Should a resume be one page?

A woman sitting at a table creates a one-page resume on her laptop.

You have tons of skills and experience that would make you ideal for the job, so is it really best to keep your resume to a single page? Here’s what you should know about one-page resumes.

Should resumes be one page? Everyone knows resumes should be confined to a single page — but is it really that important? After all, you want to showcase all your skills and experience, which might be too much for one page to handle. So, should your resume be one page after all? Well, it depends. This guide will discuss one- versus two-page resumes and what to add.

Does a resume need to be one page?

Does a resume need to be one page? The short answer as to whether your resume should be one page is still, ideally, yes. Employers have to look through dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes to fill a position. They want the resumes to be quick and easy to read, so the shorter, the better. Plus, nobody enjoys reading through multiple pages of potentially unnecessary and redundant text.

And, in a giant stack of papers like that, there’s also a good chance of losing the odd page here and there. If your resume is two pages, important information could get lost in the stack if the papers become separated.

In the end, a one-page resume makes it easy for employers to read and decreases the chance of your pages becoming separated. The easier you make it for potential employers to get through your resume, the more chance you have of making a good first impression and getting the position.

Is a resume one page or two? There are exceptions.

Is a stellar resume one page or two? While most employers typically consider it best to stick with one-page resumes, they’re not the best for every situation.

If you have tons of experience and achievements that relate directly to the position you’re applying for, you might want to make sure the hiring manager sees every impressive detail. In this case, it’s okay to go onto two or even three pages.

However, before working on that third page of accomplishments, make sure everything you add is completely relevant and impressive. Only include information that will set you apart from the other applicants or that emphasizes your qualifications for that particular position. You might be great at knitting, but it’s not relevant to an accounting position.

Most multi-page resumes are for jobs that require 10 or more years of experience, like management, executive, or other high-level positions.

I have too much for a one-page resume — what goes on page 2?

On a two-page resume, your contact information should be included on both pages. Your most notable and recent information should be on the first page. Your relevant work experience from the last 10 years, skills, and professional summary should be included on the first page. The second page can include information about your education, such as your degrees. Additional certifications can also be included on this page.

Tips for creating a one-page resume that fits all employment info.

To include all the information you want in the most concise way, try out these tips:

Make the content concise. Focus on the main idea of each sentence and shorten it where possible.
Omit filler words. Take out words like the, to, a, an, or, and and to create more space on your document.
Include notable accomplishments over tasks. Instead of listing out your role’s responsibilities, focus on your most significant, relevant accomplishments. Use numbers to demonstrate your success. This could include the number of articles you’ve written, the percentage of money you’ve saved the company, and more.

Should I list references on a one-page resume?

If you are trying to keep your resume to one page, you should not include references on your resume. Managers will know to request references if needed.

What achievements should I add to a one-page resume?

There are a variety of achievements you can include in your resume, but the following are some ideas:

The revenue you increased for the company
Time you saved
Money you saved
Ideas you implemented
Awards you won
Projects you worked on
Promotions
Problems you were able to solve

What can I create a one-page resume with?

There are multiple options you can choose from to create your resume. The following are a few examples:

Google Docs. Log in to Google Docs from anywhere and choose from a variety of templates to fit your resume needs.
Microsoft Word. You can use this desktop application to create your resume with a variety of template options to choose from.
Adobe Acrobat. Acrobat offers all the document tools you need in one place to create an engaging resume and other important documents for your professional needs. You can use the desktop application or log in online.

Split your multi-page PDF resumes.

If you have a multi-page resume and need to quickly remove one or more pages to send out with an application, use an online PDF editor like the one in Adobe Acrobat online services to split your PDF resume pages. It will let you cut or extract pages to limit your resume to the ideal one-page limit.

To split your PDF resume, follow these five easy steps: