A One-Page resume captures the most critical points of your work history and skill set without revealing everything; done right, it will leave recruiters wanting more. Direct your writing toward a skill focused resume and leave a lasting impression with hiring managers.
A 90-10 Rule
When a potential employer is deciding on the best candidates to bring in for an interview, they are looking for resumes not to keep. Recruiters give, on average, an eight to ten second look at a resume but never more than 30 seconds. When inundated with applicants, they are not looking for the top 10% of qualified candidates for a position; they are eliminating the poorly written resumes of the unqualified 90%. To make the interview cut, draft a stand-out resume that is easily navigated. Getting to the point and streamlining your resume will improve the likelihood of getting noticed.
Content
Every one-page resume should include:
- Contact Information: Your full name, cell phone number, email address, city and state of residence.
- Introduction: A summary stating top qualifications or a career objective with goals.
- Work Experience: Beginning with your latest job title, list an overview of your career history with bullet points describing accomplishments.
- Role-relevant skills: A simple bulleted list of your best hard and soft skills.
- Education: A brief mention of any relevant degrees, including institutions you attended, or certifications you’ve earned.
- Keywords: Applicant tracking systems scan for resume keywords. Be sure to optimize their use.
Conversely, leave out huge fonts, funky theme fonts, color, paragraphs (other than a concise Objective) and personal references.
It’s All About Presentation
Fine tuning your One-page resume is all about presentation. After listing the contact information, you should lead with a direct objective of why you are the right choice for your potential employer’s position. Research the position being offered and direct your introduction toward that end.
If you can highlight your skills and accomplishments on one page without leaving out key details, your foot is in the “proverbial” door. A well drafted, to the point, resume should leave a recruiter with more questions than answers. Consequently, your diligence may just land you the most important interview of your career.
Dive Deeper: The Ultimate Guide to Resume Skills: What to Include and How from TopStack Resume.
