5 ways to get your resume to 1 page

Taking “Best Practices” and making them “How-To’s”

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a hundred times – “your resume should be 1 page!” The problem is; that’s where the advice ends. Everyone seems to agree that a resume should stick to 1 page, but an actual guideline for what to edit is still missing

Here are 5 tips as part of our “1 page resume guideline” that will take you from knowing your resume needs to be shorter to actually making your resume shorter.

1. How big is the font? If the answer isn’t 10, make this change now… font size ’10’. If you’re already ahead on this one, take it down to 9.5. It might seem like a small concession but in reality it could save you 2-3 lines of valuable space.

2. Do you have an objective or summary at the top? I get it, it can be tough to tell your story through a resume, but using an objective or summary is a DOUBLE NEGATIVE! Not only does it take up prime resume space, but you’re also holding yourself to a specific position or background. It can box you in and land in the dreaded “no” pile

3. Save the Personal Interests for Social Media! You’d be shocked how many resumes include a section at the bottom of personal interests. I’m all for building a relationship and getting to know a person, but the bottom of a resume isn’t the time or the place.

4. Stop equally dividing bullet points under each job! Your most recent position should have 5-8 accomplishment-based bullet points. That doesn’t mean all the jobs on the resume deserve the same real-estate. The further back the job in your career, the fewer bullet points it should have describing your accomplishments (2-3 tops). The more jobs you have, the less space you’ll have for bullets so make sure to save the majority for your most recent positions.

5. Spacing, spacing, spacing. There are so many little ways to save a line here, or a line there on a resume that can really make a difference. Here are a few quick hacks:
   1. For Contact Info, put your email and phone # on the same line (instead of 2)
   2. For Skills, list them on one line using commas instead of multiple lines with bullet points
   3. Instead of double spacing between sections, try single spacing after inserting a “line break”
   4. Leave off employment from pre-graduation / non-relevant experience to the job

 Tried all 5 tips and still over a page? Here are a few more hints…

• Put your best foot forward (lead with your strengths on top)
• If it’s not relevant to the job you’re applying to… leave it off!
• Assess each line of the resume looking for “wasted space”

I’d love to connect about this if you’re still having trouble or want to share feedback. Here are the best ways to get a hold of me and I promise you’ll hear back within 24 hours!!

• Send me an email (jpickering@psgstaffing.com)
• Give me a call 617-250-1078 (that’s my direct line)
• Or, if you happen to be on our website, chat in and tell the operator you’re looking for me and 1 page resume advice. They will help us connect!