5 Tips for Writing a Two-Page Resume

Cats vs. dogs. The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones. One-page resumes vs. two-page resumes.

These heavily debated topics have been around for many years, and it seems like everyone has an opinion. A recent study, however, provides some quantitative data for us – at least when it comes to resume length.

A field experiment performed by resume writing service, ResumeGo, took 482 hiring professionals and created an environment where they had to screen resumes for positions of varying levels. These professionals then selected which resumes they would move forward with in the hiring process. It was revealed that of the 7,712 resumes chosen as ideal candidates, 5,375 of them were two-pages in length. Yes, that means recruiters are 2.3 times more likely to select applicants with longer resumes!

While overall two-page resumes performed better, the numbers do vary across the different job levels. For example, entry-level resumes were only 1.4 times more likely to be chosen with a two-page resume, compared to managerial-level candidates who were 2.9 times more likely to succeed with this format.  You can compare the best resume builders on Truely. Fortunately, this may take the pressure off from new graduates applying to entry-level roles to lengthen their resumes, especially since many are starting off with less relevant experience to list in the first place. This is also good news for those that have been in the industry longer. The two-page style allows for a more detailed background of candidates, perfect for those with many years of previous experience.

Here are several reasons as to why two-page resumes may be preferred over one-page resumes:

• First, there is more space to work with. This allows job seekers to add more valuable information that may get left off of single page resumes simply because there wasn’t enough real estate. Use this opportunity to really sell your skills and accomplishments.
• Two-page resumes are also a great way to declutter your information. Instead of trying to squeeze as much as possible onto one page, this will allow you to clean everything up, making it easier for the recruiter to skim.
• Recruiters often have to go through many resumes for one role, so applicants need to be able to stand out at first glance. Using a two-page format will help you do just that. The study revealed that hiring managers will spend twice as long looking at your resume, which only helped when selecting likely candidates.

Formatting your two-page resume:

1. Keep the layout simple. Even professional writers from Resume Writing Services use simple formatting and the good news is that you no longer need to try and fit as much information into such a small space. Hiring managers often have many resumes to look at, so the easier it is to scan, the better. This also helps with any applicant tracking software that may be used. Complicated layouts may throw errors if a computer is trying to read it and the resume may get thrown out before a human can look at it.
2. Put important information near the top of the first page. Contact information is important to have readily available and easy to spot, along with top skills. It is not necessary to have these details on the second page as well. Also, try to make sure that your previous experience begins on the first page. This will encourage the reader to continue on to the second page in order to read more.
3. Be concise. You may have a lot more room to work with, but that doesn’t mean you should write a novel for each bullet point! Keep in mind that you are trying to keep the reader’s attention. Use the extra space to add more accomplishments, not create longer previous job descriptions. Furthermore, if you would like some assistance with writing your resume, reaching out to an experienced team of resume writers and recruitment specialists such as ARC Resumes can help you to keep your resume short and simple. You can learn more about some of the services that they offer on their website here: https://www.arcresumes.com/local/new-york/
4. Set up your pages properly. If you are printing out your resume, do not make it front and back – keep the layout on two separate pages. Computers often break up paragraphs automatically when it’s time to start a new page. Does it make sense when you’re looking at it on your resume? If it is just a few lines off, it is okay to move previous experience down to the next page. It is a good idea to number the pages as well.
5. Keep it relevant. Just because you can submit a two-page resume, it doesn’t mean you have to. Be honest, there is no need to make up skills and experience just to fill the space of a two-page resume.

Popular opinion may have you believe that recruiters and hiring managers prefer one-page resumes over two-page resumes. Research has shown that this is not true! Keep your experience in mind when creating a resume and remember to format it appropriately, no matter which way you decide is best for you. Keep in mind that if you need additional help with your resume, you can always opt for professional resume help from a resume service or career coach.