Cutting down your past job experiences, freelance projects, skills, and awards so they fit onto a 1-page resume might seem impossible. However, self-editing is critical if you want a recruiter or hiring manager to remember your resume for the right reasons.

In the United States, 1-page resumes are standard. For more seasoned executives, a 2-page resumes are acceptable. Regardless of your career level, though, 3-page resumes are always too long.

Generally, your best resume length depends on which career stage you’re in. As a rule of thumb, entry-level and some mid-level professionals should have a 1-page resume while senior-level employees can justify listing their experience on two pages.

In the sections to follow, you’ll learn why a 3-page resume is too long and how to edit your resume down to a single page before you send it off to recruiters.

Why is a 3-page resume too long?

3-page resumes are too complex and time-consuming. When recruiters pick up your application materials, you want to make sure your resume is as succinct and easy to consume as possible. If your resume is too long, hiring managers might not spend too much time reviewing your application, and won’t know which areas to focus on.

Additionally, long, winding resumes look cluttered. When you have too much content in your resume, recruiters might question your judgment when it comes to prioritizing relevant information.

Likewise, once your resume spills onto a third page, there’s a good chance you didn’t cut irrelevant information from pages one or two. If your resume doesn’t clearly show how your previous work experience relates to the job you’re applying for, hiring managers might question your commitment to the profession.

If the person reviewing your resume can’t draw a clear line from where you’re coming from to where you’re going, there’s a problem.

To avoid having a 3-page resume, consider uploading it to the tool below. It offers personalized insights on optimizing content for a concise and impactful resume.

How many pages should your resume be?

Generally, the best length for your resume is based on your career level. Here are some guidelines to help you determine how long your resume should be according to your seniority and experience.

Students and entry-level job seekers

Whether you’re still in school, just graduated, or have only been in the workforce for a year or two, stick to a 1-page resume. This is the standard for new professionals, and most recruiters for entry-level positions will expect to see a 1-page resume. Otherwise, it’ll look like you don’t know how to prioritize data and edit your accomplishments.

Mid-level professionals

Even once you’ve become a mid-level professional, a 1-page resume is best. However, having your resume overflow onto a second page is acceptable at this stage in your career.

If you have enough relevant work or freelance experience, include a second page to showcase the jobs that make you the most qualified candidate for the job.

Senior-level professionals

Once you reach senior-level status, you likely have a lot of work experience under your belt. At this point in your career, having a two-page resume is more common. This is especially true if you held many different titles as you grew in your profession.

However, having a one-page resume is also fine. If you’ve held a few positions for a long time and can describe them concisely, keep your resume to one page.

How to shorten your resume

Adjust the layout and formatting

Is your resume format costing you precious space? Here are some practical ways you can adjust the layout to get everything to fit in one or two pages:

• Trim your contact information so it fits in a single line on top of your resume.
• Only use one or two bullet points to list your accomplishments for each job entry.
• Shorten your summary to two or three sentences or nix it altogether.
• Reduce your font size to 10 or 11, but don’t go any smaller than that.

Cut irrelevant skills and experience

Also, make sure you’re only including information on your resume that directly relates to the job you’re applying for. If you still need to shave down your resume, cut from your “Volunteer Work,” “Hobbies,” or “Skills” sections unless they’re absolutely relevant.

Trim down your reducation

Next, revisit your “Education” section. When you’re short on space, this isn’t the time to list every extracurricular you were involved in during undergrad. Unless you’re a current student or a recent graduate, make sure you only list:

• Your degree
• When you attended
• The college or university’s name
• Any awards or honors you received

Use a resume template

If you still need help with finding the best way to format your resume, get inspiration from our template library. Plug your information into one of our 20+ templates, and you’ll have a resume that’s readable by applicant tracking systems (ATS) in no time.

Use AI to check your resume for fluff

For even more support, run your completed resume through our targeted resume checker. This free tool uses AI to analyze your resume and make sure it’s optimized for the job you’re applying for.

Examples of how to shorten your resume

Shortening sections of a resume is a crucial skill, especially when trying to fit your most relevant experiences and skills into a concise format. Here are some specific examples of how to effectively shorten various sections of a resume:

Work Experience

Before Shortening

Marketing Coordinator, ABC Company, January 2018 - Present
• Spearheaded the development and execution of integrated marketing campaigns to increase brand awareness and sales.
• Led a team of four to manage social media accounts, resulting in a significant increase in followers and engagement across all platforms.
• Coordinated with external vendors for the production of marketing materials, ensuring brand consistency and timely delivery.
• Analyzed market trends and customer feedback to inform marketing strategies, contributing to a more targeted and effective approach.
• Organized and executed promotional events, including product launches and trade shows, which boosted customer engagement and generated leads.

After Shortening

Marketing Coordinator, ABC Company, January 2018 - Present
• Orchestrated integrated marketing campaigns, resulting in a 20% increase in brand awareness and a 15% boost in sales; also managed social media, leading to a 50% follower growth and doubled engagement.
• Coordinated with vendors for marketing materials and analyzed market trends, maintaining 100% brand consistency and enhancing marketing strategy effectiveness by 30%.
• Organized promotional events, including product launches and trade shows, which increased customer engagement by 25% and generated 40% more leads.

Education

• Before Shortening: "Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, XYZ University, Graduated 2018. Courses included Modern American Literature, Creative Writing, and Literary Analysis. Active member of the English Literature Club and Volunteer Tutor for the English Department."
• After Shortening: "B.A. in English Literature, XYZ University, 2018. Key courses: Modern American Literature, Creative Writing."

Skills

• Before Shortening: "Skilled in a variety of software including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Photoshop, and basic HTML coding. Experienced in social media management and content creation for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter."
• After Shortening: "Skills: Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Basic HTML, Social Media Management."

Summary/Objective

• Before Shortening: "Dynamic and results-oriented marketing professional with over five years of experience in digital marketing, specializing in social media strategy, content creation, and brand management. Seeking a challenging position to leverage my skills in a fast-paced environment."
• After Shortening: "Marketing Professional with 5+ years in digital marketing. Expertise in social media strategy and brand management."

Certifications

• Before Shortening: "Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute, completed 35 hours of project management education and passed the PMP exam in 2020."
• After Shortening: "PMP Certified, Project Management Institute, 2020."