The one-page debate, settled

Resume Length: How Long Should Your Resume Be?

One page or two? The answer depends on your experience—but shorter is almost always better. Here's how to decide and what to cut.

Scan my resume Write a better summary

The short answer

0-10 years experience

One page. If you're struggling to fill one page, focus on depth over breadth. If you're over one page, cut ruthlessly.

10+ years experience

One to two pages. Two pages is acceptable if every line is relevant. Don't pad—recruiters notice.

Executive / VP level

Two pages max. Focus on strategic impact, board work, and company-level outcomes. Cut operational details.

Academic / Federal

CV format (no limit). Include publications, grants, and research. Different rules apply here.

Why shorter is better

Eye-tracking research shows recruiters spend about 7 seconds on initial screening. In that time, they scan the top third and maybe glance at recent experience.

A two-page resume doesn't get twice the attention—it often gets less, because:

  • Recruiters rarely scroll to page two during initial screening
  • More content means more chances for weak lines to dilute strong ones
  • Long resumes signal poor editing judgment

The goal: Make every line compete for its spot. If it doesn't add value, cut it.

What to cut

Old experience

Anything 15+ years old can usually be summarized in one line or removed entirely.

Irrelevant roles

That summer job from college? The unrelated side gig? Cut them unless they show transferable skills.

Obvious skills

"Microsoft Office" and "email" aren't differentiators. Focus on role-specific tools.

Redundant bullets

If three bullets say the same thing differently, keep the strongest one.

What to keep

  • Quantified achievements: "Increased revenue 25%" beats "Responsible for sales."
  • Recent experience: Last 5-7 years gets the most attention.
  • Role-relevant skills: Match what the job description asks for.
  • Clear progression: Show growth through titles and responsibilities.

How to fit one page

If you're slightly over one page, try these formatting adjustments:

  • Reduce margins to 0.5" (but no smaller)
  • Use 10-11pt font (no smaller than 10pt)
  • Tighten line spacing to 1.0-1.15
  • Use bullet points instead of paragraphs
  • Combine or remove weaker bullets
  • Summarize old roles in 1-2 lines

Warning: Don't sacrifice readability. Dense, cramped resumes are harder to scan.

When two pages is okay

Two pages works if:

  • You have 10+ years of relevant experience
  • Every bullet point adds unique value
  • You're targeting senior or executive roles
  • The second page has substantial content (not half-empty)

Test: Print your resume. If page two is mostly white space, condense to one page.

Related guides

Resume summary

Make your top third count—it's all most recruiters see.

Quantify achievements

Make every bullet prove impact with numbers.

Resume scanner

See if your content lands in high-attention zones.

Eye-tracking research

Learn where recruiters actually look.