Resume
Fact Checked

One Page Resume Templates That Prove Less Is More

Find the best one-page resume templates, examples, and tips to format a concise, impactful resume that stands out to recruiters.

Written by:
Astley Cervania
Edited by:

A one-page resume works best if you have less than 8–10 years of experience, but two pages are fine if everything is relevant. Keep it focused and easy to read. Pick clean, space-saving templates, use narrow fonts, single-line spacing, combined sections, and compact job headers. Cut filler words, highlight measurable results, and only include roles and achievements that matter. Skip graphics and references, and adjust spacing or font size if needed to keep everything neat and impactful. 

If you have less than 8–10 years of experience, you can usually fit your resume onto a single page without losing anything important. 

But if you genuinely have two pages’ worth of relevant experience that helps you land the job, a two-page resume is completely fine. (We cover that in more detail here: Can a Resume Be 2 Pages?

In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to make a one-page resume work. You’ll get: 

  • The best one-page resume templates. 
  • Practical tips for fitting everything onto a single page. 
  • Real examples of one-page resumes across different roles. 

Build your one-page resume using our free AI Resume Builder or check out these guides: 

Best One-Page Resume Templates 

I’ve put together a list of some of the best single-page resume templates out there. Whether you want to use a resume builder like Rezi, prefer to work straight from Word or Google Docs, or you’re a big Canva person, I’ve got a one-page resume for you. 

Simple resume template 

A lot of content fits on this page, but it still doesn’t look cramped. That’s the power of good spacing and a well-aligned layout. Clean, professional, and simple. 

Explore other Free & Basic Resume Templates

Modern resume template 

Breaking up the plain text and putting your job titles and name in a different color really makes your resume pop. The white space also keeps the content from looking too dense. 

Harvard resume template 

We created our own version of the Harvard resume, keeping the original bones but making it more modern and recruiter-friendly. The OG Harvard layout usually starts with the education section, but unless you’re writing a resume with no experience, your work history should always come first. We also added a resume summary to bring it up to date. 

Creative resume template 

If you want to add a little creative flair, this template could be the one. We don’t recommend going overboard with graphics or designs, but the single line of color gives it personality without hurting readability. You can change the color too — my personal favorite is the seafoam green. 

Browse more Creative Resume Templates and Examples

Google Docs resume template 

The five built-in Google Docs resume templates usually need some tweaking to be truly ATS-friendly. That said, the Spearmint template is my favorite. Just remove your full address (city and state are enough), add your LinkedIn and a summary, and move your skills section to the end. 

If you want to make your cover letter here too, check out Google Docs Cover Letter Templates

We also offer a downloadable Google Docs resume template if you want something ATS-optimized. 

MS Word resume template 

Word has a ton of resume templates, but this one stands out. It uses a touch of color to add personality, but it’s still single-column, simple, and ATS-friendly. The job title, company, and dates all on one line really help save space. 

Related reading: 

Canva resume template 

This Canva template (separate from our big list of 25+ Canva Resume Templates) is another Harvard-inspired design. I love the amount of white space around it; it gives the whole resume room to breathe. If you need more space, put your degree and university on the same line, and combine your contact details into one line with a “|”. 

For more ideas, browse the full Canva resume template gallery

LaTex resume template 

Jake’s resume template is a classic for a reason. It’s sharp, minimal, and has a great reputation in the tech and academic world. 

Explore the Best LaTeX Resume Templates for more options. 

Should a Resume Be One Page? 

In short: a one-page resume is ideal, but two pages are fine as long as everything you include truly matters. 

A lot of resume experts will tell you it has to be one page. If it’s two, you might as well not bother even applying. 

Okay — maybe they’re not that dramatic, but they do push the one-page resume agenda pretty hard. 

Honestly, it’s not that big a deal. This Redditor gets it: 

If your resume is just barely spilling onto a second page, you can usually tighten it back to one. But if you genuinely have two pages of relevant experience, especially with 10+ years in your field, that’s completely fine. 

The real question is: Does everything on your resume actually help you get the job? If it does, keep it. If it doesn’t, cut it. Simple as that. 

As Jon Gordon, managing partner at Sheer Velocity, puts it: 

“No matter how long your resume is, make sure every section is focused and adds value. Resist the urge to squeeze in extraneous details just to fill space. A concise, well-crafted resume will always impress over a scattered, multipage document. One page, tailored to the position requirements, is best to make the right impact. At the end of the day, quality trumps quantity.”

Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of a one-page resume: 

How to Format a Single-Page Resume 

Here’s how to format a single-page resume: 

  • Cut filler words, pronouns, and start bullets with strong action verbs. 
  • Use a narrow, professional font (like Calibri or Source Sans Pro), body text around 9–12 pt, headings 14–16 pt, and single or 1.15 line spacing with about 1-inch margins. 
  • Compress sections by grouping certifications with skills or education, listing skills on one line, and condensing job info onto the same line. 
  • Highlight roles, results, and accomplishments that align with the job description, and combine points when they overlap. 
  • Avoid unnecessary elements such as graphics, charts, or references that don’t add value. 
  • Make small adjustments as needed, like tweaking spacing, font size, or templates to keep everything on one page. 

Fitting your resume onto one page comes down to how you write and format your resume. Once you cut the fluff and optimize your layout, everything starts to click. The goal isn’t to cram everything in; it’s to keep your resume relevant and impactful on a single page. 

Best resume format to use 

These formatting rules help you fit more content on one page without hurting readability or ATS compatibility: 

  • Use a space-efficient font like Calibri or Source Sans Pro. (Explore more Best Fonts for a Resume.) 
  • Keep body text between 9–12 pt and headings between 14–16 pt. 
  • Set line spacing to single or 1.15, and margins to around one inch. 
  • Combine sections when possible by listing certifications under skills or education, but use a separate certifications section on your resume if you have several. 
  • List skills in a single line to reduce vertical spacing. 
  • Put your job title, company, location, and dates on one line (our creative and compact resume templates do that already). 
  • Skip graphics and charts that don’t add value or can interfere with ATS parsing. 
  • If your resume still doesn’t fit, slightly reduce spacing or font size, remove section dividers, or try a different font or template. 

Rezi applies these formatting choices automatically using its “Auto-Adjust” button, which brings everything back to an ATS-optimized layout after you’ve made a few tweaks. Davis, a software developer who hated writing and formatting his resume, found that Rezi took most of the stress out of the process: 

Resume writing tips to fit more on one page 

Beyond formatting, the biggest space saver is what you choose to include. Tightening up your content makes your resume stronger and easier to skim. 

  • Drop pronouns and filler words, and start bullets with strong action verbs. For example, “Led a project” instead of “I successfully managed a project.” 
  • Combine bullets that highlight similar skills or achievements. 
  • Focus on measurable results and contributions that clearly match the job description. 
  • Only include roles and bullets that are relevant to the position you’re applying for. 
  • Skip references on your resume. Employers will ask if they need them, and even just writing “references available upon request” takes up valuable space. 

One Page Professional Resume Examples 

You might not think you can fit everything onto one page, but the resume examples below show that it can be done, even for roles that usually feel “too big” for a single page. 

High school student resume 

Don’t worry if you don’t have professional work experience yet. You can highlight transferable skills from part-time jobs, academic achievements, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and school projects on your resume. At this stage, you definitely don’t need two pages. 

Learn How to Put Volunteer Experience on a Resume

College student resume 

Whether you’re a freshman or close to graduating, your college student resume should focus on relevant internships, summer programs, scholarships, study abroad experience, and your GPA (if it’s over 3.5). A one-page format keeps everything focused and recruiter-friendly. 

Relevant guides: 

Nursing resume 

A strong nursing resume highlights relevant certifications, how you prioritize patient care, manage heavy workloads under pressure, and collaborate with your care team. There’s no need to ramble across two pages; a focused one-page resume works best. 

Check out The Best Nursing Skills for a Resume

Teacher resume 

Your teacher resume should showcase your strongest skills, like lesson planning, classroom management, and engaging teaching methods. Highlight your credentials and your ability to create a supportive learning environment. Keep it as organized as your classroom and as concise as your lesson plans. 

Data analyst resume 

In your data analyst resume, emphasize your experience with analytics projects, your time management skills, and your ability to design and maintain data systems. Highlight tools like SQL, Excel, and Python, and how you’ve used them to uncover insights or improve operations. 

Learn How to Use Rezi to Make a Tech Resume

Sales resume 

Focus on your customer service strengths, problem-solving abilities, and interpersonal skills on your resume. Include experience with POS systems, relevant sales tools, and examples of how you’ve supported sales strategy or consistently hit targets. 

Related skill guides: 

Engineering resume 

No matter your engineering discipline, emphasize the tools you use regularly, whether that’s AutoCAD, SolidWorks, MATLAB, or Python. More importantly, show how you’ve used those tools to deliver results or solve real-world problems. 

Check out How to Use Rezi for Engineering Job Applications

Project manager resume 

On a project manager resume, focus on how you’ve managed budgets, timelines, and teams. Call out your communication style, leadership skills, and ability to keep projects moving forward when challenges come up. 

Explore How to Use Rezi for Project Management Job Applications

Architect resume 

Your architect resume should spotlight your portfolio and how your skills translate across different projects. Focus on what’s most relevant to the role you’re applying for, and emphasize tools like AutoCAD and Revit along with the results you helped achieve. 

Accountant resume 

Emphasize accuracy, compliance, and how you support smart financial decisions. Describe experience with reporting, analysis, budgeting, audits, or tax work, and mention the accounting or ERP tools you use most, like QuickBooks or SAP. 

Software engineer resume 

On your software engineer resume, show how you solve problems and build real products. Call out the languages, tools, and frameworks you work with most, plus examples of apps you’ve developed, Agile teams you’ve worked on, or cloud platforms you’ve used. 

Manager resume 

Focus on how you lead people and keep projects on track. Mention how you’ve coached or supported your team, improved workflows, and helped deliver results. 

Check out the 10+ Leadership Styles & How to Choose the Best One for You

Executive resume 

Your executive resume should highlight leadership at scale and the impact you’ve had. Include outcomes like revenue growth, cost savings, team development, and the size of the budgets or teams you’ve managed. 

Chief Marketing Officer

Summary 

Here’s a recap on creating a one-page resume: 

  • Stick to one page if you have under 8–10 years of experience; longer resumes are okay if every detail is relevant. 
  • Include the roles, skills, and accomplishments that directly show your value for the job. 
  • Format smartly with narrow fonts, single or 1.15 line spacing, combine sections where possible, and put the job title, company, location, and dates on one line. 
  • Keep it readable and ATS-friendly by skipping graphics and charts. 
  • Edit ruthlessly: remove filler words, drop pronouns, and start each bullet with a strong action verb. 
  • Leave out references or “available upon request;” they’re unnecessary and take up space. 
  • Fine-tune your layout if needed by adjusting spacing, font size, or trying another template. 

FAQ 

How to write a resume? 

Start with a clean, easy-to-read format; reverse-chronological works best for most people. Add your contact information in a resume header, a short summary, then list your work experience using bullet points with action verbs and measurable results. Finish with your education and skills, and tailor your resume to the job so it’s relevant and ATS-friendly. 

How far back should a resume go? 

In most cases, your resume should go back about 10–15 years. Older roles can usually be cut out unless they’re directly related to the job you want. Hiring managers care most about your recent experience, so keep the focus there. 

What are the best skills for a resume? 

The best skills for your resume are the ones listed in the job description. Prioritize hard and technical skills you can actually prove through your experience. Soft skills are great too, but they’re strongest when they show up naturally in your work history rather than sitting alone in a resume skills list

How many bullet points should be on a resume? 

For most roles, 3–6 bullet points per job is the sweet spot. Senior-level roles can stretch up to 10, but only if each point adds real value. Focus on impact and results, not responsibilities. 

Read more on How Many Bullet Points on a Resume? 

How to write a summary for a resume? 

A resume summary should quickly explain who you are and why you’re a strong fit for the job. Keep it to 2–3 sentences that highlight your role, experience level, and strongest skills. 

If you want help writing yours, use our AI Resume Summary Generator

How to make a resume with no experience? 

If you don’t have formal work experience, focus on transferable skills from school projects, internships, volunteer work, part-time jobs, and extracurriculars. Highlight skills like teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and time management, and show how you’ve actually used them in real situations. 

Learn more in All The Resume Sections You Could Use

When should you use a functional resume?

A functional resume can work if your work history is messy, like when you’re changing careers, have long gaps, or are re-entering the workforce. It emphasizes skills over job titles, with a short work history section. That said, most recruiters prefer a reverse-chronological resume

Astley Cervania

Astley Cervania is a career writer and editor who has helped hundreds of thousands of job seekers build resumes and cover letters that land interviews. He is a Rezi-acknowledged expert in the field of career advice and has been delivering job success insights for 4+ years, helping readers translate their work background into a compelling job application.

Content strategy
Minimalism
Productivity
Ready to build
your resume?

Join over 3 million people who use Rezi to take control of their job search.