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1-Page vs. 2-Page Resume: Which One Should You Use?

I’ve reviewed hundreds of resumes through The Career Gadget and one of the most common questions I get is:


Should my resume be one page or two?


The short answer? It depends on your experience.

The long answer? Let’s break it down.


🧍‍♀️Ideal Scenarios for a 1-Page Resume


Stick to one page if you’re:

  • A student or recent graduate

  • Switching industries

  • Applying for internships or entry-level jobs


Keep it tight and relevant. A clean, focused one-pager shows you can prioritize and communicate clearly and honestly, that says more about you than 10 generic bullet points ever will.


👩‍💼 When You Should Use 2 Pages


Let’s say you’ve been working for 8–10 years (or more). You’ve led projects, trained teams, and worn multiple hats. Trying to squeeze that onto one page? You’re doing yourself a disservice.


Use two pages to:

  • Show real results and outcomes

  • Include keywords (for ATS scans)

  • Add leadership roles, certifications, or major projects


Just make sure everything supports the job you’re applying for. More space more fluff.


🔍 What Do Recruiters Truly Want?


Truthfully, most recruiters don’t care how long your resume is unless:

  • It’s hard to read

  • It’s packed with filler

  • Or it’s not tailored to the job


Here’s what they really look for:

  • Can I skim this quickly and get the point?

  • Is this person qualified?

  • Does the resume tell a clear story?


Sometimes that takes one page. Sometimes two. It’s that simple.


💬 Candid Insights from The Career Gadget Team


When we built The Career Gadget, we focused on more than just buzzwords. We look at:

  • Structure

  • Readability

  • And yes length


We’ve seen sharp, one-page resumes open doors and two-pagers tossed aside when they were all fluff and no clarity.

🎯 Pro tip: Make your resume feel like one page even if it’s two. Use white space, clean headers, and highlight real accomplishments.


Final Thought


There’s no one size fits all and that’s okay.

But if you’re unsure, remember:

📌 Clarity > Length. Always.


Want Feedback on Your Resume?

At The Career Gadget, we help job seekers craft resumes that actually get noticed no fluff, no guesswork.


We offer:

  • 1-on-1 resume reviews

  • Personalized editing

  • Guidance based on what recruiters really look for


Ready to level up your resume?


📄 1 Page or 2? → The Resume Debate, Solved.
📄 1 Page or 2? → The Resume Debate, Solved.

Discover what actually works and why it depends on YOU.



 
 
 

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