
How to Write a Resume According to Science in 2023
How do you write a resume? With so many conflicting opinions out there, we’ve set out to find the ultimate answer to this question.
Can a resume be two pages? Or should you always make it shorter? The best answer: if your relevant and eye-popping achievements can’t fit on one page, write a 2-page resume.
Submit a too-short resume, and they won’t think you’re worthy.
But—They won’t read a too-long resume.
What do you know? Don’t worry. There’s a quick way to know how long to make your resume.
In this guide:
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Connor Franz
Graphic Designer
Personal Info
Phone: 405-543-7278
E-mail: connorzfranz@gmail.com
ConnorFranz.com
linkedin.com/in/connorzfranz
twitter.com/connorzfranz
Summary
Engaging graphic designer with 8+ years of experience. Seeking to delight clients at Maximum Woolf. At Argy Bargy, led production in design firm with annual revenue of $2M per year. Slashed production costs 18% in 6 months with strong Agile and Scrum skills. Raised client transactions 20% and client satisfaction 25% through improved communication.
Experience
Senior Graphic Designer
Argy Bargy Inc.
2013–Present
Graphic Designer
Kibula Graphics
2011–2013
Education
BA Graphic Design, Oklahoma State University
2005–2009
Portfolio
www.ConnorFranz.com
Clients
Hard Skills: Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, print, web, mobile, layout, typography
Soft Skills: creativity, leadership, communication, interpersonal skills, problem solving
Connor Franz
Graphic Designer
Personal Info
Phone: 405-543-7278
E-mail: connorzfranz@gmail.com
ConnorFranz.com
linkedin.com/in/connorzfranz
twitter.com/connorzfranz
Projects
App Design
Web Design
Coffee Table Book Design
Awards and Honors
Volunteering and Freelancing
Certifications
Conferences
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.
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:
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:
Hold up.
A 2-page resume is different from a 1-page resume.
Use these tips for the right resume format:
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.
Will the hiring team read your two-page resume?
Most don’t.
So—
Give them a reason, with an attention-grabbing career summary.
Include:
These 2-page resume examples show how:
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.
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:
Look how these two-page resume examples do it:
The job ad wants these skills: (1) leadership (2) Agile (3) training (4) communication.
Experience
Senior Graphic Designer
Argy Bargy Inc.
2013–Present
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:
Technical Skills | Soft Skills |
MS Office | Interpersonal Skills |
Google Drive | Communication |
SEO | Collaboration |
Graphical Skills | Time Management |
Enterprise Systems | Organization |
Programming Languages | Problem Solving |
Research | Leadership |
Quickbooks | Critical Thinking |
Writing | Detail Oriented |
Presenting | Creativity |
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.
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:
Education
BA Graphic Design, Oklahoma State University
2005–2009
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.
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.
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:
These two-page resume examples show how:
Portfolio
www.ConnorFranz.com
Clients
Projects
App Design
Web Design
Awards and Honors
AIGA
Certifications
Conferences
Additional Activities
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.
Too long?
Always shorten an overstuffed 2-page resume.
Cut out:
Here’s how to cut a two-page resume to make it stronger:
Let’s say the job ad wants leadership, training, and communication.
Experience
Senior Graphic Designer
Argy Bargy Inc.
2013–Present
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.
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.
For a 2-page resume worth reading:
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!
At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.
How do you write a resume? With so many conflicting opinions out there, we’ve set out to find the ultimate answer to this question.
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Your resume is ready and you’re about to hit that “send” button. One last look and… you’ve realized your address is missing. Oh no! Or wait… do you actually need it at all?