One-page resume
The one-page resume isn't a constraint, it's a forcing function. The pressure to cut is exactly what makes the surviving content stronger.
Fit one page by cutting older roles to one line each, removing the skills wall, dropping the hobbies section, and tightening every bullet by ~30%. Don't shrink the font below 10pt or the margins below 0.6in — both signal you couldn't make the call.
What to cut first
In order: (1) the 'References available on request' line — wastes a line, assumed already, (2) hobbies that aren't directly relevant, (3) GPA if you graduated more than 5 years ago, (4) high school education for anyone past their first job, (5) certifications that don't map to the target role. These five usually free up 15–20% of the page on their own.
Compress old roles, don't delete them
Roles older than 10 years should usually compress to one line each (title + company + dates). Deleting them creates suspicious gaps; compressing them shows experience without using space. Group them under 'Earlier Experience' if you have more than three.
Tighten every bullet
The average bullet on a too-long resume has 30% filler — 'responsible for,' 'served as,' 'worked closely with,' 'effectively communicated.' Cut those phrases and the bullet usually drops a line. Apply this pass to every bullet and you'll usually free up another 20% of the page.
Replace the skills wall
A 'Skills' section that takes a quarter of the page is usually a quarter of the page wasted. Replace it with a single line of inline skills under your summary or merge the skills into the role bullets where they're proven by context. Keep a small Skills line at the top for ATS keyword matching, but don't let it sprawl.
What not to do
Don't shrink the font to 8pt to fit. Don't shrink the margins to 0.4in. Don't delete the white space between sections. Don't use 1pt line spacing. All of these signal that you couldn't make the call to cut, and the resulting document is hard for both humans and ATS to read.
Side by side
Cut the hobbies section, compressed three pre-2018 roles to one line each, removed 30% of every bullet's filler, and ended at exactly one page with normal margins and 11pt font.
Shrunk the font to 9pt, the margins to 0.5in, and the line spacing to 1.0 — fits one page but reads as desperate and parses badly.
Mistakes that get this wrong
- Shrinking font below 10pt
- Reducing margins below 0.6in
- Deleting old roles instead of compressing them
- Keeping the 'References available on request' line
- A skills wall that takes a quarter of the page
Cut the obvious filler first (references, hobbies, old GPA), compress old roles to one line, tighten every bullet by ~30%, and keep your font at 10–11pt with normal margins. If you can't fit it after that, you have a real two-page resume.
Frequently asked
What's the smallest font I should use?
10pt for body, 14pt for headings. Anything smaller signals desperation and is hard to read on a phone screen, which is where many recruiters skim now.
Can I use 0.5in margins?
0.6in is the minimum that looks balanced. 0.5in is fine if you absolutely have to, but 0.4in or smaller looks crowded.
Should I cut my oldest roles entirely?
Compress, don't delete. A one-line 'Software Engineer, Acme Corp, 2010–2012' is more honest than a hidden gap.
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