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One Page Resume : Writing Tips & Sample

A one-page resume is standard for many early-career and mid-level roles. It forces you to prioritize and keeps recruiters focused on your strongest points.

Why One Page?

Recruiters often spend only seconds on a first pass. One page is easy to scan and shows you can prioritize. For early career (under ~10 years) or when the employer asks for one page, stick to it.

What to Include

  • Contact: Name, phone, email, city/state (and LinkedIn if relevant).
  • Summary: 2–3 lines tailored to the role.
  • Experience: Most recent 2–4 roles with 2–4 bullets each. Strong verbs and outcomes.
  • Education: Degree, school, year. Relevant certifications.
  • Skills: Short list of relevant skills or integrate into experience.

What to Cut or Shorten

Omit or shorten older roles that add little. Combine or trim bullets to keep the best 2–4 per job. Use a concise summary. Reduce margins slightly (e.g., 0.75") if needed, but keep readability.

Sample Structure

[Name] | [Phone] | [Email] | [City, State]
Summary: 2–3 lines.
Experience: [Current Role] – 3–4 bullets. [Previous Role] – 2–3 bullets. [Older Role] – 1–2 bullets.
Education: [Degree], [School], [Year].
Skills: [Relevant skills].

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Should my resume be one page?
    For early career (under ~10 years) or when the employer asks, one page is standard. Senior roles can use two pages if content is relevant.
  • How do I fit my resume on one page?
    Prioritize recent roles and strongest bullets. Shorten or omit older, less relevant experience. Use a concise summary and tight formatting.
  • What if I have too much experience for one page?
    Keep the last 10–15 years and the most relevant roles. Use 2–4 bullets per job. Two pages can be acceptable for senior roles.
  • What font size for a one-page resume?
    Use 10–12 pt. Do not go below 10 pt. Adjust margins (e.g., 0.75") and trim content before reducing font size.