# Fitting content on a page (https://docs.hireway.dev/docs/design/fitting-content-on-a-page)

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 [#know-when-content-runs-over]

Your layout has a set number of pages (one, unless you add more; see [Arranging the layout](/docs/design/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.

<Frame caption="The warning above the first page, with its Fit button">
  <img
    src="/images/guides/fitting-content-on-a-page/overflow-chip.webp"
    alt="Above the first page, the label Page 1 next to an amber warning reading Runs onto page 4 by about 35 lines and a button labelled Fit to 3 pages"
  />
</Frame>

<Frame caption="An extra page is marked with a dashed amber line">
  <img
    src="/images/guides/fitting-content-on-a-page/page-boundary-marker.webp"
    alt="The bottom of page 3 and the top of an extra page 4, separated by a dashed amber line labelled Page 4, with the Projects section at the top of page 4"
  />
</Frame>

<Frame caption="The zoom bar at the bottom of the page shows the page count">
  <img
    src="/images/guides/fitting-content-on-a-page/zoom-bar-page-count.webp"
    alt="The zoom bar with a minus button, a Fit button, a plus button and the text 4 pages"
  />
</Frame>

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 [#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:

1. **Density**: Roomy, then Normal, then Compact.
2. **Margins**: Wide, then Normal, then Narrow.
3. **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 <kbd>⌘</kbd> <kbd>Z</kbd> (<kbd>Ctrl</kbd> <kbd>Z</kbd> 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 [#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](/docs/design/customizing-typography) and [Choosing paper size, margins and language](/docs/design/selecting-page-format) for details.

## Trim or rearrange the content [#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](/docs/editor/editing-entries) and [Managing sections](/docs/editor/managing-sections).
- **Put short sections in columns.** Skills, languages and interests take less height in two or three columns; see [Arranging the layout](/docs/design/arranging-the-layout#show-a-sections-entries-in-columns).
- **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.

<Tip>
  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](/docs/design/selecting-page-format#free-form-one-long-page).
</Tip>

## Related guides [#related-guides]

- [Checking your resume](/docs/checking/checking-your-resume): Check mode flags small text, tight margins and other issues.
- [Undoing changes and version history](/docs/editor/undoing-changes-and-version-history): go back to an earlier design.
- [Exporting your resume](/docs/sharing/exporting-your-resume): download the result as a PDF.