The One Page or Two Page Resume Debate Explained

The one-page resume rule exists for a reason: It’s clear, concise, and easier for busy recruiters to scan. Given this context, wouldn’t you want to make a stellar first impression by making the recruiter’s job easier? If so, a one-page resume remains the best choice. 

That said, if your relevant experience won’t reasonably fit on one page, a two-page resume is perfectly acceptable. Contrary to popular belief, recruiters and applicant tracking systems (ATS) don’t automatically reject two-page resumes unless the job posting explicitly requires a single page. In fact, two-page resumes are common for mid-level and senior professionals.

So, which resume length is ideal for you—a one or two-page resume? While there’s no hard-and-fast rule, according to resume expert Kim Isaacs, your industry and level of experience can help you determine if your resume should be one or two (or more) pages long.

Should a Resume Be One Page?

The ideal resume length is one page. It’s compact, streamlined, and there’s little chance recruiters will miss or purposely skip any of the resume sections you wrote with great effort.

“The quicker you can get to the point, the better,” Isaacs says. Hiring managers are busy, sometimes having to sort through hundreds of applications.

Every one-page resume can and should include:

1. Contact information: Your full name, phone number, email address, and city and state of residence.
2. Resume profile: A resume summary stating your top qualifications or a career objective stating your goals for the job.
3. Work experience: An overview of your career history with bullet points describing your career accomplishments.
4. Role-relevant skills: A simple bulleted list of your best hard and soft skills for the job.
5. Education: A brief mention of any relevant degrees, including the institutions you attended, or certifications you’ve earned

Using a professional resume builder can help you format your document to fit every section neatly.

A lot goes into ensuring your resume looks polished and includes all the relevant information you need to showcase to land the job. Before you submit your resume, review it against Monster's resume checklist to ensure you’re not missing any crucial details.

Tips to Maximize Resume Space

If you’re aiming to trim your resume to one page, every line should add value and highlight why you’re the right fit for the role.

Here are some practical ways to streamline your content without losing impact:

• Use bullet points strategically. Limit yourself to three or four bullet points per job. Focus on your most job-relevant accomplishments instead of listing every responsibility.
• Cut filler words and redundancies. Phrases like “responsible for” or “duties included” waste space. Instead, use power verbs to reinforce the impact of your accomplishments.
• Highlight measurable achievements. Use numbers and percentages to quantify your achievements, make them more compelling, and reduce the need for long explanations.
• Optimize formatting. Keep margins to one inch, your resume font size between 11 and 12, and line spacing consistent. Avoid large blocks of text and unnecessary graphics.
• Try a hybrid approach. If you have more details that don’t fit into your resume, opt for either a one or two-page resume with a link to your portfolio or professional website.

These strategies improve your resume by making it more concise, focused, and recruiter-friendly without sacrificing important details.

When a Two-Page Resume Works Better

Asking yourself, “Can a resume be two pages?” For some highly experienced job seekers, a one-page resume might be too much of a hassle to achieve. In that case, extending your resume to two pages is perfectly acceptable.

“Most resume reviewers would rather read a well-laid-out, easy-to-skim, two-page resume than a one-page resume that jams too much information on the page,” Isaacs says.

A two-page resume makes more sense for job seekers further along in their careers, with 10 or more years of relevant job experience. The extra page may be necessary to convey all of the critical information an employer needs to know.

Keep in mind, however, that the second page likely won’t get as much attention as the first, so it’s best to make sure you’re using the proper resume format (think chronological vs functional).

Tips for Formatting a Two-Page Resume

If you decide a two-page resume is right for you, formatting it correctly is key to keeping recruiters engaged, so follow these best practices:

• Keep the design consistent. Use the same resume font, margins, and formatting across both pages to create a cohesive feel.
• Put the most important details first. Recruiters may not always make it to page two, so lead with your strongest achievements on page one. The first page should include your contact information, resume summary, and most relevant work history.
• Use clear headings and section breaks. Make your resume easy to skim by labeling sections clearly (Work Experience, Skills, Education, etc.).
• Avoid half-empty second pages. If page two has only a few lines, trim down to one page or expand slightly so both pages feel balanced.

How to Decide: One-Page or Two-Page Resume?

Deciding whether to create a one or two-page resume depends on which resume layout will best present your achievements. In today’s workforce, both resume lengths are widely accepted.

Use the following checklist to determine whether a one-page or two-page resume is best for you.

When to Use a Three-Page (or Longer) Resume

Most people believe resumes should fit on two pages max, no matter how long you’ve been working. As with all rules, however, there are some exceptions.

For example, suppose you’re a senior-level manager working for the federal government and have a long track record of accomplishments. Or, imagine you’re writing an academic CV for a research position and have an extensive list of publications, speaking engagements, and certifications. In either instance, a two-page resume might be too short to house all of your relevant qualifications, so you may need to extend your resume to three or more pages.

In general, opt for one page for every 10 years of experience you have.

Resume Length Mistakes to Avoid

Although your resume’s length alone won’t make or break your chances of landing a job, the way you use the page space will influence how long a recruiter spends on your resume.

Keep recruiters engaged with your job application by avoiding these resume length mistakes:

• Adding irrelevant details just to fill space. Stretching your resume to two pages by including outdated jobs, unrelated coursework, or minor tasks distracts from your strengths. Keep your resume focused on what’s most relevant to the role.
• Forcing everything onto one page. Cutting important achievements or using tiny fonts and narrow margins to squeeze everything into a single page can backfire. If you need two pages to showcase your experience clearly, use them.
• Repeating job descriptions. Recruiters don’t need to see the same responsibilities copied under every role. Instead, highlight unique results and measurable accomplishments for each position.
• Over-condensing for an ATS. Applicant tracking systems scan for resume keywords. If you cut too aggressively and leave out critical terms, your resume might not make it through the initial screening. Balance brevity with optimizing your resume with keywords.

The key is to keep your resume concise, but never at the expense of clarity or impact. Every line should serve a purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions About Resume Length

1. Do cover letters affect resume length?

Not directly. A cover letter complements your resume by explaining your fit for the role, but it doesn’t replace resume content. Don’t cut important information from your resume, assuming it can go in your cover letter.

2. Should I include references to save space?

No. If an employer requires you to submit job references, you should list them in a separate document, not on your resume. Adding references on your resume takes up valuable space you could use to highlight your achievements instead.

3. Do digital resumes follow the same rules as printed ones?

Yes, recruiters still expect concise, easy-to-scan documents, whether they’re reading on paper or on a screen. However, digital resumes allow you to add links to career portfolios, LinkedIn profiles, or project samples to supplement your main content without extending the page count.

4. How long should a resume be for international jobs?

It depends on the country. In the United States and Canada, one-page or two-page resumes are the norm. In Europe and parts of Asia, resumes may run longer and often include more personal details. Always research the expectations in the country where you’re applying.

The Bottom Line: How Many Pages Should a Resume Be?

When it comes to resume length, there’s a lot of contradictory advice online, but resume experts and recruiters agree on one thing: It’s not all about the page count; it’s about presentation. If you can highlight your skills and accomplishments on one page without leaving out key details, that’s often the smartest choice.

On the other hand, if you’ve built 10+ years of relevant experience, managed complex projects, or earned achievements worth showcasing, don’t hesitate to extend your resume to two pages. What matters most is clarity and relevance. A well-structured resume, whether one page or two, will always stand out more than one that follows “rules” at the expense of impact.