How Long Should My CV Be?

A CV for a job should be between one and three pages long, depending on your relevant professional experience, career level, and skills. One-page CVs are most common internationally.

But don’t run off just yet. There’s a science to the perfect CV length. Imagine this.

You send out your 1-page CV, the hiring manager takes one look, “hmm, too short, probably lacks experience.” Your CV gets deleted.

You send out your 2-page CV, the recruiter takes one look, “hmm, too long, won’t waste my time.” Your CV gets deleted. 

So how long should your CV be to have the employer say “yes, this is it!”?

When it comes to creating a winning CV, you need to strike a balance between showcasing your hard and soft skills in a way that clearly demonstrates your suitability for the role.

So how long should your CV be?

Unless you’re applying for an entry-level position, two pages are widely considered to be the perfect length for a CV.

However, that’s not to say writing a two-page CV should be your goal. Always strive to incorporate only the most relevant facts. If you can communicate all the key information in a single page, that doesn’t mean you’ve written a bad CV (although it may signify that you lack the necessary experience for more senior positions).

How about longer CVs?

Even if you have decades of experience, recruitment experts generally recommended you detail the most salient points within two pages, up to a maximum of four pages if needed. Academic CVs are the only common exception.

In addition, an overly long CV is likely to do you more harm than good. In short, if you can’t sum up your skills and experience in a concise manner, don’t expect to be invited for an interview.

Tips for reducing CV length

Found yourself with an eight-page CV that you’re struggling to edit down? These top tips should help you separate the vital information from the unnecessary:

Write a concise personal profile

A short, sharp personal profile is an effective way to communicate your key skills and ambitions in a couple of brief sentences. Don’t fall into the trap of telling your professional life story – at best it’ll be ignored, at worst it could dissuade a hiring manager from reading on.

Cut down on duplication

Duplication isn’t your friend when it comes to writing a concise CV, so don’t lapse into repeating yourself. Concentrate on making a point and moving on, rather than attempting to convince through repetition.

Limit your experience to the past decade

The more experienced you are, the more you can include on your CV. But there’s little benefit to detailing the specifics of a job you held 20 years ago just focus on your past ten years of experience, then summarise previous positions by company, job title, and time in employment.

Looking for more advice on creating a winning CV and cover letter? Consult a professional CV Expert today for more tips.

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