Your resume stands as the deal maker or breaker in making that first positive impression with a recruiter or hiring manager. As a candidate who is just about to start his/her career, you may feel the pressure to create a resume that summarizes all of your educational qualifications, skillsets, and achievements.

However, the few pieces of paper you present should market you as a qualified professional, albeit being endless or overwhelming. The former Senior Vice President of People Operations at Google, Laszlo Bock, indicated that a one-page resume is sufficient to summarize 10 years of experience.

Recruiters prefer a single-page resume format

What does this tell us? It does signify that as a person starting his/her career, your best choice would be a single-page resume that highlights your skills and qualifications.

Current trends and standards also indicate that recruiters, as well as hiring managers, are more inclined to focus on single-page resumes which highlight the key skills, qualifications, and achievements a candidate has gained in 1 to 10 years of work experience. A single-page resume is being advocated as being a more viable option to help candidates, especially young professionals, land jobs faster. The reasons for this shift can be attributed to the benefits given below.

Easier to highlight the best and most relevant qualifications

Having a single-page resume allows you to note down your best qualifications and skills. Better yet, it allows you to note down those skills and qualifications which are a better match for the job you are applying for.

Easier to visually review

A recruiter/hiring manager would have only a couple of seconds to look through your resume before moving on to the next one. As such, having a single-page resume makes it easier for them to notice key qualifications and skills that match their requirements.

Encourages creativity

Sizing down your resume to a single page would require you to brainstorm quite a bit. With only a single page to highlight all of your experiences and qualifications, you will have to start thinking creatively to utilize the available space to ensure your resume stands out to recruiters and hiring managers. Moreover, it sends a positive message to employers about your ability to focus, prioritize, and highlight the best information about you.

In conclusion, a single-page resume would best benefit job seekers who are either just starting their career or have 1 to 10 years of work experience. A shorter, crisper resume is sure to make a bigger impact with a recruiter/hiring manager; ensuring you get noticed for the role and start your career on a positive note.