Fitting content on a page
See when your resume runs onto an extra page, fit it back with one click, or tighten text size, density, margins and content yourself.
Many employers expect a one-page resume, or two pages at most. Hireway tells you as soon as your content runs past the pages you planned, and can tighten the design for you until it fits. This guide covers the automatic fit and the changes you can make by hand.
Know when content runs over
Your layout has a set number of pages (one, unless you add more; see Arranging the layout). When the content needs more than that, three things show it:
- A warning above the first page says how far it runs over, for example "Runs onto page 2 by about 6 lines", next to a Fit to one page button.
- A dashed amber line with the page number marks where each extra page begins.
- The zoom bar at the bottom of the page shows the total number of pages.
The Fit button in the zoom bar (it shows a percentage after you zoom in or out) only zooms the page to fit your screen. It doesn't change your resume.
Fit it automatically
Select Fit to one page in the warning (it reads Fit to 2 pages, Fit to 3 pages and so on when your layout has more pages). Hireway tightens the design one step at a time and checks the result after each step:
- Density: Roomy, then Normal, then Compact.
- Margins: Wide, then Normal, then Narrow.
- Text size: half a point smaller each time, never below 9 pt.
If your density or margins are exact values from Advanced rather than one of the presets, Fit goes straight to Compact or Narrow for that step. It stops as soon as everything fits and tells you what it changed, for example "Fits on one page: Compact, narrow margins, 10 pt". Select Undo in that message, or press ⌘ Z (Ctrl Z on Windows and Linux), to reverse the whole fit in one step.
If the content still doesn't fit at 9 pt, the message says so ("Still 2 pages at 9 pt. Hide a section or shorten entries."). At that point, trim the content itself.
Tighten the design yourself
You can make the same changes by hand in Design, and go further in Advanced:
| Change | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Smaller text | Type → Text size | 10–11 pt reads best. Below 9 pt, Check mode flags the text as too small. |
| Tighter lines and spacing | Type → Density | Compact saves the most space. |
| Smaller margins | Page → Margins | Narrow saves the most. Check mode flags margins below 8 pt. |
| Exact values | Advanced → Typography and Advanced → Page | Line height below 1.15 is flagged by Check mode. |
| Narrower sidebar | Template → Sidebar → Width | Gives the main column more room on two-column templates. |
| A different template | Template | Some templates fit more on a page. The thumbnails show your content, so compare how full each one looks. |
See Customizing typography and Choosing paper size, margins and language for details.
Trim or rearrange the content
Design changes only go so far. A resume that fits because its content is focused reads better than one squeezed into small type.
- Shorten entries. Cut filler words, keep measurable results, and aim for three to five bullet points per job.
- Hide what doesn't help. Hide older or less relevant entries and sections from the page without deleting them; see Editing entries and Managing sections.
- Put short sections in columns. Skills, languages and interests take less height in two or three columns; see Arranging the layout.
- Plan a second page. If two pages are acceptable, add a page and move less important sections onto it, so page one holds your strongest material. The warning then counts two planned pages.
If your resume will only be read on screen, the Free-form paper format makes each page as tall as its content, so nothing ever runs over. See Choosing paper size, margins and language.
Related guides
- Checking your resume: Check mode flags small text, tight margins and other issues.
- Undoing changes and version history: go back to an earlier design.
- Exporting your resume: download the result as a PDF.
Arranging the layout
Move the sidebar left or right, change its width, move sections between columns and pages, split sections into columns, and control page breaks.
Applying custom styles
Write CSS rules that change how your resume PDF looks: pick an element on the page, style it, and learn what the PDF engine supports.