Written by Beverly A. Kahn, Founder/President, CEO of New Dimensions in Technology, Inc. (NDT)
The traditional rule that a résumé must fit on a single page is being seriously questioned as the hiring landscape evolves. Historically, career centers and placement offices have emphasized brevity, especially for college students, advising that a condensed one-page résumé is sufficient. However, this guideline is increasingly outdated, particularly as artificial intelligence (AI) now screens most résumés before a human ever reviews them.
Key reasons why the one-page limit should be reconsidered:
- AI Screening Changes the Game: When bots are the initial résumé reviewers, optimizing for their algorithms—rather than human convenience—becomes more important. The rationale for keeping everything on one page, such as accommodating busy hiring managers, becomes less relevant.
- Complex, Modern Career Paths: Many job seekers, especially those with several years in the workforce, have increasingly diverse experiences and skills. A single page rarely does justice to this complexity. Including a professional summary or elevator pitch at the top can quickly grab attention and more fully represent your qualifications, much like a book jacket entices a reader.
- Marketing Tool Mentality: Your résumé is not just a list of jobs; it’s a marketing tool designed to genuinely pique the interest of the reader. Limiting yourself to one page can handicap your ability to convey your complete value—this is especially true for students and professionals with diverse achievements through school, internships, or projects.
- Evolving Resume Formats: In 2025, the preferred format remains reverse chronological, but adding a section for quantifiable achievements, robust skill lists, and tailored professional summaries has become critical.
While elite fields like finance and consulting often still expect a crisp, one-page CV for junior candidates, most industries are shifting toward allowing additional space for relevant content, especially as stand-out achievements and skills become vital to pass AI filters and impress hiring managers.
In sum, while strategic simplicity remains important, it’s time to recognize that the strict one-page résumé rule is no longer universally applicable—especially in the age of algorithmic screening and more complex individual stories