Article Image

A Breakdown of a Successful One Page Resume – And How to Write Yours

Avatar image

In This Guide:

Should your resume be one page, how to fit 25 years of experience in a single page – william’s one-page resume., a ceo and co-founder’s one-page resume – how pavel fit his professional life on a single page., founder, director, and vp of product – gal’s double-column single-page resume., how to write your resume to fit on one page – a handful of actionable resume tips., key takeaways.

Resume image 1

Having a one-page resume is possible, even if you have decades of experience behind your back.

In this article, we’ll analyze concrete examples of one-page resumes built by Enhancv users – from William, a Japanese entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience to Pavel whose professional background took him to three countries, and Gal that has spent a decade in the product management and business development world.

All three of them share one common thing – a single-page resume.

So, how do you fit that many years of experience into an effective resume without omitting important details?

Keep reading and you’ll learn:

  • If your resume should be one page long.
  • How to focus on relevant skills and experience to cut down your resume to a single page.
  • Which resume sections are a must in single-page resumes.

Alex Lafreniere, a happy user, shared this:

“Hands down the best and most intuitive resume builder I've used. Go for the pro plan - it's the best bang for your buck. You get a lot more sections, which helps with the different variations of your cv, especially if you want to tailor it to different industries."

how to make a resume fit in one page

BUILD MY ONE PAGE RESUME

Yes, your resume can be one page, regardless of experience. Single-page resumes focus on the most relevant parts of your work history. Put important and relevant information first, as this makes for an efficient format for any professional field.

If you can’t fit all relevant experience on a single page, only then go for a two-page resume.

How to make a one-page resume if you have a ton of experience?

The secret to making a one-page resume when you have 10, 15, or even more than 20 years of work experience is to include information that’s highly relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Study the job description – hiring managers usually include what experience and skillset they’re looking for. Show that. Remember, that may mean you’ll have to make a tailored resume for each job position you apply for.

Thankfully, with Enhancv you can easily copy, edit and download your resumes as many times as you need. It also saves time that you don’t have to worry about design or layout – check our resume builder .

So, does a resume have to be one page?"?

A resounding no. Professionals with a lot of relevant experience in a field can benefit from two or even three-page resumes . If you’ve spent the past 15 years working as a business transformation manager and you have a lot of examples to communicate on your resume, then definitely go with a longer one.

Does it mean the one-page resume format is dead?

No. A resume should focus on your relevant experience and give insight into the impact you’ve had at previous companies you’ve worked for and give a glimpse into who you are .

Fit all three on a single page and you’ve got yourself a pretty impactful resume. In the examples we’re going to review below, we’ve made sure to analyze how each has made their resume.

Enhancv One Page Resume: 3 Examples To Show Its Impact one page resume

William’s single-page resume takes advantage of our compact resume format . The best way to fit more information on a single page is by browsing the Enhancv resume templates and choosing a two or three-column layout .

With a single click, you can fit around 50% more content on a single page, compared to what a Microsoft Word template allows you to do.

Still, William took things up a notch. Here’s what he did especially well when writing his resume.

Enhancv One Page Resume: 3 Examples To Show Its Impact one page resume

Right under his name, William wrote what defines him as a professional: “Entrepreneur, keynote speaker, advisor & cyber czar’’. This quickly gives you an idea of the kind of jobs he’s held previously, and what is most significant about his career – all in seven words and contained to the resume header.

how to make a resume fit in one page

Next, William shared his life motto in a single sentence: “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”. A simple quote can speak volumes about you as a person and your attitude to work and life itself.

Beyond showing how you see the world, it signals to companies whether you might fit into their culture. This shows us that William is not the kind of person that gives up. He perceives problems as opportunities.

Taken together, these sections give a brief and quick insight into who William is and the energy he would bring to his role and the team. As opposed to a lengthy personal summary, William said all he needed to in two short sentences. Now, let’s continue with William’s experience section…

how to make a resume fit in one page

William includes 3 jobs within his experience section. These are the most recent and significant jobs that relate to the field he hopes to work in. They’re also quite diverse.

Rather than writing pages on every job he has ever had, he has tailored his experience to three impactful descriptions of the jobs that relate most to the job vacancy.

He also decided to name the section Entrepreneurial Experience . This suggests that it covers only a portion of his work experience. This is a case where careful decision-making really pays off.

Enhancv One Page Resume: 3 Examples To Show Its Impact one page resume

William goes on to make use of an Enhancv exclusive – the “My Time” section. This allows users to show their time spent during the week or a typical day-in-the-life.

For example, the section makes it obvious that Cybersecurity is something he does best. Again, using this quick visual saves a ton of space.

how to make a resume fit in one page

Furthermore, William utilizes an awards section to mention advising the Japanese Government as well as over twenty tech companies regarding business, technology, and security.

how to make a resume fit in one page

His other point is ‘’Giving back to the community’’, where he mentions that he’s been supporting charitable and community-based organizations. This saved William another page where he listed all his advisory positions and achievements. All in a few sentences, with bits of his character.

how to make a resume fit in one page

William backs up his previous experience with a notable metric that shows his impact on the bottom line. In a few short words, we see the results of his work. His Authored Books section (another section offered by Enhancv) contributes to this, too. Here, we get a quick visual of the books he’s published, rather than a long description that would take up many paragraphs.

Enhancv One Page Resume: 3 Examples To Show Its Impact one page resume

Pavel’s resume is a great example of someone who has taken our modern resume template and made the most of it.

how to make a resume fit in one page

Pavel has utilized the Technology section of our resume builder to give a snapshot of the programs he is familiar with. Here, we see five highlighted technologies. It’s simple but effective. This cuts down on writing full sentences to show what systems you’re comfortable with.

how to make a resume fit in one page

Taking a look at Pavel’s experience section, we can see how job-rich it is. We’re looking at 6 job titles – from a researcher to a co-founder and CEO. Data science is a relatively new and expansive area of tech.

For this reason, it’s beneficial to include as many previous experiences as you can that relate to possible duties. Each job is accompanied by a quick bullet point that explains all of Pavel’s responsibilities, and everything is written concisely.

Much like William, Pavel intertwines his impact with his previous experience by providing a significant metric to measure his achievements.

For example, he showed the moon and stars to 5000+ people.

This short description focuses the recruiter on tangible evidence that does not take up a lot of space. If a recruiter wants to know more, they will ask in an interview or over email.

how to make a resume fit in one page

Pavel’s experience is further explained in a simple list of his Selected Courses . Here, space is saved by collecting all relevant and important courses he’s taken in a single section. The titles are enough for the recruiter to understand his skill.

Enhancv One Page Resume: 3 Examples To Show Its Impact one page resume

Gal shows us that any resume template can be used when building a one-pager. Using Enhancv’s staple – the double-column resume – Gal makes an impact without drawing things out.

how to make a resume fit in one page

Accomplishing this in two-three sentences will do wonders to signal to companies that you fit within their culture – ultimately getting you an interview sooner.

how to make a resume fit in one page

Gal makes use of Enhancv’s technologies section but renames it as an “Expertise” section. With this, the recruiter can easily see that Gal is gifted when it comes to B2B, B2C, SaaS, and more. This is an excellent example of cutting paragraphs down to singular words with the same impact.

how to make a resume fit in one page

Again, Gal introduces his impact by providing a significant metric to measure his achievements. For example, “driving 50% to 100% annual revenue growth”. This captures his ability in one bullet point, as opposed to several sentences on ways he brought a change in a previous company.

Whether you’ve got 25 years, a decade, or a month of experience, making a strong impression is essential. A single-page resume helps you do that.

We gathered the career counseling team at Enhancv and put all their know-how around writing impactful one-page resumes.

Use a double-column or compact resume template.".

A one-pager resume with plenty of experience will not fit on a single-column template. At Enhancv, our double-column template is specifically designed to meet applicant tracking systems requirements and with one-page resumes in mind. You can fit up 50% more information compared to what general resume templates allow for.

Write short, action-oriented bullet points.

Cut the fluff and focus on the make-it-or-break-it moments in your career. Stick to active words and use buzzwords properly .

Draw inspiration from the examples above, or recollect the moments that made you the professional you are today. If you need more inspiration, we have over 500 job-specific resume examples for you to explore and inspire from.

Use smaller fonts.

Choose a smaller font size but make sure the text remains legible. Size 10 or 11 looks fine and passes readability checks, anything smaller would make your resume hard to read.

Fonts like Oswald , Bitter , and Volkhov are more compact and allow you to fit more text on a single page.

Remove unnecessary sections.

When you have a lot of relevant experience, you can skip the Education section. Unless you have Cum Laude from an Ivy League university, you’re generally okay with not including your education. Leave off references as well, unless they’re highly relevant for the job position.

Make sure that your summary is short but packed full of information. It’s the best way to communicate who you are and your skill set in a single sentence.

Decrease the margins' size.

When you decrease the margins of your resumes you get to add more information, however, you have to keep in mind the readability of your resume. No hiring manager wants to read a wall of text.

Enhancv’s resume builder has in-built resume margins you can switch between that still keep your resume readable and easy on the eye.

Use creative sections to spotlight career milestones.

One-page creative resumes are the hardest to make. We’ve compiled over 20 creative resumes for you to check out. You can make your very own by signing up for Enhancv –– or you can hire our career counselors to help you make your resume .

Single-page resumes seem difficult to create until you get the hang of it –– focus only on experience and skills that show how you can make an impact in the company you’re applying at.

  • Cut the extra fluff. Choose only the relevant, result-driven information.
  • Use different sections to reframe and communicate your experience in short and engaging ways.
  • Choose an Enhancv resume template and focus only on the information and not the design.
  • Focus on font size and margins to fit as much information as possible.

Author image

  • Resume Guides

How to Ask for Feedback after an Interview

What jobs should you put on a resume, how to list continuing education on your resume, negotiating a salary increase for a new job: what to expect and how to ask, describe your greatest challenge - interview question (+answers), what is an activities resume for college tips and examples.

  • Create Resume
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Preferences
  • Resume Examples
  • Resume Templates
  • AI Resume Builder
  • Resume Summary Generator
  • Resume Formats
  • Resume Checker
  • 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
  • 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 fit in one page

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.

4 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.

How to write a one-page resume by creating a professional resume header)

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.

How to shorten your resume to one page by using semicolons to list education information

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.

How to use semicolons to separate skill lists and shorten your resume to one page

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:

Example of a one-page resume for an entry-level position

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

Example of a one-page resume for an applicant with extensive previous experience

  • 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

how to make a resume fit in one page

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.

how to make a resume fit in one page

Free One-Page Resume Templates for 2024 [Free Download]

Background Image

Having difficulties fitting your resume into one page ? 

We don’t blame you!

Without the right resume template, sticking to 1 page can be really hard.

In this article, we’re going to cover 20+ of the best one-page resume templates for all career stages and preferences.

And you know what’s the best part? These designs are all 100% free and just a click away.

  • 6+ one-page resume templates for Online resume builders
  • 8+ one-page resume templates for Microsoft Word
  • 6+ one-page resume templates for Google Docs

6+ One-Page Resume Templates for Online Resume Builders

Online resume builders are the best option for creating your resume . 

They are already set up neatly for you and you just have to fill in your information.

The colors, font , format are all customizable to your liking, and you even get live feedback on how to fill in your resume.

Awesome, right? 

You make a great first impression AND save money and time! 

Whether you’re a student looking for a creative way to show off your skills on your first job resume , or an executive in need of a professional one-page template, there is something for everyone on this list.

#1 - Simple by Novoresume

one page simple resume template

Who’s it for: Senior Positions, anyone with a lot of work experience . Perfect for conservative industries such as law or banking.

Simple by Novorésumé lives up to its name. It’s the perfect resume if you’re looking for simplicity and convenience. 

This well-organized, easy-to-read resume format is ideal if you’re in a senior position. 

The hiring manager is most probably looking for modesty and tasteful professionalism , and this template helps your achievements shine without any gimmicks.

The black and blue is a needed change from the black and white employers are used to, while still keeping you professional.

#2 - Creative by Novorésumé

one page creative resume template

Who’s it for: Someone applying in a creative industry like advertising, marketing , publishing, design; entry-level applicants. 

This vibrant template is the right choice if you’re looking to stand out. It brings your skills and work experience into focus in a visually appealing way.  

Creative uses infographics and bulleted lists to create a pleasant-looking, stylish resume. 

It has a gorgeous four-color combo that leaves a striking first impression. 

And, at the same time, the resume still looks professional.

It’s well organized and the design doesn’t overdo it with the playfulness . That’s why we love this template so much: balanced flawlessly, it’s both cheerful and professional. 

#3 - Modern by Novorésumé

modern one page resume template

Who’s it for: Professionals in the business or technology industries .

Modern by Novorésumé is a breath of fresh air! It uses square brackets, bulleted lists, infographics, and different icons to attract the hiring manager's attention. 

The dark green color gives it a stylish look but keeps everything modest and modern as well. 

The resume sections are divided into two columns: they include personal information, work experience, skills, organizations, awards, and languages, all on one page.

#4 - College by Novorésumé

student one page resume template

Who’s it for: Recent college graduates with some work experience, current university students 

This resume template works best for students & recent graduates applying for internships or entry-level jobs. 

Every section is well-organized to provide room for your work experience and skills. 

And on top of that, this template is contemporary and visually appealing as well. The blue borders and bold letters give College personality and style, without it appearing tacky. 

#5 - Executive by Novorésumé

one page executive resume template

Who’s it for: Senior executives applying in a creative or green industry  

Do you need to show how qualified you are for the position AND have your personality shine through your resume? 

Executive by Novorésumé does just that. 

This vivid resume template features attractive emerald green headings and subheadings. The color makes it stand out and adds a touch of personality. 

The emphasis, however, is put into your profile, skills, and work experience. 

The skills section is highlighted in green, and it’s the first thing the hiring manager gets to see.

So, make sure to wow them with your best skills .

#6 - Basic by Novorésumé

basic one page resume template

Who’s it for: Conservative, traditional industries

Sometimes, a minimalistic resume is the best resume. 

If you want to focus more on the contents of your resume than the design, definitely check out Basic.

Basic offers a concise and well-organized layout. Everything the hiring manager needs to see stands out at first glance, so you’ll have a high chance of landing in the “To-Be-Interviewed” pile!

career masterclass

8+ One-Page Resume Templates for Microsoft Word

A basic black and white resume on Times New Roman is not going to make you stand out from the crowd or benefit your job application. 

But that doesn’t mean you have to create your resume on special software to catch the eye of the hiring manager. 

Microsoft Word is still a very popular way to create a resume that stands out.

Read on to find 8+ Microsoft Word one-page resume templates! 

#7 - Elegant Dark Microsoft Word Resume Template

elegant dark microsoft word one page resume template

Who’s it for: Anyone applying for a high-end position: senior professionals, executives, etc.

Where to find it: Freesumes

We visualize elegance with Rolex watches and limousines. We don’t often relate elegance to resumes and documents. 

Yet this unique, gorgeous template is packed with charm and finesse. 

This dark template will assure your resume doesn’t fall into the circular file. It attracts attention because of its unusual white, yellow, grey scheme of colors. 

The dark grey of the background reflects seriousness and sophistication, whereas the soft yellow creates a gorgeous contrast that softens the appearance. 

It is perfect if you have a lot of professional background since it creates plenty of space in the experience section that allows you to display all of your employment entries.

#8 - Clean and Light Microsoft Word Resume Template

one page clean microsoft word resume template

Who’s it for: Someone with minimal work experience. Entry-level candidates and recent graduates.

Where to find it: Behance.net 

This lively template is the right choice for you if you don’t have a lot of experience to put into your resume. 

It helps you create a profile that sums up your career and values in a minimalistic, refreshing way by using boldface, all-caps, and a two-column structure to make it easy to read for the HR manager.

With the overall simplicity of the black and blue colors, the header on the top sticks out immediately at first glance.  

We like it because it’s also easy to use and customize. All entries are scannable and extremely clear-cut. The cherry on top: it comes with a bonus Word cover letter template.  

Speaking of cover letters - the right cover letter can really be a game-changer. Check out our complete guide to cover letters and learn what it takes to stand out. 

#9 - Equilibrium Microsoft Word Template 

one page word resume template

Who’s it for: Any professional and creative role

Where to find it: freesumes

We call this template Equilibrium because it balances formatting and structure. 

The layout is strategically made to keep the hiring managers focused on your most impressive achievements. 

It uses geometric design and colors to separate sections from one another. 

Equilibrium focuses on work experience, education , and emphasizes expertise. You can choose to customize the sections but for the most part, it’s very straightforward and simple to use. Just fill in the blanks and send it in. 

#10 - Clean and Compelling Microsoft Word Resume

Clean and Compelling Microsoft Word Resume

Who’s it for: Recent graduates, entry-level applicants. 

Where to find it: freesumes 

This modest template is going to surely help you win over any HR manager.

You can use the Objective section on the right to communicate your goals and ambitions to potential employers.

While this isn’t a section you’d typically see on a resume, if done right, it can really have an impact.

The warm colors used are awesome for standing out and catching the HR manager’s eye. 

The faded grey in the background adds formality as well as divide the sections. Finish with a professional photo on top of the resume , and you’ll be set for success.

#11 - Police Officer Resume Template

one page police officer resume

Who’s it for: Law enforcement officers 

Where to find it: smashresume

If you work in law enforcement, this template is hand-made just for you.. 

It’s well organized and professional and also divided into two columns to save you space. 

One column includes your personal information, education, key skills, and certifications. 

The other covers your resume objective and professional experience. 

This template is creative as much as it is systematized. There are plenty of icons, infographics, and columns that break the monotony. 

The font is neat and groovy and the icons have a splash of protective blue that adds personality. 

Package features include: 

  • A4 paper size
  • Customizable and editable objects, color, text 

#12 - Web Designer Word Resume Template

one page web designer word resume template

Who’s it for: Web developers and designers. 

Where to find it: behance

Innovative and artistic, this resume is a gem to look at. 

Web Designer by Venkata Naresh follows a color scheme and layout that’s been made particularly for people working in the web industry. 

It includes a contact information section , education, professional skills, personal skills, profile, work experience, awards, and hobbies . 

This template also comes with: 

  • A CV and Cover Letter
  • 3 Color Styles
  • Dark and Light Versions

#13 - Vintage Rose Word Resume Template

vintage one page resume template

Who’s it for: Marketers, influencers, bloggers

Because of the vintage rose color, this resume is a bit on the feminine side.

This Word Template is a big employer charmer because it displays all important information at first glance; all on one page! 

The layout is made to highlight your work experience, brand , and achievements. 

The “Skills” area has bar charts to take the spotlight, whereas the “About Me” area gives you some space to present your personality. 

Vintage Rose is ideal if you want a clean and modern resume, with just the right amount of style.  

#14 - Goldrod Yellow Word Resume Template

one page microsoft word resume template

Who’s it for: Any creative role

This Word template uses a bright yellow as a leading color, making sure that your resume really stands out from the bunch.

The warm color reflects positivity as well as makes the resume stand out from the pile.

Professionalism doesn’t get lost in the process, though. Everything is easy to use and customizable. 

Extra tip: You can choose to change the big “Education” banner on the bottom to a “Skills” section if you think they should take priority. 

For a full extensive list of Microsoft Word resumes, check out our complete guide [with free downloads].

6+ One-Page Resume Templates for Google Docs

Some ready-made Word templates can be tormenting. You start making some changes, and before you know it, the entire layout gets completely messed up.

That’s not a problem you will have with Google Docs templates, though.

Google Docs resume templates in this list are customizable online, efficient, neat, convenient, and most importantly: 100% FREE . 

#15 - Border Design Google Doc Resume Template

google doc one page resume

Who’s it for: High school and college graduates

Where to find it: Google Docs

Are you a student or graduate with not much real-life work experience? This template is for you.

There are plenty of different sections any student or graduate can fill in with personal information: skills, objectives, volunteer work, education. Our favorite part: this template is pleasant to read and has a lot of personality as well. 

The mint borders and small icons, various social media links and simple font keep everything original and tasteful. 

#16 - Serif Google Doc Resume Template

one page serif google doc resume template

Who’s it for: Someone in a senior position, banking , computer scientist

Where to find it: Templates Gallery

This resume has a blue pop of color that creates a neat first impression while keeping things professional. 

It gives you a lot of space to show off the work experience, skills, awards you are most proud of. 

It also saves an extra sweet spot if you want to list your languages. 

#17 - Simple Professional Google Docs Resume Template

simple one page google doc resume

Who’s it for: Senior professionals in marketing or advertising, web & graphic designers

This modern-looking one-page template is perfect for marketers, advertisers, and web designers. 

It offers plenty of considerable space to talk about your achievements and experience. 

Icons are kept minimal, and the layout is elegant and clear-cut.

#18 - Blue Creative Google Docs Resume

creative one page google docs resume template

Who’s it for: Marketers and social media experts 

Applying for a design job where you’ll be making plenty of web content? 

Then don’t miss this striking infographic resume! 

The Google Docs template uses a strong shade of blue and aesthetic visualizations to highlight each header and section. Fun and appealing, it features a header, skills, awards, experiences and an “about me” area. 

#19 - Modern Writer Google Docs Resume Template

modern one page google docs resume template

Who’s it for: Book editors, journalists, librarians, copywriters, scriptwriters, web content writers. 

Yes, this template is exactly what you think it is: a resume for the modern 21st Century writer .

So, if the job you are applying for is related to books, scripts, publication - this is the right choice for you. 

The “Modern Writer” is unique since it has a classy font and a showy pop of pink color. The header gets highlighted too, because of the thin black underline. 

#20 - Smart and Professional Google Docs Resume Template

professional one page google doc resume template

Who’s it for: a professional with a lot of experience and education

Where to find it: in this direct Google Docs link

This smart template is for the overqualified candidates. 

It puts its focus into three main categories: work experience, profile, and education. 

All sections have a good deal of space you can write your long professional track record in. 

Contrary to regular templates, this template features a colorful header that’s eye-catching. 

Want to discover more Google Docs resume templates ? We have an article for that!

Key Takeaways 

Hopefully, we helped you find the right one-page resume template!

Not sure which one to pick? Let’s briefly go through some of the most important things to keep in mind when choosing your one-page resume template:

  • Pick a template that’s relevant to your field. If you’re applying for a banking job, you don’t want your resume to be sunshine and rainbows.
  • Pick a design that’s going to stand out (but not too much). Standard, black-and-white resumes are nice, but that’s what everyone else does.
  • Want to make your life easier? Use a resume builder. You won’t have to suffer the pain of Word messing up your template!’

Discover More Resume Templates

  • Chronological Resume Templates
  • Functional Resume Templates
  • Combination Resume Templates
  • Creative Resume Templates
  • High School Resume Templates
  • 2 Page Resume Templates

Suggested Readings:

  • How to Make a Resume | Beginner’s Guide
  • 150+ Must-Have Skill for Any Resume
  • 40+ Resume Summary Examples [+ How-to Guide]

cookies image

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

  • Resume Writing
  • Resume Examples
  • Cover Letter
  • Remote Work
  • Famous Resumes
  • Try Kickresume

5 Quick Tips to Fit Your Resume on One Page

  • Martin Poduska , 
  • Updated November 5, 2023 4 min read

You know your resume isn’t supposed to have more than one page. Yet, when you look at the two pages in front of you, it might feel like everything on them is too important to leave out.

Let’s get real. People who can justify using a two-page resume usually don’t need to read articles like this one. The chances are you’re looking for an internship or an entry-level position. Believe me, if that’s the case one page is going to be more than enough.

So how do you make your resume lose weight without sacrificing its ability to communicate how amazing you are?

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

1. Adjust the formatting of your resume

2. not every piece of information warrants having its own line, 3. use a column-based layout, 4. remove repetitions in your work descriptions, 5. only include relevant information, remember the point of having your resume on one page.

The looks and content of your resume should always work in unison to achieve maximum readability. Don’t leave it to your editing software’s default settings. You can reclaim much of the space on the page by using these simple tricks:

  • Most text editors are needlessly generous when it comes to the default size of page margins . It’s never a mistake to make them a bit smaller.
  • You don’t have to use the 12pt font size just because it was standard for your college essays. It’s okay to use a slightly smaller font , just don’t overdo it. Remember that 11pt size is the recommended minimum.
  • Use bold and coloured text instead of bigger font for headings.
  • Adjust the line spacing . Single-space your bullets but keep larger spacing between sections. This way you’ll get some space while preserving the readability of your resume.

Do all of these things in moderation and never sacrifice the readability of your resume . If you fill it with an overwhelmingly large amount of text, recruiters and hiring managers will discard your resume straight away.

If your resume’s too long, the chances are you’ve dedicated separate lines to information that could’ve been grouped together.

  • Consolidate your contact information. Instead of Email: [email protected] you can simply write [email protected] , followed by other contact details in the same format. This way you can fit all your contact information on a single line.
  • Create multi-use lines. In every section, look for opportunities to group connected information together. For example, in your subheadings put the name of each position, time period, and the name of the company in the same line. Also make sure to conflate you bullet points by grouping achievements of the same type together.

In sections where your bullet points don’t fill an entire line, using columns will save you a lot of space. Notice how most visually appealing resumes use column-based layouts.

The great thing about using columns is how they naturally allow you to structure your resume vertically as well as horizontally. Not only they will help you fit your resume on one page, they’ll also increase your chances of getting an interview by making your resume easier to read.

The chances are you’ve had a few similar jobs in your career, all of which involved similar type of responsibilities. If you list these responsibilities over and over again on your resume, you’re wasting precious space.

The responsibilities are often sufficiently evident from job titles alone. Instead of enumerating these, provide an employer with a succinct list of notable accomplishments from your previous job — they are more likely to be unique to every work experience. Doing this may not only help you save some space, it will make your resume more impactful.

If you feel like everything on your resume is relevant, you need to readjust your focus.   Once you’ve done everything above but still didn’t succeed at fitting your resume on one page, you’re going to have to cut stuff:

  • Don’t bother putting your high school diploma on a resume.
  • Work experience from 10 years ago is hardly relevant today.
  • If your hobbies aren’t directly connected to a target position, delete your interests section.
  • Consider removing your professional summary.
  • Leave out “References available upon request,” that’s a given.
  • Erase soft skills; they should be immediately discernible from your accomplishments.
  • Don’t include a photo of yourself on resume .

Most of all, however, carefully reread the target job description and write down the most important skills it requires. Now go back to your overly extensive resume and cut anything that does not relate . The point is to make your resume about meeting the needs of a target company, not about yourself.

Show off your career at-a-glance.

Create a beautiful column-based resume.

On average, recruiters spend about 6 seconds on each resume before moving on to another. You only have about 6 seconds to leave a lasting impression . The shortness of this time is the reason why your resume also needs to be short.

When you’ll be chopping off parts of your resume, remember that fitting your resume on one page is only one side of the coin. In the end, everything on your resume has to contribute to its maximum relevancy and readability. Only then it can give recruiters all the information they want as effectively as possible.

Feeling inspired to keep your resume snappy and fitting on one page? Great! Now it's time to create one that maintains quality while staying concise. Turn your LinkedIn profile into a precise, condensed resume that speaks volumes.

Martin Poduska is a resume expert and career advice writer at Kickresume. He leads Kickresume’s team of writers and is the main person responsible for upholding the standards of expertise and quality on the blog. In addition to having written nearly 100 in-depth, painstakingly researched resume advice articles, as chief editor he has also edited and revised every single article on this blog. Tens of thousands of job seekers read Martin’s resume advice every month. Martin holds a degree in English from the University of St Andrews and a degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Amsterdam.

Related Posts

10+ art resume samples: here’s how to turn your creativity into job opportunities, bad resume examples: these are the 10 worst resumes ever written, share this article, join our newsletter.

Every month, we’ll send you resume advice, job search tips, career hacks and more in pithy, bite-sized chunks. Sounds good?

How to Create a One-Page Resume Format

Quick Navigation:

Why use a one-page resume format?

How to create a one-page resume format, one-page resume template, one-page resume example.

After you’ve spent years in the workforce, you may decide it’s time to apply for another job. When you have extensive work experience, plus other impressive skills and achievements, your resume can become longer than one page. Read this article to learn how to streamline your experience, education and skills to fit on a one-page resume format.

You should use a one-page resume format because it makes it easier for hiring managers to review and share your resume with other people in the company. In addition, a one-page resume ensures all of your qualifications are easy to find.

Here are some things to consider when creating your one-page resume:

1. First, consider the position you’re applying to

You may want to modify your resume plan according to the employer’s needs and your work experience. Sometimes, specific careers need longer sections, but this isn’t always the case. For example, a senior role might focus more on experience than an entry-level job. 

Take time to review the job listing thoroughly to have a better feel for what the hiring manager wants to see. This can help you condense sections so your resume is easier for them to scan. 

2. Second, create a list of accomplishments and work activities

If you have an extensive work history and impressive achievements, it can be challenging to know what to cut out. Make a list of key accomplishments and work duties. Focus on your responsibilities and include any relevant achievements, which may be much longer than one page in the beginning.  

3. Third, identify relevant information 

Now that you’ve created a detailed list of information pertaining to your career and accomplishments, you can begin highlighting or circling key sections that closely match the requirements of the role. This helps you eliminate irrelevant information and helps you create an outline for your resume. When you’re ready, you can start the process of organizing relevant sections into a condensed version that fits on one page. 

4. Fourth, create your first draft and shorten it

Create a new resume that’s as close to one page in length as possible. There’s no need to worry if it goes longer than that on the first try. Think of it as a rough draft that changes in length and content. When you’re ready, go through your resume again to identify any unnecessary information and remove sections that may be better suited for other positions. Reference the job listing as you write and try to only include information pertaining to that particular role.

5. Fifth, list your information with bullet points

Using bullet points creates an easy-to-read format that guides hiring managers to the most important sections of the resume. Plus, it looks more organized. Under each key section, include a bullet point, then describe your key accomplishments related to that role rather than focusing on responsibilities. This strategy creates more of an impact than stating daily tasks because it explains your responsibilities through achievements. Try to include specific numbers, percentages and timeframes in your description while paying attention to length. 

6. Sixth, eliminate unnecessary information

There are a few sections you can remove from your resume to ensure it’s one page. You may opt to remove your objective or summary and instead expand your experience section. If you have decades of career experience, consider leaving off information that is older than 10 to 15 years. It is not necessary to list your high school if you have a college degree and other credentials. It is no longer necessary to include the phrase ‘references available upon request’ at the end of your resume. The job listing or hiring manager will let you know if you need to provide references.

7. Seventh, adjust spacing and font

Another great way to fit information onto one page is by adjusting the spacing between lines and new sections. In most word processors, you can do this within the paragraph settings. Select single spacing and opt to remove spaces in between new paragraphs. Additionally, you should try applying a 10-point font size to your resume (while keeping your name at 14-point or higher) to see if you can create more space while still making sure it’s easy to read.

8. Finally, save your resume in PDF format

Unless directed otherwise in the job listing, save your resume as a PDF to ensure that hiring managers and recruiters see the document as you intend them to see it. This eliminates the chance for changes in formatting that could result in your resume being two pages.

Follow this template when creating a one-page resume that highlights your most relevant work experiences and career accomplishments:

[Name] [Address] | [Phone number] | [Email]

Summary (optional)

[Brief summary that highlights your most relevant experience and qualifications]

  • [Use bullet points to list skills relevant to the desired job position]

Professional Experience  

[Current or most recent employer], [Job title]

[Month, Year – Month, Year]

  • [Bullet list of most important successes]

Achievements  

  • [List achievements relevant to the desired job position]

Education  

[University or college] | [Year degree earned] | [Degree]

Use this example as a reference when writing your own:

Jenna Smith 2002 Maplewood Avenue, Tampa, FL 33601 | 555-555-5555 | [email protected]

Senior administrative assistant with 15+ years of experience and degree in business administration. Coordinated complex schedules and travel arrangements for four corporate executives while completing office administration duties. Ready for new challenges related to bookkeeping, office management and schedule setting. 

  • Excellent communication:  Proficient in all forms of communication, including online, in person and written
  • Computer savvy:  Proficient in QuickBooks, G Suite, MS Office, database management and productivity apps
  • Detail-oriented: Attentive to employee needs, accurate documentation and efficient processes
  • Key strengths: Communication, organization, time management, teamwork and discretion

Professional Experience

Cityscapes International, Executive Administrative Assistant

November 2005 – July 2019

  • Trained over 20 administrative assistants on office procedures, including file management, customer service, professional communication and scheduling
  • Scheduled 500+ office meetings for various departments and executives while providing technical support for online conferences
  • Made weekly travel arrangements for all company employees, including company executives with complicated schedules that required additional documentation

Driftboats Plus, Administrative Assistant

May 2003 – November 2005

  • Communicated with over 2000 clients and customers regarding company products and service; contributed to the implementation of an official return and exchange policy
  • Completed extensive bookwork related to company sales and invoicing
  • Wrote 24 company newsletters that involved interviewing clients and customers and securing digital assets

Achievements

  • Streamlined the data entry process, freeing up 40% of work time for other company resources
  • Saved $10,000 in administrative costs after negotiating a deal with a new software company

University of Florida | May 2003 | Bachelor of Business Administration, 3.9 GPA

  • 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

Elena Prokopets

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

how to change margins in Word

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

margin selection in MS Word

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 .

fill-in-the-blank resume

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 Prokopets

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

best colors for resume

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

how to put internship in your resume

How to Put an Internship on a Resume: FAQs Answered

put research on a resume

How to Put Research on a Resume: Tips and Examples

skills for retail position

Resume Skills For Retail: Big List of Examples

childcare worker

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

Leave a response cancel reply.

ThinkRemote

Hand-Picked Top-Read Stories

how to make a resume fit in one page

Indonesia Introduces A New Remote Work Visa

WFH healthy habits

Combat Work-from-Home Weight Gain: Prioritize Quality Nutrition 

Zoom ice breakers

30+ Zoom Ice Breakers to Energize Your Meetings

Trending tags.

  • Work From Home
  • Virtual Teams
  • travel guides
  • Remote working Tools
  • remote working news
  • Remote Working
  • Remote Workers
  • Remote work with pets
  • Remote Work Tips
  • Job Seeker Advice

How to Fit All of Your Experience into a One-Page Resume

how to make a resume fit in one page

12 Tips on How to Fit Your Experience in a One-Page Resume

1. leave off any unnecessary information, 2. don’t include work or volunteer references, 3. use resume templates to build your resume, 4. favor the pdf file format (unless asked), 5. showcase your most relevant experience, 6. write bullet points instead of paragraphs, 7. don’t over explain in your education section, 8. focus on your most impressive achievements, 9. trim your summary (or remove it entirely), 10. change your font or make it a point smaller, 11. use smaller margins (but don’t go too far), 12. get creative with your formatting and layout, wrapping up.

how to make a resume fit in one page

Sign up for the ThinkRemote newsletter and stay up to date with the latest news and tips on remote work and WFH productivity.

Additionally, you’ll get a copy of our chairman’s best-selling remote leadership book for free (a $19.99 value).

how to make a resume fit in one page

Join us (We Have Cookies)

You're interested in news & tips about remote work? What luck! That's what we do! Better join our newsletter so we can hang out.

Privacy Overview

how to make a resume fit in one page

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

Ronda Suder

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

Why a Simple Resume Layout is a Successful Resume

Software Developer Top Needed Skills

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.

The Future World of Work

How Long Should A Resume Be?

Christina J Colclough

By Christina Colclough

Last updated: April 25, 2024

Depending on your experience level, some say that a resume should just be one page long, but others feel comfortable sending out a five-page document that includes every aspect of their career path to date. Size is important when it comes to the effective resume length.

How Long Should A Resume Be

So, should a resume be one page or two pages? All the information you require to respond to this query is right below!

In this article:

How many pages should a resume be .

An ideal resume is preferably one page long . However, it can be two pages , depending on your experience. In short, your expertise level and the kind of work you are seeking will determine the precise duration that is best for you.

As someone who has worked in this field for many years, I believe you should write no more than two complete pages, even if you have worked for a longer period. Most senior professionals can relate to this guideline regardless of how long you’ve been in the industry, seven years or twenty-seven.

According to a recent finding of Indeed , the majority of recruiters spend about 6 seconds screening each resume and then choose whether to give a candidate more attention. There’s not much time to create a good first impression, so it’s critical to deliver a brief resume that focuses on the most recent and pertinent aspects of your professional background, training, and experience.

When To Use 1 Page

one page resume

Typically, a one-page resume is adequate for individuals with less than 10 years of experience or fresh grads.

Although it’s no longer necessary, entry-level applicants shouldn’t feel compelled to limit their resumes to one page, nor should they attempt to extend it to two pages if it does not make sense. It may also be necessary for career changers to limit their resume to one page.

When To Use 2 Pages

Two page version resumes

A resume can be 2 pages sometimes. Generally speaking, a professional in their mid-to-late career experience should have a two-page resume.

Reducing it to a one-page form runs the risk of omitting important details that highlight your abilities and accomplishments. A two-page resume gives you enough room to showcase quantifiable achievements and jobs from a longer period while still making it easy for recruiters to browse.

Although it is highly recommended that you keep your resume within two pages, there will be situations in which this is practically unachievable. Professionals with seemingly endless lists of technical talents and proficiencies, a plethora of consulting engagements to justify, or an array of published works and research to include frequently experience this.

You might have to utilize the first section of a third page if you fit into any of these categories. Still, there is a limit to the number of pages that a resume may include, so try to avoid doing this if at all feasible.

In the following three situations, the length of your resume is probably going to be more than two typical 8.5 x 11″ pages.

  • Your academic resume or CV should be longer than two pages if you are seeking work in the science field or academia. Your CV may even be 15 pages long!
  • Your federal resume may be 3-7 pages long if you’re looking for a position with the state federal government to accommodate all the necessary material.
  • An international resume should be one to two pages long but written in a different format. This is the kind of document that is used to apply for jobs in most nations outside of the United States. Resumes should be one to two pages on regular letter (8.5″ x 11″) paper, whereas international resumes should be one to two pages on A4 (8.27″ x 11.69″) paper.

How To Fit Your Experience In A One-Page Resume

Let’s be honest. Since an entry-level candidate has little relevant experience, all pertinent information may be included on one page. The other option is to give the impression that they are not putting in enough effort to draft a clear application. However, this may be a little more difficult for people with more expertise. You may make your resume into a one-pager by following these tips.

Utilize An Online Resume Builder

Hundreds of resume-creating sites are available, so I know that you won’t have trouble finding the one that suits your taste. Select a free resume template tailored to your desired length, then let it do the rest. The resume maker will arrange everything on one page, so you don’t need to fiddle with the typeface or layout.

Pay Attention To Crucial Details

Once again, it is essential that you thoroughly review your targeted job description and the primary competencies that employers are looking for. I suggest you avoid bringing up your social media management internship while looking for a software engineering position. 

For example, eliminate “yoga” from the activities you enjoy. It is not required to be on your resume if the company is not looking for it.

Focus On Achievements Instead Of Responsibilities

Don’t enumerate every duty you had. That won’t make you stand out; it will make no difference apart from making your resume longer and boring the company. 

If your resume lists “Sales manager,” your potential employer knows your primary duties. These are the same as 100 others who submitted applications and had comparable employment histories.

Instead, concentrate on observable performance metrics. For instance, say, “Met and surpassed department KPIs by 30-40% for 5 months in a row” rather than “Did sales at XX.”

Try Different Presentation Format

Not many people notice this, but the presentation format does affect the length of your resume. Here is what you can change to mix and match the format to limit the information to just one page.

  • Spacing: Reducing the document margins space will always allow you to add additional entries. For instance, you may change the margins from the standard 2.5″ to 0.5″. You may also experiment with how much blank space there is between resume sections and bullet points.
  • Fonts: Although 12-point font is standard for academic papers, you don’t have to use it on your resume. To get extra room, try using a font size of 11 or 11.5. However, make sure you can read everything without having to enlarge it!
  • Bullet point format: Use bullet points to list employment or educational requirements instead of paragraphs. Don’t hesitate to use concise language.

How To Fit Your Experience In A Two-Page Resume

Several seasoned job searchers find that a two-page resume is a more legible and superior choice for emphasizing all the relevant details that an employer would find useful. 

If you want to include as much information as possible on two pages, it is preferable to make sure the resume is well-structured and easy to read. For the hiring manager to see the potential in your job application, it is more necessary to highlight your accomplishments and experience in your resume than its length.

Key Information On The First Page

The first page is the one that employers look at first. Thus, I recommend mentioning the most important information on this page.

  • Goal Position: Although not required, creating a focused job title gives your resume a clear visual foundation and expresses the position you are applying for in concise terms. Even when it might not align with your present role, the Target Job will show that you are interested in moving up to that role.
  • Career Growth Summary: The goal here is to accurately and concisely describe your work history and show that you are a qualified applicant for the role. This section should not exceed a few phrases that highlight your unique qualities, relevant skills, and relevant experience.
  • Knowledge Or Fundamental Abilities: Include a keyword-rich list of your qualifications and provide a brief overview relevant to the job description in this section. It is best to use 2-3 bullet points to showcase your expertise. The recruiting manager can read and evaluate your experience more rapidly.
  • Job Background: Placing your most recent job experience near the very top of the page of your resume is recommended. A resume that places job experience near the top will provide the reader with enough information to decide whether to keep reading.

Additional Details On The Second Page

Additional info will be placed on the second page. These will give more details about your experience so that the employer can have the most vivid vision of you.

  • Further Work Experience: Carry over the presentation of your job experience using the first page’s structure. Unless the experience is specifically related to the position being evaluated, it is not required to include in-depth explanations of every previous position.
  • Training And Education: Depending on the relevance, the Education part of the resume may appear at the top or bottom. But not everyone has a master’s or college degree, so that’s not a barrier. List your finished courses, certificates, and relevant continuing education if you don’t have a degree.
  • Professional Associations: This category can be skipped. If you decide to list associations on your application, be sure the hiring manager will find the memberships valuable.
  • Extracurricular Activities And Volunteer Experience: This part is suitable for roles that demand excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

How Far Back Your Resume Should Go

resume on the table

You should limit the amount of experience on your resume to 10-15 years . It should only contain information pertinent to the position you plan to apply for. Most likely, the recruiter doesn’t care about your work from 20 years ago. Even if it is quite amazing and impressive, it’s likely that you have accomplished far more important things in the last three positions than you did 18 years ago.

Additionally, you may avoid ageism by not mentioning experiences that are too far back. If your resume is older than 15 years, the HR manager may estimate your age. Sometimes, your application can be turned down immediately if they’re searching for a young, fresh-out-of-school applicant.

That being said, there are still exceptions when you can present your experience of more than 15 years. For example, when you are looking for a job in a field where you last worked more than 15 years ago, and you don’t have the necessary recent professional experience. Under those circumstances, you can add it to your resume, as prior relevant experience is preferable to none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to have 1 page resume or 2.

It depends. A one-page resume reduces the chance that your pages will split and is easier for employers to read. Meanwhile, a two-page one can showcase your experience in detail and may impress those looking for someone highly skilled. Still, notice that your 2-page resume format becomes split; crucial information may be overlooked in the stack. So, be careful with your presentation.

Is A Three-Page Resume Too Long?

Most of the time, yes. Unless you satisfy a specific set of requirements or the sector in which you work explicitly requests resumes this long, you should virtually never submit a three-page-long resume. Resumes of three pages or more are usually the domain of researchers, who frequently have extensive CVs or resumes because of their comprehensive lists of published work citations.

Is It Okay To Bold In Resume?

Yes, but only with caution. While bolding some words and phrases facilitates scanning, you shouldn’t go crazy. Decide carefully what to bold and what not to, based on the messages you wish to convey. It can make the most sense to bold your job titles if they clearly show how you progressed to management-level positions.

You might also like:

You might also like: 10+ Good Skills To Put On A Resume 9 Hobbies and Interests to Write on Your Resume 350 Strong Action Verbs For A Resume 50 Examples of Hard Skills To Put On Your Resume Difference Between Resume And CV How To Add A Resume To LinkedIn

The Bottom Line

Although a one-page resume is ideal for most applicants, there are situations in which a 2-page resume will increase your chances of getting hired. So, be sure to read the job description carefully to create a resume that is suitable for your needs.

Christina J. Colclough

Dr Christina J. Colclough is an expert on The Future World of Work and the politics of digital technology advocating globally for the importance of the workers’ voice. She has extensive regional and global labour movement experience, is a sought-after keynote speaker, coach, and strategist advising progressive governments and worker organisations.

Leave a Comment

Best Ways To Start A Cover Letter

How To Start A Cover Letter? 9 Powerful Ways

Who To Address Cover Letter

How To Know Who To Address Cover Letter To?

To Whom It May Concern

9 “To Whom It May Concern” Alternatives In Cover Letters

How Long Should A Resume Be

CV Vs Resume: What Is The Difference Between?

Hobbies & Interests to Put in a Resume

9 Good Hobbies and Interests to Write In Resume?

More From Forbes

Don’t flub the one-pager: 6 resume mistakes to avoid.

  • Share to Facebook
  • Share to Twitter
  • Share to Linkedin

In today’s ultra-competitive job market, crafting the perfect resume is akin to unicycling—very hard. Your resume is your first (and sometimes only) shot at making a good impression, so it’s crucial to get it right. Without further ado, let’s dive into the six resume mistakes to avoid:

Excessive Length

A common faux pas is turning your resume into a memoir. Hiring managers have about as much time to read your resume as you do to decide if you want to swipe right on a dude on a dating app who lists his job as “Consultant at Consulting.” Stick to one page if you’re early in your career, and only venture into a second if your experience justifies it.

Not tailoring it to the job

Tailoring your resume for each job application might sound as fun as a root canal, but it’s just as necessary (or even more so, because in America, you need a job in order to get the dental insurance to get the root canal). Customize your resume to match the job description, highlighting the experience and skills that make you the perfect fit. It shows you’re not just looking for any job—you’re looking for this job.

Too Many Keywords

Stuffing your resume with keywords until it reads like a spam email won’t endear you to human readers. Use keywords wisely, ensuring your resume is still coherent and engaging to the real-life humans who will (hopefully) read it after the AI does. And definitely don’t have a large chunk of white text at the bottom. Even if employers can’t read it, it’s just so...2004.

My first resume said I was attentive to detials, so listen, I get it. But please triple-check for typos. It’s the equivalent of having spinach in your teeth during a first date; it’s all anyone’s going to remember. Use spell check, read your resume backwards, have a friend review it, etc. You know what to do.

Apple iPhone 16 Unique All New Design Promised In New Report

The best romantic comedy of the last year just hit netflix, the world s best beers according to the 2024 world beer cup, unquantified metrics.

Saying you “significantly increased sales” is nice, but it’s like telling someone you’re “really funny” without cracking a joke (I believe you though, don’t worry). Quantify your achievements. Did you increase sales by 20%? Save your company $10,000? Grow your team by 50%? Write it down.

Too Much History

There’s no need to detail every job you’ve ever had since your high school paper route (unless you were really fast at delivering those papers). Focus on recent and relevant experience. Think of your resume as a highlight reel, not a documentary.

Virginia Hogan

  • Editorial Standards
  • Reprints & Permissions

How to Fit Resume on One Page

How to Fit Resume on One Page

Updated September 28, 2023 14 min read

Resume length is important for all the candidates applying for the job despite their experience. An appropriate length as per the experience helps the employers find the information they are looking for in a resume, easily.

A one-page resume is very important for an entry-level or freshly graduate candidate. You may want to add everything in your resume which you think will impress the hiring manager.

However, things are contrary to the receiving end. Hiring managers expect to see a one-pager resume from such candidates. They even encourage candidates with higher experience to not go beyond one page.

woman in white long sleeve shirt sitting on green carpet

Therefore, in this article, we have listed down ways through which you can fit your resume on one page without affecting the quality of it. Read on!

Remove Repetitive Points

If you have performed some task or similar task at two different organizations, then there isn’t any need of writing the task under every organization. Only mention where you did your best and achieved desirable results. Adding this will make the employer understand your point. However, repeating the task under every organization won’t create the impact you intended to create.

For example, you led a sponsorship team for two different organizations so you won’t add ‘Successfully led a group of people and managed to get outstanding sponsorships for the event’ under each heading. But you will add it where it is most effective.

Make a Collaborative Approach

You may want to add separate headings for a new section every time which according to you looks neat. It indeed looks neat. However, our goal is to make the content fit one page. Making new headings will take up space on your document. A better approach is to use the Collaborative Strategy . The strategy involves cutting down similar headings and combining them into one single heading.

three person pointing the silver laptop computer

For example, combining skills and interests or volunteering and extra-curricular .

If you believe that the sections, you wish to combine have varied contents then add them all into the Additional Information section. We usually suggest avoiding the section but add it if it feels necessary and comes under one page.

Work on Margins

You may have heard or read that an ideal margin for a resume is 1 inch. However, one must not be afraid to customize it according to the need. To fit the resume content to one page you can reduce the margin by few points as necessary. There is not an ideal margin for fitting the resume for one page. You can try adjusting all the sides of the document page and choose the one that fits the best. You don’t have to pull the contents to a far edge nor you have to go beyond 1 inch to make the emptiness at the border look noticeable. Margins are distorted if the file is opened in another version of Microsoft Word, so do save your resume in PDF to preserve the margins when it goes for printing.

Similar to adjusting margins, adjusting font size also helps in restricting the resume to one page. There are several ways you can use fonts to utilize the space. A common approach is to decrease the font size. Ideally, it is suggested to keep the font size to 12, but, you can decrease it to 10 points as well. Additionally, you can use bold, italics or decrease the section headers. You can play with your font size as long as it looks presentable and fits the resume to one page.

Bullet Points

When you start describing each section, you tend to write paragraphs about it. You want to fill in every piece of information you have regarding that section. Writing paragraphs can be time-consuming and are ineffective.

right arrow sign on wall

Employer will not have time to read your paragraphs. If he skips it then he won’t read the information that you want to express, there. Therefore, bullet points are the lifesaver here. It not only concise the information and makes the format look neat but it also saves up a lot of space occupied by the paragraphs. Don’t go beyond 1-2 lines in a bullet point. Short bullet points work best.

The Skills Section

For beginners, one of the takeaway points that will lend them a seat at the interview is the skills section. Employers are primarily looking for a person that possesses the skills suitable for the position they have applied for. However, it is cliché to mention leadership, confidence, project management, teamwork in your skills section.

Nearly every candidate fills these soft skills in their section. You have to make your resume stand out and fit it on one page as well. Therefore, make your hard skills side heavier than your soft skills. This will not only take less space but will give you an edge among other candidates as well. Additionally, you can only mention the skills required for the job you are applying for. It will help you get past the applicant tracking system and will not use too much space.

Prioritize Including Recent Information

In your university, college or school life you may have taken part in numerous extra-curricular or you might have indulged in numerous internship experience. You don’t have to include all of that in the resume. Look at your job description carefully and see which of those activities and internships can support your candidacy for the job. Only then include those experiences and information in your resume to save up space. You need to be careful on what to include and how far you can go in a resume to make it strikingly attractive and worth reading.

Don’t Add A Line For Each Information

To make things look neat, you may want to add each piece of information on a separate line. For Example, when adding your educational information, you included the name of the institution, years studied, GPA, courses and projects all on each separate lines. It does look neat but what if it is carrying your resume to another page. To rectify that, you have to multi-use lines.

You can add years studied and GPA in a single line in brackets after the institution name. Similarly, when adding a previous work experience, you can add a company name and job title in a single line.

Remove Unnecessary Education Information

Education Information is important for fresh graduates since this section along with the skills and internship section serves as a substitute for work experience. It depends on your current employment status and experience what is necessary to include in the education section.

green and white typewriter on black textile

People who have considerable work experience don’t need to go into details of educational background; listing degree and institution is sufficient to go through. For fresh graduates, education background is necessary but including every other information that will be irrelevant for the job can be removed. Once you get your degree, adding high school information is also considered irrelevant.

Limit your experience. You will want to flood your resume with all the experience you had over 10 and more years. However, including all the experience will make your resume ineffective and it will occupy unnecessary space only.

Employers suggest including the past 10 years of experience only that indicates your career progression. In case you have been working at a single company or a single position for the past 10 years, then you can separate the positions or the task you held in the time frame to show your achievements and skills you gained through it.

Don’t Include The Old Ways

There are many traditional techniques still implemented in the resume. These include ‘references available upon request, describing the type of job you are looking for, adding high school section, adding interest or hobbies. These are the common sections and strategies that have passed on through generations and have become obsolete now.

The references available line is clichéd now since the employer always expects that you give proof to the stuff you add to your resume. Similarly, this is not an era where you describe what your needs are, rather employers will be hiring you upon the company’s needs. So writing an objective that suggests your needs rather than a company’s needs, will only backfire on you. Also, adding the high school, interest and hobbies section is irrelevant now since they don’t add value to the resume. Instead, they are just fillers that occupy the necessary space in your resume.

photo of a wall with growing concerns written on it

Your employer won’t be concerned about your interest and hire you for the job.

Accomplishments Win You Interview

Work experiences , internships , extra-curricular or projects have worth only if you earned some accomplishments from it. Adding these sections and filling them with their descriptions will not attract the employer. It is the achievement that you earned that will attract the hiring manager.

Include your best results and achievement to impress the recruiter and affirm him that you can handle the challenges of the company. If you still have space, you can mention the path you took to achieve your desired results since that will make the employer read through your strategy and further understand you.

Contact Information on One Line

Similar to what you did with the education section, including contact information in one line will save you a lot of space. Following the traditional format of adding each piece of information in every line looked line but occupied a lot of space. Therefore, the one-line format is concise and saves space. Luckily, the recruiters don’t mind the format as well. You just have to separate them with dot, slashes or vertical lines and you are good to go.

An acronym is formed from initial letters of two or more words and pronounced as a single word. Acronyms save a lot of space. Once you get a hand on the industry-accepted acronyms you will be saving a lot of space. For Example, Bill of Material (BOM), Control Plan (CP), Balance Sheet (BS), Return On Assets (ROA), Profit and Loss (P&L), Quality Assurance (QA) and much more. They are readable, understandable and employers approve them. So use it when describing your work experience, projects or internships. However, don’t use acronyms when listing down skills.

zone and u-turn road signs

In case the company uses the Applicant-tracking system and they don’t use acronyms to search through the resume then you’ll be left out!

Format With Us

You may go through different templates in MS Word but end up prolonging your resume unnecessarily. Don’t worry. Use our resume builder and feel free to become creative with your resume using our tools.

Final Words

You have read through all the tips and tricks for limiting your resume to one page. Now, go back to your resume and apply all these tricks to make a neat, concise and one-pager resume. Happy job hunting!

Editorial staff

Photo of Brenna Goyette, Editor

Brenna Goyette

Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

Similar articles

  • How to List Skills on Your Resume
  • How to Write About Me Section in Resume
  • How to Put GPA on Resume
  • How Long Should a Resume Be
  • How Many Bullet Points Per Job on a Resume
  • Top 16 Phone Operator Resume Objective Examples

COMMENTS

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

    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.

  2. Should a Resume Be One Page? (And How to Make It Fit)

    Here are several tips for how to fit a resume on one page. 1. Tailor Your Resume. It's okay to have 4-page list of accomplishments. Just don't put it in your resume unless you're going for a senior position. Customize your resume for each past job. Show 3-5 achievements that fit best with this job offer.

  3. One Page Resume Templates & Writing Guide

    One page resume templates. 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

  4. Why Should You Fit Your Resume on One Page?

    Updated June 24, 2022. Keeping your resume to one page helps hiring managers see your best qualifications quickly. When you submit a one-page resume, you demonstrate the top qualities and skills that make you right for the role. Looking at your previous work experience can help you decide which accomplishments are worth keeping on your resume.

  5. One-Page Resume Templates & Examples [2024]

    A one-and-a-half-page resume can create visual imbalance, especially if the second page contains only a small amount of information. This can make your resume appear disjointed and unprofessional. If your resume is one-and-a-half pages, we recommend reducing it to a single page or adding relevant and high-quality content to fill two complete pages.

  6. A Breakdown of a Successful One Page Resume

    Yes, your resume can be one page, regardless of experience. Single-page resumes focus on the most relevant parts of your work history. Put important and relevant information first, as this makes for an efficient format for any professional field. If you can't fit all relevant experience on a single page, only then go for a two-page resume.

  7. How to Write a One Page Resume (With Example and Tips)

    1. List your contact information. Put your name, job title and contact information at the top of your resume. This is true for resumes generally, but it is especially important for one page resumes. You want to be sure the hiring manager knows where to send an interview invitation. To save space, format your name and job title in bold and only ...

  8. How To Write A One-Page Resume

    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.

  9. One-Page Resume Template (With Tips and Two Examples)

    Here's a template you can use to write a one-page resume: [First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification if applicable] [Two to three sentences that highlight years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications and achievement.] Experience (For the most recent role, list 5 experience items.

  10. Free One-Page Resume Templates for 2024 [Free Download]

    Content. Top ↑ 6+ One-Page Resume Templates for Online Resume Builders #1 - Simple by Novoresume #2 - Creative by Novorésumé #3 - Modern by Novorésumé #4 - College by Novorésumé #5 - Executive by Novorésumé #6 - Basic by Novorésumé 8+ One-Page Resume Templates for Microsoft Word #7 - Elegant Dark Microsoft Word Resume Template #8 ...

  11. 15 One Page Resume Templates to Fill-in & Download

    For more resume templates like this one, visit our gallery: 15+ Basic Resume Templates to Download. 10. Influx. Influx is just the right combination of traditional and modern. It's a perfect one-pager template for you if you're looking for a way to make your resume look respectable and trustworthy.

  12. 5 Quick Tips to Fit Your Resume on One Page

    Use a column-based layout. 4. Remove repetitions in your work descriptions. 5. Only include relevant information. Remember the point of having your resume on one page. 1. Adjust the formatting of your resume. The looks and content of your resume should always work in unison to achieve maximum readability.

  13. How to Get Your Resume Down to One Page

    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.

  14. One-Page Resume Format

    When you're ready, you can start the process of organizing relevant sections into a condensed version that fits on one page. 4. Fourth, create your first draft and shorten it. Create a new resume that's as close to one page in length as possible. There's no need to worry if it goes longer than that on the first try.

  15. One-Page Resume: How to fit EVERYTHING into a Single Page

    Most employers want a one-page resume. Period. Get the resume template from the preview for free here: https://www.freesumes.com/plain-trendy-free-modern-res...

  16. How to Make a Credible One Page 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.

  17. How to Fit All of Your Experience into a One-Page Resume

    4. Favor the PDF File Format (Unless Asked) Another reason to avoid Word templates is formatting. Single-page resume templates can turn out longer on some computers because Word doesn't keep a consistent format. However, PDFs look the same on all devices. Unless employers ask for a Word or DOCX file, stick to PDFs. 5.

  18. Whether or Not to Use a One Page Resume

    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.

  19. Creating A One-Page Resume (With Template and Examples)

    1. Use a template. When you create a one-page resume, choosing the right template can make it easier to maximise your page layout. Some templates let you download the format and fill in your information, while others allow you to model a sample format as you create your resume.

  20. How Long Should A Resume Be? Is It One Or Two Pages?

    It depends. A one-page resume reduces the chance that your pages will split and is easier for employers to read. Meanwhile, a two-page one can showcase your experience in detail and may impress those looking for someone highly skilled. Still, notice that your 2-page resume format becomes split; crucial information may be overlooked in the stack.

  21. Don't Flub The One-Pager: 6 Resume Mistakes To Avoid

    Customize your resume to match the job description, highlighting the experience and skills that make you the perfect fit. It shows you're not just looking for any job—you're looking for this ...

  22. How to fit your resume on one page

    Published Apr 19, 2022. + Follow. The following are steps to assist you fit your resume on one page: • Shorten your MS Word Margins: Shortening your margins provide you with more space to ...

  23. How to Fit Resume on One Page

    To fit the resume content to one page you can reduce the margin by few points as necessary. There is not an ideal margin for fitting the resume for one page. You can try adjusting all the sides of the document page and choose the one that fits the best. You don't have to pull the contents to a far edge nor you have to go beyond 1 inch to make ...

  24. Weekly Quick Tip: Getting Your Resume to Fit on One Page

    When you have a lot of information to cover on your resume, it can be difficult to get everything to fit on one page. This weeks tip reviews ways to change t...

  25. What are some good methods for making your resume fit on one page

    Keep it short and concise. Combine and consolidate the "Anything IT" paragraph and "Hands-on" paragraph. Change "Technical Proficiencies" to "Technical Skills". I think you should aim for front & back. Still one page. The paper matters too make sure you are using paper that is at least 25% cotton.