How to Write a One-Page CV: Format & Templates

Should a CV be one page or two? It’s a question that divides recruiters and job seekers alike. But the truth is, there’s no one size, or page, fits all approach. For some candidates, a one-page CV is best. For others, a two-page CV might be much more recommended.

Read on to clear all the doubts regarding a one-page CV and write it with ease.

In this guide, you'll get a one-page CV template you can use. You'll also find the answer to the most common questions: Should a CV be one page? Read on to understand how to make a one-page CV and no longer.

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Writing a CV after a long time? These guides might help:

• Before writing your CV: a good CV outline
• Extra activities to put on any CV
• How to describe work experience on a CV
• How to list your education degree on a CV
• Key tips for successful CV writing
• Personal statement: how does the good one look?
• Top font choices to consider for your next CV
• What should your CV look like in 2023?

Now, let's head to the perfect one-page CV template:

One-page CV template

Should a CV be one page?

This is where it gets confusing for most job seekers. Some experts are adamant that one page is best. Others say two pages is the only way to go. Even the research that’s been carried out into the question has conflicting findings.

Some cite the now infamous ‘six second CV’ study that stated recruiters only spend six seconds on average reading each job application that crosses their desk. This it’s claimed is proof positive a CV should only be one page. How else could it be read in six seconds.

Another survey of recruitment professionals showed they mostly preferred two-page CVs. And an earlier study showed a near 50/50 split. Suffice it to say, it’s inconclusive. The truth is, the ideal CV length depends on you, the candidate. Here’s how to decide.

Should a CV be one page or two?

One-page CV

Choose a one-page CV if you’re a student, school-leaver, or new graduate. It’s best when you’re applying for entry-level roles and also ideal for people with less than five years of professional experience. 

The advantage of a one-page CV is that it presents everything in one glance, and you don’t put the recruiter off side with unnecessary content that wastes their time. But in some cases, a two-page CV will be better.

Two-page CV

Write a two-page CV if you’ve got 5 or more years of experience. This is particularly relevant to more senior/managerial positions and in technical roles where more detail is required. 

For candidates with long work histories of 10 years or more and exceptional accomplishments, it’s even possible to stretch to three pages. Write an academic CV or a medical CV and it could be even longer. 

But for most candidates we recommend you err on the side of caution and stick to the one or two-page CV rule.

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

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How to make a one-page CV

So now you know if you need a one-page CV or not. But the hardest part can be trying to get it to fit. Most people get it badly wrong and end up with a CV that’s one page, but barely readable, and that’s not the look you’re trying to achieve. You need to create a one-page CV template that’s attractive and easy to read.

Let’s take a look at how to write a one-page CV properly:

And for your CV skills section, 5–10 skills is ideal, ensuring that they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for.

1. Add the right contact details

If you want to make your CV one page, you need to cut out the fat and only include what’s necessary. Add some much-needed space leaving out your postal address on your CV in your personal details. It’s completely unnecessary when sending your CV electronically. Instead, add your phone number, an email address, and a link to your LinkedIn profile or alternative professional social network.

2. Condense your CV summary

Make your CV summary 3–4 lines in length at maximum. Use it as a brief introduction to your CV instead of elaborating on your vast work experience, skills, and qualifications. It will also help you to instill some curiosity in a recruiter and encourage them to study your CV further.

3. Put a limit on work history

If you’re a more experienced candidate, you don’t need to include absolutely every job you’ve ever had. A good rule of thumb is to limit your work history to the last 10-15 years. Leave a comprehensive history on your LinkedIn profile, but limit it on your CV. Have six bullet points at most for each entry in your work experience section, using fewer bullet points for jobs further in the past.

4. Add only relevant additional sections

We always recommend that you include additional sections in your CV such as languages, hobbies and interests, and projects. But they should only be included if they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for. That is, if they actually add to the argument that you’re an ideal candidate. If it’s not relevant, feel free to leave it out.

5. Leave out your references

There’s also no need to include references on your CV unless specifically requested to do so. The same goes for including the phrase ‘references available upon request’. That’s taken as a given. Don’t waste that precious CV space on it.

6. Use a compact font

The best CV fonts are the classics such as Times New Roman, Arial, Tahoma and Garamond. But when it comes to creating a compact one page CV layout not all fonts are created equal. Let’s take a look at those fonts side by side to compare them.

All four examples are the same size, 11 pts. And from top to bottom the fonts you see are Arial, Tahoma, Times New Roman and Garamond. But Garamond clearly takes up the least space due to its typographical design. So a simple font change can make all the difference.

7. Choose a suitable template

It’s tempting to just choose the first free CV template you come across. But the problem is, they’re often unwieldy to use. Try to customise or alter an average template for Word and you’ll usually struggle to keep the CV format intact.

That’s why we recommend you use a LiveCareer CV template and make use of our CV builder. All you need to do is enter the content and the builder does all the heavy lifting for you, keeping your layout perfect. In addition, all of our templates are perfectly optimised and expertly designed to give recruiters what they need.

We even have a specially created one-page CV template.

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It’s the easiest way to make a perfect 1-page CV. Though it’s worth pointing out it’s ideal for making a 2-page CV as well.

In turn, here are some strategies you should definitely avoid if you want to keep your CV short and concise:

One-page CV don’ts 

• Don’t shrink your font size. Stick to 11–12 pts and be kind to the recruiter’s eyes.
• Don’t shrink your page margins, one inch on each side is best.
• Don’t remove the spacing between CV sections. A continuous block of text is difficult to read.
• Don’t omit any of the standard CV sections. Every CV should include a summary, work experience section, education section and skills section as a minimum.

Your aim is to maintain a generous amount of white space. It’s the empty space on a page that helps to frame your content and it’s been proven to improve readability for users. Particularly when read on a screen like the vast majority of job applications are.

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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And that’s it, thanks for reading. If there’s anything else you’d like to know about how to write a one page CV or you’re still wondering whether your own CV should be one page or two, please ask in the comments section and we’ll be happy to help.

How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with Livecareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.