How Long Should a CV Be?
One page if you are a student or in your first few years of work. Two pages for most people with more experience. Academic and research CVs can run longer. There is no fixed law here, so what matters more is whether every line earns its place.
A simple guide by career stage
- Student or recent graduate: one page.
- Up to about 5 years of work: one page, or two if the second page truly adds to it.
- 5 to 15 years of work: two pages.
- More than 15 years, or a senior role: two pages is still enough for most people. Older jobs can shrink to one line each.
- Academic, research or medical roles: as long as your record needs, since a complete list of work is expected.
Countries differ somewhat. In the US, many people keep resumes to one page early on. In the UK, two pages is a common standard. In Germany, two or three pages may be fine, and other documents often go with it. If an ad gives a limit, follow it exactly.
Don't count pages, count relevance
A one-page CV full of filler is worse than two pages of useful detail. Test each line with one question: would this help someone decide to interview me for this job? If the answer is no, remove it, even if you are proud of it.
Your first page does the most work, so put your best material there. Someone who likes that page will turn to the next one. Someone who doesn't won't.
How to cut a CV that's too long
Work through these in order. Most people reach their target before the end of the list.
- Cut jobs older than about 10 to 15 years down to a title, employer and dates, unless they matter for this role.
- Delete any bullet that only restates your job title.
- Remove your full home address, references and “available on request”.
- Merge small items. A row of six short courses can become one line.
- Shorten the long lines, using the examples below.
- Only then adjust the layout: slightly smaller margins, or a tighter template.
Before Was responsible for preparing and sending out the weekly report to the management team every Friday afternoon.
Better Sent a weekly sales report to 5 managers, flagging stores below target.
Before Sales Assistant, city-centre clothing store, 2014 to 2016, with 4 bullets about daily tasks.
Better Sales Assistant, city-centre clothing store, 2014 to 2016.
Before Courses: Excel Basics, Excel Advanced, Intro to Data, Data for Managers, SQL 1, SQL 2.
Better Courses: Excel (advanced), SQL, and data analysis for managers.
What if it's too short?
A short CV is fine. Half a page of honest work at the start of your career is better than a stretched one. If you do need more, add real material before changing the layout:
- A project from your studies or your own time
- Volunteering, or an event you helped run
- A course or certificate related to the job
- Results on the lines you already have, which can add one good clause each
Layout details that affect length
- Use a font size you can read comfortably when printed. Around 10 to 11 points is common for body text, and going much smaller to fit more rarely helps.
- Avoid a final page with three lonely lines. Either cut them, or add enough to make that page worthwhile.
- Put your name on the second page, in case it is printed.
- Send a PDF so that your page breaks stay where you put them.
- Avoid tables and text boxes that hide content. Simple layouts with real text are easier for both software and people to read.
One CV, or several lengths?
Keep a long master version for yourself, in a private file, with every job and detail. For each application, copy it and cut to what fits. You can then write freely in the master without worrying about length, and you will never lose an old achievement that turns out to matter later.