The "one-page resume" rule is everywhere. For many people it's the right call. For others, it forces you to cut so much that you undersell yourself. Here's when to stick to one page and when two is fine.
When One Page Makes Sense
- You have fewer than ~7–8 years of relevant experience.
- You're early career or changing fields. One page keeps the focus tight.
- The role is junior or mid. Recruiters often skim quickly; one page is easier to scan.
- The employer or country norm is one page (e.g. many US tech roles).
How to Keep It to One Page
- One or two bullets per role for older jobs; more for recent ones.
- Trim older roles to title, company, dates, and one strong outcome.
- Skills: list what's relevant to the job, not everything you've ever used.
- Cut the objective or keep it to one line. Use the space for proof instead.
When Two Pages Can Be Okay
- You have 10+ years of experience and multiple distinct roles or companies.
- You have publications, talks, open source, or side projects that are directly relevant.
- The job is senior or specialized and they expect a fuller picture.
- You're outside the US in a region where two-page CVs are normal.
How to Do Two Pages Right
- Put the strongest material on page one. If they only read one page, make it count.
- Page two: older roles, education, extra skills, or a short "Selected projects" section.
- Don't stretch content to fill two pages. If one page is full and you have more to say, two is fine. If one page is thin, keep it to one.
The real rule: use the space you need to make your case—no more, no less.