The one-page resume rule was once hard-and-fast, and the Twitter-driven age of brevity has seen resumes trending shorter again.
But for job-seekers with significant experience, it’s better to go to a second page than cram all your information onto one page. We recently saw a resume that was written in 9 point type (very small) with almost no margins… it looked like some densely worded document (which it was) that no one would want to read.
Choose page margins of about .75” (the Microsoft Word default settings of 1.25” are wider than needed), use a font size of 10-12 pt. (11 pt. is usually perfect), and go to a second page if needed. Just remember two rules about doing so. First, make sure you have a header on the second page that identifies that is your resume (Vince Smith, p. 2) and make sure that you use at least half of the second page.
Other resume tips:
- Always focus on accomplishments and how you contributed to the employer rather than on your duties and responsibilities. And quantify those accomplishments whenever possible.
- If you’re a new college grad, a two-page resume is acceptable if you have a lot of internships and other work experience, although many employers still prefer to see most new grads with a one-page resume.
You can find lots more suggestions, tools, and helpful advice about resume preparation in this section of Quintessential Careers: Resume and CV Resources.
