You need that internship—and your resume is your first opportunity to make the right impression. But how long should your resume be? Is one page really enough? What if you need more space to showcase your experience? These one-page resume tips will help you present your qualifications clearly while maximizing impact.
Does Resume Length Really Matter?
In short: yes. Most hiring managers prefer concise, relevant resumes—especially for internships and entry-level roles. For students, a one-page resume is the ideal format. It shows you can communicate effectively and prioritize what’s most important.
However, there’s no universal rule. If you have extensive relevant experience, a two-page resume may be acceptable. The key is relevance and clarity.
What to Include on a One-Page Resume
For college students or recent grads, include:
- Relevant coursework
- Volunteer and leadership roles
- Internships or part-time jobs
- Honors, awards, and academic achievements
- Key skills (e.g., software, languages, certifications)
Avoid clutter. High school experiences can be included early in college but should be phased out by senior year—unless they’re highly relevant.
How to Make Everything Fit on One Page
If you’re struggling to fit everything onto one page, try the following strategies:
- Remove outdated or irrelevant experiences
- Shorten bullet points
- Eliminate filler words like “a,” “an,” and “the”
- Reduce font size (without sacrificing readability)
- Adjust margins and line spacing slightly
- Combine similar sections (e.g., “Work Experience & Leadership”)
If you’re just a few lines over, these edits should help. But if you have truly valuable and relevant content that exceeds a page, it’s okay to spill into a second page—as long as it’s well-organized.
When a Two-Page Resume Is Acceptable
If your resume includes:
- Multiple internships or jobs in your field
- Research, publications, or certifications
- Technical skills and training
- Volunteer work that adds value
…then a second page might be necessary. Be sure the second page includes your name and “Page 2,” and try to fill at least 75% of it to maintain visual balance.
Use Common Sense
Always keep your audience in mind. Hiring managers want to see qualifications that match their needs. If you can do that on one page, stick with it. If cutting information weakens your pitch, use two pages—but only when necessary.
Conclusion
These one-page resume tips are designed to help you focus on relevance, clarity, and professionalism. A short, well-structured resume is easier for hiring managers to scan—and more likely to make an impact. Tailor your resume for each opportunity, showcase your best work, and remember: it’s not about length—it’s about value.