Go for a two-page resume when you need more space to showcase relevant experience, qualifications, and achievements. This is usually the case for professionals with more than 8–10 years of experience and candidates applying for senior, leadership, and highly technical roles. However, even those with less than 8–10 years of experience may benefit from a two-page format if they have multiple relevant positions, accomplishments, and responsibilities that align with the job requirements.
There was a time when one-page resumes were the standard, but with digital applications being the norm, more employers and organizations are open to two-page resumes—and many even encourage them.
This article clarifies when a two-page resume might serve you better than a one-page resume, provides a breakdown of a strong two-page example, and offers guidance on structuring a two-page resume based on your experience level. You’ll also find formatting tips and free templates to get you started.
Two-Page Resume Example and Why It Works
See below for two-page resume examples and a breakdown of why each of them works. If you’re looking for more samples, check out our resume examples library.
Senior software engineer two-page resume example
Why this two-page resume example works
- Clear career progression and logical structure. A well-defined and easy-to-follow career timeline that showcases growth and increasing responsibilities, making it clear that the candidate is motivated and passionate.
- Detailed work experience. Provides enough depth to convey the impact of each role without overcrowding the page, focusing on relevant roles and accomplishments.
- Impactful project descriptions. Each project highlights tangible achievements, such as system optimizations, cost reductions, and user retention improvements, making contributions measurable and relevant.
- Balanced skills section. Both technical and soft skills convey a well-rounded skill set.
- Tailored to the role and industry. Focuses on outcomes, projects, and skills related to software engineering, matching typical hiring manager expectations for this field.
- Professional formatting. The resume has readable section headers, consistent bullet points, and logical formatting, making it easy for hiring managers to quickly locate key information. Recent and relevant roles include more detailed bullet points, while older positions are summarized concisely, focusing on what’s most directly related to the target job description.
When your resume should be two pages
Deciding if your resume should be one page or two pages is fairly straightforward.
If one page isn’t enough room to include all essential details from your professional background that are relevant to the job description, go for two pages. This is common for those with extensive experience or multiple accomplishments.
Here’s when your resume should be two pages:
- You have over 5–8 years of professional experience with multiple unique achievements to highlight that are related to the job position.
- Your previous roles involved several significant responsibilities, projects, or results that are valuable to the hiring manager.
- You’re applying for senior, managerial, or leadership roles where additional details and context is crucial.
- You’re in fields like academia, research, or heavily technical roles where comprehensive information about your knowledge and professional experience is expected.
- You have additional relevant credentials or certifications that can strengthen your application.
When your resume shouldn’t be two pages
Your resume doesn’t need to be two pages when a single page provides ample space for showcasing your relevant experience, achievements, and qualifications. If this is the case for you, then adding another page will likely lead to unnecessary details or filler content, which can dilute the impact of your application.
If your work experience is more straightforward, and you can easily summarize previous roles, keeping your resume length one-page long is usually the better option.
Here’s when your resume shouldn’t be two pages:
- You have fewer than 5–8 years of professional experience, and your previous roles are very similar without major distinctions.
- You can easily summarize achievements and responsibilities without losing key points or context.
- You’re applying for junior and entry-level (or some mid-level) positions, where one page is enough for showcasing your professional background.
- You’re switching careers and only need to highlight transferable skills or relevant experience from previous positions.
- The target company or industry prefers a one-page resume, e.g., creative and customer-facing roles.
How to Make a Two-Page Resume for Different Career Stages
Here’s a summary of how to approach a two-page resume based on where you are in your career:
- 3–5 years of experience: only opt for two pages when you have notable achievements and experience that require detailed context and directly support the role you're targeting. If you’re only spilling a few lines onto a second page, you’re better off with a one-page resume.
- 5–9 years of experience: use the first page for current and recent roles with strong accomplishments, and the second page for older positions.
- 10–15+ years of experience: focus on the most impactful achievements. Dedicate the first page to recent roles, then use the second page to share a brief overview of earlier positions to emphasize a positive career trajectory.
- Applying for senior, manager, or leadership positions: emphasize your strategic impact, team leadership, and measurable results. Use both pages to highlight projects, team successes, and growth initiatives that demonstrate your fit for senior positions.
- Multiple relevant accomplishments: if you have a range of achievements that align with the role, a second page allows for more detail. Use the extra space to elaborate on key results and successes that strengthen your application.
Dan Khasis, Founder and CEO of Route4Me, emphasizes the importance of a second page, especially for senior roles:
“A two-page resume is critical when the position you seek is of a high rank or [in specialized and highly technical fields.] Most professional information cannot be demonstrated on one page in [such fields] due to the large volume of work projects, methodologies, and leadership experiences. When my company conducts recruitment for team directors, for instance, we hope to see well-formatted two-page documents encompassing all aspects of operations management and cost efficiencies.”
He adds:
“But I have noticed some resumes with two pages adding complete rubbish to fill the space. The second page is only helpful if it's full of closely related and valuable information. New material does not necessarily equal valuable material.”
Bottom line: use two pages only when it adds real value—include details that highlight relevant skills, accomplishments, and leadership impact without adding unnecessary information.
Scenario 1: you have 3–5 years of experience
At this stage, it’s not as common to use a two-page resume.
Still, some of you may have multiple substantial achievements or experience to showcase that require detail and directly support the role you’re applying for. But if your experience mostly fits within a page and only a few lines reach the second, aim to condense your application to one page.
- Use the first page for showcasing your professional work history. Focus on highlighting impactful roles and corporate accomplishments.
- On the second page, you can outline any additional achievements or experience that demonstrate relevant expertise.
- If you have a range of relevant side projects or qualifications, include these on the second page to emphasize professional growth.
Scenario 2: you have 5–9 years of experience
Prioritize showcasing high-impact roles and earlier foundational positions. Focus on relevant achievements and impact across both pages.
- Dedicate the first page to recent roles, highlighting relevant duties and positive outcomes that align with the target job.
- Use the second page for earlier positions that align with the target job description. However, simply provide a concise summary of key achievements and responsibilities.
- Limit details in older positions unless they directly relate to the role. Emphasize major achievements.
- Include additional sections like projects or certifications when they demonstrate relevant industry knowledge.
Scenario 3: you have 10+ years of experience
Two pages should provide you with plenty of room to showcase a well-rounded work history while emphasizing your most recent and relevant career highlights.
- Use the first page for the last 5–8 years of experience, detailing strategic achievements and contributions.
- On the second page, offer a concise overview of earlier job positions, but don’t go further back than 10–15 years unless highly relevant. Include only key titles and results that made a notable difference on the organization.
- Minimize content for older positions unless highly related to the target role. 1–2 bullet points is enough for experience past the 5–8 year mark, but you could also simply just list the job position without bullet points to highlight career growth.
- Include additional sections that show unique qualifications, such as publications with reputable organizations.
Scenario 4: you’re applying for a senior, management, or leadership position
Two pages is usually the standard for senior, management, and leadership job positions. You’ll need to prove your industry expertise, team leadership skills, and strategic contributions that made a measurable impact.
- Focus on showcasing leadership skills and strategic initiatives on the first page.
- Use the second page to list earlier yet relevant projects and accomplishments that demonstrate your track record in driving growth and efficiency.
- Add bullet points underneath previous roles that highlight your individual contribution toward achieving key company goals.
- Focus on high-impact skills in the skills section, relevant to senior-level expectations.
Scenario 5: you have several relevant accomplishments and projects to showcase
Extending to another page is okay when you have multiple details to highlight that provide unique value and closely align with the target role. The second page of your resume is an opportunity to elaborate more effectively.
- Prioritize showcasing achievements with concrete results and metrics.
- Organize the second page in reverse chronological order, but focus on highlighting how each project or outcome you were responsible for matches the job’s requirements.
- Only include what’s relevant. Remove what doesn’t provide unique value or show that you’re capable of addressing specific company needs.
How to Format a Two-Page Resume
This is how to format a two-page resume:
- Start with contact details
- Put the most important details on the first page
- Continue with relevant information on the second page
- Include additional sections
- Fill the second page
Make sure you have a clear structure that keeps your application easy to read. Focus on essential highlights that add depth to your resume.
1. Start with contact details
Your header section, which includes your contact information, is the very first thing that goes on your resume. This belongs at the top of the first page.
If there’s room, it doesn’t hurt to add your name and page number at the top or bottom of the second page of your resume.
2. Put the most important details on the first page
The typical sections that go on the first page include:
- Header section
- Professional summary
- Work experience
- Education (optional)
Capture your most relevant accomplishments and qualifications on the first page of your resume. Prioritize current or recent roles, major achievements, followed by key skills or experiences that match the job requirements.
3. Continue with relevant information on the second page
Here are the sections that usually go on the second page:
- Work experience (continuing from the first page)
- Education
- Additional sections (optional)
- Skills
Add supporting details that reinforce your suitability for the role. This includes older job positions, less critical but still relevant accomplishments, as well as additional sections.
4. Include additional sections that showcase further relevant skills, experience, and achievements on the second page
Additional sections round out your application by showcasing related areas of expertise that weren’t covered in too much detail in your main experience.
Examples of the best additional sections include:
- Certifications
- Projects
- Languages
- Publications
Avoid entry-level sections such as hobbies and interests. These won’t be as important to employers than your professional experience and qualifications. Besides, you’re better off showcasing your interests through related activities.
5. Fill the second page
Ideally, the second page of your resume should be full. This makes your resume look more complete and helps maintain a balanced, professional look than if you were to submit a resume that’s one page and a half.
However, your second page should be organized with meaningful details and not just filler content. Don’t force yourself to add unnecessary details, otherwise it weakens your application.
If you don’t have enough relevant material, consider adjusting the formatting instead by:
- Increasing the font size slightly, but no higher than 12pt for body text.
- Adjusting section headings to a readable size, ideally no higher than 14–16pt.
- Expanding margins modestly to no more than one inch on all sides, yet no less than 0.5 inches.
- Adjusting line spacing to between 1–1.15.
The Best Free Two-Page Resume Templates
Just need a two-page resume template to get started with? Pick from one of our professional templates below. You can simply add another page on top of the first page so that you automatically keep the same professional style and aesthetic.
The standard resume template
The compact resume template
The modern resume template
Summary
Here’s a recap on when and how to use a two-page resume:
- Use a two-page resume when you have more than 8–10 years of experience or multiple roles, projects, and achievements that directly support the target role.
- Prioritize impactful, relevant details on the first page, including recent roles and major accomplishments.
- Use the second page for additional experience and qualifications, such as older roles, certifications, or significant projects that add value.
- Avoid unnecessary sections and details for the sake of filling a second page.
- Format your two-page resume so that it looks professional, clean, and organized.
Even with a two-page resume, never forget that quality beats quantity. A well-organized resume that highlights your most relevant skills and achievements will get you further than a longer application filled with filler content.
FAQs
Can my resume be one and a half pages long?
Ideally, a resume should be one or two full pages long. A one-and-a-half-page resume can look unfinished. If you can fit everything onto one page, keep it there. Otherwise, expand to a full two pages by filling in additional achievements, skills, or experience that’s relevant to the job requirements.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a resume that’s more than one page long?
The biggest advantage of having a resume of more than one page is that you can showcase more experience, qualifications, and accomplishments. This is particularly helpful for senior roles or technical fields requiring detailed information to make it clear that you’re capable of carrying out all core job requirements. The only downside is that either it may not align with the hiring manager’s preferences or if not carefully structured, it can look unfocused and cluttered, reducing its impact. A resume that’s more than a single page works provided it’s well-organized, and every section adds clear, relevant value.
What to put on the second page of a resume?
If you need a second page on your resume, use it to expand on relevant experience and achievements that didn’t fit on the first page. Prioritize the most significant and notable points on the first page, then use the second page to highlight extra details that support your credentials. For example, share specialized projects or extensive work experience that demonstrate relevant skills such as leadership. However, keep it concise and focused—every detail should add value and show why you’re the best fit for the job.
Should my resume always be two pages if I’m an experienced professional?
Not necessarily. Just because you’re experienced doesn’t mean your resume has to be two pages. For example, you might have over five years of experience, but only your current and previous roles are relevant to the job. Or, if your work history is mostly similar, one page may be enough. Often, you can condense your resume to one page by strictly focusing on impactful contributions directly related to the job requirements. Remember, clarity and relevance matter more than page count.
Can my resume be double-sided?
Generally, you should never have your resume double-sided, unless your employer specifically states otherwise. A single-sided format works better for both in-person and online job applications because one, it’s easier to review, and two, applicant tracking systems (ATS) typically only process digital, single-page files.
Are resumes supposed to be one page or two pages?
It depends. If your resume can fit all the essential information on a single page, then your resume should be one page. But if not, and you need another page, then your resume should be two pages. It all comes down to how much space you need to highlight relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.
