How to Make Your Resume Fit on One Single Page (15 Quick Tips)
Unless you’re a senior level manager, executive, or you've got one of those jobs where licenses and certifications are required, you may not need a second page for your resume. A one page resume is enough.
You might look at your resume and feel that everything there is crucial and can’t be deleted.
Let’s get real though!
If your resume is two or more pages, you’re not making a serious effort to write a tailored and concise application. In this article, you'll learn how to create an effective one page resume. We'll also share some great templates for one page resumes from Envato Elements and GraphicRiver.
Should a Resume Be Only One Page?
Young professionals talking. (Image source: Envato Elements)
There’s no simple answer to this question. The perfect resume length depends on your professional situation.
Only professionals with more than 10+ years of experience or lots of certifications and achievements should have a two-page resume. Entry level candidates and even those with a few years of experience under their belt, can benefit from writing a concise single page resume.
According to data from a CareerBuilder Survey of more than 5000 employees and HR professionals, 66% of employers say entry-level applicants should use a one page resume. But 77% claim that more experienced workers should have at least two pages in their resume.
Think of your resume like a movie highlights reel. Only the best action scenes are included to build hype and intrigue people into watching the movie.
Of course, it’s hard to believe how you could benefit from a one page resume when you’ve been accustomed to a two page resume. Below are several benefits of using a single page resume:
A single page resume stands out because most applicants send two pages or more.
Your achievements and qualifications are easier to spot on a one page resume because there’s less stuff to read.
Many recruiters, especially those hiring for entry level jobs, claim they don’t read past the first page of an application.
15 Quick Tips: How to Fit Your Resume on One Page
It’s true, both students and professionals add more qualifications to their resumes today. There are more awards, self-study courses, internship projects, software skills, and extra-curricular activities available today compared to a few years back.
Unfortunately, it’s also the sheer number of these experiences that makes it hard to cut your resume’s length. Below are 15 tips that'll show you how to make your resume one page:
1. Use Smaller Margins
Don’t be afraid to play with the margins of your resume file. The default margin in MS Word is one inch or 2.54 centimeters on all sides. If you reduce that just a tiny bit, you can squeeze in more information on your resume.
If you’re not sure what the ideal margin size is, try adjusting all the sides to 0.5 inches while keeping the bottom at 0.65 inches. Continue adjusting the margin size until you find a combination that’s just right.
Make sure you save your resume in PDF to preserve the margins of your resume when it’s printed.
2. Try Creative Resume Formats
Try using double columns or different resume layouts to fit more information into one page. For instance, use a two-column format with a small right-hand side column where you can fit your skills and other contact information.
The resume template below has a creative format that makes full use of a three-column layout without making the one page resume look squished.
Here are some creative resume templates you can consider when shortening your resume:
Wondering how to make a one page resume? That’s easy: use smaller fonts.
"Use a smaller font for your headings and the main text in your resume. Most resume writers recommend starting with 12 point font, but you can shrink it to a minimum of 10 point if need be", says Austin Belcak, Founder of Cultivated Culture, a website that helps applicants get jobs even if they don't have a referral.
The important thing is that your resume is still readable without zooming in.
If the text looks too compact, try adjusting the line spacing so it’s easier to read. Consider the two examples below for a comparison.
Resume sample: Georgia Size 10, single spacing
Resume sample: Georgia Size 10 but with 1.15 spacing
4. Use Bullet Points
Use bullet points instead of paragraphs. Write in short sentences, up to two lines at the most. Use keywords, numbers, and power words to come up with punchy statements without fluff.
5. Consolidate Contact Information
Combine all your contact information in one line and don’t put your whole address anymore. There’s no need to have a separate line for your email, phone, and address because you’re not writing a business letter.
6. Create Quadrants to Divide Your Resume into Sections
People will generally read your resume from left to right. That means a lot of the space in the right-hand side of the page goes to waste.
The infographic resume template below makes excellent use of quadrants to divide the resume into different sections and maximize margin space.
7. Reduce the Size of Your Contact Information and Address
Some people think this part of their resume needs to look fancy and attention grabbing. It doesn’t. If a recruiter wants to contact you, they'll find this information. But until that happens, they’re only focused on your qualifications.
Don’t waste the limited space on a one page resume on your contact information. Just make sure your name and primary job title are slightly bigger than the rest of your resume, and then use a smaller size for the rest of the text. You can even use a slightly smaller size for the contact details because it’s not as important as your job experience and skills.
8. Use Multi-Purpose Lines
Look for opportunities to combine information into one line, such as your address and contact information, or your listed skills. Another example is combining your job title, employer’s name, and employment duration in one line instead of two.
Here’s one creative example for executives on how to get resume to one page:
9. Use Numerical Figures Instead of Spelling Them Out
Numerical figures occupy less space compared to the spelled-out version. Numbers also grab attention, so it’s a good way to draw a recruiter’s attention to certain parts of your resume.
10. Remove Repetitive Bullets
Use three to five bullets at most as a way to force yourself into selecting only the best skills and accomplishment for each role.
A quick way to do this is to remove tasks where you didn’t excel. You should also remove repetitive mention of the same task because the recruiter doesn’t need to read this many times. For instance, if you had customer service tasks at all your three jobs, only mention this skill at the company where you won an award or have a notable accomplishment.
11. List Only Self-Explanatory Awards
Don’t list awards that you need to explain for recruiters to appreciate. Recognition for sales, productivity, client satisfaction, customer service, are self-explanatory. Awards for innovation, best agent, or top performer need explanation. They would probably take more space.
12. Remove Unnecessary Information About Your Education
Only fresh graduates need to include their graduation year on a resume. Working students can benefit from including their high school information. But that’s no longer needed once you get your degree.
Those who have a few years of employment under their belt need no longer list their graduation year. Just write the degree you've got and where you got it. Employers want to make sure that you've got a degree, that’s all.
If you're a new graduate, though. You may want to feature your education a bit more. Here's an article to help with that:
Remember, a resume summary is supposed to summarize your best qualities for the job. It shouldn’t have more than five lines for an introduction or 10 plus bullet points. If your resume summary is this long, there’s a chance that the recruiter won’t read through all of it because it’s obvious you didn’t bother tailoring it to the position they’re filling.
Trim your resume summary to three lines of text and five to seven bullet points max. Read the tutorial below for a complete guide on how to write a resume summary that works for a single page resume.
The resume summary and contact information don’t need headers of their own. It’s obvious what they are so you don’t need to waste a few lines on them. If you've got volunteer and corporate experience, you can also combine this into one section to save space.
15. Use Acronyms Wisely
Use industry-accepted acronyms for tasks related to your job. For instance, write “P&L” instead of profit and loss statement to save space. “R&D” is also a completely acceptable replacement for research and development.
Don’t use this technique for skills and licenses though. The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) some employers are using might search for the whole phrase and not just the acronyms. You don’t want your application to be ignored just because you want to save space.
How to Quickly Make a One Page Resume in Word (With Templates)
You've just learned how to make your resume fit one page. Now it's time to learn how to use a template for your one page resume.
You can create a simple resume template yourself by using Microsoft Word. But that might take hours of inserting tables, columns, and headers. Instead, you've got hundreds of options when it comes to easy-to-edit MS Word Resume Templates on Envato Elements.
Let's take a closer look at how to fit a resume on one page using this template:
1. Write Your Name and Job Title
Select the correct text box then fill it out with your information. In the example template below, that’s the name and job title.
Tip: You can also save space by removing the box allocated for the picture and replacing it with other information.
2. Write a Summary
Use a small font and a combination of two to three paragraphs and up to five bullet points if there’s not enough space in the box allotted for your summary.
Here’s what it looks like on the template:
And here’s what it looks like using bullet points:
3. Remove Unnecessary Elements to Save Space
In this case, remove the text box for the location of each job entry. Combine the lines for “Position Held” and “Your Company” (Employer’s name) to save space.
Unless your degree is specialized, combined or need any explanation, you can also remove the text box for the education section.
4. Revise Sections to Fit Your Needs
These templates have a section for “Certificates.” But feel free to revise that section header to “Continuing Education” to include seminars, licenses, or other qualifications. If you don’t have anything to list that could be considered as continuing education, use this section for awards or another job entry.
Just rename the header name to the appropriate title and revise the boxes below to include the information you would like.
5. List and Rate Your Skills
Choose 10 skills, preferably a combination of technical, job-specific, and soft-skills. Write them on your resume grouped according to the skill type, then rate yourself on a scale of one to five.
Do you want to use another template for your resume? Check out this post to find more one page resume template designs:
Top 5 One Page Resume Templates From Envato Elements
As mentioned earlier, Envato Elements is one of the best places to find top quality one page resume templates. The templates from Envato Elements have modern designs and can easily be customized to fit your style.
Some of them also include a matching cover letter as well as a business card design. So, you get the complete package to wow potential employers.
Here are some of the best one page resume templates from Envato Elements to build your resume in 2021 and beyond.
This resume template has a grid-based layout and four different quadrants to make organizing the information easy. Edit the template in Photoshop and Illustrator. It was designed in A4 size.
Try this resume template if you’re looking for a clean resume that’s easy to edit. With Illustrator, Photoshop, and Word versions, you can easily customize this template in the program you’re most familiar with. The template also has well organized layers and comes with a complete list of fonts used.
This resume template is perfect if you’re looking for something completely customizable. The template comes in three different color versions. It includes a resume template as well as a matching cover letter. You’ll also find a list of fonts and a help file.
Here’s another clean and simple resume template that fits on a single page. Edit this template in Illustrator and Word. Add your information, customize the colors, and change fonts. The template comes in A4 size.
Where to Find the Best One Page Resume Templates in 2021 (Envato Elements vs GraphicRiver)
Both Envato Elements and GraphicRiver have modern one page resume templates with high-quality visual designs. But which marketplace should you use: GraphicRiver or Envato Elements? And what are the key benefits of each?
1. Key Benefits of Envato Elements
Envato Elements is a premium subscription marketplace that gives you unlimited creative assets for a single monthly fee. That’s a pretty attractive offer.
Download as many resume templates as you need, as well as other design templates: web templates, fonts, add-ons, and graphic assets. There’s no shortage of quality resume templates with on-trend designs available on Envato Elements:
GraphicRiver is the best digital marketplace for buying single-use graphics and visual assets. It’s part of the Envato Market suite of online marketplaces that cater to various creative needs.
If you need a resume template, to send right now, then head over to GraphicRiver to find and buy the perfect resume template. Here are the best resume templates that are currently trending on GraphicRiver:
Resume templates on GraphicRiver
3. Your Choice (What’s Right for You?)
If you’re working on many projects or serving many clients with different design needs, then Envato Elements offers a great bang for your buck. Sign up for Envato Elements now.
But, if you need a single resume template or another creative asset to download right now, then head over to GraphicRiver (or another Envato Market site) to find what you need.
More Awesome Resume Templates
One page resumes are great if you’re just getting started. But if you’re a seasoned professional or if you need more pages, there are plenty of other resume templates on our marketplaces. Check out the articles below to see even more great resume template designs.
Creating a great resume isn't easy. Luckily, we've got plenty of tutorials to help you out. Learn more about creating a great resume with these tutorials:
Should a resume be only one page? There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the right resume length. It all depends on your job history and whether you’re exploring a new career in a different direction.
If you do need a one page resume, remember that it’s totally possible to squeeze in all the important information in your once two-page resume into a single page resume. You just have to get creative in your formatting and design and get selective about the information you include. The tips listed above on how to make a one page resume should help.
Editorial Note: This tutorial was originally published on March 28, 2019. It's been revised to make it current, accurate, and up to date by our staff—with special help from Brenda Barron.
Original Link: https://business.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-shorten-resume--cms-33021
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