Length follows relevance
A one-page resume can be a strong choice when you are early in your career or when the relevant evidence fits comfortably on one page. It encourages selection and makes the document easy to scan.
A second page can be reasonable when the work history, technical experience, publications, or leadership experience are genuinely relevant. The question is not whether a second page is allowed; it is whether the page gives the reader useful proof.
Cut repetition before reducing type size
When a resume runs long, start by removing old, duplicate, or less relevant details. Combine similar bullets. Give more space to achievements that match the target role and less to work that does not.
Shrinking the font or compressing margins usually makes the page harder to use. A concise resume should still have room to breathe.
Use a role-specific version
The most useful way to control length is to tailor the document. A master resume can hold the complete record; the application version should hold the evidence that advances your case for that role.
If a detail is interesting but not helpful to the reader deciding on this job, save it in the master version.
Sources consulted
This guide is an original synthesis of the following career guidance. Read the source material for its full context.