Should a resume be one page?

Whether a resume should be one page depends on your career stage, industry, and the depth of your experience. - For early career professionals: A one-page resume is often ideal if you're just starting out, have limited work experience, or are a recent graduate. It allows you to present the most relevant information in a concise format that's easy for hiring managers to review quickly. - For mid-level professionals: If you have several years of experience but can effectively communicate your qualifications on one page, it's often preferable to do so. The focus should be on your most recent and impactful roles, along with key skills and achievements. - For senior-level professionals: If you have extensive experience, a two-page resume may be more appropriate to fully convey your expertise, especially if you've held multiple roles or have significant achievements that require additional detail. In general, a one-page resume is effective when you can succinctly present your qualifications without leaving out critical information. It's important to balance conciseness with completeness; if you need more space to adequately showcase your skills and experience, a two-page resume can be justified. The key is to ensure that your resume, whether one or two pages, is tailored, relevant, and impactful.

How to Write a One Page Resume + Examples

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Table of contents

When to Use a One-Page Resume
One-Page Resume Examples
How to Write a One-Page Resume
Structure Your One-Page Resume
Format It for One Page
Prioritize Impactful Content
Pros & Cons of a One-Page Resume
Key Takeaways
FAQ

Get the job 2x faster^*

In today's fast-paced job market, where recruiters often review numerous resumes in a short period, a well-crafted one-page resume can make all the difference in your application. Use one of our one-page resume examples as a template to create a concise, polished, and focused resume that helps you stand out.

This guide will show you:

When to use a one-page resume
One-page resume examples to reference as you work
How to write a one-page resume
Pros and cons of a one-page resume structure

Want to save time and make your one-page resume right now? Try Resume Now's AI Resume Builder, which will help you create your resume fast. Simply upload your old resume or start a new one, select your favorite template, and tell us your job title. Then, we'll generate content suggestions you can add to your resume with one click!

When to Use a One-Page Resume

A one-page resume can be very useful at all stages of your career. This is especially true for professionals in the following career stages:

Early Career Professionals

For recent graduates, interns, or individuals with no work experience, a one-page resume is often the ideal format. A single-page resume works well for:

Limited experience: Without a lengthy work history, a single page is sufficient to highlight your key qualifications.
Focusing on relevant experiences: Emphasize internships, academic achievements, and part-time or volunteer work that aligns with the job you're applying for.
Polished presentation: A one-page resume helps you maintain a professional image by avoiding unnecessary filler content. Drawing out the length of your resume may seem helpful, but a resume appears more professional and strategic if you stick to a single focused page.

Career Changers

Meanwhile, if you're transitioning to a new career, a one-page resume can help you focus on the most relevant aspects of your background so that employers can immediately see that you are a great fit for the position. A one-page resume:

Highlights transferable skills: Showcase transferable skills from your previous career that are applicable to the new role.
Streamlines your experience: Condense your work history to emphasize roles and responsibilities that demonstrate your ability to succeed in the new industry.
Maintains clear focus: A one-page format forces you to be strategic, ensuring that your resume clearly communicates how your past experiences relate to your new career goals. Keeping your resume short means choosing only the most relevant and impactful details for your resume.

Limited Experience

For professionals with one or two relevant jobs, a one-page resume is an excellent choice to present your qualifications efficiently, including your:

Relevant work history: If your experience is directly aligned with the job you're applying for, a single page is often enough to cover the essentials.
Key achievements: Use the space to highlight your most significant accomplishments without diluting your message with unnecessary details.
Efficient communication: A one-page resume ensures that every piece of information is relevant and adds value to your application, making it easier for hiring managers to quickly grasp your qualifications.

When to Write a Two-Page Resume

A one-page resume is concise and focused, ideal for most candidates in the early stages of their careers. On the other hand, more experienced professionals with 10+ years of work history may benefit from a longer resume.

A good rule of thumb is this: If your resume needs to be two pages long to properly communicate your essential experience, then it's OK to use two pages. Just be absolutely sure that you're keeping a tight focus on the right details.

A two-page resume allows experienced workers the space to describe their experience and skills in detail. Just remember—two pages is the maximum. A resume should never be longer than two pages unless you're working on an academic CV for fields like medicine, law, or research, where detailed publications, presentations, and credentials are expected.

Want to fit more on your resume while sticking to one page? Then get creative with a two-column redesign that lets your qualifications pop off the page.

Creative Solution for One-Page Resumes

Create your resume

One-Page Resume Examples

Here are a few great one-page resume examples to show you how to easily fit all your qualifications onto one page without sacrificing any important information.

How to Write a One-Page Resume

Knowing how to keep a resume to one page starts with understanding three key principles:

Structure
Prioritization
Formatting

From here, you'll build your resume using details from the job description and achievements from your career. Complete each section with the appropriate information, paying close attention to clarity, accuracy, and formatting.

Now, let's take a closer look at the process.

Structure Your One-Page Resume

Writing a one-page resume is like writing any other resume. The structure should be the same, containing the following essential sections:

Contact information: At the top of the page, include your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile or portfolio link if relevant.
Profile: Usually in the form of a professional summary or objective, this brief two- to three-sentence statement highlights your career goals or key qualifications. This should be tailored to the job you're applying for.
Experience: List your relevant work experience in reverse-chronological order. Focus on roles and responsibilities that align with the job you're seeking.
Skills: Include a section that showcases your top skills, particularly those that are most relevant to the job. Use bullet points to list both hard and soft skills.
Education: Include your highest level of education, relevant certifications, and any coursework or honors that pertain to the job.

These sections are fundamental to any resume, but in a one-page format, they must be presented in a way that is both impactful and easy to read.

Additionally, the type of resume format you choose will determine how these sections will be arranged. The three main resume formats to consider are:

Chronological: This is the most common and ATS-friendly format. A chronological resume focuses on your job history, detailing your responsibilities and achievements.
Functional: This is a format that is popular for those with no experience. A functional resume emphasizes your skills while minimizing your work history.
Combination: As the title suggests, a combination resume combines elements of both the chronological and functional formats, placing an even focus on skills and experience.

Once you choose a format and know which sections you need to fill in, review the next steps to keep your resume to one page.

Format It for One Page

The effective use of bullet points and formatting is crucial for a one-page resume to make the most of the available space.

Help keep your resume to one page by remembering the following:

Use bullet points for clarity. Bullet points make it easier for employers to scan your resume and quickly identify your key responsibilities and achievements. Each bullet should start with an action verb and be concise.
Headers and sections. Clearly label each section with bold headers to help organize your resume and guide the reader through your qualifications.
Consistent formatting. Use a consistent font size and style throughout your resume, and ensure that your bullet points, dates, and section headers are uniformly formatted.
Adjust margins. Typically, resume margins are 1 inch on all sides, but you can reduce them to 0.5 inch if necessary to maximize space. That said, avoid overcrowding your resume with text. Ensure there's enough whitespace to make the page readable.

By paying attention to bullet points and formatting, you can create a clean, professional-looking resume that makes a strong impression, even within the constraints of a single page.

Prioritize Impactful Content

Given the limited space on a one-page resume, it's essential to prioritize the most relevant and impactful information. You want the reader to understand very quickly why they should consider you for the position.

To do that, use the following tips:

Tip #1

Be Selective With Content

Prioritize relevance. Focus on the experiences, skills, and achievements that are most relevant to the job you're applying for. Cut out any information that doesn't directly contribute to showcasing your qualifications for that specific role.
Highlight key achievements. Rather than listing every duty you performed in previous roles, concentrate on your top accomplishments that demonstrate your value to potential employers.

Tip #2

Use Clear, Concise Language

Avoid jargon. Use straightforward language that is easy to understand. Avoid industry-specific jargon unless it is directly relevant to the job you're applying for.
Keep it brief. Write in short, impactful sentences. Each bullet point should be concise and to the point, summarizing your accomplishments in just a few words.
Use action-oriented language. Begin each bullet point with a strong action verb to convey your responsibilities and achievements more dynamically.

Tip #3

Quantify Achievements

Use numbers. Whenever possible, quantify your accomplishments with numbers, percentages, or other metrics. For example, instead of saying "Improved sales," say "Increased sales by 20% over 6 months."
Showcase impact. Highlight the outcomes of your work by focusing on the results you achieved. This helps employers understand the tangible benefits you can bring to their organization.

Tip #4

Tailor Your Resume to Each Job

Customize for each application. Adjust the content of your resume to match the specific job description. Emphasize the skills and experiences that are most aligned with what the employer is looking for.
Use keywords. Incorporate keywords from the job posting into your resume. This not only helps with applicant tracking systems (ATS) but also ensures that your resume resonates with the hiring manager.

Pros & Cons of a One-Page Resume

By opting for a one-page resume, you demonstrate to potential employers that you can communicate your qualifications effectively, which can be a decisive factor in landing an interview. But does that mean a one-page resume is right for you? Let's examine the pros and cons:

Pros:

It forces you to be selective with the information you include, ensuring that every detail on your resume serves a purpose and adds value to your application.
A well-structured one-page resume can make a powerful first impression by showcasing your top achievements and skills right away.
For those early in their careers or with limited work experience, a one-page resume allows you to focus on your most relevant experiences.

Cons:

The limited space can make it challenging to fully showcase a diverse skill set, especially for candidates with a nontraditional career journey.
To condense your resume to one page, you might have to omit certain details that could be important to potential employers.
It may not be the best choice for those in senior or specialized roles that require a more detailed presentation of experience.

Balancing the pros and cons of a one-page resume is essential to determine if it's the right format for your particular situation. While it offers clarity and efficiency, it's important to consider whether a single page is sufficient to convey your full range of qualifications.

Key Takeaways

Prioritize easy reading.
Since most hiring managers spend little time reading a resume, keeping yours to one page helps bring your qualifications into focus.
Use it for most career levels.
Although entry-level candidates are more likely to use one-page resumes, career changers and experienced professionals can also find them useful.
Focus on priorities and format.
Keep your resume to one page by prioritizing content and using proper formatting.
Don't oversimplify.
One-page resumes do a great job of keeping things clear and efficient; however, they can also allow you to omit or oversimplify important information.
Check your spacing.
Make sure your one-page resume isn't too cramped or hard to read.

FAQ

Last Updated: January 29, 2026

Whether a resume should be one page depends on your career stage, industry, and the depth of your experience.

For early career professionals: A one-page resume is often ideal if you're just starting out, have limited work experience, or are a recent graduate. It allows you to present the most relevant information in a concise format that's easy for hiring managers to review quickly.
For mid-level professionals: If you have several years of experience but can effectively communicate your qualifications on one page, it's often preferable to do so. The focus should be on your most recent and impactful roles, along with key skills and achievements.
For senior-level professionals: If you have extensive experience, a two-page resume may be more appropriate to fully convey your expertise, especially if you've held multiple roles or have significant achievements that require additional detail.

In general, a one-page resume is effective when you can succinctly present your qualifications without leaving out critical information.

It's important to balance conciseness with completeness; if you need more space to adequately showcase your skills and experience, a two-page resume can be justified. The key is to ensure that your resume, whether one or two pages, is tailored, relevant, and impactful.

A one-page resume is often better for certain candidates, especially those who are early in their careers or have a focused work history. It forces you to be concise and highlight your most relevant skills and achievements, making it easier for employers to quickly assess your qualifications.

However, if you have extensive experience or a diverse background that's relevant to the job, a two-page resume might be more appropriate. The best resume isn't created by following the rules rigidly; it's written strategically to suit your specific career details and needs.

Yes, you can write a two-page resume if you have a wealth of experience or if your career history spans multiple roles, industries, or significant achievements that warrant additional space.

Just remember, even with a two-page resume, it's crucial to be selective and ensure that all the information included is relevant and adds value to your application. If your experience can be effectively communicated on one page, it's generally advisable to do so.

Fitting all your relevant experience on one page requires careful editing and prioritization. Focus on the most critical experiences, skills, and achievements that align with the job you're applying for.

Use bullet points to condense information and consider removing less relevant details. Adjust the layout by using smaller margins and consistent font sizes, and avoid unnecessary design elements that take up space.

If you absolutely cannot fit all of your experience on one page, you may need a longer resume to expand on it. Just be sure not to exceed two pages unless you're writing a CV.

If you're pursuing an academic, legal, or scientific role, you may need to write a CV instead of a resume.

If you have extensive experience but want to keep your resume to one page, focus on your most recent and relevant roles. Summarize older positions with brief bullet points or consider grouping similar roles together to save space.

Highlight your key achievements and skills that directly relate to the job you're applying for, and consider removing details that are less relevant or outdated.

No, you don't need to include every job you've ever had on a one-page resume. Focus on the most relevant positions that demonstrate your qualifications for the job you're applying for.

If you have gaps in your employment history or held positions that don't contribute to your overall career narrative, it's acceptable to leave them out, especially if they don't align with your current career goals.

To make your one-page resume stand out, focus on the content and presentation. Use strong action verbs to describe your achievements, quantify your results whenever possible, and tailor your resume to the specific job you're applying for by including relevant keywords.

Ensure the design is clean and professional, with clear headings and bullet points that make it easy for recruiters to quickly scan your resume.

While a one-page resume is suitable for most industries, especially for roles that require concise communication of skills and experience, some fields may allow or expect longer resumes. For example, academic or research positions often require a more detailed CV. However, for most business, marketing, manufacturing, warehousing, technology, and creative roles, a well-crafted one-page resume is often ideal.

When formatting a one-page resume, use a clean and professional layout with clear section headings. Stick to standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman, and keep the font size between 10 to 12 points. Use bullet points to list your achievements and responsibilities, and make sure there's enough white space to avoid overcrowding the page. Consistency in formatting helps create a polished and easy-to-read document.

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Conor is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches dedicated to helping job seekers excel in their careers.