how to get a resume on one page

Unsupported browser

This site was designed for modern browsers and tested with Internet Explorer version 10 and later.

It may not look or work correctly on your browser.

• Resume & CV

How to Make Your Resume Fit on One Single Page (18+ Quick Tips)

Unless you’re a senior level manager, executive, or you've got one of those jobs where licenses and certifications are required, you may not need a second page for your resume. A one-page resume is enough.

You might look at your resume and feel that everything there is crucial and can’t be deleted. 

Let’s get real though!

If your resume is two or more pages, you’re not making a serious effort to write a tailored and concise application. In this article, you'll learn how to create an effective one-page resume . We'll also share some great templates for one-page resumes from Envato Elements.

Jump to content in this section:

• Remove Unnecessary Information
• Use Smaller Margins
• Try Creative Resume Formats
• Use Smaller Fonts
• Use Bullet Points
• Consolidate Contact Information
• Create Quadrants to Divide Your Resume into Sections
• Reduce the Size of Your Contact Information and Address
• Use Multi-Purpose Lines
• Use Numerical Figures Instead of Spelling Them Out
• Remove Repetitive Bullets
• List Only Self-Explanatory Awards
• Remove Unnecessary Information About Your Education
• Trim Your Resume Summary
• Remove Unnecessary Headers
• Use Acronyms Wisely
• Remove References
• Remove Hobbies and Interests
• Write Your Name and Job Title
• Write a Summary
• Remove Unnecessary Elements to Save Space
• Revise Sections to Fit Your Needs
• List and Rate Your Skills

Make Your Resume Fit on One Page (Quickstart Video)

Are you wondering how to get your resume down to a single page? Do you need to know how to do it right now?Our quickstart video can help. We'll provide tips and instructions for how to shorten your resume.

To learn more about one page resumes, continue reading the tutorial below.

Should a Resume Be Only One Page?

There’s no simple answer to this question. The perfect resume length depends on your professional situation.

Only professionals with more than 10+ years of experience or lots of certifications and achievements should have a two-page resume. Entry level candidates and even those with a few years of experience under their belt, can benefit from writing a concise single page resume.

According to ere.net , a survey from ResumeGO conducted a study with 482 professionals. Recruiters were 2.3 times more likely to prefer two-page resumes for experienced individuals . This means that your resume length should match your experience level.

So, one-page resumes are great for those with less work experience and can fit it all on one page. But more experienced individuals should use a two-page resume.

Think of your resume like a movie highlights reel. O nly the best action scenes are included to build hype and intrigue people into watching the movie.

Of course, it’s hard to believe how you could benefit from a one-page resume when you’ve been accustomed to a two-page resume. Below are several benefits of using a single page resume:

• A single page resume stands out because most applicants send two pages or more.
• Your achievements and qualifications are easier to spot on a one-page resume because there’s less stuff to read.
• Many recruiters, especially those hiring for entry level jobs, claim they don’t read past the first page of an application.

18 Quick Tips: How to Fit Your Resume on One Page

It’s true, both students and professionals add more qualifications to their resumes today. There are more awards, self-study courses, internship projects, software skills, and extra-curricular activities available today compared to a few years back.

Unfortunately, it’s also the sheer number of these experiences that makes it hard to cut your resume’s length. Below are 18 tips that'll show you how to make your resume one page:

1. Remove Unnecessary Information

If you want to know how to make a resume fit on one page, remove any information irrelevant to the job you’re applying to.  Only focus on relevant experience for the job you're applying to.

So, if you're applying for an Engineering job, the sales job that you worked one summer isn’t relevant, and you should take it off your resume.

2. Use Smaller Margins

Don’t be afraid to play with the margins of your resume file. The default margin in MS Word is one inch or 2.54 centimeters on all sides. If you reduce that just a tiny bit, you can squeeze in more information on your resume.

If you’re not sure what the ideal margin size is, try adjusting all the sides to 0.5 inches while keeping the bottom at 0.65 inches. Continue adjusting the margin size until you find a combination that’s just right.

Make sure you save your resume in PDF to preserve the margins of your resume when it’s printed.

3. Try Creative Resume Formats

Try using double columns or different resume layouts to fit more information into one page. For instance, use a two-column format with a small right-hand side column where you can fit your skills and other contact information.

The resume template below has a creative format that makes full use of a three-column layout without making the one-page resume look squished. 

Here are some creative resume templates you can consider when shortening your resume:

4. Use Smaller Fonts

Wondering how to make a one-page resume? That’s easy: use smaller fonts.

"Use a smaller font for your headings and the main text in your resume. Most resume writers recommend starting with 12 point font, but you can shrink it to a minimum of 10 point if need be", says  Austin Belcak , Founder of Cultivated Culture, a website that helps applicants get jobs even if they don't have a referral.

The important thing is that your resume is still readable without zooming in.

If the text looks too compact, try adjusting the line spacing so it’s easier to read. Consider the two examples below for a comparison.

Resume sample: Georgia Size 10, single spacing

Resume sample: Georgia Size 10 but with 1.15 spacing

5. Use Bullet Points

Use bullet points instead of paragraphs. Write in short sentences, up to two lines at the most. Use keywords, numbers, and power words to come up with punchy statements without fluff.

6. Consolidate Contact Information

Combine all your contact information in one line and don’t put your whole address anymore. There’s no need to have a separate line for your email, phone, and address because you’re not writing a business letter. 

7. Create Quadrants to Divide Your Resume into Sections

People generally read resumes from left to right. That means a lot of the space in the right-hand side of the page goes to waste.

The infographic resume template below makes excellent use of quadrants to divide the resume into different sections and maximize margin space.

8. Reduce the Size of Your Contact Information and Address

Some people think this part of their resume needs to look fancy and attention grabbing. It doesn’t. If a recruiter wants to contact you, they'll find this information. But until that happens, they’re only focused on your qualifications.

Don’t waste the limited space on a one-page resume on your contact information. Just make sure your name and primary job title are slightly bigger than the rest of your resume, and then use a smaller size for the rest of the text. You can even use a slightly smaller size for the contact details because it’s not as important as your job experience and skills.

9. Use Multi-Purpose Lines

Look for opportunities to combine information into one line, such as your address and contact information, or your listed skills. Another example is combining your job title, employer’s name, and employment duration in one line instead of two.

Here’s one creative example for executives on how to get resume to one page:

10. Use Numerical Figures Instead of Spelling Them Out

Numerical figures occupy less space compared to the spelled-out version. Numbers also grab attention, so it’s a good way to draw a recruiter’s attention to certain parts of your resume.

11. Remove Repetitive Bullets

Use three to five bullets at most as a way to force yourself into selecting only the best skills and accomplishment for each role.

A quick way to do this is to remove tasks where you didn’t excel. You should also remove repetitive mention of the same task because the recruiter doesn’t need to read this many times. For instance, if you had customer service tasks at all your three jobs, only mention this skill at the company where you won an award or have a notable accomplishment.

12. List Only Self-Explanatory Awards

Don’t list awards that you need to explain for recruiters to appreciate. Recognition for sales, productivity, client satisfaction, customer service, are self-explanatory. Awards for innovation, best agent, or top performer need explanation. They would probably take more space.

13. Remove Unnecessary Information About Your Education

Only fresh graduates need to include their graduation year on a resume. Working students can benefit from including their high school information. But that’s no longer needed once you get your degree.

Those who have a few years of employment under their belt need no longer list their graduation year.  Just write the degree you've got and where you got it. Employers want to make sure that you've got a degree, that’s all.

If you're a new graduate, though. You may want to feature your education a bit more. Here's an article to help with that:

14. Trim Your Resume Summary

Remember, a resume summary is supposed to summarize your best qualities for the job. It shouldn’t have more than five lines for an introduction or 10 plus bullet points. If your resume summary is this long, there’s a chance that the recruiter won’t read through all of it because it’s obvious you didn’t bother tailoring it to the position they’re filling.

Trim your resume summary to three lines of text and five to seven bullet points max. Read the tutorial below for a complete guide on how to write a resume summary that works for a single page resume.

15. Remove Unnecessary Headers

The resume summary and contact information don’t need headers of their own. It’s obvious what they are so you don’t need to waste a few lines on them. If you've got volunteer and corporate experience, you can also combine this into one section to save space.

16. Use Acronyms Wisely

Use industry-accepted acronyms for tasks related to your job. For instance, write “P&L” instead of profit and loss statement to save space. “R&D” is also a completely acceptable replacement for research and development.

Don’t use this technique for skills and licenses though. The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) some employers are using might search for the whole phrase and not just the acronyms. You don’t want your application to be ignored just because you want to save space.

17. Remove References

References can make your resume into a two-page resume. But if you want to make it into a one-page resume, you should remove the references unless the job specifically asks for them. Most of the time, they aren’t necessary and take up extra space.

18. Remove Hobbies and Interests

Removing hobbies and interests can be one way to make a resume fit on one page.

Most of the time, hobbies and interests aren’t necessary. Only include them if you want to fill up space on your resume and if they're relevant to the job that you're applying to.

How to Quickly Make a One-Page Resume in Word (With Templates)

You've just learned how to make your resume fit one page. Now it's time to learn how to use a template for your one-page resume.

You can create a simple resume template yourself by using Microsoft Word. But that might take hours of inserting tables, columns, and headers. Instead, you've got hundreds of options when it comes to easy-to-edit MS Word Resume Templates on Envato Elements. 

Let's take a closer look at how to fit a resume on one page using this template:

1. Write Your Name and Job Title

Select the correct text box then fill it out with your information. In the example template below, that’s the name and job title.

2. Write a Summary

Use a small font and a combination of two to three paragraphs and up to five bullet points if there’s not enough space in the box allotted for your summary.

Here’s what it looks like on the template:

And here’s what it looks like using bullet points:

3. Remove Unnecessary Elements to Save Space

In this case, remove the text box for the location of each job entry. Combine the lines for “ Position Held ” and “Y our Company ” (Employer’s name) to save space.

Unless your degree is specialized, combined or need any explanation, you can also remove the text box for the education section.

4. Revise Sections to Fit Your Needs

These templates have a section for “ Certificates .” But feel free to revise that section header to “ Continuing Education ” to include seminars, licenses, or other qualifications. If you don’t have anything to list that could be considered as continuing education, use this section for awards or another job entry.

Just rename the header name to the appropriate title and revise the boxes below to include the information you would like.

5. List and Rate Your Skills

Choose 10 skills, preferably a combination of technical, job-specific, and soft-skills. Write them on your resume grouped according to the skill type, then rate yourself on a scale of one to five. 

Do you want to use another template for your resume? Check out this post to find more one-page resume template designs:

Top 5 One-Page Resume Templates From Envato Elements

As mentioned earlier, Envato Elements is one of the best places to find top quality one-page resume templates . The templates from Envato Elements have modern designs and can easily be customized to fit your style. 

Some of them also include a matching cover letter as well as a business card design. So, you get the complete package to wow potential employers. 

Here are some of the best one-page resume templates from Envato Elements to build your resume in 2023 and beyond. 

1. Resume — Elegant One-Page Resume Template

The first resume on this list has an elegant and simple design. The template is easy to customize and comes in Illustrator format. 

Add your own photo, change colors and fonts. Style it to match your look. The template also includes a matching cover letter.

2. Resume CV Template 24

This resume template has a grid-based layout and four different quadrants to make organizing the information easy. Edit the template in Photoshop and Illustrator. It was designed in A4 size. 

3. CV Resume Professional

Try this resume template if you’re looking for a clean resume that’s easy to edit. With Illustrator, Photoshop, and Word versions, you can easily customize this template in the program you’re most familiar with. The template also has well organized layers and comes with a complete list of fonts used.

4. One-Page Resume CV

This resume template is perfect if you’re looking for something completely customizable. The template comes in three different color versions. It includes a resume template as well as a matching cover letter. You’ll also find a list of fonts and a help file.

5. CV Resume Vol.2

Here’s another clean and simple resume template that fits on a single page. Edit this template in Illustrator and Word. Add your information, customize the colors, and change fonts. The template comes in A4 size.

Frequently Asked Resume Questions

Do you have questions other than does a resume have to be one page? Here are some common resume questions and answers:

1. How Do I Include Freelance Work on My Resume?

There are several problems people run into when adding freelance work to their resume. Some of these problems include:

• What job title do I give myself?
• How much detail do I include about my projects?
• I have a freelance job and work full-time. Do I include both?

These are all good questions that are answered in this article:

2. How Do I Personalize My Resume in Microsoft Word?

There are many different ways to personalize your resume in Microsoft Word. One of the ways is to install a font. Many premium templates come with a unique font that you can install to make your resume stand out. To find out more ways to personalize your resume in Microsoft Word read this article: 

3. How Do I Make My Resume Stand Out?

You can make your resume stand out by using different types of resumes. For example, you could use a personal one-page resume website template that is unique but not off-putting to hiring managers. This article has more creative resume ideas: 

4. How Do I List My Skills On My Resume?

Listing professional skills on your resume is important. Both hard and soft skills can go on your resume. To find out how to effectively list skills on your resume, read this article: 

5. How Do I Email My Resume?

Most of the time, you apply for jobs online. This could mean that you need to email your resume. When emailing your resume, you need to be able to do it professionally. For a quick guide, read this article: 

More Awesome Resume Templates

One-page resumes are great if you’re just getting started. But if you’re a seasoned professional or if you need more pages, there are plenty of other resume templates on our marketplaces. Check out the articles below to see even more great resume template designs.

Learn More About Building a Great Resume

Creating a great resume isn't easy. Luckily, we've got plenty of tutorials to help you out. Learn more about creating a great resume with these tutorials:

Build Your Single Page Resume Now

Should a resume be only one page? There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the right resume length. It all depends on your job history and whether you’re exploring a new career in a different direction.

If you do need a one-page resume, remember that it’s totally possible to squeeze in all the important information in your once two-page resume into a single-page resume. You just have to get creative in your formatting and design and get selective about the information you include. The tips listed above on how to make a one-page resume should help.

Using the right resume template will make this easier for you. Envato Elements has a wide selection of resume templates that you can easily edit on Photoshop or MS Word. 

Editorial Note: This tutorial was originally published on March 28, 2019.  It's been revised to make it current, accurate, and up to date by our staff—with special help from  Brenda Barron and Sarah Joy . A video has been added by Andrew Childress .

6 Pro Tips for Cutting Your Resume Down to One Page

You know you’re supposed to have a one-page resume . No matter how much you want to cling to your two-pager, we both know that—unless you’re applying to a high-level executive position—no one actually makes it past the first page. You might as well bite the bullet and get all the important bits on one, 8.5x11" document.

So, how do you actually accomplish that without using an eight-point font? (And, no, no one wants that either.) Here are a few tips to get you started.

1. Trim Your Margins

Someone somewhere decided that default page margins should be one inch all around. I have no idea where this notion comes from, but what a waste of space! Of course, you don’t want to go to the absolute edge of printability, but a healthy half-inch margin all around will give you some more surface area and still allow for ample white space.

2. Combine Sections

Creating new sections is a great strategy for rearranging some of your experiences, but new sections mean new headings—and headings take space. So, if you’re trying to cut down, make sure you only have three or four sections on your resume. Try combining sections into something like, “Skills & Interests.” Or, if you feel your achievements and interests are too varied, consider throwing everything that wouldn’t go under your experience or education into an “Additional Information” section.

3. Create Multiuse Lines

If you originally wrote your resume to fit two pages, you may have gotten a little too generous with what warrants its own line. For example, you may have given your college GPA its own line. Ignoring the debate about whether or not your GPA’s relevant anymore , it’s things like this that should be tucked away into another line—maybe in between your degree and your graduation year.

The same is true for your company and job title. They don’t have to be on separate lines. Neither do your street address, phone number, and email address. This can all be one line across, under your name. In fact, you actually don’t even need to include your street address anymore—especially if you’re not currently in town.

4. Maximize the Line Spacing

And by maximize, I mean use as little as possible, obviously. In Microsoft Word, you can manually set the spacing between lines and new sections. It frequently defaults to something quite generous, so at the very least, change it so that there is no additional spacing between lines.

You can fiddle with this under the paragraph settings. While you’re messing with the line spacing, go ahead and set your entire resume to 10-point font (except your name, which should be 14-point or more).

5. Shorten Bullets

Your bullet points are really the meat of your resume. This is where you actually talk about your experience. To ensure that people actually read them, absolutely do not let them trail on to a third line. Two lines max, but preferably one.

To decide between one or two lines, use your space efficiently. If your bullet is one line, plus a little bit that dangles onto the next, find a way to condense your language down. Ultimately, you’re going for a dangler-free resume.

6. Understand the Reality of the Situation

So far, I haven’t actually suggested cutting any content, but it had to happen eventually. You’re going to have to cut stuff .

Really think hard about whether or not each item on your resume is relevant for the job you’re applying for. Try to be objective. If an experience would only potentially be interesting to a hiring manager, cut it in favor of the things you know will make you stand out. I know—it’s not easy to go line by line and kill your darlings. But in the end, you’ll have a better, cleaner document.

I must confess that I actually really enjoy trying to squeeze a person’s professional identity onto one page. For me, it’s a fun little challenge. So, if you’re struggling, try approaching this process as a mental puzzle or game. Now, go solve it.

How to get your resume down to one page

You know that recruiters don’t spend much time reviewing resumes, so you want to get yours down to one page.

A great idea, but it can be difficult to execute.

How do you cut the size down without losing important content or making it look messy?

Here are 21 tips to help reduce your resume down to one page, and still ensure you land job interviews.

Resume templates 

Formatting tips

When looking to trim down your resume , always start with formatting tips.

Format adjustments to the style of your resume allow you to reduce it’s size without removing any of the content you’ve included.

Reduce page margins

One of the easiest ways to save space on your resume is by reducing the page margins.

Page margins are the space around the outside of the page, between the content and the edge of the document.

You should always leave a small margin to keep the resume looking tidy, but reducing it by a few points will increase the amount of text you can get onto the page.

Here’s how to reduce page margins in Microsoft Word . Click the “Layout” tab, then select “Margins”

Reduce line spacing

Another way to save space on your resume is to reduce the spacing between lines of text, paragraphs or sections.

This can be done by adjusting the line spacing settings in your word processor. However, be careful not to cram too much text together, as this can make your resume difficult to read.

A line spacing of 1 or 1.15 should be sufficient to strike a balance between space-saving and readability.

Remove photos

While it may be tempting to include a photo on your resume, it’s generally not necessary and can take up valuable space.

Unless you’re applying for a job in the entertainment or fashion industry, most employers won’t be interested in seeing what you look like.

Removing the photo can free up a lot of space in your resume and make it easier to fit everything onto one page.

Remove unnecessary design features

Design features like colored side bars, borders, and icons may look nice, but they can also make your resume more difficult to read and take up valuable space.

When trying to reduce your resume to one page, it’s best to stick with a simple, clean one-column layout. Use bold or italic text to highlight important information, and avoid adding anything that might take up space unnecessarily.

Reduce size of name and contact details

While it’s important to include your name and contact details on your resume, they don’t need to take up tons of space.

Use a smaller font size or reduce the spacing between lines to make these details more compact. Just make sure that your name and contact information are still easy to read and clearly visible.

Also think about the format you are including this information in. For example; does a recruiter really need to see your full address at the top of your resume? Or would it be sufficient to just include your town, to give them a general idea of where you can commute to?

Reduce font size

When trying to fit everything into one page, reducing the font size is an obvious but useful strategy.

But remember it’s important to make sure that the text remains legible for recruiters and hiring managers. A font size of 10 is generally the smallest you should go, and using a clear, simple font like Arial or Calibri can help ensure that your resume remains functional.

However small you choose to go, just make sure it can still be easily read.

Use multiple columns

If you find that you have lots of blank space on the right-hand side of your resume, then using multiple columns can be a helpful strategy.

This can be done by creating a table or using a resume template that includes multiple columns. Just be sure to keep the layout clean and easy to read, and avoid cramming too much information into each column.

One area of your resume where this works especially well is the Core Skills section.

Fill white space

If you find that your resume has large areas of white space anywhere on the page – just fill them.

For example, if you have a big block of unused space in the top-right corner, think about what other content from the resume you could move there.

Perhaps your contact details could be moved into it, or even your core skills.

Just play around with the layout until you find something that works.

Content tips

If you have exhausted all of the above formatting tips, you’ll need to start cutting down on the content.

Here are some tips on how to do so, without removing the important stuff that hiring managers need to see .

Remove very old work experience

If you have a lot of work experience, it’s usually not necessary to include it all on your resume.

Definitely remove work experience that is more than 10 years old, and consider removing anything 5 years older if you are really struggling for space. This will help keep your resume focused because hiring managers will mainly be interested in your recent work, as a way of gauging your current abilities.

Summarize old roles

If you do decide to include older work experience, consider summarizing it rather than providing a detailed description with lots of bullet points .

For example, instead of listing every job duty you had 15 years ago, you could simply state the job title, company, and provide a one sentence overview.

Group multiple roles into a batch

If you’ve had multiple roles within the same company (or even industry) consider grouping them together under a single heading. This can help save space on your resume and make it easier to read for time-strapped recruiters.

For example, you could list your job title as “ Marketing Manager / Marketing executive (2010-2016) ” and then provide a brief description of your responsibilities and promotions during that time.

Or you could write something like “ Various banking project manager roles – 2001-2007 ”

Write more succinctly

When it comes to writing your resume, less is often more. Be sure to use clear and concise language, and avoid rambling or including unnecessary information.

Review your sentences and remove words or details that aren’t necessary to tell your story.

Use digits instead of written numbers

To save space on your resume, consider using digits instead of written numbers wherever possible.

For example, you could write “increased sales by 25%” instead of “increased sales by twenty-five percent.” This will help keep your resume focused and concise.

Reduce personal information

While it’s important to include your contact information on your resume (cell number and email address) you don’t need to include personal details like your marital status, age, or race.

This information is not relevant to your ability to carry out the job, and recruiters do not need to see it on your resume.

Make use of links

If you have an online portfolio or personal website that showcases your work, try including a link to it on your resume.

This can provide lots of additional proof of your skills and knowledge for recruiters to look at, and will only take a few characters of space on the page.

Remove mentions of references

Employers cannot ask to contact your references until after they have interviewed you and made you a formal job offer.

This means that there is no need to put any reference details on your resume, or even state that “reference are available on request”

If you have any mention of references on your resume, removing them is a quick and easy way of saving space.

Reduce the size of your summary

If you have a summary or objective statement at the top of your resume, it should not be longer than 4-6 sentences.

If it is, you need to cut it down.

Your summary is intended to be a high-level overview of your skills and experience, so keep it brief and save the detail for your work experience section.

Remove hobbies and interests

Hobbies and interests do not normally have any impact on a hiring decision.

Unless you have a specific hobby or interest that’s directly related to the job (for example, if you’re applying for a job in the fitness industry and you’re an avid runner), it’s best to leave this information off when shooting for a one-page resume.

Remove non-vital certifications

If you have a lot of certifications, consider removing those that aren’t essential to the job you’re applying for.

For example if you are applying for legal jobs then it will be imperative to keep your law degree in the resume – but you can probably remove your high school grades and first-aid certificate.

This will help keep your resume focused and prevent the education section from becoming too long.

Use acronyms

Using acronyms can be a great way to save space on your resume, especially when it comes to technical terms or industry-specific jargon.

For example, instead of writing out “Search Engine Optimization,” you could simply write “SEO.” Just be sure to use acronyms that are widely recognized and understood within your industry.

Tailor your resume heavily

One of the most important things you can do to reduce your resume to one page is to tailor it heavily to the job you’re applying for.

This means cutting out anything that is not relevant to match the requirements of the positions you are applying for.

If you are really struggling to get size down to one page, you can be really brutal here.

Use keywords from the job posting, and make sure that your resume only highlights the skills and experience that are most relevant to the job.

This will also help ensure that your resume stands out to employers and increases your chances of landing an interview.

Does your resume need to be one page?

Although one page resumes have their advantages, your resume doesn’t necessarily need to be one page.

The length of your resume will depend on your individual circumstances and the expectations of the industry you’re applying to.

For example, if you’re a recent college graduate with limited work experience, a one-page resume may be appropriate. However, if you have extensive experience or a long list of accomplishments, a two-page resume may be more suitable – and won’t necessarily offend recruiters.

That being said, it’s important to keep in mind that employers are often pressed for time and may not have the bandwidth to review lengthy resumes.

It’s generally a good idea to keep your resume as concise and focused as possible, highlighting only the most important information and accomplishments.

Ultimately, the goal is to create a strong and compelling resume that effectively communicates your skills, experience, and qualifications – and this can be done effectively with one or two pages.

Pros of a one page resume

• Easy for recruiters to read – A one page resume can be quickly and easily reviewed by employers, saving them time and increasing your chances of making it past the initial screening process .
• Focus on important attributes – A concise and focused one page resume can highlight your most relevant skills and experience quickly, helping you stand out as a strong candidate for the job.
• Show off communication skills – A one page resume can demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively and efficiently, which is an important skill in many industries.

Cons of a one page resume

• Not enough detail – A one page resume may not provide enough space to fully showcase your qualifications and experience – particularly if you have extensive work history or a complect profession.
• Not always industry suitable – A one page resume may not be appropriate for certain industries or positions, where a more detailed and comprehensive resume may be expected ,such as technical or scientific roles.

• Skip to Content
• Skip to Sidebar
• Skip to Footer

Resume Genius

The World's Smartest Resume Builder

Monday to Friday, 8AM – 12AM (Midnight) and Saturdays and Sundays, 10AM – 6PM EDT (866) 215-9048

Blog Resume Help One Page Resume: Should a Resume Be One Page?

One Page Resume: Templates & How to Write

One page resumes are the standard for most jobs. Learn how to write a one page resume that highlights your key experience with our writing guide, one-page resume templates, and real-life examples.

As featured in *

One page resume templates

How to fit your resume on one page.

In most cases, one page is the ideal resume length . Unless you have 10+ years of relevant experience and a lot of professional achievements to showcase, you should be able to summarize your most relevant skills and experience in one page.

Certified Professional Resume Writer Eva Chan explains why a one-page resume is your best option at 2:48 in this video:

If you have more than 10 years of experience and need the extra space to showcase the extent of your qualifications, you can try a two page resume .

One of the easiest ways to keep your resume short (aside from using a resume builder ) is to use a one page resume template to help you format your information concisely.

These six templates are free to download and designed to fit all your information on one clean page.

1. Corporate

6. Executive

Written by a CEO with decades of work experience, this one page resume example demonstrates that no career is too long to condense into a single page.

Our free-to-use resume builder can make you a resume in as little as 5 minutes. Just pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.

While it may seem difficult, it’s always possible to fit your information into one page without cutting out key skills and experience (even Elon Musk’s resume can be kept to a single page).

These five tips will help you learn how to condense your resume into one page without sacrificing any important details.

1. Focus on your key accomplishments

If you have an extensive amount of work experience, it can be tempting to include a variety of accomplishments on your resume .

However, to keep your resume to one page, concentrate on two to three of your most impressive and directly relevant achievements. Cut redundant information and anything that doesn’t apply to your target role.

2. Tailor your resume to the position

Listing every job you’ve ever had uses up valuable space and adds a lot of irrelevant information to your resume.

If you’ve had more than four previous jobs, include only the two or three most relevant to the job you’re applying for. This makes your resume easy to scan and quickly shows hiring managers that you’re qualified.

Resume examples for different industries

Not sure what your resume should look like? The best way to learn is by taking inspiration from resume examples written by other candidates in your industry.

3. Cut unnecessary sections

Job seekers often use up important space on their resume with sections that don’t provide valuable information, or even belong on their resume at all.

Including volunteer work or interests on your resume can be helpful when you have limited work experience, they should be the first thing to go if you need to free up space for your work experience.

Additionally, you shouldn’t include references on your resume . Most employers don’t require references at all, and others will ask to see your references later in the hiring process.

4. Tweak your resume’s formatting

If you find yourself running out of space, try modifying your resume’s formatting to help it fit on one page.

Try making the following adjustments to maximize space on the page:

• Use bullet points instead of paragraphs
• Reduce your resume’s margins
• Make your resume’s font smaller (although anything below 10pt might be hard to read)
• List skills on a single line or in a sidebar
• Reduce paragraph or bullet point indentation
• Make the space between sections narrower

Used together, small changes like these can help you pack in significantly more information onto a single page without looking crowded or messy.

5. Write concise bullet points

Each bullet point in your experience section should be kept to one or two lines (at most). Short, achievement-oriented bullet points backed up with hard numbers are the best way to concisely communicate your abilities to hiring managers.

Here’s an example of a bullet point that is concise, but conveys all necessary information:

Developed new business by cultivating solid relationships with clients, increasing the number of high-worth clients by 30% in less than 2 years.

Ida Pettersson

Career Coach and Resume Expert

Committed to empowering job seekers of all experience levels to take the next step in their careers, Ida helps professionals navigate the job hunt from start to finish. After graduating from New College of Florida with a B.A. in Philosophy and Chinese Language and Culture, Ida moved to Hong Kong to begin her own career journey and finally settled in Taiwan. Her insights on resume writing, interview strategies, and career development have been featured on websites such as LawCareers.net, Digital Marketer, and SheCanCode.

Subscribe to our newsletter

By clicking “Submit” you agree to receive marketing communications from our site, and to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy . You can unsubscribe at any time.

Thanks for subscribing!

We're thrilled to be a part of your professional journey! Stay tuned for the most up-to-date job news, free resources, and expert advice for your job hunt and career.

One Page Resume: Should a Resume Be One Page?

Click to rate this article

4.8 Average rating

Related Articles

Resume Help

Conrad Benz

Corissa Peterson

The Resume Genius Team

Nathan Soto

Emily Crowley

100% FREE TEMPLATES

Use our templates to win the job.

Each template on our website was designed by HR and hiring professionals to help jobseekers easily apply for work.

Sign up for more free templates & career resources!

In addition to this template, you'll also receive:

• Early access to our newest premium templates
• Job-specific resume tips & free examples
• Access to our exclusive newsletter for jobseekers
• Notifications of product improvements

* By sharing your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from our team. You can easily opt out of future emails on the dashboard of your account or by unsubscribing directly from the link at the bottom of an email you receive from us.

• Career Blog

One Page Resume: The Ultimate Guide and Examples for 2024

A one page resume is a shortened, condensed version of a traditional resume that highlights key skills and experiences on a single page. This format is becoming increasingly popular due to its ease of use and ability to quickly communicate important information to potential employers.

Why Should You Use a One Page Resume?

With the job market becoming more competitive, job seekers need to find ways to stand out from the crowd. A one page resume is a great way to do this. It allows you to showcase your most relevant skills and experiences to potential employers without overwhelming them with unnecessary information.

Benefits of a One Page Resume

There are many benefits to using a one page resume, including:

Increased readability: A one page resume is easier to read and digest than a longer, more complicated resume.

Improved chances of getting noticed: With so many job applications flooding in, employers are more likely to take notice of a concise, well-crafted one page resume.

Ability to highlight key skills and experiences: By focusing on the most relevant information, job seekers can better showcase their qualifications to potential employers.

Simplified application process: Many recruiters and hiring managers prefer one page resumes because they are easier to handle and manage.

A one page resume is an effective way to present your qualifications and stand out in a competitive job market. By carefully crafting your one page resume, you can increase your chances of catching the attention of potential employers and landing your dream job.

Researching and Preparing Your Resume

When it comes to creating a one-page resume that stands out from the crowd, a significant part of the process is researching and preparing your resume. This section will cover four critical areas: knowing your audience, identifying your transferable skills, understanding resume formatting, and choosing the right font.

A. Knowing Your Audience

Before diving into writing your resume, you need to know your audience. The person who will be reviewing your resume will be looking for specific skills and qualifications based on the job that they are hiring for. Research the company you are applying to and try to understand their needs and values. This will help you tailor your resume to the specific job and stand out from other applicants.

B. Identifying Your Transferable Skills

Transferable skills are those that can be used in various professions and industries. Identifying your transferable skills is crucial when creating a one-page resume. These skills may include communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving. Be sure to highlight them in your resume, as they will be important to the person reviewing your application.

C. Understanding Resume Formatting

Resume formatting can play a significant role in whether your resume gets noticed or not. Use bullet points, headings, and proper spacing to make your resume visually appealing and easy to read. Be consistent with your formatting, use a clear and concise language, and avoid using jargon or buzzwords. Keep in mind that your resume should be easy to scan, and the most important information should be at the top.

D. Choosing the Right Font

Choosing the right font may seem like a minor detail, but it can impact the overall look and feel of your resume. Use a font that is easy to read, such as Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri. Avoid using decorative or script fonts, as they can be difficult to read. Keep your font size between 10-12 points, and use bold or italics for emphasis.

Researching and preparing your resume is an essential part of creating a one-page resume that stands out. By knowing your audience, identifying your transferable skills, understanding resume formatting, and choosing the right font, you can create a resume that showcases your strengths and increases your chances of getting hired.

Writing Your One Page Resume

As a job seeker, the ultimate goal is to catch the attention of potential employers and showcase your professional value. In the age of information overload, the one page resume has become a vital tool to communicate a condensed representation of your experience and achievements. In this section, we will guide you through the essential sections of your one page resume: crafting your professional summary, highlighting your relevant experience, showcasing your achievements, and including your education and certifications.

A. Crafting Your Professional Summary

Your professional summary is the first thing that recruiters will see in your resume. Creating a compelling and engaging summary will help you to stand out from other applicants. Keep in mind, that it should be concise, focused and relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Some key elements to consider when writing your professional summary are:

• Highlight your top skills, expertise, and experience.
• Mention your most relevant accomplishments.
• Use industry-specific keywords and phrases to demonstrate your knowledge.
• Communicate your career aspirations.

As a rule of thumb, your professional summary should be no longer than 3-4 lines. This section is often called the elevator pitch, think of it as an objective statement to capture the reader’s attention and encourage them to read more.

B. Highlighting Your Relevant Experience

Highlighting your relevant experience means focusing on the most relevant job experiences, skills, and accomplishments related to the job you’re applying for. Remember to switch throughout your resume to a results-oriented approach. Detail how you contributed and added value to your previous roles.

The key to highlighting relevant experience is to tailor your resume to the job description. Read the job description carefully, identify the requirements and qualifications, and use them as a guide to showcase your relevant work experience.

C. Showcasing Your Achievements

Your achievements demonstrate how you’ve contributed to and impacted the organizations you’ve worked for. When showcasing your achievements, use active language and strong verbs that showcase your success.

Here are some tips to help you showcase your achievements:

• Quantify your accomplishments with numbers, facts, and figures.
• Use bullet points to make it easier to read and present information in a structured way.
• Use persuasive language that demonstrates your ability to exceed expectations.
• Highlight achievements that are most relevant to the job position you’re applying for.

D. Including Your Education and Certifications

Your highest level of education and professional certifications can demonstrate your qualifications and your commitment to your profession. Depending on the position, this section can be placed before or after professional experience. When writing this section, make sure to highlight the relevant qualifications and certifications that are most relevant to the job you are applying for.

Writing a one page resume requires crafting a professional summary that highlights your top skills and expertise, focusing on relevant experience while showcasing your most significant achievements, and demonstrating your qualifications and certifications.

Tips for Optimizing Your One Page Resume

As technology continues to advance, it is becoming increasingly important to optimize your one-page resume to ensure that it stands out in the crowded job market. Here are four tips to help you optimize your one-page resume:

A. Incorporating Keywords

Keywords play a critical role in ensuring that your one-page resume is noticed by hiring managers and recruiters. To determine which keywords to use, take a close look at the job description and identify the skills and qualifications that are required for the position. Use those keywords throughout your resume, including in your summary, education, work experience, and skills sections.

B. Utilizing Action Words

When writing your one-page resume, it is important to use strong action words to describe your accomplishments and duties. Use words such as “achieved,” “managed,” “created,” or “implemented” to convey your achievements and responsibilities. This not only highlights your past accomplishments but also gives a glimpse of your potential impact on future employers.

C. Quantifying Your Accomplishments

While it is crucial to highlight your duties and responsibilities in your one-page resume, it is equally important to quantify your achievements. Use numbers or percentages to showcase your impact in previous roles. For example, instead of saying “led a team,” say “managed a team of ten employees, resulting in a 30% increase in productivity.” This approach highlights the value you bring to the table and can set you apart from other candidates.

D. Tailoring Your Resume for Each Job Application

Finally, tailor your one-page resume to each job application you submit. This includes using the keywords, action words, and quantified accomplishments that are relevant to the role. Be sure to also highlight how your skills and experience align with the job requirements, and customize your resume to match the company’s culture and mission.

Optimizing your one-page resume by incorporating keywords, utilizing action words, quantifying your accomplishments, and tailoring it to each job application can significantly improve your chances of landing a job interview. Use these tips to create an effective one-page resume that catches the eye of recruiters and hiring managers.

Examples of One Page Resumes

In this section, we will provide you with three examples of one page resumes for entry-level, mid-career, and executive positions. These examples will give you an idea of how to tailor your resume based on your experience level and the position you are applying for.

Example #1: Entry-Level Position

123 Main Street | City, State | (123) 456-7890 |  [email protected]

Motivated and detail-oriented recent graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration seeking an entry-level position in the finance industry. Strong analytical skills, solid understanding of financial principles, and a demonstrated ability to work in a team environment. Eager to contribute to the success of a dynamic organization and gain practical experience in financial analysis and reporting.

• Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance)
• XYZ University
• City, State
• Graduation: Month Year
• Financial analysis
• Data analysis
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Financial modeling
• Microsoft Excel
• Communication
• Problem-solving

Financial Analysis Project

• Conducted comprehensive financial analysis on a publicly traded company, including ratio analysis, trend analysis, and financial statement interpretation.
• Prepared a detailed report summarizing the company’s financial performance and providing recommendations for improvement.
• Presented findings to a panel of faculty members and industry professionals.

Intern | ABC Company

City, State | Month Year – Month Year

• Assisted the finance team with various tasks, including data entry, financial report preparation, and expense tracking.
• Collaborated with colleagues to analyze financial data and identify trends and patterns.
• Contributed to the development of financial models and forecasts to support decision-making processes.

Certifications

• Financial Modeling Certification
• Microsoft Excel Certification
• Fluent in English and Spanish

Example #2: Mid-Career Position

Sarah Johnson

456 Elm Street | City, State | (123) 456-7890 |  [email protected]

Results-driven finance professional with 7+ years of experience in financial analysis, budgeting, and strategic planning. Proven track record of optimizing financial performance, implementing cost-saving measures, and driving business growth. Strong analytical skills, leadership abilities, and expertise in financial modeling and forecasting. Seeking a mid-career position in a progressive organization to utilize skills and contribute to the achievement of financial objectives.

Financial Analyst | XYZ Company

City, State | Month Year – Present

• Conduct financial analysis to identify trends, assess performance, and provide recommendations for improvement.
• Develop and maintain financial models for budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to analyze business cases, assess investment opportunities, and support decision-making processes.
• Prepare and present financial reports and presentations to senior management.
• Streamline financial processes, resulting in improved efficiency and accuracy.

Senior Accountant | ABC Company

• Managed the company’s financial accounting processes, including general ledger maintenance, reconciliations, and month-end close activities.
• Prepared financial statements, budgets, and forecasts.
• Implemented internal controls and ensured compliance with accounting principles and regulations.
• Led a team of junior accountants, providing guidance and support in day-to-day operations.
• Master of Business Administration (Finance)
• Financial analysis and modeling
• Strategic planning
• Financial reporting
• Cost analysis
• Process improvement
• Team management
• Advanced Microsoft Excel
• ERP systems (SAP, Oracle)
• Certified Financial Analyst (CFA)
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

Example #3: Executive Position

Michael Thompson

789 Oak Street | City, State | (123) 456-7890 |  [email protected]

Accomplished executive with over 15 years of experience in senior leadership roles, driving business growth, and delivering exceptional results. Proven track record of strategic planning, operational excellence, and building high-performing teams. Skilled in financial management, business development, and organizational leadership. Seeking an executive position to leverage expertise and drive continued success in a dynamic and challenging environment.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) | XYZ Corporation

• Oversee all financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and risk management.
• Develop and implement financial strategies to drive business growth and maximize profitability.
• Provide strategic guidance to senior leadership in decision-making processes.
• Lead a team of finance professionals, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.

Vice President of Business Development | ABC Inc.

• Led the business development function, identifying and pursuing new growth opportunities.
• Developed strategic partnerships and negotiated key contracts to expand the company’s market presence.
• Conducted market analysis and competitive intelligence to inform strategic decision-making.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to launch new products and drive revenue growth.
• Financial management
• Business development
• Leadership and team management
• Change management
• Risk management
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Stakeholder relations
• Contract negotiation
• Board presentations
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Executive Leadership Program

Common Mistakes to Avoid

As you craft your one page resume, there are several pitfalls that you’d want to avoid. Here are the most common errors that job applicants commit:

A. Including Irrelevant Information

One typical blunder is inserting unrelated information into your resume. It’s vital to keep your resume relevant and insightful as possible. Only mention work experience, skills, and achievements that are aligned with the job you’re applying for.

B. Overusing Industry Jargon

While it’s essential to showcase your knowledge and expertise in your field, it’s also critical to balance it out with simple and understandable language. Using too much industry-specific jargon is a turn-off for hiring managers who are non-experts in your field.

C. Failing to Proofread

Submitting a document full of grammatical and spelling errors can lead to impression that you didn’t put much effort into your application. Always proofread your resume multiple times – or better yet, get someone else to do it for you.

D. Using a Generic Resume

Tinkering a general resume won’t guarantee success in landing your dream job. Instead of using a one-fits-all approach, customize your resume for every job application. This way, you can emphasize the qualifications and accomplishments that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

By avoiding these common resume mistakes, you’re one step closer to creating a winning one page resume.

Formatting and Design Options

When it comes to crafting your one-page resume, formatting and design options can make a huge difference in the impression you make on potential employers. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when choosing the right resume template and incorporating design elements:

A. Choosing the Right Resume Template

There are many resume templates available online, ranging from simple and straightforward to creative and extravagant. When selecting a template, it’s important to consider your industry and the type of job you’re applying for. For example, a graphic designer might opt for a more visually appealing template, while an accountant might choose a more classic and conservative look.

In addition to aesthetics, it’s important to select a template that is easy to read and presents your information in a clear and concise manner. Remember, the goal of your one-page resume is to quickly and efficiently highlight your skills and experience – not overwhelm the reader with unnecessary details.

B. Incorporating Color and Graphics

While using color and graphics can add visual interest to your resume, it’s important to use these elements sparingly and purposefully. For example, using company colors or incorporating a small icon can help your resume stand out while still maintaining a professional appearance.

However, it’s important to avoid using too many colors or too much graphic design, as this can become distracting and make it difficult for the reader to quickly find key information. Remember, the focus should always be on your skills and experience, not on fancy design elements.

C. Using White Space Effectively

One of the most important design elements of any one-page resume is white space. When used effectively, white space can make your resume look clean, organized, and easy to read. Conversely, cramming too much information into a small space can make your resume appear cluttered and overwhelming.

To use white space effectively, consider breaking up your resume into sections and using headings and subheadings to clearly define each section. You can also use bullet points and lists to make information more easily digestible.

D. Creating a Professional Look and Feel

Ultimately, the goal of your one-page resume is to create a professional and polished impression on potential employers. This means paying attention to small details like font choice, spacing, and alignment.

When selecting a font, choose something simple and easy to read, such as Arial or Times New Roman. Avoid using decorative fonts or fonts that are difficult to read. Additionally, be sure to keep your spacing and alignment consistent throughout your resume to maintain a polished and professional appearance.

By taking the time to carefully consider your formatting and design options, you can create a one-page resume that effectively showcases your skills and experience in a visually appealing and professional manner.

One Page Resume vs. Two Page Resume

When it comes to resume writing, one of the most common questions job seekers ask is whether to use a one page resume or a two page resume. Depending on your work experience and industry, the answer may vary. In this section, we will explore the pros and cons of a one page resume, when to use a two page resume, and how to convert your two page resume to one page.

A. Pros and Cons of a One Page Resume

A one page resume is typically recommended for those who are just starting out in their careers or those who have less than 10 years of professional experience. Here are some pros and cons of a one page resume:

• It is concise and to the point, making it easier for recruiters to read and understand.
• It forces you to prioritize and focus on the most important information.
• It shows that you can communicate effectively and efficiently.
• It may not be enough space to include all of your relevant work experience and accomplishments.
• It may be challenging to highlight your skills and achievements in a short format.

B. When to Use a Two Page Resume

A two page resume is typically recommended for those who have extensive work experience, advanced degrees, or multiple certifications. Here are some scenarios when a two page resume may be appropriate:

• You have previous experience in different industries or roles that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
• You have achieved significant accomplishments, such as awards, publications, or patents.
• You have advanced degrees or professional certifications that are relevant to the job you are applying for.

C. How to Convert Your Two Page Resume to One Page

If you have a lot of experience and accomplishments that you want to include on your resume but are limited to one page, do not worry. There are ways to make your two page resume fit into one page. Follow these tips:

• Start by identifying the most relevant and significant accomplishments and experiences.
• Eliminate details that are not critical or that can be discussed during the interview process.
• Use bullet points and short phrases to highlight your accomplishments and skills.
• Use a smaller font size and adjust the margins accordingly.

Whether you should use a one page resume or a two page resume depends on your experience and the job you are applying for. A one page resume is great for those who are just starting out or have limited experience, while a two page resume is suitable for those with extensive experience or advanced degrees. If you have a two page resume but need to convert it to one page, follow the tips above to ensure that you highlight your most impressive qualifications and achievements.

ATS Compatibility

When it comes to job applications, understanding how ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) work is crucial. These automated systems are designed to filter through resumes and select the most qualified candidates based on keyword matches and other criteria.

A. Understanding How ATS Works

To optimize your one page resume for ATS, you first need to understand how these systems function. Generally, ATS will scan your resume for keywords and phrases that match the job description. If your resume does not include these keywords, it may be instantly rejected by the system.

ATS also looks for specific formatting and organization. For example, it may have difficulty reading fancy fonts, text boxes, or tables. Additionally, ATS may struggle with resumes that include graphics or images.

B. Optimizing Your One Page Resume for ATS

To ensure that your one page resume passes the ATS screening, it’s important to prioritize including relevant keywords and phrases throughout your resume. This may mean tailoring your resume for each individual job application and incorporating industry-specific jargon.

In terms of formatting, it’s helpful to stick to simple, easy-to-read fonts and avoid using text boxes or tables. Instead, use concise bullet points to showcase your skills and experiences.

C. Testing Your One Page Resume with ATS

Before submitting your one page resume to any job applications, it’s a good idea to test it with ATS. There are several free online tools available that can simulate ATS screening, allowing you to see where your resume may be falling short.

By taking the time to understand how ATS works and optimizing your one page resume for these systems, you can increase your chances of getting noticed by potential employers and landing your dream job.

Reviewing and Refining Your One Page Resume

Once you have created your one page resume, it’s important to review and refine it before submitting it to potential employers. This section covers the steps you should take to ensure your resume is polished and ready to impress.

A. Getting Feedback from Others

One of the best ways to improve your one page resume is to get feedback from others. Reach out to colleagues, friends or family members who have experience in the industry you are applying for and ask them to review your resume. They might have valuable insights, suggestions or critiques that you can use to make your resume stand out.

B. Revising Your One Page Resume

Based on the feedback you receive, you should revise your one page resume accordingly. Ensure that your resume is visually appealing and easy to read, with clear headings and sections. Use action verbs and metrics to showcase your achievements and experience, and tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for.

C. Proofreading Your One Page Resume

Before submitting your one page resume, it’s crucial to proofread it thoroughly. Look out for spelling and grammatical errors, missing information, or awkward phrasing. Double check that your contact information is accurate and up-to-date.

D. Finalizing and Submitting Your One Page Resume

Once you have revised and proofread your one page resume, it’s time to finalize it and submit it to potential employers. Save your resume as a PDF to ensure it looks the same across different devices and software. Keep in mind that your one page resume should be accompanied by a cover letter that highlights your interest in the position and why you would be a good fit for the role.

Reviewing and refining your one page resume is essential to making a strong impression on potential employers. Get feedback from others, revise your resume accordingly, proofread it thoroughly, and finalize and submit it with a cover letter that showcases your enthusiasm and qualifications for the job.

Related Articles

• Top Department Manager Resume Examples for 2023
• How to Mention Relocation in Cover Letter and Resume
• The Ultimate Store Manager Resume Guide: Examples & Tips
• Quality Assurance Technician Job Description: Complete Guide
• Top Careers for Communications Degree Graduates in 2023

Rate this article

0 / 5. Reviews: 0

More from ResumeHead

Press Enter to search

How To Write A One-Page Resume

Recruiter-backed advice on building a one-page resume that still showcases all your essential skills by condensing statements, reducing margins, combining headings and tailoring your roles.

9 months ago   •   6 min read

So, you’re facing the challenge of creating a high-performing resume that showcases your essential skills but still fits onto one page. You don’t want to omit anything relevant, but how do you fit everything into one page without cutting important details?

To condense your resume to one page, focus on recent, relevant experience and remove anything not directly related to the application. You can also reduce your margins, merge related sections, and eliminate any duplicate information.

In this article, we’ll discuss why it's preferable to write a one-page resume, how to choose what to cut and what to include, and how to organize your resume to maximize readability and maintain a professional look.

Do you really need a one-page resume?

The short answer is yes and no. While it's not wrong to have a two-page resume, modern recruiters only spend an average of 7 seconds reviewing an application. With a two-page resume, a recruiter will spend less time reading each page, so it’s better to write one great page than two mediocre ones.

But surely it's better to include more information than less? Actually, no. The more you give a recruiter to read, the harder it is for them to pick out the information they want. While you might be tempted to include everything you've ever accomplished, it's far more useful to determine what a recruiter is looking for and showcase these skills upfront.

For most applications, a one-page resume is best , especially for entry-level positions or students. Only consider a two-page resume if you’re a senior professional with extensive relevant experience. Never make your resume three or more pages ; It just won't be read.

If you're wondering whether your one-page resume effectively showcases all relevant experience and skills or if it should extend to two pages, upload it to the tool below for tailored insights on optimizing length and content.

How to make your resume one page

Knowing how to make your resume shorter is as much about knowing what to cut as what to include. The key is to be concise and direct, and only include your most impressive achievements. You might think you can't fit your resume on one page now, but even the longest resume can be trimmed down with a little targeted editing.

Tailor your resume to each application

The number 1 rule for fitting your resume onto one page is to tailor your experience to each application by only including information directly relevant to the job you're applying for. This means evaluating everything on your resume and only selecting roles and accomplishments that showcase the specific skills the new position is looking for.

For help targeting your resume, use our Targeted Resume tool to scan your resume for relevant keywords and receive personalized feedback on areas that can be improved.

Reduce margins and font size

You can reduce your page margins to 0.5 inches and font to 11 or 10 points to give yourself a little more room when trying to fit everything onto one page. But don't use a font smaller than 10, or margins less than 0.5, as this will make your resume cramped, harder to read, and overall less professional.

Remove duplicate information

When describing work experience, remove redundancy by combining statements and bullet points that discuss similar points. This will help you reduce unused space while also making strong, concise statements.

For example, the two bullet points below both discuss project management skills and describe similar roles and responsibilities:

• Led a cross-functional team in project planning, scheduling, and execution.
• Managed project budgets and ensured financial goals were met.

To reduce space, combine these two points into one sentence:

• Spearheaded cross-functional project teams, overseeing planning, scheduling, and budget management to consistently meet financial goals.

Cut irrelevant sections

Remove outdated resume sections that don't directly add to your application. Resume sections to consider cutting include:

• Objective statement: Replace your objective statement with a targetted resume summary , or simply remove it altogether. Modern recruiters are more interested in what you can bring to the table than what you're looking for in a position.
• References: Employers will ask for references when it's relevant and don't expect them to be included on your resume.
• Hobbies and interests: This section is often irrelevant to your application and can be cut to maintain clarity and relevance. Replace hobbies with skills that explain your abilities rather than your interests.
• High school information: If you have completed further/higher education, your high school details are generally no longer relevant and can be removed entirely.
• Education details: If you're a mid to senior-level professional with enough relevant work experience, reduce your education section to only your most recent accomplishments and degree.
• Volunteering: Though helpful for entry-level candidates, if you have enough paid experience for your application, remove any volunteering work and focus on paid roles.

Prioritize your most recent experience

Remember, you don't need to include every job on your resume, especially entry-level and short-term positions. Prioritize your most recent experience and focus on jobs that showcase relevant skills and quantifiable achievements. Remove any experience, education, and qualifications over ten years old unless it's specifically relevant to your application.

Make the most of each line

While you don't want to cram your resume so full of text it becomes hard to read, you can use some specific techniques to save space where it counts.

For example, when creating your resume header , instead of listing your address, phone number, and contact information on separate lines, combine all this information into one line, separated by dashes (-), dots (∙), or vertical bars (|). This creates a professional-looking header that reduces wasted space at the top of your resume, as shown in the example below.

You can save space by using a semicolon (;) to separate information on the same line. This is especially helpful in your education and qualifications sections, as shown below.

You can also use a semicolon to separate different subsections within your Skills or Additional Information sections, such as varying skill proficiency levels , as shown below.

Combine similar sections

If you have multiple sections to your resume that include a small amount of relevant information, consider combining your headings to make a more compact and streamlined document.

Work experience, volunteering, and professional projects can be combined into an "Experience" section to showcase all your relevant work experience, and education, certificates, and qualifications can be combined under one "Education" section.

Use an "Additional Information" section

"Additional Information" is a helpful section to highlight extra information relevant to your application that doesn't fit into other standard resume categories. Combining this extra information under one heading helps reduce space taken up by section headings and improves the readability of your resume.

Additional information should be listed at the bottom of your resume, and can include:

• Language skills
• Technical skills (if not including a specific skills section)
• Certificates, qualifications, and additional training
• Awards and achievements
• Volunteering or unpaid experience
• Publications
• Personal or professional projects
• Interests and hobbies

One-page resume examples

Here are some examples of optimized one-page resumes for entry-level and mid-level applicants. For more examples, head to our Resume Worded template library to browse and download various professional resume templates.

Here is an example of an entry-level one-page resume:

And here is an example of a senior-level one-page resume:

• Career Advice

Spread the word

How to right-align dates for a professional looking resume (and why), how to write an “about me” section on your resume (with examples), keep reading, how to show bilingualism on your resume (with examples), oops what to do if there’s a mistake on your resume, getting the basics right: resume line spacing, subscribe to our newsletter.

Stay updated with Resume Worded by signing up for our newsletter.

🎉 Awesome! Now check your inbox and click the link to confirm your subscription.

Please enter a valid email address

Oops! There was an error sending the email, please try later

Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.

Resume Templates

Resume samples

Create and edit your resume online

Generate compelling resumes with our AI resume builder and secure employment quickly.

Write a cover letter

Cover Letter Examples

Cover Letter Samples

Create and edit your cover letter

Use our user-friendly tool to create the perfect cover letter.

Featured articles

• How to Write a Motivation Letter With Examples
• How to Write a Resume in 2024 That Gets Results
• Teamwork Skills on Your Resume: List and Examples
• What Are the Best Colors for Your Resume?

Latests articles

• Discover the Hidden Gems of LinkedIn Premium for Professional Growth
• How To Put Promotions on a Resume (With Examples)
• How To Add a Promotion on LinkedIn: Steps and Example
• The Highest Paying Blue-Collar Jobs Offer Stability, While Nearly 300,000 Layoffs Are Blamed on AI

Dive Into Expert Guides to Enhance your Resume

How to Write a One-Page Resume

Should a resume be one page?  Ideally yes, it’s generally better to  create a one-page resume  as employers generally  scan resumes in seconds . However, depending on the type of job you’re applying for, and your level of experience, a  two-page resume  can be more effective.

The reason why a  one-page resume  is better in the majority of cases is that employers  don’t want to read long resumes . As they have so many to look through, a  short, concise resume  is much more likely to grab their attention.

Writing a one-page resume  also gives you the chance to focus on and  emphasize your strongest selling points . It can be difficult to decide what to leave out. You may have many achievements that you’re proud of, but  it’s worth it .

Using a one-page  resume template  is a good place to start. It’s then a case of  choosing what’s most relevant  for the position you’re applying for.

How to create a one-page resume

Nowadays, the  best one-page resumes  have to be concise and eye-grabbing enough to stand out when a person shuffles through a pile of them. They also need to  contain the right words and terms  to get past  Applicant Tracking Systems (ATMs) , that scan resumes to see if they contain the right keywords.

The best way of doing this is by making a  one-page editable resume  which you can tailor to each job application. You can do this by carefully reading through each job and  identifying the key job requirements  (use the keywords to help you), and to them work these into your resume.

As well as  adding the necessary keywords , you also need to carefully consider which of your  skills ,  work experience , and  qualifications  are  most relevant to the job  you’re applying for.

If you are writing a  student resume  or an  entry-level resume , it may be the case that it’s easy to fit most (if not all) of your achievements on a  one-page job resume . If you are more experienced, what to leave out will require more consideration.

Writing a one-page resume: what to leave out?

What not to include on your resume?  If you’re struggling to reduce your resume down to a  single-page resume , start by writing a  list of your achievements  and work experience and include details of what they involved.

Then  analyze each position  you’re applying for and  choose the parts from your list  that match the job. Write your  most relevant achievements  into your resume by writing short, concise bullet points which  focus on your accomplishments .

You shouldn’t include any work experience which you gained  more than 10-15 years ago . There’s no need to say  “references available on request”  as this goes without saying.

If your resume is still  longer than one page , reduce your education section. You shouldn’t include your high-school education or irrelevant qualifications. Using an  online resume builder  is a time-effective way of nailing the  one-page resume   format .

Does a resume have to be one page?

No. Although most employers prefer to receive  one-page resumes , it is not always the case. When an employer is looking for someone with extensive experience, it is necessary to write a  more-than-one-page resume .

There are certain professions that are exceptions and it’s  commonplace to produce long resumes . These industries include medicine, law, and academia. For the vast majority of applications, a  one-page resume is best .

Remember you can always  include a link to your LinkedIn profile , other professional social media sites, or a website you’ve been involved in. This gives the employer the choice of viewing a  longer version of your background .

Whereas your  resume should be targeted  for each application, your LinkedIn should be  much more in-depth , providing detailed accounts of your  education , skills, and work experience.

Struggling with Resume Writing?

Ease the process with our templates

Related Blog

One Page Resumes: Your Complete Guide Being Concise and Impactful (With Examples)

3 key takeaways

• Why you should consider a one-page resume
• Examples of one-page resumes (and why they're effective)
• How to use the Teal AI Resume Builder to format a one-page resume template quickly and easily

One-page resumes—they might sound too good (or too short) to be true. 

But knowing how to showcase the incredible things you’ve done and all that you’re capable of in one concise, impactful document could be the key to grabbing attention and standing out from the competition.

Why consider a one-page resume?

In today's job market, the one-page resume has become increasingly popular. And just as the sun set on the VHS resumes of the 1980s, gone are the days of listing every job and responsibility and exhaustively detailing all of your skills.

The market is saturated with so many job seekers. Many of whom are extremely talented.  This means hiring managers and recruiters are inundated with countless applications. They simply don't have the capacity to navigate lengthy documents. A concise and well-structured one-page resume allows them to assess your qualifications and how they align with an open role—quickly. 

When should a resume be one page?

Should a resume be one page? That depends. One-page resume templates aren't always the best option for every candidate or every role. But there are specific scenarios where they're particularly beneficial. If you find yourself in any of the following situations, a one-page resume format might be ideal.

• For recent high school or college graduates or professionals with limited work experience
• For anyone in the first 1-5 years of their career 
• In fields that value brevity
• In industries that prioritize concise communication (like communication or public relations)

Understanding one-page resume format 

Learning how to make a resume one page often comes down to two elements: the sections you include and strategic formatting. 

One-page resume sections 

When creating a one-page resume, it's crucial to include the following sections: 

• Contact Information: Your name, city, phone number, email address, LinkedIn URL, and portfolio link (if applicable) 
• Professional Summary: A concise introduction highlighting your key qualifications and one or two notable bullets that showcase impact.
• Work Experience: Showcase your relevant work experience in reverse chronological order, emphasizing bullets listed as bullet points that align with your desired role.
• Education: Mention your educational background, including degrees, certifications, (and any notable academic bullets if you're a recent graduate). 
• Skills: Highlight your core skills and competencies directly relevant to the job you're applying for. Consider tailoring this section to match the keywords mentioned in the job posting.

Pro Tip: The Teal Job Application Tracker pulls keywords and other important language from the job description to help you tailor your resume for every role. 

One-page resume template format

So, keeping those necessary sections in mind and with limited space, how can you make the most of your resume template format? 

• Use concise language: Be clear and succinct in your descriptions, avoiding unnecessary details or excessive wordiness. 
• Prioritize relevant information: Focus on the most recent and relevant experiences, skills, and bullets that align with the job you're applying for.
• Choose a clean and readable font: Opt for a professional and legible font style, keeping the font size between 10 and 12 points.
• Utilize bullet points: Use bullet points to highlight key points and bullets, making your resume easier to scan and read quickly.
• Reduce margins and spacing: Adjust the margins to save space without making your resume appear cluttered. Do your best to keep your resume margins between 0.5" - 1." 

The formatting tool within the Teal AI Resume Builder can help you quickly and easily optimize your resume's physical structure by customizing elements like font, margins, template style, and more in one location with a single click.  

Does a resume have to be one page? Debunking the myth

Much like any "general recommendation," the one-page resume guideline isn't always applicable. 

Every job seeker has different a different skill set, professional experience, and expertise. And where one candidate might exclusively have academic projects to showcase, another might have 20+ years of straightforward work experience in the same career with progressing responsibilities.

So while a single-page resume might be great a great option for some, there are particular situations and circumstances where your experience might impact, “ How long should a resume be ?”

A multi-page resume might be more appropriate if you:

• Have a career in academia, scientific research, or government  
• Have more than 15 years of experience
• Are an executive leader
• Are a C-suite level applicant

How to make a resume one page without losing value

A resume is your personal marketing tool. So how can you market yourself effectively on a one-page resume without losing value? 

Be selective with content 

Carefully review your background, skills, and accomplishments, and choose the most relevant experiences for the job you're applying to. 

Your content should be tailored to the job description—only addressing what the hiring manager or recruiter is looking for. Even if it feels hard, eliminate irrelevant or outdated information to create space for more essential details.

Focus on achievement-based bullets 

Instead of listing all your responsibilities, emphasize your resume accomplishments and quantifiable results. Highlight valuable information like specific bullets demonstrating your skills and impact in previous roles. 

For example, you don't need to list that you managed social media accounts and created content. Instead, using a bullet like "Increased social media engagement by 50% within three months through the implementation of targeted content strategies, resulting in a significant boost in brand visibility and customer interaction." highlights the responsibility while drawing attention to your impact. 

Prioritize the most relevant information

Place the most relevant information towards the top of your resume. Your strongest qualifications (those with the most impact) should be easily accessible. 

It's also important to prioritize details within each section. For example, in the "Work Experience" section, only focus on accomplishments, projects, and responsibilities that demonstrate the skills and experiences most relevant to the job you're applying for. Or, if you find yourself short on space in the "Education" section, focus on your highest level of education.

One-page resumes vs. two-page resumes: which is better for you?

The decision between a single-page resume template or a two-page resume depends on your unique career journey, industry, the role you are applying for, and your overall professional goals.

A one-page resume can be valuable if you have limited work experience or are in the first 10-15 years of your career. It allows you to concisely highlight your relevant skills, education, internships, and notable achievements. 

On the other hand, professionals with several years of experience, mid-level or senior-level positions, or those in fields that require extensive documentation of bullets may benefit from a two-page resume to detail their work history, leadership roles, specialized skills, and other relevant accomplishments. 

So what are the pros and cons of each format? 

One-page resume pros:

• Concise and focused
• Quick and easy to read 
• Ideal for those early in their career 

One-page resume cons:

• Limited space
• May lack comprehensive detail

Two-page resume pros:

• Comprehensive representation
• Suitable for experienced professionals
• Flexibility in presentation

Two-page resume cons:

• Risk of excessive detail
• Time-consuming review
• Printing, formatting, and resume template constraints

Ultimately? The best resume format is the one that aligns with your career journey, industry, the role you’re applying for, and overall professional goals.

How Teal’s AI-powered Resume Builder can help

The Teal  AI Resume Builder  is an all-in-one tool for creating a concise one-page resume that looks professional  and  emphasizes your value and impact. 

With the Resume Builder, you can construct an exhaustive career history, then pick and choose the information you want to include for any role you're applying to based on relevancy. 

Teal also gives you four options for resume templates—allowing you to change the layout of your resume quickly. But no matter how often you change your resume template or export your document as a pdf, the information itself won't shift or change as it often does with something like Google Docs resume templates .

Formatting is one of the most critical ways to save space on a one-page resume. The Resume Builder offers multiple ways to change your:

• Accent color
• Date alignment
• Date format
• Work experience groupings
• Work experience date range

Each of these settings can be adjusted with a clickable drop-down menu—giving you complete control over your resume layout.

Inspiring one-page resume examples

Why it works: Olivia's one-page resume is the perfect balance of white space and detail. It effectively represents their qualifications by showcasing relevant experience and achievements using three concise bullet points or less for each role. Olivia's resume also highlights measurable bullets while demonstrating a track record of delivering successful projects and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

See more one-page resumes in these front-end developer resume examples .

Why it works: Even in a senior-level role, Megan's resume showcases measurable impact and impressive qualifications in one page. And while their education may be robust, to save extra space, Megan focuses on the highest level of education they received by showcasing an MBA rather than any prior education.

For more customer-success manager one-page resumes, explore these customer success manager resume samples .

Why it works:  As an entry-level candidate, Ted has chosen to showcase multiple academic design projects and the impact of those projects. Rather than taking up valuable space listing part-time jobs or career objectives, Ted makes the most of their resume real estate by only listing bullets relevant to a role as a junior graphic designer. 

Explore more one-page graphic design resumes in these graphic designer resume examples.

Start creating your one-page resume

A one-page resume can showcase your skills in a concise and impactful way if done correctly. And while a single-page format might not be for everyone, it can be particularly effective during the first 10-15 years of your career.

Using a one-page resume template, like those in the Teal AI Resume Builder , will help you optimize your resume in a clean, professional, and organized way—leaving you with more time to focus on the important details like tailoring your content, skills, and qualifications to align with the role you're applying for.

Ready to get started?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to have a one page resume.

Yes! Just remember to prioritize your relevant and recent work experience. Be sure to include positions that align with the job you're applying for and highlight accomplishments and responsibilities that demonstrate your skills and qualifications.

Is a two page resume ever okay?

Absolutely! Just focus on refining and condensing your content. Remove any irrelevant or outdated details and prioritize the most impactful and relevant information. Utilize concise language, bullet points, and strategic formatting to make the most of the available space.

How far back should a resume go?

A well-crafted one-page resume should effectively showcase your qualifications and achievements to make a strong impression on hiring managers. It's about presenting the most relevant and impactful information rather than the length of the document. Focus on at least the last ten years of your experience, but be mindful that you should include positions that are relevant to the job you're applying for, so if that ends up being fifteen years of your experience, that's okay, too. The key is relevance.

Kayte Grady

Related articles.

How to Add Relevant Coursework on a Resume [Examples + Tips]

LazyApply Reviews: Ratings & User Feedback [+ Alternative]

Resume Worksheet: Downloadable PDF & How-To Guide

How Teal Helped Travis Realize He Was Looking for the Wrong Job (and Find the Right One)

We help you find the career dream..

Protect your data

This site uses cookies and related technologies for site operation, and analytics as described in our Privacy Policy . You may choose to consent to our use of these technologies, reject non-essential technologies, or further manage your preferences.

• Resume and Cover Letter
• Whether or Not to Use a One...

Whether or Not to Use a One Page Resume

10 min read · Updated on February 14, 2024

Sometimes, a candidate only gets one page to make their case

In the recent past, the standard advice was that all entry-level professionals should have a one-page resume, max. However, that's not necessarily the case today, since many recruiters and hiring managers expect to see a two-page resume regardless of the level of experience. 

One reason for the outdated standard that a one-page resume is the goal for entry level graduates is the notion that, when you've just graduated college, there probably won't be much to put on your resume. However, that's no longer true, given that graduates today have more opportunities to gain relevant experience while in school. Internships, assistantships, co-ops, part-time work, and even leadership roles in extracurricular activities are opportunities many college and entry-level candidates can access to add value to their resume.

Still, for some entry-level candidates and other types of job candidates, a one-page resume is sufficient. Thus, the quandary remains, should a resume be one page or two pages?

In this post, we cover

When should a resume be one page

How to make a resume fit on one page

When to use a two-page resume

When to use a three-page resume

Additional recommended reading

So, how many pages should a resume be? Read on to find out. 

When should a resume be one page?

There are indeed some instances where a one-page resume is appropriate and preferred, including:

High school students who have little to no experience and few activities to highlight

College students and entry-level candidates who have not participated in any of the activities mentioned above

Career changers who need to focus their resume on transferable skills that relate to their new target industry or career, due to not having enough relevant experience

So, should a resume be one page? Yes, when you fall into one of the above scenarios. Now, you're likely wondering how you can cram all the information you need in your resume onto one page. What should you include? What can you remove? 

Below are 10 techniques to help you achieve a one-page resume that will help you to keep to the page limit and still wow a recruiter.

Highlight only internships and relevant work experience

While it's great to show you've had a job since you were 16 and can commit to a company, unless it's relevant, it's not necessary. Keep the focus on relevant work experience and any internships you may have held recently or while in college. 

You can still show you had previous jobs, and how long you were with those companies, in an “additional experience” line under your highlighted positions. This will show you have longevity and loyalty without taking up valuable space.

Combine similar experience under one position

"Similar experience" could be things like several work-study positions in different offices or cashier work at more than one store. The duties you completed are going to be nearly the same, so combining the roles on your resume is the most efficient and effective way to save space. You can showcase achievements for each position separately in bullets below the daily functions.

Remove short-term positions

Unless the short-term position you held is relevant, remove it. Positions held for a short time can communicate that you're a job hopper who can't commit and that you won't stay in a role long term. Highlighting short-term positions can be a screen-out factor, so don't do it.

Include only necessary skills in descriptions

Necessary hard and  soft skills  are the qualities a company is looking for in a candidate; they are usually listed in the position description. For example, if you're applying for an entry-level sales position and have past experience as a gas-station clerk, you will want to highlight your customer service, sales, product support, and communications skills. You probably also cleaned the facility, stocked supplies, and managed inventory, but those are not necessary skills for a sales position, so they can be removed.

Shorten your work accomplishment and experience list

You should use  bullet points  over paragraphs in the Work Experience or Relevant Experience section of your resume. Keep the bullet points concise and short - no more than 1 to 2 lines each.

Focus on valuable achievements and combine where appropriate

Review the bullet points you've included for each experience and ensure they only highlight your most notable and quantifiable achievements. Remove any points that don't add value or are merely tasks you did vs accomplishments you achieved. Each position should include 3 to 5 bullet points, max.

Many bullet point achievements can be combined and shortened. You don't want to tell the whole story of how you achieved it - recruiters want to know what you've done. If they have questions, they'll ask about the how during an interview.

For example, if you increased sales by 15% by building relationships and improving customer satisfaction, you can reduce this to one bullet that says “Increased sales by 15% and improved overall customer satisfaction.” You can go into detail during an interview about how you built and leveraged relationships to increase both simultaneously.

The summaries of previous positions are a common aspect of the resume that gets fluffed. When you include summaries, keep them as short as you can while showing what you can do. Don't get too into detail here - simply list your areas of expertise and the skills you have.

Do not fluff achievements either! Recruiters will know, and it will not leave a good impression.

Trim your Education section

One area where you can often cut some content is in your  Education section . This section can include many items, like:

The degree issued

The issuing institution

City and state of institution 

Relevant coursework

Graduation date (or expected graduation date if the degree is still in progress)

At a minimum, include your degree and the institution that issued it - this is most important to employers. You can also choose to include your GPA or any honors you received, as long as you can keep them on the same line as your degree. Any other details are unnecessary when you're working to trim your resume to a single page. For example:

Bachelors of Art - Filmmaking (cum laude), New York State University

Tighten your resume summary

Generally, a  resume summary  should be no more than 3 to 5 punchy sentences that highlight your top achievements relevant to the job. Review your summary and see if there's any way to tighten it up and reduce it to get your message across succinctly in 2 to 3 sentences. 

Leave off unnecessary information

The information recruiters are not interested in can take up valuable space. If you are about to (or have) graduated college, high school information is no longer relevant. It's assumed you graduated high school since you were able to get into college, so leave off the clubs, graduation date, sports, and other achievements from your youth.

Also, it's no longer standard to put “References available upon request” on your resume. Most applications ask for references, and everyone knows a reference check is a part of the process, so including this line is unnecessary.

Here are a few more items that you should leave off of your resume to keep it to one page (and in some instances, regardless of the number of pages!).

High School: If you have a college degree, forgo listing your high school information. It's unnecessary and doesn't add value for the hiring manager. 

Irrelevant work experience: Mentioned previously, only include work experience that's relevant to the job posting or that adds value to your resume in some way.

Address: The only piece of location information employers want these days is your city and state or zip code. Leave off your full mailing address - including it will show you're not up to speed with today's US resume standards. 

Unnecessary resume sections: Though additional sections, like Hobbies and Interests, can add value in some scenarios, if you're aiming for a one-page resume, leave sections like this off.

Reformat font size and spacing

Changing margins can give you so much additional space! You can go as low as 0.5 inches on all sides — just not any smaller. After you've everything you need on the document, start adjusting your margins. When you achieve your one-page resume, leave the margins as they are. You want the page to look full and appropriately spaced.

If you change the margins to the smallest permissible size and still need help,  reduce the font  by point five until you get to one page. It's not recommended to go below 10-point font on a resume, however, because any smaller font is too difficult to read.

Can a resume be 2 pages?

As you ask, “when should a resume be one page?” a natural second question to follow would be, “when should a resume be two pages?” 

A two-page resume is the most common resume size and makes sense for:

Entry-level professionals with sufficient relevant experience and activities that speak to their ability to succeed on the job

Seasoned professionals

Career changers with ample transferable skills, certifications, and experience that relate to their new target industry or career

In most instances, your resume should not go beyond two-pages, even if you're a seasoned professional with 15 or more years of experience under your belt. With that said, bear in mind that you don't want to aim for a two-page resume for the sake of having a two-page resume. 

What matters most is the content of your resume - not the length. If you're able to use a one-page resume to emphasize and highlight your career history in a way that shows you're an excellent candidate for the job, then by all means, do so. The last thing you want to do is to force your resume onto a second page by including irrelevant and unnecessary information. If a recruiter sees your resume as “fluffed,” it increases your chances of being passed over, regardless of your level.

Again, there's no rule of thumb that says a resume has to be two-pages, so if you feel good about your one-page resume as a seasoned professional, use it!  

In most instances, a three-page resume is strongly discouraged - stick to a one or two-page resume whenever possible. However, there are a few instances where a three-page resume might be appropriate, including:

You're a professional with a long list of proficiencies and technical skills

You have several published works to include

You have several contract, consulting, or other types of gig work to highlight and explain

You're seeking a job in the sciences or  academia , where your resume should be over two pages (and, sometimes, over 10!)

You're seeking a  US Federal Government job , which means your resume could be 3 to 7 pages long to include all required information 

Should a resume be one page? Yes, in certain situations 

Now you know the answer to, “should a resume be one page?” You also know how to get it to fit on one page if that's the best option for your circumstances. 

Fitting your resume on one page may seem like a daunting task, but when you take the above tips and techniques and apply them, you'll find it's easier than expected. What's most important is that your resume makes you stand out in the best possible light. Remember to start with relevant information and have your job goal in mind at all times. This will help you to focus your skills and showcase how great a fit you'll be for that dream job!

How did you do making your one-page resume? And should your resume be one page for sure? Why not submit it for a  free resume review  today for feedback?

This blog was originally written by Felicia Tatum and has been updated by Ronda Suder.

Recommended reading:

6 Ways to Rock Your First Entry-Level Job After Graduation

How Long Should Your Resume Be?

How to Write an Entry-Level Resume for Your First Post-College Job

Related Articles:

7 Signs Your Resume is Making You Look Old

Software Developer Top Needed Skills

How to Maximize Your Resume Action Words to Wow the Employer

See how your resume stacks up.

Career Advice Newsletter

Our experts gather the best career & resume tips weekly. Delivered weekly, always free.

Thanks! Career advice is on its way.

Share this article:

Let's stay in touch.

Subscribe today to get job tips and career advice that will come in handy.

Your information is secure. Please read our privacy policy for more information.

• Resume Templates
• Resume Examples
• Free Resume Builder
• How to Write a Resume
• Resume Format
• Resume Packs
• Cover Letter Templates
• Cover Letter Examples
• Free Cover Letter Generator
• How To Write a Cover Letter
• CV Templates
• CV Examples
• Free CV Maker
• Resume Help
• Cover Letter Help
• Job Interview
• Career Advice

How to Make a Credible One Page Resume

Trying to fit in all the important career information into one 8.5×11″ document is no easy task. Still, the common job search lore goes that having a one-page resume is always the best way to go. Or is it? Let’s dig in together! 

Should a Resume Be One Page Long?

The general conclusion is that yes, it’s best to file a one-page resume whenever you can if you are in the beginning/middle of your career. But things are not absolutely black and white when it comes to resume length. Can a resume be more than one page? Again, yes. 

No one will fret upon a two-page resume if you are a senior candidate with 10+ years of experience and multiple job posts under your belt — all relevant to the new job you are routing for. 

Lengthier resumes are also fine for candidates with a wide set of technical skills , educational credentials, and industry accolades. 

Lastly, if you are applying to a job abroad and get asked to file a CV, rather than a resume , it’s OK to go beyond a single page. 

You can learn more about the ideal resume length from our previous post. 

How to Fit Resume on One Page: Tips and Tricks 

OK, so you are certain that you’ll do better with a one-page resume. Now the big question is: how do you fit all your professional deets into that single page without resorting to using an eight-point font or trying to cram a lot of text into the available white space?

After creating over 150 one-page resume templates , we can say with confidence that the next tricks will work like a charm!  

1. Adjust Your Page Margins and Layout 

Most people leave page margins at the pre-set default option of 1-inch in Microsoft Word when they start designing their resume. 

But, you can actually trim this a few simple steps to have a bit more elbow room. Here’s how it’s done:

• Go to Layout > Margins

• Select either one of the pre-suggested configurations or add a custom range

NB: Don’t forget to test if your design looks good in other word processing software or when sent via email as an attachment!

As a rule of thumb, it’s OK to go with a half an inch margin, but not less. In this case, you will still have a defined white space edge and your resume won’t look really cramped together.

2. Merge Sections Together

Every great resume has at least three standard sections — header, work experience, and education. Plus, some optional ones such as Skills, Hobbies, and Interests , Accolodates, Resume Objective , Professional Bio, etc. 

While all of them can play a role in hiring, they eat up some valuable space. After all, having multiple sections requires extra room for large headings.

So if you really need to cut down your resume to one page, aim for three or four distinct sections and combine the rest. 

For example, you could combine your resume objective and professional bio or add accolades to the work experience section. Also, you can pack all the different things you want to mention, as short bullet-point highlights under an ‘Extra Information’ section.

Let’s take a look at one of our popular one-page resume templates — Contrast Resume Template .

It has 4 distinct sections you can use to your advantage: 

• The sidebar area where you can place your professional bio or resume objective
• Skills sections that you can pack with keywords and popular skills that employers look for
• Header area you can use to leave your contact details, personal website, or squeeze in personal branding statements. 
• Lofty work experience section that can be tweaked to fit more positions 
• Minimalistic education section to list the essentials. 

This design is also versatile enough to be further tweaked up to your liking. You can forgo the bio/objective in favor of an “Extra Information” section or place your contact details and short elevator pitch there to expand the Skills area. 

3. Condense Information

Always look at ways of combining some of your information that may be important, but it doesn’t have a direct bearing on the job that you are applying for. For example, where you list your educational qualifications, instead of listing each qualification or achievement on a single line, condense them together and leave off any early or lower-level qualifications that an employer may not be interested in knowing about.

Treat your employment history in the same way. If you have created your work experience to read as your job title and company address in a block style with each part of the address on single lines, then you can free up some space by just putting your job title and company name on one single line and cut out the company address completely.

Even your own personal details can take a healthy trim. Many career experts recommend that you don’t include your home address on your resume just in case the employer judges candidate suitability depending on their location and proximity to the workplace. Simply including your name and contact number, email address, and LinkedIn profile.  

4. Spring Clean for Redundancies 

Don’t go about describing every job duty you had at every job listed — most will likely duplicate one-another. Instead, focus on listing one-two main accomplishments for each entry and sprinkle in some relevant hard and soft skills . 

Take a look at our customer service resume example . Instead of going at length about every job, you can just write a one-line description and then provide a quick bullet point list of accomplishments/skills. So that your entry looks the following way:

Customer Service Specialist (April 2017 – March 2020)

Started in telephone customer support and quickly transitioned to web chat support. Assisted retail customers with concerns related to their orders, billing, shipping, and returns. 

• Ranked highest in the European region for chat resolution speed.
• Employee of the Month (August, October, Dec)
• Zendesk, HubSpot Live Chat, and Salesforce proficient 

5. Adjust Your Line Spacing And Font Size

Recruiters want to see resumes that are easy on the eye, so the need for your resume to have good line spacing is still important. However, you can maximize the space available by adjusting your line spacing to give you a little bit more room.

If you are using MS Word to create your resume, then you can manually change the line spacing between paragraphs and different sections. The default setting is actually quite generous, so even if you change it to shrink down the line spacing by half between paragraphs and sections, you will still get a defined visual space, but you can squeeze out an extra couple of free line spaces for more information by doing this.

While going as small as an 8-point font may mean certain eye-strain for a recruiter trying to read your resume, you can safely change to 10-point font and still leave your resume perfectly readable. It would be wise to leave your name at least at a 14-point font if not larger.

6. Trim Your Bullet Points

Bullet points are the key trick for fitting as much information as possible into a one-page resume. The key here, however, is to avoid writing full length, logically connected sentences. 

Instead, think of your bullet point as a mini headline — short, catchy, and sufficiently communicating one key idea. 

Here are some extra tips for writing powerful bullet points for your resume:

• Avoid complex, lengthy words (unless these are actual keywords)
• Keep your bullet point to one line to avoid space waste 
• Aim for the same bullet point length to make your resume look neater 
• Make your bullet points symmetrical i.e. always start with a verb or noun. 
• Keep the bullet points thematically-related.

Here’s how we incorporated all of these tips in our hospitality resume example : 

The Royal Suits, Downtown Miami (2018 – 2020)

Concierge and Guest Services Supervisor

Skills and accomplishments:

• Provided guest services to over 1,500 guests per month 
• Organized personalized entertainment and shopping experiences
• Managed all the concierge services for VIP guests
• Brought in extra 20% via services upsells/cross-sells per month 
• Maintained customer satisfaction rating of more than 98%

7. Don’t Fret About The Resume Length Too Much!

There is no harm in having two versions of your resume – one single page version and one longer multiple-page version. These can be very handy to keep on file for when an employer specifically asks you to submit one or the other. A lot of employers will initially ask for a one-page resume, and then follow that up with a request for a more detailed resume for when they are creating a shortlist for the job interview.

To Conclude 

If you’ve tried all of the tips above and still didn’t arrive at the coveted one-page resume length, don’t sweat it any further.  At the end of the day, it is your skills, qualifications, and past experiences that make the most difference! So go with a two-page resume or two versions of your resume, if you feel that a lengthy version will represent you better as a job candidate. 

Finally, if you need some extra help, you can always browse our ever-growing collection of professional resume templates that are already optimized to pack a powerful punch within a single page!

This article has been originally published on April 30, 2018 and has been extensively revised and updated on November 12, 2020.

Elena runs content operations at Freesumes since 2017. She works closely with copywriters, designers, and invited career experts to ensure that all content meets our highest editorial standards. Up to date, she wrote over 200 career-related pieces around resume writing, career advice... more

you might also like

6 Best Colors For Your Resume (According to Pro Designers)

How to Put an Internship on a Resume: FAQs Answered

How to Put Research on a Resume: Tips and Examples

Resume Skills For Retail: Big List of Examples

90+ Childcare Skills For Your Resume (+ Daycare Worker Resume Example!)

Leave a response cancel reply.

Explore Jobs

• Jobs Near Me
• Remote Jobs
• Full Time Jobs
• Part Time Jobs
• Entry Level Jobs
• Work From Home Jobs

Find Specific Jobs

• $15 Per Hour Jobs
• $20 Per Hour Jobs
• Hiring Immediately Jobs
• High School Jobs
• H1b Visa Jobs

Explore Careers

• Business And Financial
• Architecture And Engineering
• Computer And Mathematical

Explore Professions

• What They Do

Certifications

• Demographics

Best Companies

• Health Care
• Fortune 500

Explore Companies

• CEO And Executies
• Resume Builder
• Career Advice
• Explore Majors
• Questions And Answers
• Interview Questions

How To Fit Your Resume On One Page In 5 Easy Steps

• How To Write A Resume
• How To Build A Resume
• Specific Resume Words
• Action Verbs On A resume
• Words To Describe Yourself
• Resume Outline
• How To Make A Resume
• How To Make A Resume On Word
• How To Write A Resume Profile
• General Resume Examples
• Resume With No Experience
• Student Resume
• College Resume
• Entry Level Resume
• Military Resume
• Internship Resume
• First Resume
• College Application Resume
• 2 Page Resume
• Blank Resume Template
• College Freshman Resume
• Work History
• Resume Templates
• Stay-At-Home Parent Resume
• Resume Tips
• Best Resume Writing Services
• Things To Avoid On A Resume
• Resume Paper To Use
• What To Include In A Resume
• How To Write A Bio
• How To Write A Personal Statement
• Lied on Your Resume?
• Avoid Age Discrimination
• Words and Phrases You Shouldn't Include in Your Resume
• How Many Skills Should You List On A Resume
• Send A Resume As A Pdf
• Resume Critique
• Make A Resume Stand Out
• Resume Spelling
• Resume Past Or Present Tense
• How To List Projects On A resume
• Best Resume Action Words
• How To Quantify Your Resume
• Resume Bullet Points
• Are Resume Writers Worth It
• How Many Jobs To List On Resume
• Please Find Attached My Resume
• How To List Contract Work On Your Resume
• How To Put Research On Your Resume
• How To Upload Your Resume To LinkedIn
• Resume Mistakes
• How To Show Promotions On Your Resume
• Magna Cum Laude On A Resume
• Resume-Writing Rules
• Lying On Your Resume
• Tailor Your Resume
• When And How To Use A Two-Page Resume
• What To Remove From Your Resume
• How To Fit Your Resume On One Page
• What Is A CV?
• CV Vs Resume
• CV Templates
• CV Examples

Find a Job You Really Want In

Writing a resume is an art that can be difficult to master. You’re faced with the challenge of selling yourself to employers and showing that you’re the best person for the job, all while making sure that it isn’t a total nonsensical eyesore. On top of the challenge of marketing yourself to a potential employer, you have to do so in a limited space. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “ how long should my resume be ?” Your most likely answer is one single page . The goal here is to give yourself plenty of space on your resume , while still making it readable. Sound like enough of a challenge? Don’t panic! We’re here to help. Keep reading to learn how to make your resume one page in five easy steps. Key Takeaways: Keeping your resume to one page makes it easier for hiring managers to read and it highlights your best qualifications. One way to make your resume shorter is to combine any sections that you can. Tailoring your resume and removing unnecessary information can help save on space and help you stand out to hiring managers. In This Article    Skip to section Why You Should Keep Your Resume to One Page How to Fit Your Resume on One Page More Tips to Make Your Resume One Page Final Thoughts Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs Show More Why You Should Keep Your Resume to One Page

Here are the reasons why keeping your resume to one page will help you get the job:

It allows you to select your best qualifications. Having a page restriction means having to select which skills and qualifications make you the best candidate. This will also help you tailor your resume to each job. A potential employer only wants to see what makes you the best person for the position, they don’t need to know anything irrelevant to the job.

It makes it easier to read. Having a shorter resume means the hiring manager doesn’t have to rush to read through it. They only have a short amount of time to look through all the resumes that are on their desk, so just putting the important information will help you stand out.

It shows your creativity. Limited space means getting creative with how you add your skills and qualifications. This can help show a hiring manager your critical thinking skill before they see anything else.

How to Fit Your Resume on One Page

Make the most of your formatting. If you find yourself trying to cram a bunch of information into one page with a bunch of illegible sentences, consider changing your margins, line spacing, and font size instead.

The standard size for resume margins is 1 inch on all sides, but feel free to make them as small as ½ inch. If you go any smaller, your resume will look cramped and chaotic.

You can also adjust your font size line spacing to give yourself more room to tell employers about how awesome you are. Stick to using a single-spaced format, and make the body of your resume a 10 or 12-point font.

Combine sections whenever possible. Even though the body of your resume is going to be in a fairly small font, your section headers are likely going to be slightly bigger, so you don’t want to throw in a bunch of different sections all willy-nilly. Mandatory sections include:

Contact information (header)

Resume summary statement

Work history

The following sections are optional:

Volunteer experience

Achievements

Interests/hobbies

To shorten your optional sections, consider combining your relevant professional and volunteer history under your experience section. You can also lump all of your awards, achievements, or recognition under your work experience section rather than making a separate achievements section.

If you have any hobbies, hard skills, or anything that could make you stand out as an ideal candidate, consider including them under your skills section.

Make your bullet points concise, but compelling. Your bullet points are where you’re going to talk about your experience, and it’s what employers are going to be paying the most attention to when they scan your resume, so you’ll want to make them count.

Try to make your bullet points fit into one line, and absolutely no more than two. Condense your sentences to the most basic description of your past accomplishments, and make sure to mirror keywords that were used in the job listing.

If you choose to use resume buzzwords , make sure to only use the ones that employers care about, such as those that are repeated often in the job description. There’s no sense wasting space with a bunch of meaningless words that everyone and their grandmother use to describe themselves.

Also, if you can, try to only list work and volunteer experiences that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. If you’re an entry-level candidate and you need to fill up some space on your resume, try to pick out the most relevant aspects of those unrelated jobs and emphasize them in your bullet points.

Remove fluff. By this, we simply mean that you should eliminate all flowery language, useless information, and outdated work or education experiences. It hurts, but it has to be done if you want to get the job.

First thing’s first — get rid of your resume objective statement , high school experience, and any mentions of “ references available upon request .” Also, unless your employer specifically asks for it, ditch your GPA.

Now that you’re on a roll, it’s time to get rid of those boring soft skills . Instead, focus on highlighting the hard skills that make you more marketable and valuable as a candidate. If the job listing mentions specific skills needed for the position, make sure to mirror them on your resume.

Merge contact information into one line. Instead of giving every aspect of your personal and contact information their own individual lines, combine them all into one line, underneath your name, and voilà! You’ve got yourself a resume header!

In your header, list your phone number, your professional email address, your social media or portfolio , and the city you live in. Your header should be a few font sizes bigger than the body of your resume, but not so much that it takes up the whole page.

For more information on how to write format a resume header, check out this article .

More Tips to Make Your Resume One Page

Start with a master resume. Since each resume you send out should be tailored for the specific job, it’s a good idea to keep a “master resume” that includes all of the information that might possibly be relevant to a potential employer.

This is your brainstorming document, and it can be as long as you like. Having this document will save you loads of time as you apply for different positions, as you’ll already have an inventory of potential items to include.

Tailor your resume to the job . It’s not only good practice for landing more interviews — making your resume laser-focused on the position you’re applying for forces you to be choosy about what you include.

For every item on your resume, ask yourself, “will this help the hiring manager make a decision about whether or not to hire me?

If you’re not sure about the answer, consult the job description . Highlight action verbs in one color and adjectives and skills in another. Then, look for places where you can naturally and honestly incorporate those words.

If you find some items on your resume don’t fit with the keywords you found, they’re likely good candidates for removal.

Focus on accomplishments, not responsibilities. When you include your job title in your resume, that’s basically shorthand for all of your responsibilities.

For the majority of positions, hiring managers understand the basic ins-and-outs — accountants balance the books, salespeople make sales, programmers make computer programs, etc.

Don’t waste space by telling the recruiter things they already know. Instead, focus on the measurable impact you had on projects you were involved with or led. Use numbers whenever possible to make it easier for a reader to understand your results.

Trim your education section. If you’re past your first job out of high school or college, then you really don’t need to provide much information on your education. A simple section that includes the school’s name and location, along with the name of your degree and graduation date, is really all you need.

That being said, jobs in certain fields, like research and academia, require a more comprehensive education section.

Stop after 10-15 years. Once you have more than a decade of experience to show, you can start removing some of the older content. Folks don’t really care about your entry-level job once you’re in a more senior-level position.

Plus, adding employment dates from the 80s or even the 90s might invite some ageism . However, if you want to show off your rich and storied career, we recommend seriously condensing older entries. For example, one line could cover a host of entry-level jobs you had a company, like: “Microsoft 1994-2002 | Junior Data Analyst, Data Technician, Program Manager” .

Leave out “references available upon request”. If you need some extra space, try leaving this out of your resume. If an employer wants your resume, they are going to ask for it. It’s not common for an applicant to not have a reference available, so adding that line is just taking up space that you could be using elsewhere.

Final Thoughts

Writing a compelling resume is hard work, and it just gets even more challenging when you’re forced to try to describe how awesome you are on one single page.

Your goal is to make the employer see that you’re the best person for the job within a limited amount of words and space, but with a little editing and adjustments to your formatting, you’re sure to outshine the competition.

Now it’s time to get out there and write a resume so compelling that you land an interview and get the job!

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Maddie Lloyd was a writer for the Zippia Advice blog focused on researching tips for interview, resume, and cover letter preparation. She's currently a graduate student at North Carolina State University's department of English concentrating in Film and Media Studies.

Related posts

Using A Resume Writing Service: Is Hiring A Resume Writer Worth It?

10 Tips For Making The Most Of Career Fairs

A Look At How Resume Formatting May Affect Hiring Discrimination

These Are The 12 Best Financial Planning Certifications

• Career Advice >
• Get The Job >
• How To Make Your Resume One Page In 5 Easy Steps

One Page Resume Templates

No matter what level of experience you have, you can easily craft a one-page resume using one of our pre-made templates below. Just click on your favorite, and replace the info with your own.

Double Column

Single page resume template. Bold heading fonts point the recruiter straight to what’s important in your resume.

1-page resume template. Perfect for experienced candidates who can fit more experience without compromising length.

Single Column

One-page resume template. For job-seekers who prefer a classic one-column layout.

Two-column resume template. Organize your information into two columns for a well-structured and easy-to-follow format.

Space-saving resume template. Optimize the space on your resume to maximize the impact of your information with a space-saving design.

Text-focused resume template. Convey your information in a clear and straightforward manner with a text-focused design that is simple and easy to read.

In This Guide:

What is a one-page resume template, when to use a one-page resume template, tips for building the best one-page resume template, one-page resume template pros and cons.

The one-page resume template has a layout designed to present the most relevant information about the applicant. It contains summarized text that is easy to read and scan.

This type of resume is born out of understanding the two key principles of application processing. The first one is that the most important information is expected to be in the first one-third of the document. The second principle is that the HR officer only has a few seconds to decide if your resume goes in the bin or not.

A well-prepared single-page resume demonstrates that you are a very organized person who knows how to prioritize and who values the time of the recruiter. It also demonstrates that vanity is not one of your disadvantages.

• Personality: If you are a well-organized individual who can prioritize what is important and what is not, then the 1-page resume format is for you. To use this format, you need to understand what the employer is looking for. You also need to have well-organized thoughts because if they invite you for an interview there will be a lot of clarifying questions.
• The professional field: A one-page resume is accepted in all professional fields. Still, you might find it a bit hard to use a one-page resume template if you are in a creative field. If your dream job is in a more conservative or traditional field, the one-page resume template is a format that will be well received.
• Company: The one-page resume is universal and any company’s recruiters would appreciate it highly. In bigger companies such as Apple, Microsoft, or Tesla there is an influx of applicants and the HR officers need to sort through tons of resumes. In this case, the one-page resume can give you an advantage in demonstrating your skills in a condensed form.
• Background and education: Anyone with any education and background could benefit from a one-page resume template. The only exception is when for some reason you have a higher educational level such as Ph.D. and you need to list out your Bachelor's and Masters's degrees as well. This usually happens if you pursue an academic career. You might also need to list all your degrees and even high school degrees if they are relevant. Otherwise, you only need to list your most recent degree.
• Position: The single-page resume template is suitable for any position. It is very important to use this template if you are a candidate for an entry position with less experience. Often, for such jobs, there are more candidates. This means that a lot of resumes need to pass through the recruiter’s desk. Your chance is better if you avoid fluff. If you have more experience, and you are a candidate for a senior position, you might consider making your resume two pages or more.

Using infographics, icons, and bullet points on one-page resumes can help present information compactly. Still, you need to have a rather minimalist approach to make sure the document is easy to read.

Narrower space between sections and reduced resume margins are tricks that will allow you to fit more content on one page. Nevertheless, keep enough white space so that the document looks organized.

With a one-page resume, the best background is white. If you have two columns, infographics, icons, bullet points, and a lot of information presented in a smaller font do not add more complexity.

We recommend minimalist and compact fonts such as Oswald , Bitter , and Volkhov . With these fonts, you will be able to fit more information on a single page.

With one-page resumes, you need to adopt a minimalist approach regarding colors. You can use one color to highlight your sections’ headings. Use the same color for your bullet points and icons. If you have infographics such as pie charts they will add a few more colors, but this is acceptable.

According to statistics, your resume will be processed by a recruiter in 6–10 seconds. Then he or she will decide if the resume lands in the bin or not. This is why the layout is as important as the information itself.

The layout needs to present as much information as possible on the first one-third of the page. The challenge is that the information also has to be easy to read and understand.

This is why The Header is very important. This is the place for your contact details such as name, phone, and email. You may also add your city and state. Do not add an exact address such as street, floor, and apartment number. This information is not relevant. With a one-page resume, you can also decide not to include your picture, but you can add a link to LinkedIn for more information. The recruiter will be able to see your picture there if he or she decides.

The header is also the place where you can add your headline . Be short. Think of something catchy that will represent you, just with one phrase.

Next comes the Summary section. In 2–3 sentences you must highlight your greatest achievements, skills, education, and work experience. This is the place where you need to shine and basically demonstrate to the recruiters why hiring you would be a good idea.

The Job (Work) Experience section is placed under the Summary section , aligned left. Use bullet points and list out your positions in reverse chronological order. If the position is irrelevant at the moment, do not go into details. If the position is relevant to your current application, you can explain using 1–2 sentences what your duties were. Try to use action verbs and be short.

Next comes the Education section . It is also left-aligned. With a one-page resume, you do not have a lot of space, so you must only list your most recent degree. Of course, if your previous degrees are relevant or required, you will also need to include them.

A two-column format will allow you to utilize the available space on the page more effectively. In case you decide to choose it, you can position your Achievements and Skills sections aligned right just opposite the Job Experience and the Education Sections. This is very important because the information in both sections is presented only by keywords or phrases. It needs to be supported with more details in the Job Experience and Education sections.

With a one-page resume, the space for Additional sections is limited. In case it is relevant, you can also add Languages , Hobbies , Projects , or Interests sections. If you have to decide what to include and what not, make sure you leave sections that would help you make an impression as a suitable job candidate.

Number of pages

One-page resumes are much more appreciated by HR officers for practical reasons. However, as per industry standards, you can feel free to add another page for every ten years of job experience you have

• The one-page resume is preferred by recruiters because it is easier and faster to work with.
• Sometimes if the resume is printed out or even reviewed on a computer screen, the recruiter could forget to look at the second page. With a one-page resume, there is no such risk
• A one-page resume is much easier to improve, correct and redact. All the information is on one screen, and you can control it better.
• A one-page resume is not the best choice for creative personalities and positions.
• If you have 20-30 years of Job Experience, it will be very hard to fit all the information into one page
• With a one-page resume, you risk missing important information in case you do not prioritize what to include properly.

Frequently asked questions about one-page resume templates

Should my resume be one page, when is it okay to make a two-page resume, can a resume be 1.5 pages.

• Resume Examples

How To Create A Cover Letter For An Internal Position

12 great jobs for seniors (with tips), how to present your informal education to employers, when should you include your high school on your resume, cover letter checklist : learn how to impress recruiters, how to list multiple jobs at the same company on a resume.

• Create Resume
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Preferences
• Resume Templates
• Resume Builder
• Resume Summary Generator
• Resume Formats
• Resume Checker
• AI Resume Review
• Resume Skills
• How to Write a Resume
• Modern Resume Templates
• Simple Resume Templates
• Cover Letter Builder
• Cover Letter Examples
• Cover Letter Templates
• Cover Letter Formats
• How to Write a Cover Letter
• Resume Guides
• Cover Letter Guides
• Job Interview Guides
• Job Interview Questions
• Career Resources
• Meet our customers
• Career resources
• English (UK)
• French (FR)
• German (DE)
• Spanish (ES)
• Swedish (SE)

© 2024 . All rights reserved.

Made with love by people who care.

How to Make a Resume in 2024 | Beginner's Guide

For most job-seekers, a good resume is what stands between a dream job and Choice D. Get your resume right, and you’ll be getting replies from every other company you apply to.

If your resume game is weak, though, you’ll end up sitting around for weeks, maybe even months, before you even get a single response.

So you’re probably wondering how you can write a resume that gets you an interview straight up.

Well, you’ve come to the right place!

In this guide, we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about how to make a resume, including:

• The 8 Essential Steps to Writing a Resume
• 11+ Exclusive Resume Tips to Up Your Resume Game
• 27+ Real-Life Resume Examples for Different Professions

….and more!

So, let’s dive right in.

How to Make a Resume (The Right Way!)

Before we go into detail about how you should make a resume, here’s a summary of the most important steps and tips to keep in mind:

• Choose a resume format carefully. In 99% of cases, we recommend the reverse-chronological format .
• Add the right contact details. Leave your headshot out and make sure to include your job title , a professional email address, and any relevant links. (E.g.: your LinkedIn profile , online portfolio, personal website, etc.).
• Write an impactful resume summary. Unless you’re an entry-level professional, always go for a resume summary. If you do it right, it’s your chance to get the hiring manager to go through the rest of your resume in detail.
• Pay attention to your work experience section. Take your work experience section from OK-ish to exceptional by tailoring it to the job ad, making your achievements quantifiable, and using action verbs and power words.
• Add the right skills for the job. Keep this section relevant by only including the hard and soft skills that are required for the position.
• Keep your education short and to the point. Your most recent and highest degree is more than enough for a strong education section. You only need to add more details here if you’re a recent graduate with barely any work experience.
• Leverage optional resume sections. Optional sections like languages, hobbies, certifications, independent projects, and others can set you apart from other candidates with similar skills and experience.
• Include a cover letter. That’s right, cover letters matter in 2024, and the best way to supplement your resume is by adding an equally well-crafted cover letter to your job application. To make the most of it, check out our detailed guide on how to write a cover letter .

To get the most out of our tips, you can head over to the resume builder and start building your resume on the go as you read this guide.

New to resume-making? Give our ‘7 Resume Tips’ video a watch before diving into the article!

#1. Pick the Right Resume Format

Before you start filling in the contents of your resume, you have to make sure it’s going to look good. 

After all, the first thing hiring managers notice is what your resume looks like, and then they start reading it. So, this is your best chance to make a great first impression.

Start by choosing the right resume format.

There are three types of resume formats out there:

• Reverse-chronological. This is by far the most popular resume format worldwide and, as such, it’s the best format for most job-seekers.
• Functional. This resume format focuses more on skills than work experience. It’s a good choice if you’re just getting started with your career and have little to no experience in the field.
• Combination. The combination resume format is a great choice for experienced job-seekers with a very diverse skill set. It’s useful if you’re applying for a role that requires expertise in several different fields and you want to show all that in your resume.

So, which one should you go for?

In 99% of cases, you want to stick to the reverse-chronological resume format . It’s the most popular format and what hiring managers expect to see. So, in the rest of this guide, we’re going to focus on teaching you how to make a reverse-chronological resume.

Fix Your Resume’s Layout

With formatting out of the way, let’s talk about your resume’s layout , which determines the overall look of your resume. 

Does it look organized or cluttered? Is it too short or too long? Is it boring and easy to ignore, or is it reader-friendly and attention-grabbing?

Here are some of the best practices you should apply:

• Stick to one page. You should only go for a two-page resume if you have decades of experience and you’re sure the extra space will add significant value. Hiring managers in big companies get hundreds of applications per job opening. They’re not going to spend their valuable time reading your life story!
• Add clear section headings. Pick a heading and use it for all the section headers so the hiring manager can easily navigate through your resume.
• Adjust the margins. Without the right amount of white space, your resume will end up looking overcrowded with information. Set your margins to one inch on all sides so your text fits just right on the page.
• Choose a professional font. We’d recommend sticking to a font that’s professional but not overused. For example, Ubuntu, Roboto, or Overpass. Avoid Times New Roman, and never use Comic Sans.
• Set the correct font size. As a rule of thumb, go for 11-12 pt for normal text and 14-16 pt for section titles.
• Use a PDF file. Always save your resume as a PDF file, unless the employer specifically requests otherwise. Word files are popular, but there’s a good chance they’ll mess up your resume’s formatting.

Another thing you need to consider in terms of your resume’s layout is whether you’re going for a traditional-looking resume template or something a bit more modern :

If you’re pursuing a career in a more traditional industry, like law , banking , or finance , you might want to stick to the first.

But if you’re applying to a tech company where imagination and innovation are valued, you can pick a more creative resume template .

Want to Save Time? Use a (Free) Resume Template

Anyone who’s ever tried creating a resume from scratch knows how boring the formatting can be.

Before you can even start filling in the contents, you need to tweak the margins, adjust font sizes, and make sure everything fits into one page while still looking good.

What if you could skip past all that and still create a compelling resume?

Try one of our free resume templates . They’re pre-formatted, so all you have to do is fill in the contents.

They’re also created in collaboration with recruiters from around the globe, ensuring that the templates are visually appealing and ATS-friendly!

See for yourself how one of our templates compares to a resume created in a standard text editor:

#2. Add Your Contact Information

Now that we’ve got all the formatting out of the way, let’s get into what your resume is all about— the information you put on it .

The first thing you want to do when filling out the contents of your resume is to add your contact information .

This section is pretty straightforward but crucial. Your contact details belong at the top of your resume in a designated resume header , so the hiring manager can easily find them.

Even if everything else about your resume is perfect, that all flops if you misspell your email address or have a typo in your phone number. If the hiring manager can’t contact you, it’s a missed opportunity.

So, double-check, and even triple-check your contact information section and make sure everything is factually correct and up-to-date.

Must-Have Information

• Full name. Your first and last name should stand out at the top of your resume.
• Email address. Stick to an address that’s professional and easy to spell, like a combination of your first and last name. (E.g.: [email protected])
• Phone number. Add a reliable number where the hiring manager can easily reach you.
• Location. Add your city and state/country. If you plan to relocate for the job or want a remote position, specify it on your resume.

Optional Information

• Job title. Add your professional title underneath. Write it down word for word, whether it’s “Digital Marketing Specialist” or “Junior Data Scientist.” Just don’t make up job titles like “Marketing Wizzard” or “Data Manipulator.” They’re not quirky; they’re just unprofessional. 
• LinkedIn profile . We recommend that you include a link to your updated LinkedIn profile since over 77% of hiring managers use the platform when evaluating a candidate. 
• Relevant links. Include links to personal websites or any social media profiles that are relevant to your field. For example, a developer could include a Github profile, while a graphic designer could link their Behance or Driblle account, and so on.
• Date of birth. Unless this is specifically required in the job ad, the hiring manager doesn’t need to know how old you are. It’s not important for their decision-making, and at worst, it might lead to age-based discrimination.
• Unprofessional email address. Your quirky, old high school email address doesn’t belong on your resume. Instead of [email protected] , go for a [email protected] type of address.
• Headshot. (USA, UK or Ireland) Depending on the country where you’re applying, it might even be illegal to include a picture of yourself on your resume . While it’s the norm to include a picture in most of Europe and Asia, always check the regulations for each specific country or industry you’re applying to.

All clear? Good! Now, let’s look at what a great example of a resume's contact information section looks like:

#3. Write a Resume Headline (Summary or Objective)

It's no secret that recruiters spend an average of less than seven seconds on a resume .

When you receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications daily, it's physically impossible to spend too much time on each.

So, what the hiring managers do to go through resumes more effectively is to skim through each resume and read it in depth only if it piques their interest.

This is where the resume headline comes in.

Placed right next to (or underneath) your contact information, this brief paragraph is the first thing the hiring manager is going to read on your resume.

Now, depending on how far along in your career you are, your resume headline can be either a resume summary or a resume objective.

So, how do you choose between a resume summary and a resume objective? Here’s all you need to know:

Resume Summary

A resume summary, as the name suggests, is a two to three-sentence summary of your career so far. If done right, it shows that you’re a qualified candidate at a glance and gets the hiring manager to give you a chance.

Here’s what your resume summary should include:

• Your job title and years of experience.
• A couple of your greatest professional achievements or core responsibilities.
• Your most relevant skills for the job.

Here’s an example of a well-written resume summary: 

Experienced Java Developer with 5 years of experience in building scalable and efficient applications. Contributed to a major project that enhanced application performance by 25%. Strong background in Spring Framework and microservices. Aiming to apply robust coding skills to develop innovative software solutions at XYZ Tech Solutions.

Unless you’re a recent graduate or amid a career change, we recommend you stick to a resume summary. Otherwise, a resume objective might be a better option for you.

Resume Objective

A resume objective is supposed to express your professional goals and aspirations, academic background, and any relevant skills you may have for the job.

It communicates your motivation for getting into a new field, so it’s the go-to headline for recent graduates and those going through a career change. As with a resume summary, a resume objective should be brief—around two to four sentences long.

So, here’s what it would look like if you’re a student:

Hard-working recent graduate with a B.A. in Graphic Design from New York State University seeking new opportunities. 3+ years of practical experience working with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, creating illustrations and UX/UI design projects. Looking to grow as a designer and perfect my art at XYZ Design Studio.

Or, on the other hand, if you’re going through a career change, it might look more like this:

IT project manager with 5+ years of experience in software development. Managed a team of developers to create products for several industries, such as FinTech and HR tech. Looking to leverage my experience in managing outsourced products as a Product Owner at Company XYZ.

#4. Prioritize Your Work Experience

The most important part of your resume is your work experience.

This is where you get to sell yourself and show off your previous accomplishments and responsibilities.

If you manage to master this section, you’ll know most of what’s there to know about how to make a resume.

There are plenty of good practices for writing your work experience . But before we dive into all the nits and grits, let's start with the basics.

The standard format for each work experience entry is as follows:

• Job title/position. Your job title goes on top of each work experience entry. When the hiring manager looks at your resume, you want them to know, at a glance, that you have relevant work experience for the job.
• Company name/location/description. Mention the name of the employer and the general location, such as the city and state/country where you worked. In some cases, you may also want to briefly describe the company, like when the organization isn’t particularly well-known.
• Dates employed. Add the approximate timeframe of your employment at each company. You don’t need to give exact dates since the standard format for this is mm/yyyy.
• Achievements and responsibilities. This is the core of each work experience entry. Depending on your field, you want to list either your achievements or responsibilities. List them in bullet points instead of paragraphs, so they’ll be easier to read.

Here’s a real-life example:

Your work experience entries should always be listed in reverse chronological order , starting with your most recent job and working your way back into the past.

Now that you know how to list your experience, we’re going to show you how to write about it in a way that makes you stand out from the competition, starting with: 

Are you a student with no work experience? We’ve got you covered. Check out our guide to writing a resume with no experience here.

Focus on Achievements Whenever Possible

One of the most common resume mistakes is only listing responsibilities in your work experience section.

Here’s the thing—in most cases, the hiring manager knows exactly what your job responsibilities are.

For example, if you’re a sales manager, your responsibilities would be:

• Reach out to potential clients over the phone or email.
• Maintain relationships with existing company clients and upsell relevant products.
• Tracking and reporting on leads in CRM.

Coincidentally, this is also the same list of responsibilities for every sales manager out there. So, 90% of all other resumes probably mention the same thing.

To stand out from the competition, you want to focus on writing achievements in your resume instead. These can be how you helped your previous company grow, reach quarterly quotas, and so on.

Let’s compare how responsibilities hold up next to achievements for the same job:

• Exceeded sales team KPIs by 30%+ for 3 months straight.
• Generated over $24,000 in sales in 1 month.
• Generated leads through cold-calling
• Managed existing company clients

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there just aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you’re a warehouse worker .

Your day-to-day responsibilities probably include:

• Loading, unloading, and setting up equipment daily.
• Packaging finished products and getting them ready for shipping.
• Assisting in opening and closing the warehouse.

In fields like this, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself through achievements, so it’s okay to stick to responsibilities instead. You can still make them shine by following the rest of our advice about listing your work experience.

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you work in a warehouse. Your day-to-day responsibilities probably involve:

• Loading, unloading and setting up equipment on a daily basis.
• Package finished product and get it ready for shipping.
• Assist in opening and closing the warehouse.

In such fields, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself, so it’s totally OK to stick to responsibilities instead.

Tailor Your Resume to the Job

Tailoring is what sets an amazing resume apart from an okay one.

Hiring managers don’t need to know about every single job you’ve ever worked at or every single skill that you have.

They only want to know about your jobs, experiences, or skills that are relevant to the role you’re applying for.

For example, if you’re applying for a job doing Google Ads, you don’t need to talk about your SEO internship from eight years ago.

By focusing your resume on whatever is important for the specific role, you’re a lot more likely to stand out and catch the hiring manager’s attention.

Let’s take a look at an example of a job ad:

As you can see, we’ve highlighted the most important requirements.

To tailor your resume accordingly, you just need to mention how you meet each of these requirements in your resume.

You can highlight your relevant achievements and qualifications in different parts of your resume, such as:

• In your resume summary, where you should recap your years of experience.
• Throughout your work experience section, where you should list achievements and responsibilities that reflect your social media marketing experience.
• In your education section, where you can let the hiring manager know you have the degree that they’re looking for.

Include the Right Amount of Work Experience

If you’ve got over a decade’s worth of work experience, you’re probably wondering whether all of it belongs on your resume. In most cases, you’d end up writing a novel if you listed everything you’ve ever done, and that’s not how long a resume should be .

If you’re new to the job market, on the other hand, you probably don’t have any experience, and you’re wondering what you could even add to this section.

So, here’s how much information your resume should include, depending on your level of experience:

• No experience. If you’re looking for your first job , you won’t have any work experience to fill this section with. So, you can either keep it empty and focus on all the other sections or fill it up with any experience gained in student organizations, extracurricular activities, volunteering, and other projects.
• Entry-level. List all your work experience so far. While some of it won’t be relevant, it can still show the hiring manager that you do have some actual work experience.
• Mid-level. Only mention relevant work experience to the position you’re applying for. There’s no need to waste space on jobs that aren’t related to what you’re after.
• Senior-level. List up to 15 years of relevant work experience, tops. If your most recent experience is as a marketing executive , the hiring manager doesn’t care how you started your career as a junior marketing specialist 23 years ago.

Consider Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Software

Did you know that over 70% of resumes don’t even make it to the hiring manager ?

Most companies these days use ATS to evaluate hundreds of resumes instantaneously and automatically filter out the ones that don’t meet their criteria.

For example, if a resume doesn’t mention a specific skill or isn’t formatted correctly, the ATS will automatically reject it.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to make an ATS-friendly resume .

Here are a couple of tips to help you get past those pesky robots:

• Stick to one page. Sometimes employers set a limit on how long a resume should be. This means that if your resume is longer than one page, it might get automatically disqualified.
• Incorporate keywords. Tailoring your resume to the job helps a ton with beating the ATS. Just carefully read the job description to find hints for what the ATS will be looking for. Then, whenever you find keywords related to your responsibilities and achievements, make sure to include them in your work experience section.
• Use an active voice. Passive voice is too vague and unclear, so make sure to use active voice as much as possible when describing your previous jobs. (E.g.: “Managed a team of ten people,” instead of “ A team of ten people was managed by me.” )
• Leverage powerful action words. Instead of starting each of your sentences with “was responsible for," make your work experience impactful by using words that can grab attention. Saying that you “spearheaded” or “facilitated” something sounds a lot more impressive than “helped.”

Want to make sure your resume formatting passes the ATS test? Choose one of our tried and tested ATS-friendly resume templates , and you’ll be good to go! 

#5. List Your Education

The next section on your resume is dedicated to your academic qualifications. Let’s start with the basics!

Here’s how you should format the education section on your resume :

• Program Name. Your major and degree type should be listed. (E.g.: “B.A. in Business Administration” )
• University Name. Add the name of the institution. (E.g.: “New York State University” )
• Dates Attended. Use a mm/yyyy format for the dates you attended. (E.g.: “08/2008 - 06/2012” )
• Location. If your university is less well-known, you can also add the location. (E.g.: “Stockholm, Sweden” )
• GPA. Use the appropriate grading system for the country you’re applying to work in. (E.g.: In the USA, it would be “3.9 GPA” )
• Honors. Add any honors and distinctions you’ve been given. (E.g.: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude )
• Achievements. You can mention interesting papers you’ve written, projects you’ve done, or relevant coursework you’ve excelled in.
• Minor. “Minor in Psychology”

Pretty simple, right? Now let’s see what an education section looks like in practice:

This example includes all the necessary information, plus an eye-catching award and relevant classes this candidate has taken.

Resume Education Tips

Now that you know how to list your education on your resume, let’s take this section to the next level.

Just follow these expert tips:

• If you’re making a resume as a student and don’t have any work experience yet, you can list your education section at the beginning of the page instead of work experience.
• You can add your expected graduation date if you’re still pursuing your degree.
• If you already have relevant work experience, just keep this section short and sweet. Recent graduates can expand on their education more and add optional information like projects, classes, academic achievements, etc.
• Always list your degrees in reverse chronological order, starting with your highest degree on top. Your highest and most recent degree is usually enough, so if you have a Master’s degree that’s relevant to the job, there’s no need to mention your earlier degrees.
• Don’t add your high school degree to your resume if you already have a university degree. It doesn’t have as much weight, and you can use the space for something else.
• Only mention your GPA if you had an impressive academic career. Anything below a 3.5 GPA doesn’t need to be on your resume.

Are you in the process of applying for college? Check out our guide to writing a college application resume to wow that admissions officer!

#6. Emphasize Your Know-How in the Skills Section

After your work experience, your skills are the first thing the hiring manager is going to look for. In fact, together, work experience and skills make up 90% of the hiring decision .

So, this is the place where you want to mention all the know-how that makes you the perfect candidate for the job.

There are two types of skills you can include when writing your resume:

• Hard Skills. These are measurable abilities. What you can list here can be anything from coding in Python to knowing how to cook Thai cuisine.
• Soft Skills. Also known as personal skills, these are a mix of communication skills , personal traits, career attributes, and more. They can include leadership, critical thinking, and time management , just to name a few.

Your resume should always cover both hard skills and soft skills . Here’s an example in action:

Now, let’s discuss how you should list your most important skills on your resume.

There are a few essential steps you need to follow:

Always List Hard and Soft Skills Separately

Your resume should be easy and neat to navigate. The hiring manager shouldn’t have to waste time looking for a specific skill because you didn’t separate it into the appropriate subsection.

So, just create separate categories for your hard and soft skills.

Depending on your field, you could customize the name of your “hard skills” subsection to something like “technical skills," “marketing skills," or something else related to your field.

Let’s look at an example of what skills look like on a project manager’s resume :

Methodologies & Tools

• Agile Methodology
• SCRUM Framework
• Waterfall Project Management
• Microsoft Project
• Critical Path Method (CPM)
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Risk Management

Soft Skills

• Team Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Negotiation

Tailor Your Skills to the Job

You might have some awesome skills, but the hiring manager only needs to know about the ones that are relevant to the job.

For example, if you’re applying for a job as an accountant, your gourmet chef skills shouldn’t be on your resume.

Look at the job ad and list at least two to three essential skills you have that are required for the role. Remember—there’s no need to list every skill you have here; just keep it relevant.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Graphic Design or a related field.
• Tech-savvy, with some background in CMS systems such as WordPress.
• Thrives in a stressful environment and juggles multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Self-reliant, with the ability to manage their own work.
• A can-do attitude and an outside-the-box thinker.
• Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages.
• Basic understanding of Office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

So, the must-have hard skills here are Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages. Other good computer skills to have are WordPress or similar CMS systems.

While you can also mention Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, it’s pretty much assumed that you know how to use them since they’re required for most office jobs.

List Hard Skills with Experience Levels

For each hard skill you list on your resume, you should also mention your proficiency level. This tells employers what they can expect from you and how much training you might need.

• Beginner. You have some experience with the skill, whether it’s from some entry-level practice or classroom education.
• Intermediate. You’ve used the skill in a work environment with good understanding.
• Advanced. You’re the go-to person for this skill in your office. You can coach other employees, and you understand the skill at a high level.
• Expert. You’ve applied this skill to more than a handful of different projects and organizations. You’re the go-to person for advice about the skill, not just in your office but even amongst some of the best professionals in your field.

Just make sure to never lie about your actual skill level. Even if you get the job, once you need those skills you exaggerated, it will be pretty awkward for both you and your employer.

Include Transferable Skills

These are the types of skills that are useful for almost any job out there.

Transferable skills can be both soft skills (e.g.: teamwork, creativity, problem-solving skills, and others) and hard skills (MS Office Suite, HTML, writing, etc.)

Whatever job you’re applying to, chances are you have transferable skills from your experience that can come in handy one way or another. So, feel free to include them, even if they’re not specifically required for the position.

Not sure which skills to mention on your resume for your specific field? Check out our list of 101+ essential skills for inspiration!

#7. Leverage Optional Resume Sections

The sections we’ve covered so far are must-haves for any resume. They’re the bread-and-butter for any job application, and if you get them right, you’ll land any job you apply to.

But if you have some leftover space, there are a few optional sections you can choose from to give your resume a boost!

Are you bi-lingual? Or even better  – multi-lingual? You should always mention that on your resume!

Even if the position doesn’t require you to know a specific language, it can still come in handy at some point. At the end of the day, it’s always better to know more languages than less.

To list languages in your resume , just write them down and assign them the appropriate level:

• Intermediate

You can also use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) or the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency scales.

As a given, you should never lie about your language skills. You never know—your interviewer might turn out to be fluent in the language or even be a native speaker!

Hobbies and Interests

If you want to spice up your resume, hobbies and interests could be just what you need.

While this section isn’t a game-changer, it can help the hiring manager see who you are as an individual.

For example, if you listed “teamwork” as one of your skills, hobbies like team sports can back up your claim.

And who knows? Maybe you and your interviewer have some hobbies or interests in common!

Volunteering Experience

If you’re the type of person who devotes their free time to helping others while expecting nothing in return, chances are that you’re the type of employee who’s in it for more than just the money. 

Seeing volunteer experience on your resume tells hiring managers that you’re a loyal employee who’s after something meaningful.

Several studies show that listing your volunteer experience can boost your chances of getting hired, especially if you have little to no work experience.

Certifications

Hiring managers love candidates who invest in themselves, and that’s exactly what they see when you list certifications on your resume .

If you value continuous learning and strive to expand your skill set, that’s always a plus.

Certifications can also show employers how much expertise you have.

For example, if you’re a Microsoft Cloud Engineer and you specialize in Microsoft Technologies, you should definitely include all essential certifications on your resume, such as the Azure Solutions Architect Expert one.

Awards and Recognitions

There’s no harm in showing off a little on your resume. After all, you want to be a candidate that shines above the rest.

So, if you’ve received any awards or recognitions that make you stand out in your field, make sure to add them.

For example, if you’ve been recognized for your contributions to data science or received a hard-to-come-by scholarship , mention it in your resume. Just keep your entries here relevant to the field you’re applying to.

Publications

Whether you’re a freelance writer or a distinguished academic, publications are always impressive.

If you have any published works (online or in an academic journal), you can add them to your resume. Just make sure to include a link so the hiring manager knows where to check your work!

Are you looking for a career in academia? Check out our guide to writing the perfect academic CV to get started!

Working on side projects can show off your passion for your field. Whether they’re university class projects or part-time entrepreneurial endeavors, they’re relevant.

For example, if you worked on a mock software product as part of a university competition, it shows you went through every step of product creation, from ideation to creating a marketing strategy.

This project also shows off your organizational skills , and if you mention it in your resume, you stand a better chance of landing the job you had your sights set on.

But projects can also be personal, not academic. For example, you might manage an Etsy store where you sell hand-made arts and crafts to customers online. This is a great opportunity to highlight your creativity, management, and customer service skills .

Overall, hiring managers love employees who do cool work in their free time, so projects are always a great section to add to your resume.

Looking to kickstart your career? Check out our guide on how to get an internship for useful tips and real-life examples!

Extracurricular Activities

Every college freshman knows that extracurricular experience can make a difference in their application.

Especially if you don’t have a lot of experience outside of school, extracurricular activities are a great way to show potential employers your skills and give them insight into you as a person. Different clubs and after-school projects can help you gain real-life skills and considerably increase your chances of landing your first job after college.

For example, joining a student government organization can hone your leadership skills and teach you how to work as part of a team.

For example, if you’re part of a student government or public speaking club, these activities can help you hone your leadership and presentation skills.

11+ Expert Resume Tips

You’ve got the gist of how to make a resume. Now, it’s time to make it really stand out from the crowd!

Follow these exclusive resume tips to take your resume game to the next level:

• Match the professional title underneath your name to the job title of the position you’re applying for. Hiring managers often hire for several roles at once, so giving them this cue about what role you’re after helps things go smoother.
• Mention any promotions from your previous jobs. Use the work experience entries for them to focus on the achievements that helped you earn them.
• Describe your achievements using Laszlo Bock’s formula : accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z . This way, your work experience can go the extra mile and show the hiring manager what you can bring to the table.
• Always list your achievements and responsibilities in concise bullet points. This makes your resume more reader-friendly, and it’s more likely that the hiring manager will see your impressive achievements at a glance.
• Don’t use personal pronouns like “I” or “me,” and don’t refer to yourself by name. Stick to a slightly altered third person, like “managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.” instead of “he managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.”
• Name your resume sections correctly, or it might get rejected by the ATS. Swapping out quirky names like “career history” or “expertise” for “work experience” and "skills" makes it easier for the hiring manager to find what they’re looking for, too.
• Prioritize important keywords instead of adding all of them. Make sure the relevant skills, qualifications, and experiences you add all make sense in context, too. Your goal is to get past the ATS and impress the hiring manager.
• Focus on transferable skills if you don’t have a lot of relevant work experience. Any extracurricular activities or personal projects can help you stand out here.
• Add a strategic pop of color to headings, bullet points, or key elements you want to highlight. It can help your resume stand out, but don’t overdo it—you want the information to be more impressive than the color palette.
• Don’t include the line “references available upon request.” Hiring managers already know they can request a list of references from you, so there’s no need to waste valuable space on it.
• Make sure your resume is optimized for mobile viewing. Most hiring managers use their mobile phones as often as desktop computers, so save your resume to a PDF file and make sure your formatting stays intact across any device.
• Rename the resume file you plan to send so it includes your name and the name of the position you’re applying for. It’s a small detail that can turn into a crucial mistake if you forget it.
• Read your resume out loud when you’re done. This is a great way to catch awkward phrases or spelling mistakes you might have missed otherwise.
• Use a tool like DocSend to track your resume. You’ll get a notification any time someone opens your resume, and you can see how long they spend reading it.

FREE Resume Checklist

Are you already done with your resume? Let’s see how it holds up!

Go through our checklist for perfecting your resume and see where you stand!

If you missed some points, just go through your resume one more time and perfect it.

And if you ☑’d everything—congrats! You’ve learned all there is to know about writing a resume, and you’re good to go with your job search.

Need to write a CV instead of a resume? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to write a CV with dozens of examples!

9 Resume Templates for Different Industries

Looking to create an effective resume without dealing with the formatting hassle? Just choose one of the templates below.

#1. Traditional Resume Template

Good for traditional industries like finance, banking, law, and manufacturing.

#2. Modern Resume Template

Good for both contemporary and forward-looking industries, including entrepreneurship, medical technology, and engineering.

#3. Creative Resume Template

Good for creative industries, including entertainment, design, and architecture. 

#4. Minimalistic Resume Template

Good for experienced professionals in basically any industry who want to let their achievements do the talking. 

#5. IT Resume Template

Good for any IT-related profession like software development, cyber security, and DevOps engineering.

#6. Tech Resume Template

Good for the tech industry and everything it encompasses.

#7. College Resume Template

Good for college students and recent graduates alike.

#8. General Resume Template

Good for multiple industries, including HR, education, and customer service.

#9. Executive Resume Template

Good for senior professionals across different industries, including hospitality, marketing, and logistics.

17+ Resumes for Different Jobs

Knowing how to write a resume is one thing, but making a resume that stands out is something entirely different. Without inspiration, even top career experts might stumble on a roadblock or two.

Check out the following effective resume examples for specific jobs to get a better sense of what a good resume looks like:

#1. Nurse Practitioner Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a nurse resume here.

#2. Data Scientist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a data scientist resume here.

#3. Business Analyst Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a business analyst resume here.

#4. Digital Marketing Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a digital marketing resume here.

#5. Software Engineer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a software engineer resume here.

#6. Construction Project Manager Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a construction project manager resume here.

#7. Customer Service Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a customer service resume here.

#8. High School Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a high school resume here.

#9. Student Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a student resume here.

#10. Server Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a server resume here.

#11. Actor Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an actor resume here.

#12. Web Developer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a web developer resume here.

#13. Engineering Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an engineering resume here.

#14. Computer Science Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a computer science resume here.

#15. Architect Resume Example 

Check out our full guide to writing a data analyst resume here.

#17. Remote Job Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a remote job resume here.

#18. Sales Associate Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a sales associate resume here.

#19. Receptionist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a receptionist resume here.

Want to see more examples? Check out our compilation of 80+ resume examples for different fields .

• Administrative Assistant Resume
• Bartender Resume
• DevOps Engineer Resume
• Executive Assistant Resume
• Flight Attendant Resume
• Graphic Designer Resume
• Paralegal Resume
• Pharmacist Resume
• Recruiter Resume
• Supervisor Resume

Next Steps After Your Resume

Now that we’ve covered everything you need to know about how to make a resume, it’s time to talk about the rest of your job application.

After all, your resume is only the first step in your job search. To land the job you deserve, you also need to write a captivating cover letter and ace that upcoming interview. Here’s how:

#1. How to Write a Convincing Cover Letter

The companion piece to every resume is the cover letter.

Most job-seekers flinch when they hear that they have to write a cover letter. What do you even mention in a cover letter, anyway? If you were good at writing cover letters, you’d be applying for a job as a writer !

In reality, though, writing a cover letter is very simple once you know its purpose.

Think of your cover letter as a direct message to the hiring manager. It’s your chance to briefly explain why you’re such an awesome fit for the position. And with a few cover letter tips to point you in the right direction, you’ll write the perfect cover letter for your job application.

Just follow this structure:

• Add the contact details. Include the same contact information as on your resume, plus additional contact details for the hiring manager, including their name, job title, the company’s name, and location.
• Introduce yourself. Start your cover letter by mentioning who you are, what your work experience is, and why you’re interested in the position. Mention a standout achievement or two, relevant skills, and what you’d like to do for the company you’re applying for.
• Explain why you’d excel at the job. Find the requirements in the job ad that you meet, and elaborate on how you fulfill the most important ones. Research the company so you know what you like about it, and mention it in your cover letter. Make sure to convey your enthusiasm for the job and confidence that you’ll be a great fit for their team.
• Wrap it up politely. Conclude your cover letter by recapping your key selling points and thanking the hiring manager for their time. Then add a call to action, such as “Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at the provided phone number so that we can discuss my application in greater detail.” Then, add a closing line and follow it with your full name.

Sounds easy, right? Here’s a real-life example to drive the point home:

Do you need more help perfecting your cover letter? Learn what the most common cover letter mistakes are and check out cover letter examples for all professions here.

#2. How to Ace Your Next Interview

Once you’ve perfected both your resume and cover letter, there’s only one thing left.

It’s time for the final step—the dreaded job interview.

Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, you probably hate the interviewing process. No matter how experienced you are, it can be nerve-wracking. Sitting there while someone’s prodding into your past experiences and judging you isn’t fun.

But did you know that most interviewers ask the same questions?

That’s right—all you have to do is learn how to answer some of the most common interview questions, and you’ll be an interview away from landing your dream job!

Just check out our complete guide to the 35+ Job Interview Questions and Answers and learn how to ace your next interview.

FAQs on How to Make a Resume

Do you still have some questions about making a resume? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions below!

#1. What does a good resume look like in 2024?

For your resume to look good in 2024, make sure it’s organized and clean and isn’t longer than one page.

Be sure to include information that adds value to your application—leave out the focus on your relevant work experience and skills that you can back up, and list as many achievements as possible. 

If you’re using a resume template, choose one based on your industry. Conservative industries like law, banking, and business require more traditional resume templates. But if you’re going for an industry like design, architecture, or marketing, you can go for a creative resume template . 

Remote work is also big in 2024, so if that’s what you’re after, tailor your resume to match the job you want.

#2. How do you make a resume in Word?

The best way to create a resume in Word is to use a pre-designed Microsoft Word template. To access them, you should: 

• Open MS Word
• Click “file” from the menu bar 
• Select “new”
• Type “resume templates” in the search bar 

That said, Word resume templates are generic, hard to personalize, and overall not very stylish.

Want a resume that looks good and is extremely easy to make? Check out resume templates to get started!

#3. How do I write a resume for my first job?

If you’re writing your first-ever resume for an entry-level position, the hiring manager won’t expect you to have any work experience.

However, you can make up for your lack of experience with your skills and academic achievements.

For example, you can take advantage of extracurricular activities, internships, volunteering experiences, and other non-professional experiences. You can use them to highlight the skills you’ve gained and what you’ve achieved so far.

So, your first job resume should have a resume objective, emphasize your education, and replace your work experience with any internships, volunteering, independent projects, or other experiences.

#4. How to make a resume on Google Docs?

You can make a resume on Google Docs by choosing one of their templates and filling it in on the go.

All you have to do is go to your Google Drive’s template gallery, choose your preferred template, fill in your information, and your Google Docs resume is ready to go! 

That said, Google Docs templates aren’t the most user-friendly choice. You don’t have much flexibility with the layout and formatting isn’t that easy. For example, you tweak a section to the slightest, and the whole resume becomes a mess.

If you want an easier option, check out our resume builder !

#5. What kind of resume do employers prefer?

Typically, employers prefer one-page-long resumes that follow the reverse chronological format. 

Hiring managers receive hundreds of resumes every day, so they don't have the time to read three-page resumes. Try one of our one-page resume templates so you don’t go over the recommended resume length.

Meanwhile, the reverse-chronological format is the most popular because it draws attention to your most recent jobs and professional achievements, which is the #1 most important thing hiring managers look at when evaluating a resume.

#6. How many jobs should you put on your resume? 

You should only include relevant job positions on your resume.

This means that your work experience section should be tailored to the job you are applying for. If you’ve worked five different jobs and they can all add value to your current application, then you should include all five. 

If, on the other hand, you’re applying for, say, a customer service position and some of your past jobs don’t have anything to do with customer service, you should skip them.

#7. Should I put my address on my resume? 

You can put your location (city, state, or country) on your resume, but you don’t need to put your entire physical address.

Putting a physical address on a resume was the norm back when companies would contact you via mail. In today’s world, everyone communicates via email, which is why adding a correct and professional email address to your contact information section is far more important than putting your physical address. 

So, just include your location or-–if you’re a remote worker—specify you prefer to work remotely by writing “working remotely from [location].”

#8. What information should I leave out of my resume?

As a general rule, you shouldn’t include your birthday or your headshot on your resume. This norm varies from country to country but it applies to the USA, Canada, and UK.

If you have plenty of achievements to list under your work experience, then you can leave your basic work responsibilities out of your resume. 

In your education section, you should only include your highest and most recent degree. So, if you hold a Ph.D., you can list that and your Master’s degree and leave your Bachelor’s degree and high school diploma out.

Finally, leave out any skills that aren’t relevant to the job you’re applying for.

#9. Is a resume a CV?

Depending on where you are, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and a resume might be completely different things.

In most of the world, though, including Europe and Asia, they are used interchangeably for the same document. Both CVs and resumes are one to two pages long, and list skills and experiences relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Sometimes more detailed resumes that go over one page are referred to as CVs. These are typically only used by senior professionals, executives, CEOs, etc.

In the USA, however, a CV is a completely different document. Typically, CVs are detailed and comprehensive documents that highlight your entire academic and professional history. They’re often used for academic, scientific, or research positions, which is why this type of CV can also be referred to as an academic CV.

You can create your CV using one of our CV templates !

#10. Should I write my own resume?

Yes, you should always write your own resume.

Your resume is your opportunity to show the hiring manager your communication, writing, and presentation skills . Employers also evaluate you based on how effectively you can convey information about yourself, and there’s no one that can represent you better than yourself.

Writing your own resume lets you introduce yourself authentically. You have the best understanding of your skills and experiences, and you can personalize them to make your resume stand out.

And, as a bonus, the experience of writing your resume yourself can be reflective and insightful, so it might help you understand your professional journey and career goals better.

#11. Can a resume be two pages?

Generally, we strongly recommend that your resume stick to one page.

Hiring managers go through hundreds of resumes every day, and keeping your resume to one page increases the odds that they’ll see your qualifications faster.

In some cases, like when you have a lot of relevant experience, your resume can go over two pages. But this exception is reserved for senior professionals with over a decade of relevant experience and tons of skills and achievements that simply can’t fit on one page.

#12. Is a simple resume okay?

Absolutely, a simple resume is often more than okay—it's preferable.

Before your resume even gets to the hiring manager, a complicated layout could get it rejected by the applicant tracking system (ATS). A simple resume template can help get your application straight to the hiring manager.

A clean layout can also make sure that your resume is easily readable and looks professional. This can focus the hiring manager's attention on your work experience and skills without excessive clutter or flashy colors to distract them.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap!

If you’ve followed all of our advice until now, congrats! You’re probably an expert on how to make a resume.

To recap, let’s go through some of the most important lessons we’ve learned so far...

• Use the right resume builder to make the process as smooth as possible. You don’t want to mess around with formatting for hours before even starting to work on your resume!
• Focus on your achievements over responsibilities. This can help you stand out from all the other applicants, especially if you back your claims up with data.
• Include all the must-have sections, like the resume summary, work experience, education, and skills. Then leverage optional sections if you have leftover space.
• Tailor your resume for the job you’re applying for. Everything listed on your resume should be relevant to the specific job you’re applying for, and you should write a new resume for every new job application.
• Take the time to perfect your cover letter. It’s just as important as your resume, so make sure you pay as much attention to it!

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

The Winter cohort application deadline is November 24, 2024.  

Click here to apply.

Featured Posts

What Does a Deferred College Admission Mean? Here are 6 Things You Need to Know as a High Schooler

University of Michigan's Wolverine Pathways for Middle School Students: 8 Reasons Why You Should Apply

NJIT's Saturday Morning STEM for Middle School Students—Our Review

NJIT's Forensic Science Initiative (FSI) Program—Is It Worth It?

How to Write a College Resume? 8 Tips to Help You Get Started

When applying for college, you’ll be tasked with writing a specialized type of resume, the Common App Activities List. Permitting 10 entries with specified categories and character limits, this list gives you far less room for variation in formatting and writing style than an independently drafted resume.

The Activities List carries a lot of weight —this is the main section for you to “show off” everything you’ve accomplished in high school and demonstrate the impact you’ve had on your school community and beyond. In order to write an effective Activities List, there are clear tips and tricks to keep in mind that allow you to leverage this format to your advantage. 

In this article, we’ll run through 8 key things to keep in mind when writing your Activities List, from ordering your activities to using the Additional Information section. 

1. Provide quantifiable details 

Many activities or achievements are common among high school students, and overrepresented among candidates. But, of course, not all levels of participation are the same. The ways you engage with a given activity can be phrased in a very generic fashion that will make it hard to stand out among other applicants.

Though descriptive details are helpful, they aren’t objective—their relevance and significance can be open to interpretation, especially for evaluators unfamiliar with what top performance looks like in a given activity.  

So,  to avoid ambiguity and best prove your success, the most effective strategy is to employ quantifiable details—impressive numbers and statistics can be universally understood , no matter one’s level of familiarity with an activity or experience. Provide the regularity with which you practice or compete in an activity. If you win an award, specify how many competitors you were up against. If you formed a new club, include the number of members you recruited. Objectively impressive numbers and statistics will help turn a resume entry from good to great!

2. Think about activities broadly

Students often view the Activities List as solely a place to provide extracurriculars, limiting entries to traditional involvements such as school clubs, athletic teams, research programs, or music study. However, the actual scope is much broader. Colleges are interested in seeing any activity that was important to you, on which you spent a great deal of time, or where you built up achievements, even if it’s not a “standard” extracurricular activity.

This can range from independent non-academic pursuits to family responsibilities. For example, if you have a successful YouTube account with thousands of subscribers and views, this will be impressive—even if it’s on a non-academic topic. Or if your parents work late and you babysit younger siblings every night, this is also valuable information showing maturity and dedication to supporting others. So if you feel like the clubs you’re in don’t represent the scope of your non-academic commitments, make sure you’re not leaving out important context!  

3. Take advantage of the Organization Name 

The Common App Activities List provides 100 characters for describing the Organization Name, far more than is usually necessary for the name of a club, organization, or responsibility. Though one might assume that the rest of the character count is irrelevant after the official name has been written, there’s actually more that can be added. 

Providing context on the organization can both save space in the “Description” section and add important clarity to the entry. Some organization names do not clearly describe the organization’s goal or what involvement looks like. Rather than saving this context for the resume entry, you can add it to this section. 

For example, ‘the Best Buddies nonprofit’ provides little information about what one actually does as a member. Instead of just writing out the name, an effective student might state: Best Buddies (1:1 friend & mentor pairing to peers w/ intellectual/developmental disability).  This 92-character description makes the entry much more informative and gives the student additional space later on to provide details about how they supported their buddy. 

4. Be descriptive in Position/Title

In the “Position/Title” line of the Activity List, you’re allotted 50 characters to describe your role in the organization. Just like with the Organization Name, this simple-looking part of the resume can be used strategically.

In clubs for which you did not hold an official leadership position, still try to avoid writing basic roles like “Participant” or “Club Member” whenever possible.  When your resume is being reviewed quickly, the reader may assume that you had limited involvement or impact on the organization. Even simple changes like modifying your Debate Team role from “Member” to “Public Forum Debater” can make a difference. In certain cases, you can be more creative in your description by defining the role you played in the organization, even if it wasn’t an official title. This should be done carefully—you should only add an accurate description, rather than fabricate a leadership position. 

One example: Let’s say for a club you were the de facto planner for club events. Maybe you booked rooms, delegated preparation tasks, got approval from administration, and put up posters across the school. It would be reasonable in this case to describe your position as “Event Planner/Coordinator.” On the other hand, if you were a club member who only attended the events or played a minimal role in planning, this would be an unethical descriptor. 

5. Use action verbs

Students can quickly minimize the significance of their resume entries by using passive language. Small word choices can have a large impact on how impressive your involvement appears. For example, writing that you “attend practices” for the debate team makes it seem like you play a limited role at these meetings. Maybe you show up, then mainly observe others or do work quietly. 

Using action verbs emphasizes that you are a committed participant in the group.  Rather than just being a member, you add value to the club. An effective way of rewriting the example above might be “Debates teammates in weekly practice rounds, collaborates on policy research, writes 2 cases monthly.” In this entry, the reader gets a clear picture of what the student does as a club member, feeling confident in their level of commitment to the club.

6. Order entries strategically 

Unlike traditional resumes, the Activities List doesn’t require you to list involvements in reverse chronological order, as students are typically involved in multiple activities at the same time. So when you work on ordering your entries, place priority on the “most impressive” choices. These choices typically include leadership positions, high-level achievements, and long-term involvement. Since the resume will be read quickly, make sure to capture the reader’s attention with the most impactful content. If you’re the President or founder of a club with national reach, make sure it’s near the top. On the other hand, if you’re a member of a group that meets once a month with limited events or impact, this entry might be better to leave towards the end. 

7. Use “Additional Information” sparingly and strategically

At the end of the Activities List, the Common App provides a 650-word text box where students can add “Additional Information” that can strengthen the content of their application and the resume as a whole. This section is tricky, as it can work both to your advantage and  disadvantage, depending on your approach. 

The Common App only permits 10 entries for a reason. It keeps the application at a reasonable length and encourages students to think critically about what experiences have been most important to them. If you’ve done more than 10 activities, don’t add resume entries here. If they wanted more entries, they’d have that option built in! 

So, what is worth putting in this section? You’ll need to think critically about this on a case-by-case basis, but relevant content can generally be broken into two categories. The first includes details of significant achievements that cannot appear elsewhere in the resume. For example, if you’ve completed high-level independent research, you might include a brief abstract of your work. Links to an online portfolio, successful social media, or publication may also be relevant.

The second category includes context about personal circumstances that may have negatively impacted your academic performance. During the height of the pandemic, students wrote about struggles such as serious illness in the family or insufficient income for stable wifi, both of which could significantly limit one’s academic performance. In other contexts, students may write about personal health struggles, financial instability, or increased responsibilities at home that detracted from their schoolwork. 

Note that you have absolutely no obligation to use this section; in fact, AOs will prefer you leave it empty than add extra material that reads like irrelevant or “filler” content. 

8. Opt for review services

To finalize your work and ensure it meets the standards of your top-choice schools, application review services can be very helpful external resources. These outside services can provide an objective opinion that avoids any bias that you or your peers may have. Additionally, application review services such as Early Bird   typically employ college admissions consultants or individuals who have worked in college admissions offices, which allows them to give you feedback that directly addresses how an Admissions Officer would react to your materials. So once you’ve finished drafting your Activities List, consider these opportunities to find any last improvements to make. 

One other option – Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’d like to pursue a rigorous research program open to high schoolers, you may want to consider the Lumiere Research Scholar Program , a selective online high school program for students founded by researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form  here. 

Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation , a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!

Alexej is a graduate of Princeton University, where he studied Linguistics, Cognitive Science, and Humanities & Sciences. Alexej works in college admissions consulting and is passionate about pursuing research at the intersection of humanities, linguistics, and psychology. He enjoys creative writing, hiking, and photography.

• college applications
• high school students

Say goodbye to the 1-page résumé—most recruiters say that 2 pages is the new normal

Good morning!

Many workers around the U.S. have gone through life with an unspoken understanding about résumés: They’re supposed to be one page long. Anything more is testing the patience of a busy recruiter or hiring manager. But AI may be changing that. 

About 53% of recruiters now expect candidate résumés to be two pages long, according to a new report from Criteria, a job applicant testing company. Meanwhile, 43% of hiring professionals still want the standard of one page, while 4% want more than two pages from applicants. 

Josh Millet, the CEO of Criteria, tells Fortune that the fact that more than half of surveyed recruiters expect two-page résumés is a tacit confirmation that the industry as a whole is using AI to sift through applications . Candidates now know that they need to list the skills a bot is searching for, and hiring managers are using the tech to wade through a pile of thicker applications. 

“There’s just no way that collectively HR people are saying: ‘I need to read longer résumés,’” he says. “So the overwhelming interpretation of that is an admission on all sides that machines are reading their résumés.”

Businesses are increasingly leaning on technology to bolster their talent acquisition process —about 42% of companies say they use AI screening “to improve recruiting and human resources,” according to a 2023 report from IBM. This allows them to filter out strong applicant matches within a fraction of the time it would take them to analyze candidates individually. 

And as for job seekers, they’re using the technology to apply to more jobs than ever. The sweet spot for job hunters is sending out between 21 and 80 applications, according to 2023 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But that number is far lower than what many job seekers feel forced to do in such a tough market—candidates publicly leveraging ChatGPT and other AI models to optimize their materials are sending out hundreds , if not thousands of applications. 

The fact that AI is radically changing the hiring process, however, it isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  Millet says that new technology offers the chance for talent acquisition teams to be more efficient, screening a larger and more diverse group of candidates at a faster pace . But he adds that people need to stay central to the process while working alongside AI. 

“We’re very strong believers that hiring decisions should ultimately be human ones,” he says. “But technology can help prioritize certain people in your applicant pool, or help surface people that you wouldn’t have looked at otherwise. So I think that’s an important dynamic.”

Emma Burleigh [email protected]

Around the Table

A round-up of the most important HR headlines.

The Washington Post is cutting a quarter of its standalone software unit a year after the publisher rolled out voluntary buyouts to trim its workforce by 240 employees. WSJ

Southwest Airlines has told staffers it will make “difficult decisions” in order to boost profits amid pressure from an activist investor. NBC News

The U.S. may be attempting to ban TikTok, but an employee at the social media company says that they’re not panicking and the atmosphere is “business as usual.” Business Insider

Watercooler

Everything you need to know from Fortune .

Bothered. Jamie Dimon says that he’d “make Washington, D.C. go back to work ,” airing his frustration at federal employees who are not in the office five days a week. — Orianna Rosa Royle

Optimistic. Nearly all Goldman Sachs interns use AI on the job, and most have positive perceptions that the tool will enhance their capabilities but not take over their roles . — Luisa Beltran 

Bottoms up. Nike employees popped bottles of prosecco when they found out the company hired a new CEO. —Kim Bhasin, Lily Meier, Bloomberg

Latest in Newsletters

For this tech boss, performance is about results, not hours worked

These women-led companies made Fortune’s Change the World List

Gen Z workers mystify their bosses—Here’s what they really want in the workplace

OpenAI is facing turmoil over its values but its CFO remains confident AI will be a ‘cornerstone’ for a resilient democracy

‘Pattern matching’ is venture capitalists’ favorite tool—and their biggest blindspot

The droids will soon be here

Most popular.

Bosses are firing Gen Z grads just months after hiring them—here’s what they say needs to change

How vitamin B12 could give you an energy boost

The world’s richest woman just joined the $100 billion club

Gen Alpha is stealing zippers from Nike backpacks to resell them to victims at hiked-up prices

Got COVID? Here are the new 2024 isolation guidelines

Trump Media cofounders just dumped almost all of their stock