Two Page Resume—Examples and 25+ Writing Tips

Submit a too-short resume, and they won’t think you’re worthy.

But—

They won’t read a too-long resume.

But how do you know?

Don’t worry.

There’s a quick way to know how long to make your resume.

In this guide:

• When can a resume be two pages?
• A 2-page resume sample that fills your voicemail box.
• How to write a two-page resume they’ll notice.
• How to shorten your resume if it’s too long.

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Two-Page Resume Sample You Can Copy and Use

Should you write a two-page resume? See our guide: How Long Should a Resume Be? One-Page Resume vs Two Page

Looking for resume samples for your career? See our resume examples for every profession.

Can a Resume Be 2 Pages?

A two page resume is OK if you can't cut it shorter without hurting the message. Professionals with lots of experience in technical professions often need a two page resume. 

So, yes it can.

But—

Not always.

Write a 2-page resume if:

1. You’ve had the same job title for 7+ years or
2. You’ve got so many blistering achievements they won’t fit one page and
3. All your great achievements match the job you want.
4. You are going to use it to apply for grad school, scholarships, or positions in acadamia (although technically you'd use a CV not a resume).

Expert Hint: Can you guarantee that anywhere they look, you’ll blow their minds? Then write a two-page resume.

Here’s how to write a 2-page resume that works:

1. Choose Your Two-Page Resume Format

Hold up.

A 2-page resume is different from a 1-page resume.

Use these tips for the right resume format:

2-Page Resume Format

• Start with reverse-chronological resume formatting.
• Put your contact info on both pages.
• Pick one of the best resume fonts like Georgia or Cambria.
• Add 1-inch margins and white space. Nobody wants two pages of fine-print.
• Use these core resume sections: Heading, Objective, Work Experience, Education, and Skills.

Expert Hint: Save your resume in the PDF format. PDFs stay legible no matter what device they’re viewed on. Bonus: ATS hiring software can parse them. But not all resumes are ats friendly: check out our list of ATS-friendly resume templates that are guaranteed to make it past the bots. 

2. Write a Two-Page Resume Summary

Will the hiring team read your two-page resume?

Most don’t.

So—

Give them a reason, with an attention-grabbing career summary.

Include:

1. An adjective (engaging, talented)
2. Your job title (graphic designer, engineer)
3. Years of experience (8+, 10+)
4. Who & how you’ll help (delight clients at Maximum Woolf)
5. Best 1–2 achievements (slashed production costs 18%...)

These 2-page resume examples show how:

Two-Page Resume Examples—Summary

Compare.

The first of those two-page resume examples says who you are and how you’ll help.

The second is hot air.

Expert Hint: Write your 2-page resume summary after you’ve written the rest. It’s easier to write a summary when the rest is finished.

3. Tailor Your Two Page Resume Job Description and Skills Section

This is so important.

Anyone can write a 2-page resume.

But why should employers read it?

The answer:

Because everything in it matters to them.

So—

Tailor your resume to their needs.

Here’s how:

1. Find the resume keywords in the online job offer.
2. Put those resume skills in your job description.

Look how these two-page resume examples do it:

The job ad wants these skills: (1) leadership (2) Agile (3) training (4) communication.

2-Page Resume Examples—Experience

Wait...

The second of those 2-page resume examples lists the “training” keyword.

But—

It lacks details. The first says “15 new hires” and shows specific subjects.

Here are the most wanted resume skills to start:

Key Resume Skills

Expert Hint: A 2-page resume needs hard skills and soft skills. Soft skills work for any job. The right technical skills are different for each job opening.

4. Turn Boring Education to a Reason to Hire You

Where does the education section go in a 2-page resume?

After work experience.

But if you want them to remember you—

Add additional achievements.

These 2-page resume examples show how:

Two-Page Resume Example—Education

That’s great.

Achievements make that 2-page resume sample stand out.

Expert Hint: Are you writing an academic resume? You can write a two-page resume for academic purposes if you’ve got two pages of relevant projects.

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.

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Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now.

5. Add “Other” Sections to Your Two-Page Resume

Argh.

Your resume is 1.4 pages.

That’s not good.

A 2-page resume should be more than 1.5 pages. If not, add more text or cut it to one page.

But consider this:

Adding “other” sections to a two-page resume can get you interviewed.

You can add sections for:

• Clients
• Projects
• Volunteer work
• Freelancing
• Conferences
• Professional associations
• Licenses and certifications
• Awards & honors
• Groups or clubs
• Publications
• Portfolios
• Exercise
• Additional activities
• Interests

These two-page resume examples show how:

Two-Page Resume Examples—Other Sections

No contest.

The first of those 2-page resume examples drops jaws at every bullet.

Expert Hint: Learn how to write a cover letter to send along with your two page resume. Use it to show your passion for the job. The hiring team will read your resume with extra interest.

Shorten Flabby Two-Page Resumes

Too long?

Always shorten an overstuffed 2-page resume.

Cut out:

• Repetitive accomplishments
• Items that don’t match the job
• Things this employer doesn’t care about
• Weak achievements that just take up space

Here’s how to cut a two-page resume to make it stronger:

Let’s say the job ad wants leadership, training, and communication.

2-Page Resume Examples—Cutting

That’s drastic.

But—

Cutting “extras” makes the important parts of your resume stand out.

Expert Hint: Not sure whether to cut your two page resume down to size? Look at each bullet as if it’s the only one. Will it wow this employer? If not, lose it.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

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Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

Expert Hint: Not all Free Resume Builders are ATS friendly. To make sure your creative resume reaches a human reader, send it directly to the recruiter's inbox.

Key Points

For a 2-page resume worth reading:

• Use the 2-page resume template up top. It wastes no space on filler.
• Write a two-page resumeif you’ve got too many mind-blowing achievements to fit a single page.
• Put your contact info on both pages. That way they’ll know it’s you, even if the staple fails.
• Include a cover letter with your two-page resume. Nearly half of all employers insist on them.

Got questions on how to write a great 2-page resume? Only worked for three years, but still think you need a two-page resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!