One-Page Resume: When and How to Use It

There is no strict rule on resume length, but one page is the right choice for many people. A focused page is quicker to read and makes your strongest points stand out.

Who should use a one-page resume

• Students, recent graduates and entry-level candidates
• Most people with fewer than about 10 years of experience
• Career changers whose relevant experience is limited
• Anyone applying to roles where the posting asks for a one-page resume

If you have extensive relevant experience, publications or technical projects that directly matter for the role, a two-page resume may serve you better.

What to cut first

1. Irrelevant jobs

   Remove roles unrelated to the job you want, especially older ones.

2. Duty-only bullets

   Delete bullets that describe routine tasks without results. Keep the ones that show impact.

3. Old details

   Summarize roles older than 10 to 15 years in one line or remove them.

4. Filler sections

   "References available upon request", generic hobbies and a list of basic software can usually go.

5. Repetition

   If several jobs had the same duties, describe them in detail once and focus later bullets on what was different.

Layout tips that save space

• Put your contact details on one or two lines under your name
• Use a compact template with clear section spacing. The ATS Compact template is designed for this
• Keep the summary to two or three lines
• Group skills on one or two lines instead of a long vertical list
• Combine short sections, such as "Certifications and Languages"

In the resume builder, the Density setting (Compact, Normal, Spacious) adjusts spacing, and the live preview shows the page count as you edit.

Writing tighter bullets

Start with a verb, remove "responsible for", drop filler words and avoid repeating the same information in the summary and bullets.

Frequently asked questions