The Great Resume Debate: One Page or Two?

The Case for a One-Page Resume

The one-page rule exists for a good reason. Recruiters are busy, and on average, they only spend a few seconds scanning each application. A concise, powerful, one-page resumé can be your best friend in these situations.

A one-page resume is likely your best bet if you are:

• A student or recent graduate: You're just starting out, so your relevant experience is naturally limited. Focus on internships, academic projects, and key skills.
• Someone with less than 10 years of experience: You can typically summarize your career highlights effectively without needing a second page.
• Making a career change: A shorter resumé helps you focus the narrative on your transferable skills, cutting out irrelevant past job duties.

The key to a killer one-page resume is relevance. Every single word should serve the purpose of getting you an interview for that specific job.

When Two Pages Are Actually Better

As your career progresses, your story gets longer. Trying to cram 15 years of achievements onto one page can do more harm than good, forcing you to use tiny fonts or cut out impressive accomplishments.

Don't be afraid to expand to two pages if you are:

A Seasoned Professional

If you have a decade or more of relevant experience, a two-page resumé is often necessary and expected. You have a rich history of promotions, projects, and quantifiable achievements that deserve space to shine. A second page allows you to detail your leadership experience and career progression without sacrificing readability.

In a Technical or Academic Field

For roles in IT, engineering, science, or academia, details matter. You may need extra space for:

• Project portfolios
• Technical skill inventories
• Lists of publications or patents
• Speaking engagements

In these cases, a one-page resumé would look incomplete.

The Golden Rules of Resume Length (No Matter the Page Count)

Whether you land on one page or two, these principles will ensure your resumé is effective.

1. Prioritize Relevance Above All

Your resumé isn't your autobiography. It's a targeted ad for a specific role. Before adding any experience, ask yourself: "Does this prove I can do the job I'm applying for?" If the answer is no, cut it.

2. Focus on Impact, Not Duties

Instead of listing what you did, show what you achieved. Use bullet points that start with strong action verbs and include numbers to quantify your success.

• Instead of: Responsible for managing social media accounts.
• Try: Grew social media engagement by 45% in six months by implementing a new content strategy.

This approach is not only more impressive but also more concise.

3. Let Your Formatting Breathe

Never—ever—shrink your font to a size 8 font or eliminate margins to fit more text. A wall of text is a surefire way to get your resumé tossed aside. Use clean headings, bullet points, and plenty of white space to guide the reader’s eye. A well-formatted two-page resumé is far better than a cramped one-pager.

4. The "Second Page Test"

If you’re writing a two-page resumé, make sure the second page is just as valuable as the first. It should contain compelling information that strengthens your candidacy, not just the leftover, less-important details. If your second page is only a few lines long, it’s time to edit and consolidate back to one page.

The Final Word on Page Count

Stop worrying about the "rules" and start thinking like a marketer. The ideal length for your resumé is the length that allows you to tell a clear, compelling, and relevant story about why you're the best person for the job.

Ultimately, whether you land on one page or two, the goal is to present a powerful, polished document. If you're struggling to get the formatting and content just right, using a professional tool can make all the difference. Many job seekers find that a dedicated builder, like the one at resumost.com, helps them create a clean, impactful resumé that perfectly fits their story.