Can a Resume Be Two Pages? (Guide to Resume Length + Examples)

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Table of contents

Why Is a Resume Usually One Page Long?
Can a Resume Be Two Pages?
How to Write a Two-Page Resume
How to Shorten Your Resume
Sample Two Page Resume
Key Takeaways
Resources to Help With Your Job Search

There are so many questions that come up when working on a resume, and not all of them have a straightforward answer. Can a resume be two pages long? You'll hear different things depending on who you ask. That's why our guide is here to help you get to the bottom of your resume-length questions!

Our guide will walk you through:

Why a resume is usually one page.
When a two-page resume is appropriate.
How to make the most of your resume's space.

Want to build a resume that makes the most of its space? Our AI Resume Builder will generate a concise, expertly formatted, and neatly styled resume based on your input. The best part? It's finished in minutes!

Why Is a Resume Usually One Page Long?

You've probably heard the conventional advice that your resume should be a single page long — no more, no less. While this is true, it isn't the whole story. First, let's look at why the general advice is to write a resume that's just one page:

Scannability: A single-page resume ensures readability. Recruiters, hiring managers, and applicant tracking systems (ATS) can scan it quickly, making your qualifications and experience effortlessly understood. For an AI-friendly resume, a single page is the safest bet.
White space balance: In a similar vein, a resume is more appealing and easier on the eyes when the whole page looks balanced. Leftover empty white spaces or formidable walls of text make your document less reader-friendly. Accomplishing the right white space balance means both managing the length of your resume and being mindful of your formatting choices. This is important no matter how long your resume is, but it's often easier to achieve with a single page.
Conciseness: It's not all about the page length! In a way, the page length is also a tool to help you strike the right chord with your resume writing. A truly effective resume isn't wordy. One page of space is a neat guideline to help you get to the point and say what you mean without getting bogged down with unnecessary details. For most early career candidates, sticking to a one-page resume is a helpful rule of thumb to ensure the content of your resume is concise and easy to digest.

Can a Resume Be Two Pages?

Now, let's get down to the big question. Can a resume be two pages? Yes. But it's not that simple. A resume can be as many pages as you want it to be, but it's more important to ask how long a resume should be.

Generally, a resume should fall between one and two pages. For most workers, a single-page resume is the ideal target, but there are plenty of great reasons to fill two pages. Let's explore them.

Reason #1

You have extensive experience

Sometimes, it's as simple as needing more space because your career has been longer. If you're a mid-career or senior-level professional with years of relevant experience, then it makes sense that your resume needs more space. Just try not to go over two pages. Typically, two pages is the maximum length that employers expect for a mid-career or senior role. However, senior-level executives, federal government positions, and some highly technical roles allow more.

Reason #2

You've worked many short-term jobs

If you've worked as a freelancer, contractor, consultant, or another employment style where your work history is longer and includes more details than a typical resume, it makes sense that your resume would be longer. Because freelancers take on new clients all the time, it's possible that you've held dozens of roles in just a few years. However, if your resume is longer than two pages, you may have to trim some of your history down to only the most essential jobs.

Pro tip

If you're a freelancer and you're trying to keep your resume succinct, try combining some of your gigs under one experience entry. If you worked in multiple similar roles in a short period of time, combining them can help with your resume's readability and flow.

Reason #3

You're in academia, medicine, science, or law

Making a two-page resume makes sense if you come from an academic background where your experience might include multiple projects on your resume as well as internships or publications. Workers in highly technical fields, like healthcare, might need extra space to describe their proficiency and training. For workers in these kinds of fields, making space for necessary certifications or licenses is essential and may warrant two pages of content.

Reason #4

Your resume includes career gaps or changes

Finally, if you've recently changed careers or have extenuating circumstances that require additional context on your resume, it's appropriate to use the extra space to give employers a complete picture of your career. You can explain your circumstances more deeply when you write your cover letter, but your resume shouldn't skip over gaps or changes.

A brief addition to your experience section accounting for the gap is enough to give employers context. Here's an example:

Full-Time Caregiver to a Family Member
Feb. 2017 – Dec. 2018

Provided dedicated, full-time caregiving support to a family member, addressing essential needs and managing a complex schedule of healthcare appointments during a critical period.
Engaged in self-directed learning, acquiring new skills in digital tools and software to stay up-to-date on industry trends.

Pro tip

Career changes and employment gaps are nothing to be ashamed of, and you don't need to waste resume space apologizing or over-explaining your circumstances. What you do need to do is quickly outline your career path without brushing over changes or gaps. A single line acknowledging a gap on your resume is usually enough to explain that you spent your time wisely and are ready for your next opportunity.

How to Write a Two-Page Resume

Writing a two-page resume isn't very different from writing a single-page resume. In both cases, you'll need to pay attention to your resume formatting choices, pick out an appropriate resume template, and write each individual section with care.

A great resume will always include a resume profile, skills section, experience section, and education. From there, you can always add optional sections like volunteer work or language proficiency.

When making a two-page resume, here's what you need to keep in mind:

Don't drag it out: If you're having trouble filling two pages, it's better to reevaluate whether you'd be better off with just one page. Dragging out your resume's length with wordy descriptions or unnecessary details could hurt your application's effectiveness.
Fill both pages: Extra white space at the bottom of your second page looks unprofessional, so you should fill both pages in their entirety. As long as you keep your resume's formatting consistent and within expected guidelines, it's okay to tweak your font or margins to accommodate your content neatly in two full pages.
Make your important achievements stand out: With two pages of resume to read, it's a good idea to give recruiters a strong sense of your relevant skills and achievements at the top of your resume. Don't bury your selling points. Instead, write a keyword-rich resume summary that captures attention, and ensure that each section displays your qualifications clearly.

How to Shorten Your Resume

Have you come to realize that two pages are more than you need? If so, you might be staring down a 1.5-page resume and wondering what you can do to make it all fit. Here are some tips to help you cut back and make that single page count.

Focus on challenges and outcomes: Listing responsibilities is a common resume pitfall. General job duties can be boring to read and can take up more space than you'd like them to. Instead, break down your experience into specific accomplishments that describe your work's outcome. Use numbers to back up your achievements, and ditch the laundry list of responsibilities.
Trim the fat: Just because you have experience doesn't mean you need to include it all. Trim your resume to just the information that's relevant to the specific role you're seeking.
Reevaluate your education section: Recent graduates often list extras alongside their degrees in their education section, like GPAs, coursework, and scholarships. For an early career candidate with too much resume space to fill, this is a fantastic way to show what you're capable of. But if you've been a part of the workforce for a while, then these details should be phased out to give space to your relevant work experience.
Write for clarity: Finally, try to write each section clearly and simply. Make sure every sentence uses only the words necessary to convey your message and nothing more.

Sample Two Page Resume

Check out this two-page resume example to see how this candidate uses both pages to emphasize key skills and highlight their contributions to previous roles without unnecessary repetition or filler.

Resume example senior business analyst page

Use this template

Key Takeaways

Two pages are fine if you need them

A longer resume isn't necessarily better, but the best resume is one that communicates what you need it to. If you need two pages, that's perfectly acceptable, as long as you use them effectively and pack them with relevant information.
Use it or lose it

If your career is so long and complex that you think one page is not enough to cover it, then make sure you're making the most of the extra space. A great resume minimizes both filler and blank space.
Try cutting back

If you find that you don't need two pages, trim your resume down to just one by cutting irrelevant information, focusing on achievements, and writing for conciseness.

Resources to Help With Your Job Search

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Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.