A one page resume is a popular choice for job seekers who want to make a strong impression quickly. It highlights a person’s most relevant skills, work experience, and education all on a single sheet, making it easier for employers to scan important details fast.
Understanding how to build a clear and effective one page resume can help applicants stand out in a crowded job market. This article introduces the key elements of a successful single-page resume and sets the stage for practical tips and examples.
1) Contact Information at the Top
Contact information is the first thing employers should see on a one-page resume. This section must be easy to find and clearly organized, so hiring managers can quickly reach out. Place your contact details at the very top of the page and use a simple, unstyled format.
Include your full name, phone number, professional email address, and your city and state. Do not add your full street address; for privacy and simplicity, just list your city and state—this is all most employers want to see. Adding a professional LinkedIn URL is also helpful if your profile is updated and matches your resume.
When using resume builders like RoboApply, they auto-format this section to look clean and professional. RoboApply’s AI can also check for typos in your email or phone number, which helps avoid missed opportunities.
Here’s a plain-text example:
Jane Turner
Seattle, WA
jane.turner@email.com
(555) 123-4567
linkedin.com/in/janeturner
Make sure the font size is readable and the spacing is even. Keep this section separate from the rest of your resume—do not blend it into your summary or skills. For more on what contact information to include, see these tips from Indeed about listing your contact information on a resume.
2) Clear Professional Summary
A clear professional summary sits at the top of a one page resume. It quickly tells hiring managers who the candidate is and what they bring to the role. This part should be short, usually 3-5 lines, and focused on the candidate’s top skills, experience, and industry fit. A direct summary helps grab attention and sets the stage for the rest of the resume.
Writing a great summary means using keywords that match the job description. Candidates should pick their top strengths, major achievements, and most relevant experience. Avoid generic phrases. Instead, show value with clear points that speak to the job being applied for.
RoboApply’s AI resume builder helps find and suggest keywords to fit the target job. This means users can craft summaries that pass AI resume checks and get noticed by recruiters. For more guidance, there are helpful breakdowns of what makes a good resume summary and how to pick job-specific details.
Here is a full-length professional summary example you can use or customize:
Experienced marketing professional with 7 years developing and leading digital campaigns in the tech industry. Skilled in content strategy, analytics, and cross-team collaboration. Proven record of boosting brand reach and engagement by over 40%. Eager to bring creative solutions and strong project management skills to a fast-paced marketing team.
3) Target Job Title Included
Adding a target job title at the top of a resume is a simple but effective way to show employers exactly what the candidate is applying for. This makes it clear to hiring managers and applicant tracking systems (ATS) which role is being pursued. By matching the job title to the one in the job posting, candidates can increase their chances of passing initial resume screenings.
A target job title should be visible, directly under the applicant’s name, and match the exact wording from the job ad when possible. For example, if the job is for “Marketing Coordinator,” using that title signals to recruiters that the resume is focused and intentional. This approach can also help keep the resume aligned with both human and automated systems, which is important when many companies use ATS to screen candidates first, as explained in guides like those on how to include a job search target and job title on your resume.
Here is a quick, copy-ready example:
John Doe
Marketing Coordinator
With this style, the job title stands out and leaves no room for confusion about the applicant’s intent. Using RoboApply’s AI resume builder can make it faster and easier to update this section with the right job title for every application. This step is simple, but it can make a real difference in grabbing a recruiter’s attention in a single glance.
4) Relevant Work Experience
Relevant work experience should be at the heart of any strong one-page resume. This section lets employers see if a candidate’s skills and history match what they need. Focus only on jobs and responsibilities that connect directly to the job being applied for, even if some older jobs are more relevant than recent ones.
It is effective to clearly label this section as “Relevant Experience” on the resume. Grouping jobs this way makes it easier for hiring managers to scan and see fit (Indeed career advice). List roles in reverse chronological order, highlighting achievements and numbers when possible.
RoboApply’s resume builder helps users quickly reorder, combine, or rewrite experience entries. With helpful grammar checks and AI suggestions, it updates bullets and descriptions to match job keywords.
Example:
Relevant Experience
Marketing Coordinator, Sunny Tech Co.
Feb 2022 – May 2024, New York, NY
- Planned and launched three digital campaigns, growing web traffic by 40% in six months.
- Coordinated webinars and training events for over 200 attendees.
- Analyzed and reported SEO metrics, leading to a 15% boost in ad conversions.
Keep the bullet points short and focused on impact. Use action verbs and numbers where possible to show results. This makes each line more powerful and makes it easier for hiring teams to spot what matters most (Reddit resume advice).
5) Highlight Key Accomplishments
One page resumes work best when they focus on results, not just job duties. It is important to use specific, measurable achievements that show what the person actually accomplished. This approach quickly tells hiring managers the value a candidate brings, even with limited space.
Use strong action verbs and give facts or numbers when possible. Instead of saying “Responsible for managing a team,” try saying, “Led a team of 7 to complete projects 10% ahead of schedule.” These kinds of statements are easy for recruiters to scan and understand.
Job seekers can use RoboApply to quickly identify their top accomplishments with AI-powered suggestions. RoboApply’s ATS resume score optimizer checks if achievements are clear and measurable, while the grammar checker polishes the details.
For example:
- Increased annual sales revenue by 18% by introducing a new client feedback process, helping the company win two major accounts in 2024.
- Reduced onboarding time by 30% through the design and rollout of an online training system for new staff.
- Managed a $200K event budget, stayed under budget by 12%, and boosted attendee satisfaction scores from 82% to 95%.
Including this type of information makes each resume stronger and more impactful. For more ideas and examples, visit the simple guide to listing accomplishments on your resume.
6) Use Marketable Skills Section
Including a dedicated skills section shows hiring managers what the candidate can do right away. It is essential for a one page resume because it highlights the most relevant and marketable skills at a glance. This makes it easier for recruiters to spot key abilities, especially when they scan many resumes quickly.
Job seekers should choose skills that relate directly to the job they want. It helps to review the job posting and select skills that match the employer’s needs. Strong options often include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and technical abilities, but it is best to be specific.
RoboApply’s AI resume builder helps users quickly identify and insert the best skills for their field. It recommends skills based on the job description and ensures the section is ATS-friendly for better results. This approach is valuable because many employers look for marketable skills like programming, project management, or customer service.
Keep the skills section brief using short lists or bullet points. For example:
Skills
— Project Management
— Data Analysis
— Python Programming
— Verbal & Written Communication
— Team Leadership
— Customer Relationship Management
— Microsoft Excel
— Problem Solving
Tools like RoboApply make it easy to get this section right without using complex formatting or searching for trending keywords yourself. This saves time and makes the resume stand out to hiring managers.
7) Education Listed Concisely
Listing education clearly and briefly helps hiring managers see key facts fast. For a one page resume, only the most relevant information should appear. This means listing the degree, school name, graduation year, and any honors if space allows.
Keep the format consistent and easy to scan. Avoid adding long descriptions about coursework or activities unless they directly relate to the job. Most applicants do not need to include high school once they finish college.
Here is a complete, copy-ready example:
Education
Bachelor of Science in Biology
University of California, Los Angeles
Graduated: June 2023
GPA: 3.7/4.0
Dean’s List, 2021-2023
Applicants looking to save time can use RoboApply’s AI resume builder to format education sections automatically. Using a tool like RoboApply ensures accuracy, readability, and proper style in this important part of the resume. For more tips, see this guide on how to list education on a resume.
8) City and State Only for Location
On a one-page resume, it is common practice to include only the city and state for each work experience or education entry. There is no need to list full street addresses or zip codes, as hiring managers only need general location details to understand employment history or school locations.
Using just the city and state keeps the resume neat and helps save space, which is crucial for a single-page format. According to hiring experts, adding city and state improves credibility and clarity for each role or degree, and is consistently recommended as part of effective resume formatting.
The preferred format is simple: “Company Name, City, State” followed by the job title and dates. For example:
ABC Corporation, Dallas, TX
Sales Associate | May 2021 – April 2024
This approach works for both jobs and schools. If using a resume creator like RoboApply, the AI resume builder automatically follows best practices for location details and formatting, helping users stay organized and meet employer expectations.
9) Readable Font Like Arial or Times New Roman
Choosing a clear, readable font is key for a successful one-page resume. Arial and Times New Roman are two of the most popular options. These fonts are easy on the eyes and commonly used, making your resume look professional and simple to read.
Both Arial and Times New Roman work well with applicant tracking systems (ATS). Recruiters and HR software can easily scan these fonts, reducing the chance of formatting errors. Many job experts agree these types increase readability and look clean on screen and on paper. You can read more about the best resume fonts and why they matter.
A good strategy is to use a standard font size, usually 10 to 12 points, and avoid using script, decorative, or unusual fonts. Stick to regular, bold, and italic styles only for headings or emphasis. RoboApply’s AI resume builder automatically suggests and formats your content in these recommended fonts so your resume passes ATS scans and looks sharp to recruiters.
If unsure, open your finished resume and print a test page or view it on different devices. Confirm everything is clear and spaced well. This simple check ensures your resume is easy to read for anyone reviewing it.
10) Quantify Results and Impact
Hiring managers want proof that a candidate can deliver real results. Numbers and data make achievements clear. Adding metrics to a one-page resume shows exactly how much a person contributed to projects or teams. This makes the impact of their work easy to understand and trust.
For example, instead of saying “Improved sales,” use a more detailed, number-focused phrase: “Increased sales revenue by 18% in six months by launching a targeted email campaign for key clients.” This statement covers the result, the scale of improvement, the time frame, and the action taken—all in one short line.
Job seekers can use RoboApply’s AI resume builder to identify strong bullet points and find ways to add real numbers. Even if exact stats aren’t available, estimating with ranges or percentages works. Check weekly, monthly, or annual reports. Look for percentages, dollar amounts, customer counts, or time saved.
Good quantitative data includes sales growth, cost reductions, time efficiency, team size, or measurable goals reached. Review past job reviews or reports for possible metrics. For more tips on how to add numbers and build a measurable resume, check out this guide on quantifying resume accomplishments.
Frequently Asked Questions
A one-page resume should focus on clear, well-organized content that highlights the most important details. Strategies like using targeted sections, strong formatting, and the right keywords help make a resume easy to read and impressive to employers.
What are the key elements to include in a one-page resume?
A strong one-page resume includes contact information at the top, a clear professional summary, and the target job title. It also lists relevant work experience and highlights key accomplishments. Other useful sections are technical or soft skills and a brief education summary. Tools like RoboApply help ensure these sections are concise and tailored for each application.
How can you effectively summarize your experience on a single-page resume?
Focus on the most recent and relevant experiences. Use short bullet points to describe achievements and responsibilities. RoboApply can help condense your experience by offering job-matching suggestions and flagging unnecessary details, so only the best examples make the cut.
What are some tips for formatting a one-page resume to ensure readability?
Use a clear font, plenty of white space, and headings to separate sections. Avoid long paragraphs by using short statements or bullet points. RoboApply offers templates that are easy to customize and help maintain a neat, professional layout compatible with applicant tracking systems.
Can you provide examples of successful one-page resumes in different industries?
Yes. For example, a marketing resume might focus on campaign results, while a software role highlights project scopes and technologies used. Although industry standards vary, including the main sections like summary, skills, and results-driven experience is key. RoboApply provides template options suited for common fields such as business, tech, and healthcare.
How should recent graduates approach creating a one-page resume with limited experience?
Recent graduates should lead with education, relevant coursework, key projects, internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer work. Skills-based sections can make up for limited work experience. RoboApply gives guidance to maximize impact by highlighting transferable skills and academic achievements.
What strategies can be employed to tailor a one-page resume for a specific job application?
Read the job description closely and match keywords to your skills and experience sections. Rework your summary and bullet points so each item directly relates to the target job. RoboApply helps by scanning job postings, recommending changes, and scoring your resume for fit before you send your application.
