What to Know About One-page Resumes

A one-page resume is typically the right length for a resume. What should you know about how to compose one? Find out here with our tips for one page resumes.

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One Page Resume

When writing a resume, length is one of the things you should be thinking about. Is it best to stand out with a two-page resume, or should you stick to a single page? Can you turn in a resume that’s shorter than a single page? Will your resume look strange if there’s too much white space? Here’s what you need to know about writing a resume that only has a single page.

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What Is a One-page Resume?

A one-page resume is any resume that fits completely on a single page, with no need for a second page. This doesn’t include the cover letter, which should always go on its own page. The single-page resume template is the most common template you’ll find, and most job seekers will use a single-page resume length. Your professional experience, skills section, education section, and any other information you want to include should all fit in this resume layout.

How to Know If a One-page Resume Is for You

Most people will use a one-page resume template. Recruiters usually expect you to turn in one page, and if you’re an entry-level worker, they’re definitely expecting you to turn in no more than a single page.
 
However, if you have over ten years of experience that you need to showcase, you might be able to bump your resume up to a two-page resume. This is only typically recommended if you have a lot of work history, you’ve earned a lot of achievements, and you have a good reason to show them all off – for example if you’re applying for an executive position. The biggest thing to remember is that a one-pager resume is typically your best option. You might think that a resume where you showcase all of your information would obviously be the best option, but if hiring managers don’t get to the second page, you can actually be hurting yourself. If you have any doubt, then do your best to cut down the job application to a single page.


Tips to Create a One-page Resume

So, you have a resume that’s a page and a quarter long, and you want to cut it down. Here are a few tips you can use to do it:

  • Use bullet points instead of paragraphs. For certain sections, including your skills section, this is expected.
  • Focus on your most relevant, pertinent skills and work experiences rather than creating a “laundry list” of assorted skills and experiences. Cut out anything that you don’t think will have a positive impact on your job search.
  • Only mention your most impressive achievements. If they aren’t eye-catching enough to make a hiring manager look twice, then cut them out.
  • Don’t list your references or state that references are available upon request. Recruiters know that your references are available upon request, and this wastes a line of space.
  • Reduce your resume margins very slightly if needed. You can typically reduce them down to as little as half an inch without the resume looking super-crowded.
  • Look into different professional resume templates. A two-column resume, for example, might work better for your particular layout.

Above all, one of the best suggestions is to invest in your resume design with a resume builder. The ResumeHelp resume builder includes many free one-page resume templates and modern resume templates, including minimalist designs that can help you fit more text onto a single page. Plus, with over 50,000 resume examples, you’re sure to find solid one-page resume examples you can pull from.


FAQ: One-page Resumes

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Q: Is it ever better to use a two-page resume?

This can be a better option if you have a lot of experience and you need to showcase it. However, in most situations, you can add extra details about your experience to your LinkedIn profile and include the link in your header with the rest of your contact information. Only include this if the job description is specifically asking for more than ten years of experience. Otherwise, a one-page resume is typically more than enough.

Q: What fonts should I use for a one-page resume?

You should generally use whatever resume fonts look clean and simple. Most commonly, these fonts like Arial and Helvetica. Note that because kerning, which is the space between words, can vary depending on the font, you might want to change the font if your resume is just barely too long. You may find that a different font very slightly reduces the length of the resume, allowing it to fit on one page.

Q: Can I remove experience and skills to make my resume one page?

You can definitely do this if the experience and skills are not relevant to the job. If the experience and skills aren’t a match for the job description, then they won’t help you get through applicant tracking systems (ATS), and you can usually remove them without any problems. However, if you’re getting to the point where you’re starting to remove experience and skills that do seem extremely relevant, you should opt for a two-page resume rather than omit important information.

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