Resume length and format questions are among the most frequently asked in job search. Below are direct answers to 15 common questions, optimized for quick reference.
Key Takeaways
TL;DR
Craft a concise, targeted resume that highlights your professional achievements within one to two pages, depending on your career stage and experience level. Prioritize readability with standard 10-12pt fonts and 0.5-1 inch margins, ensuring every word adds value for recruiters who spend mere seconds reviewing your document. Submit your resume as a .docx file for optimal Applicant Tracking System (ATS) compatibility, focusing on recent, impactful experiences that demonstrate clear career progression.
- One page for most candidates. Two pages acceptable for 10+ years experience.
- PDF is the default format. Use Word only when specifically requested.
- Standard fonts and margins. 10-12pt font, 0.5-1 inch margins for readability.
What is the ideal resume length and format?
How long should a resume be?
Most professional resumes should be one page for early-career candidates and two pages for experienced professionals. Recruiters typically spend 6-7 seconds scanning a resume, so prioritize concise, high-impact content that highlights achievements over job duties. Tailor length to career stage and industry complexity.
A resume should be one page for most job seekers with less than 10 years of experience. Two pages are acceptable for senior professionals, executives, or those with extensive relevant experience. Rarely should a resume exceed two pages unless you're in academia or certain specialized fields.
Is a 2-page resume OK?
Two-page resumes are acceptable for experienced professionals with substantial career achievements. Most hiring managers prefer concise, targeted documents, but senior-level candidates with complex work histories can effectively use two pages. Ensure every line adds value and demonstrates clear professional progression.
Yes, a 2-page resume is acceptable if you have 10+ years of relevant experience, multiple significant roles, or extensive accomplishments that directly relate to the position. The key is that every line must add value—padding to fill two pages hurts more than a concise one-page resume.
How many words should a resume be?
Most professional resumes should be one to two pages long, depending on career stage and industry. Entry-level candidates typically need a single page, while mid-career and senior professionals can effectively use two pages. Executive resumes might extend to three pages if warranted by extensive leadership experience.
A one-page resume typically contains 400-600 words. A two-page resume may contain 600-1000 words. Focus on quality over quantity—recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds on initial resume scans, so every word must count.
Should I shrink my font to fit one page?
Never shrink your font below 10-point size to artificially compress your resume. Readability trumps page count for recruiters. Use strategic editing to trim content instead: remove older roles, consolidate achievements, and focus on most recent, impactful professional experiences that demonstrate clear career progression.
No. Never use font smaller than 10pt—it strains eyes and signals you can't prioritize content. Instead, cut less relevant experience, consolidate bullet points, or use a more space-efficient template. If your content truly can't fit, a clean two-page resume is better than a cramped one-page.
How far back should a resume go?
Professional resumes should typically cover the last 10-15 years of work experience. Employers prioritize recent, relevant achievements that demonstrate current skill sets and career progression. For early-career professionals or career changers, including significant roles from the past 15-20 years can effectively showcase professional growth and transferable skills.
Generally, include 10-15 years of work history. Older roles can be summarized briefly or omitted unless they're directly relevant to your target position. For recent graduates, include all professional experience, internships, and relevant activities.
What is the best resume format?
Should I submit my resume as PDF or Word?
Submit your resume as a .docx file to ensure optimal Applicant Tracking System (ATS) parsing and compatibility. PDFs can create formatting barriers for some recruiting platforms. Most modern ATS systems handle .docx formats more smoothly, preserving layout and allowing easier keyword extraction.
Submit as PDF unless the employer specifically requests Word format. PDFs preserve formatting across all devices and operating systems, while Word documents may display differently on different computers. However, some ATS systems process Word files better—when in doubt, provide both.
What file format do ATS systems prefer?
Modern Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) prefer .docx files over PDFs for optimal parsing and keyword extraction. Most ATS platforms can reliably read .docx, .doc, and .rtf formats with minimal formatting issues. Plain text files are also acceptable, but may lose critical visual hierarchy and design elements.
Most modern ATS systems handle both PDF and Word (.docx) files well. Avoid older formats like .doc, .rtf, or .pages. Never submit image-based formats (JPEG, PNG) or highly designed PDFs that flatten text into images—these are unreadable by ATS.
What font should I use on my resume?
Choose Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman in 10-12 point size for maximum readability and ATS compatibility. Sans-serif fonts like Arial project modern professionalism and ensure clean rendering across digital platforms. Avoid decorative or script fonts that can confuse applicant tracking systems and distract recruiters.
Use clean, professional fonts: Arial, Calibri, Cambria, Georgia, Helvetica, or Times New Roman. Font size should be 10-12pt for body text and 14-16pt for your name and section headers. Avoid decorative, script, or uncommon fonts that may not render correctly.
What margins should I use on a resume?
Standard resume margins should be 1 inch on all sides, providing clean readability and consistent professional presentation. Smaller margins (0.5-0.7 inches) are acceptable if you need extra space, but never reduce below 0.5 inches. Maintain white space to ensure visual breathing room and ATS compatibility.
Use margins between 0.5 and 1 inch on all sides. Standard margins (1 inch) provide clean white space and are safest for printing and ATS parsing. You can reduce to 0.5 inches if needed for space, but never go smaller—it looks cramped and may cut off when printed.
Should my resume have columns?
Resume columns work best when designed professionally and parsed correctly by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Two-column layouts can optimize space and highlight key qualifications, but must use standard fonts and avoid complex graphic elements. Most modern ATS platforms can successfully read well-structured columned resumes.
Use columns cautiously. While two-column layouts look modern, some ATS systems struggle to parse them correctly, potentially mixing content from different columns. If using columns, limit them to the top section (contact info/skills) and use a single column for work history.
What are the key questions about resume structure?
What order should resume sections be in?
Standard resume section order prioritizes professional experience, starting with contact info, followed by summary/objective, work history, education, and skills. Tailoring section sequence to your career stage matters: entry-level candidates might elevate education, while senior professionals emphasize professional achievements and leadership roles.
The standard order is: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Work Experience, Education, Skills, Additional Sections (certifications, volunteer work). Recent graduates may place Education before Experience. Career changers may lead with a Skills section.
Should I include a resume objective or summary?
Skip the resume objective and use a professional summary that highlights your top 3-5 career achievements. Modern recruiters want immediate proof of value, not generic career goals. A crisp, results-oriented summary signals you understand professional communication and can quickly articulate your unique professional brand.
Use a Professional Summary rather than an objective. Objectives focus on what you want; summaries focus on what you offer. A 2-4 sentence summary highlighting your experience, key skills, and value proposition is more effective than an objective statement.
Should I use bullet points or paragraphs?
Use bullet points for maximum readability and ATS parsing efficiency. Recruiters scan resumes in seconds, and bullet points allow quick information absorption. Quantifiable achievements, specific metrics, and concise action verbs work best when presented in clean, vertical bullet format.
Use bullet points for work experience—they're easier to scan quickly. Use 3-6 bullets per role, each starting with a strong action verb. Paragraphs are acceptable only for professional summaries or cover letters, not for describing job duties and accomplishments.
Do I need to include my address on my resume?
Modern resumes no longer require a full home address, just city and state. Recruiters primarily use email and phone for initial contact. Include contact information that maintains your privacy while enabling seamless professional communication, focusing on mobile number and professional email address.
A full street address is no longer necessary and may invite bias. Include only your city and state (e.g., "Seattle, WA") to show your location. For remote positions, you can include "Open to Remote" instead of or alongside your location.
Should I include references on my resume?
Do not include references on your resume under any circumstances. Professional recruiters expect references to be available upon request but never printed directly on the resume. Save that space for showcasing your skills, achievements, and professional experience that directly demonstrate your qualifications for the role.
No. "References available upon request" is outdated and wastes space. Employers know references are available when needed. Use that space for accomplishments instead. Have a separate references document ready for when it's requested.
Have more resume formatting questions? Resume Geni's AI-powered builder automatically applies optimal formatting for ATS and human readers.
References
- ResumeGo study of 7,712 resumes found two-page resumes result in 2.3x more callbacks for experienced candidates. ResumeGo Research
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) guidelines recommend one page for early-career, two pages for 10+ years experience. SHRM Resume Guidelines
- Adobe research shows PDF format preserves formatting across 99.8% of devices and systems. Adobe PDF Standards
What related resume resources are available?
- ATS Resume Formatting Guide
- Quantifying Resume Achievements
- Resume Keywords Optimization
- Professional Summary Examples
- Cover Letter Guide