Typically, a one-page resume is fine if you have less than five years of experience. However, more experienced personnel have more to tell, show, and provide, so a one-pager is often insufficient. To answer your question, “Should a resume be one page?” we must dig deeper and see from different angles, jobs, and perspectives. Let’s start!
Why Does Resume Length Matter?
Recruiters put less effort and time into hiring less experienced personnel. Naturally, you need to avoid a detailed resume to get noticed.
Similarly, when hiring experienced candidates, they look into the details. Some may even read the whole resume twice. This is mainly because of the enormous responsibility that comes with the role.
The Recruiter’s Perspective: Time is Limited
A recruiter will usually spend no more than 10 seconds on one resume. Their main concern is to find something that aligns with the advertised job’s role.
Naturally, if your resume is trifled with unnecessary details, they will likely move to the next resume soon.
If it’s too short, they may question your qualifications. The right length helps capture attention quickly without overwhelming the recruiter.
The Balance between Brevity and Detail
Too little or too much? Both can hurt your chances of scoring the job. The right key to your success lies in balance.
In short, skimming must be easy while successfully injecting your strengths and relevant experience into the recruiter’s head.
Resume Length to the Role and Industry
Specific roles and industries may not agree with our statement of a one-page resume for less experienced. We will look into more detail in the coming paragraphs.
One-Page Resume: When It Works Best
Should resumes be one page? It is an open-ended open-ended question that needs more information. After detailed research, we found certain conditions that, when fulfilled, may require a one-page resume.
As a Student
As a student, sticking to a one-page resume is key. Since you likely don’t have much work experience yet, anything beyond that first page is probably unnecessary.
If you’re struggling to keep your resume concise, take a step back and review it carefully.
Do you really need to include every single volunteering experience or extracurricular activity? Is it necessary to devote much space to your summer lifeguard job?
The short answer is no, it’s not essential.
Instead, prioritize your most relevant qualifications, standout academic achievements, and fields of study that align with the job you’re aiming for. You will find that you don’t need a two-page resume to make a great impression!
Entry-Level Candidates and Recent Graduates
The obvious one comes at the top. If you don’t have much to show, avoiding irrelevant jargon and keeping your resume brief is better.
As a fresh candidate, you have all the space you need on a one page resume to show your skills and education.
Irrelevant details in your resume often lead to tricky questions during the interview. And since they are not relevant, chances are you don’t know about them. So, as a fresher, craft your resume carefully and avoid including things you do not have much experience in.
Professionals with Less Than Five Years of Experience
We wrote five, but it can also be a ten if you have only worked in one or two companies. A single-page resume can house everything that you need to portray.
If you have more, it is better to stick to the most relevant skills and strengths and avoid unnecessary details.
When Changing Career
During a career change, you may have loads of unnecessary skills that have minimal or no value to recruiters. So, a one-page resume becomes necessary when you’re highlighting experience relevant to the new career path.
When Industries demand shorter resume
Some industries need short-format resumes. In such cases, a one page resume is your only choice. Some such industries are:
- Tech Startups.
- Graphic Designers.
- Retail.
- Fashion and Design
- Event Planning.
Winning Over Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
Modern hiring is based on ATS systems, which parse your resume automatically. A one-page resume is better since it will be quickly highlighted before recruiters. That is if you have added the relevant terms and keywords correctly.
Know More :- Resume Keywords For Resume
When a Two-Page Resume Is Necessary
The more you have worked, the more you have to tell. Similarly, the more they will pay you, the more they will read you. Think of this as hiring a designer for your wedding ceremony; you check many of them before choosing the best one.
So, should a resume be one page? No, not for an experienced guy like you. Yes, there are specific industries that demand one-pagers, but most of the time, you’ll need a two-page resume. Let’s dig more!
Extensive Work History
Your extensive work experience needs showcasing. And you need more space to show and portray.
In most cases, after many years of work, the hiring parties expect to read your past work in detail. It helps them a lot during the interview and the resume selections.
Academic and Research Fields
Academic and research professionals must present their past projects, grants, and other elements. It is simply impossible to include everything in a single-page CV. In some cases, they might even need a third page.
C-Suites
When an employer assigns a whole company to an employee, they screen the candidates in almost every aspect of their careers. High-level executive candidates often have over 10 years of experience during such a hiring process.
Their long career paths, achievements, skills, and personalities cannot be described entirely in a single page. If anyone does that, they are likely to be rejected.
Applicants with Specialized or Technical Skills
Experienced professionals like engineers, IT professionals, etc., often have skills that need more explanation. Sometimes, they need to showcase a project that demands a detailed explanation. Similarly, the extra certifications also need more space.
Click Here :- Unique Skills For Resume
Job Descriptions with Long Requirement Lists
If you’re applying for an appropriate job or type of job that requires a diverse set of skills, a two-page resume is the answer. Some of the similar jobs are:
- Academic Researchers and Professors
- Business Consultants
- Creative Directors
- Legal Professionals
- Project Managers
Industry Expectations: Does Job Type Influence Resume Length?
Other than experience, professions also greatly affect the ideal length of your resume. We have already discussed them. Now, let’s see why and which in detail.
Creative Industries
The creative industry is often more about the feel and output of the work. The employer doesn’t care about the details. They want to know the output.
A one-page resume is the ideal form of resume if you are in the creative industry. All you need to do is to provide them with the primary points of your past work and accomplishments.
Some of such professions include:
- Graphic Designer.
- Copywriter.
- Photographer.
- Web Designer/Developer.
- Social Media Manager.
- Marketing Specialist.
- Fashion Designer.
- Video Producer.
- Art Director.
- Interior Designer.
Technical Roles: Detail-oriented and Comprehensive
If you’re in a technical role that involves a lot of sophisticated techniques, machines, and thinking, a two-page resume can do wonders for you. Such roles need more details to show the breadth of hard skills, certifications, and project experience.
Recruiters in such industries look for specific competencies and measurable results that a one-page CV cannot capture.
Some such professions are:
- Software Engineer
- Data Scientist
- IT Network Engineer
- Cybersecurity Specialist
- Systems Administrator
- Cloud Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Biomedical Engineer
- DevOps Engineer
Know More :- Technical Skills For resume
Healthcare and Medical Fields: Comprehensive Career Summaries
Just like technical professions, healthcare personnel need to list their list of relevant certifications and courses. Healthcare professionals usually have at least 4 to 5 extra certifications. So, a one page resume cannot fit it all. A two-page resume is the ideal form of resume for doctors and nurses.
Academic and Research Positions
Academic and research personnel have a long education, certifications, and achievements list. Most resumes of such professionals need at least a 2 or 3-page resume.
Some of these professions are:
- Professor
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Research Scientist
- Academic Advisor
- Lab Manager
- Clinical Research Coordinator
- Lecturer
- Educational Administrator
- Librarian (Academic or Research Institutions)
One and Two pages Resume Examples
After carefully evaluating some of the best resumes in different professions, we created the following two examples. These examples can help you clear your doubts about the ideal length of your resume.
One Page Resume Example/Template
One-Page Resume: Marketing Coordinator
John Doe
123 Main Street, Cityville, State, 12345
(123) 456-7890 | johnndoe@email.com | LinkedIn.com/in/johnndoe
Objective
Results-driven marketing professional with 3 years of experience in digital marketing and content creation. Passionate about driving brand growth through innovative strategies and data-driven insights. Seeking a Marketing Coordinator role to leverage my skills in social media management and campaign execution.
Professional Experience
Marketing Assistant
XYZ Marketing Agency | Cityville, State
June 2022 – Present
- Developed and implemented social media campaigns, increasing engagement by 25% in 6 months.
- Managed a $10,000 monthly ad budget, optimizing performance and achieving a 15% ROI increase.
- Conducted market research and competitor analysis, providing actionable insights to senior leadership.
Content Creator
Freelance | Remote
January 2021 – May 2022
- Created SEO-friendly blog content for small businesses, improving organic traffic by an average of 40%.
- Designed visual content for social media platforms, resulting in a 20% follower growth.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Marketing
University of State | Graduated May 2020
Skills
- Digital Marketing Tools: Google Ads, HubSpot, Canva
- Social Media Platforms: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
- Data Analysis: Google Analytics, Excel
Certifications
- Google Ads Certification
- HubSpot Content Marketing Certification
Hobbies
Photography, Blogging, and Hiking
Two-Page Resume Example/Template
Jane Smith
456 Technology Lane, Tech City, State, 67890
(987) 654-3210 | janesmith@email.com | GitHub.com/janesmith
Objective
Accomplished Senior Software Engineer with over 10 years of experience in full-stack development, system architecture, and leading cross-functional teams. Proven track record of delivering scalable solutions and enhancing user experience. Seeking a leadership role to drive innovation and mentor junior developers.
Professional Experience
Senior Software Engineer
InnovateTech Solutions | Tech City, State
March 2018 – Present
- Led a team of eight developers in designing and implementing a microservices-based architecture, reducing system downtime by 30%.
- Optimized database queries, resulting in a 25% improvement in application performance.
- Collaborated with product managers to define technical requirements and deliver features ahead of schedule.
Software Engineer
CodeMasters Inc. | Tech City, State
June 2013 – February 2018
- Developed and maintained web applications using React, Node.js, and MongoDB.
- Implemented CI/CD pipelines, reducing deployment time by 50%.
- Conducted code reviews and mentored junior developers, fostering a culture of collaboration and quality.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Tech University | Graduated May 2013
Skills
- Programming Languages: JavaScript, Python, C++
- Frameworks: React, Angular, Django
- Tools: Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins
- Cloud Platforms: AWS, Azure
- Soft Skills: Leadership, Agile Methodology, Problem-Solving
Certifications
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect
- Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
Projects
E-Commerce Platform Redesign
- Spearheaded the migration of a legacy e-commerce platform to a modern tech stack, enhancing scalability and user experience.
- Reduced page load times by 40% through performance optimization.
Real-Time Chat Application
- Built a secure real-time chat application using WebSocket and Node.js, achieving seamless user communication.
Hobbies
Coding Challenges, Open-Source Contributions, and Cycling
Should a Resume Be One Page? Final Thoughts
A one page resume is the ideal length of a resume. In fact, most employers want to see a brief resume. It saves them time and energy. However, there are some cases and conditions when you need more words to describe your career truly. So, should a resume be one page? No, it differs from profession to profession and experience to experience. Students, fresh graduates, and creative professionals often do best with one-page resumes.
On the other hand, technical professionals, doctors, and academic professionals require a detailed resume.
We hope this article answers all your questions. Best of Luck!
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