StructureFeb 23, 2026·4 min read
One page or two? The honest rule
One page until you genuinely can't — usually somewhere past ten years of relevant work.
One page for most
New grads through mid-career almost always fit one tight page. Two pages of thin content reads as padding; one page of strong content reads as focus.
When two is fair
Ten-plus years, or a deep technical/academic record with real publications or patents, can justify a second page. The bar is genuinely having more that matters — not wanting to include everything.
Cut by relevance, not by age
Trim the bullets that don't map to this job before you trim old roles. A 15-year-old role that proves the exact skill can stay; last year's irrelevant one can go.
Never spill to 1.2 pages
A resume that runs a few lines onto a second page looks unfinished. Tighten to one, or fill the second properly.