The Death of the One-Page Resume?

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We have been advising and assisting clients for the last four years of more, if their background and accomplishments warrant utilizing the space, go for the second page. For people engaged in technology, I’ve even used a vertically split page to highlight, for example, technical language or systems experience and knowledge. The split page allows recruiters and employers to quickly view the applicant’s technical experience and know how, while the right two thirds of the page carries the logistics of where they’ve gained their experience and accomplishments.
Allan Hay,
Career Development Consultant and
Author, Memory Mining, Digging for Gems from Your Past Good Work

Allan Hay of WA 4:38PM March 09, 2011

We have been advising and assisting clients for the last four years of more, if their background and accomplishments warrant utilizing the space, go for the second page. For people engaged in technology, I’ve even used a vertically split page to highlight, for example, technical language or systems experience and knowledge. The split page allows recruiters and employers to quickly view the applicant’s technical experience and know how, as well as, the logistics of where they’ve gained their experience and accomplishments.
Allan Hay,
Career Development Consultant and
Author, Memory Mining, Digging for Gems from Your Past Good Work

Allan Hay of WA 4:34PM March 09, 2011

I'd rather see a two page resume than a one page with a tiny font so crammed with information that it give me a headache. As the average job tenure becomes shorter and shorter the one pager may become a thing of the past as job seekers need to list all past positions. I always recommend that a resume should highlight your experience as it relates to your next position not a blow by blow regurgitation of everything you've ever done.
And I think if an employer rejects you because your resume is longer than one page you probably don't want to work there anyway!
Lisa Correu
AfterSchool Career Workshops

Lisa Correu of MO 3:31PM March 09, 2011

But don't "oversell" yourself! If the employer is looking for someone with deeper and wider levels of experience, you'll need two pages to demonstrate that you're a candidate worth considering. And as you so keenly note, reading a second page today involves little more than scrolling down a computer screen rather than looking at a second sheet of paper.

Rick Saia (PongoResume) of MA 12:56PM March 09, 2011

"Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction."
- Lewis, ImpactInterview.com

Impact Interview of WA 1:40AM March 09, 2011

"Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler." Your content should shape the format, not the other way around. Definitely don't throw out meaningful accomplishments in order to jam everything onto one page. If an item is relevant to a target employer's needs and distinguishes you, it belongs on your resume. If an item fails those tests, cut it. Prioritize what's left according to greatest value to the employer. That's how you make it easy for a reader to quickly and clearly understand what you offer.

Robert Dagnall of CA 5:26PM March 08, 2011

Like anything that is written...if the language is engaging, it will be read. Do not live in fear of the "one-page rule."

Andrew G. Rosen of NY 4:27PM March 08, 2011

This reminds me of Mark Twain's quote: "I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead." I'd like to see job seekers put in effort to get their resume down to one page.
Here's a recent experience with an interview candidate with a 4 page resume:
- In reviewing a candidate's resume, I didn't see the experience I was looking for.
- The candidate told me that the relevant experience was on the last page.
- I then spent the next couple of moments shuffling through his resume, doing the proverbial "needle in the haystack" search for relevant experiences. While I was doing that, I wasn't focused on what the candidate was saying during the interview.
I'm still a big fan of the 1 page resume. And it applies both for new grads and experienced veterans. And no, don't try to squeeze everything in 8 point font. Instead, cut out irrelevant information.
- Lewis, ImpactInterview.com

Impact Interview of WA 4:12PM March 08, 2011

I don't know who invented the one-page myth but it has probably caused more loss of opportunity for job seekers than any other misinformation out there. The career marketing industry has been surveying human resources managers for as long as I have been writing resumes - which is a very long time... and they consistently report that number of pages is low on the totem pole of how they evaluate resumes.
Obviously you can take it too far and write a book that will never be read but cramming everything on one page because you heard it was the rule will never sell you. Resumes are about selling your value and accomplishments and if you need two pages, use them. 99% of the resumes I write are 2 page resumes.
When in doubt, check with an expert.

Julie Walraven of WI 3:11PM March 08, 2011