability of your resume. No hiring manager wants to read a wall of text.

Enhancv’s resume builder has in-built resume margins you can switch between that still keep your resume readable and easy on the eye.

Use creative sections to spotlight career milestones.

One-page creative resumes are the hardest to make. We’ve compiled over 20 creative resumes  for you to check out. You can make your very own by signing up for Enhancv –– or you can hire our career counselors to help you make your resume .

Single-page resumes seem difficult to create until you get the hang of it –– focus only on experience and skills that show how you can make an impact in the company you’re applying at.

• Cut the extra fluff. Choose only the relevant, result-driven information.
• Use different sections to reframe and communicate your experience in short and engaging ways.
• Choose an Enhancv resume template and focus only on the information and not the design.
• Focus on font size and margins to fit as much information as possible.

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Does my resume absolutely have to be one page?

I'm working on updating my resume for the first time in a while. I wrote the original years ago and it's all in paragraph form (although the paragraphs are fairly short). I'm trying to convert it to bullet points, but I absolutely cannot fit it all on one page as it is. I'm in the education field and I'm looking for a job as a teacher. I don't have any major positions, just a lot of relevant job and educational experience. Is it ok to go onto the second page? I always hear mixed answers to this question.

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