Generally speaking, a CV should be one or two pages long for most applicants. However, the ideal length depends on various factors, ranging from your experience level to the country where you’re applying for a job. Therefore, “How long should a CV be?” is a more complicated question than most people expect.
In this article, we’ll discuss the key things you should know to determine how long your CV should be. We’ll also share some helpful strategies to make a document that succinctly communicates your value as a candidate.
Let’s get started!
Key Takeaways
Depending on your experience level, your CV length should range from one to three pages.
In the UK, Europe, and most of Asia, a two-page CV is considered ideal.
Some factors that influence CV length are experience, industry standards, and readability.
Use bullet points, remove outdated jobs, and tailor your application to the job description to make a concise and effective CV.
You shouldn’t include references, overly personal information, salary history, and photographs in your CV.
General & Industry CV Length Guidelines
A one- or two-page CV is generally considered the gold standard in recruitment. However, there are some exceptions, such as senior professionals whose work experience section alone may stretch across a couple of pages.
With this in mind, let’s discuss the preferred CV length by experience level:
Entry-Level & Recent Graduates
If you’re a recent graduate or an entry-level professional, your CV should be no longer than one page. At this point, recruiters don’t expect you to have much work experience or impressive achievements, so there’s no need to write an entire essay.
If you’ve garnered substantial work experience early on in your career, you can certainly extend your CV to two pages, but only if the experience is relevant to the job you’re applying for. Otherwise, most recruiters will agree that a one-page CV is the way to go.
Conversely, if you have trouble filling a single page, consider including volunteer experience or extracurricular activities after listing relevant part-time jobs, internships, and skills alongside your education.
Mid-Career Professionals
The ideal CV length for mid-career professionals is one to two pages. By now, you should have plenty of work experience; you don’t need to cram it into a single page. However, you shouldn’t extend it beyond two pages either. A two-page CV should give you enough space to show off your professional background without overwhelming the hiring manager with trivial details.
If you have little relevant experience (and this can happen if you’re making a mid-career change, for example), you might not fill two pages, and it’s absolutely fine. In fact, you should only make a two-page CV if you can’t fit all of the information neatly within a single page.
Senior Professionals & Executives
Unlike mid-level applicants, senior professionals and executives can forget about the one-page CV vs. two-page CV debate. If you’re applying for a senior role, your CV can extend to three pages—but not more.
Also, if your CV ends up being just two pages long, you don’t need to worry about it. Given that recruiters spend just 7.4 seconds on average skimming CVs, a brief and to-the-point job application can do you a favour by ensuring your professional strengths don’t get lost in unnecessary detail.
Academics, Researchers, and Medical Professionals
The CV length for academics, researchers, and medical professionals generally isn’t limited; it largely depends on your background, but most academic CVs are at least three pages long.
The reason why there’s no fixed CV length for job applications in academia is that these documents are quite different from standard CVs. They should provide a comprehensive overview of your education and experience in research and teaching, including your research projects, publications, grants, and any professional associations you belong to.
Also, freelancers and other professionals working on diverse projects may need to opt for a longer CV to adequately represent their work experience.
Now that you know how long a CV should be based on your experience level, let’s discuss country-specific guidelines and expectations.
Country-Specific CV Length Expectations and Guidelines
How many pages a CV should be may vary widely from country to country; while some favour short, one-page documents, others expect your CV to be at least three pages long.
Let’s explore country-specific CV length expectations in greater depth:
UK
The perfect CV length in the UK is two pages. However, applicants with less experience, such as those applying for entry-level positions, should ideally fit their professional background within a single page.
If you’re applying for a senior management role, though, your CV can be lengthier. It’s best to restrict it to three pages, however, as anything above that may be considered excessive.
Europe
The standard CV length in Europe is one or two pages. However, there are no uniform guidelines that apply to all European countries.
For example, most countries prefer CVs that list work experience before education, but in Germany, the education section should go first. So, your best bet is to do your research before submitting an application.
Australia and New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand are slightly different from other countries in that their CVs tend to be lengthier.
The typical CV length in New Zealand ranges from one to three pages. However, if you plan to apply for a job in Australia, prepare to spend a bit more time crafting and polishing your application, as a two-page CV is only acceptable if you’re a recent graduate. Otherwise, your CV should extend across three to five pages.
Canada and the USA
In Canada and the United States, a CV isn’t the same as in the UK or Europe; what most of the world calls a “CV” in the United States and most of Canada is known as a resume. Meanwhile, the term “CV” refers to an academic CV.
As such, there’s a substantial difference in CV vs. resume length in the U.S. and Canada. While a CV in this part of the world can extend up to 10 pages (and sometimes even more!), a resume should always be one page long. Two, at most, if you’re a seasoned professional with loads of relevant experience.
There’s one exception, though, and it applies to those applying for a job within the U.S. federal government. Federal resumes in the U.S. are two to four pages long on average.
Asia
How long a CV should be in Asia depends on the country. You can’t go wrong with a two-page CV in most Asian countries, including China, Japan, Singapore, India, and Vietnam. However, you should thoroughly research the specific country if you want to land a job in Asia, as the guidelines may differ vastly.
4 Critical Factors That Influence CV Length
The four main factors that influence CV length are experience, ATS compatibility, industry standards and expectations, and readability.
Here’s a more detailed overview of these factors:
#1. Experience
The amount of professional work experience you have is one of the key factors that determine how long your CV should be. A one-page document is ideal for entry-level professionals. As you gain more experience, your CV will usually get longer.
However, an unreasonably long CV is more likely to end up in the rubbish bin than land you an interview. Recruiters expect you to present your background and qualifications clearly and concisely. Therefore, three pages is the maximum length you should go for in most cases, even if you’re a seasoned professional.
#2. ATS Considerations
To make a job-winning CV, you must ensure it is compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS)—software most companies use to facilitate the hiring process. The best CV length for ATS is usually one or two pages, as this allows the software to scan your application quickly.
However, CV length isn’t nearly as important for ATS as the contents of your document. While some systems may prefer shorter applications, the key to writing an ATS-friendly CV is to tailor it to the job description. Having a well-formatted CV is also critical, as this helps the software to navigate the document easily.
#3. Industry Standards
Some industries have different standards and expectations for how long a CV should be than others.
A one- or two-page CV is standard in most fields, as it allows hiring managers to learn about your professional background without overwhelming them with details. However, much lengthier documents are favoured in certain fields, such as academia, where you’re expected to present a detailed overview of your background and experience.
#4. Readability
Recruiters want to see what makes you a good candidate in an instant. While they don’t want to sift through numerous pages, a one-page CV isn’t going to leave a good impression either if it is cluttered and poorly structured.
Although many recruiters appreciate a brief, one-page document, you don’t want to reduce the CV font to the point where the information becomes nearly illegible. So, if you have plenty of work experience, it may be better to structure your document across two pages to ensure it is well-organized and easy to skim.
4 Best Strategies for Keeping Your CV Effective and Concise
The four best strategies for keeping your CV effective and concise are using bullet points, removing outdated information, tailoring it to the job, and tweaking the layout.
Here’s how each of these strategies can help you create a compelling CV:
#1. Using Bullet Points
Long, complex sentences and walls of text make it difficult for recruiters to swiftly decide whether you’re a good fit for the job.
Instead, opt for bullet points to make your CV clear, impactful, and easy to digest. Use up to six bullet points to list your most impressive achievements and responsibilities in recent positions, and no more than three for older roles. This way, you can create a well-structured CV that immediately pulls the recruiter's attention to your career highlights.
#2. Removing Outdated Jobs or Skills
Unless you’re asked to present your entire work history, your CV should generally not go back further than 15 years.
Given how quickly the professional landscape is transforming, chances are there have been significant changes in industry standards, best practices, etc., making older roles irrelevant. This is also one of the reasons why most recruiters favour the reverse chronological CV format.
#3. Tailoring Your CV to Each Application
The secret to creating a winning CV is to tailor it to each job you’re applying for instead of sending a generic application filled with irrelevant details.
To do this, simply match your CV to the job description by listing relevant skills and other qualifications mentioned in the job posting. Not only does this help the hiring manager see that you’re exactly who they’re looking for, but it also ensures your CV passes the ATS check and reaches their hands.
#4. Minimise Redundant Information
If you want to impress the hiring manager, each piece of information mentioned in your CV must be valuable. You don’t want to repeat yourself, so make sure to proofread your CV to ensure it packs a punch.
Instead of listing all of your responsibilities, focus on quantifiable achievements. Hiring managers can tell what you had to do in your previous jobs based on the job title alone. However, they want to know how—and how well—you did it, as it shows the value you can bring to the company.
If you have a lengthy CV, consider condensing the education section and omitting optional CV sections. After all, recruiters are more interested in your skills and work experience than hobbies and interests.
What You Shouldn’t Include in Your CV
As a job hunter, you want your CV to stand out—but only for the right reasons. Therefore, you should be mindful of what you include in it; some things, such as your marital status, have no place on your CV.
Here are some things you should not include in your CV:
What Not to Include
References. Feel free to leave out references from your CV unless asked to do otherwise—they are only typically needed later in the hiring process. There’s also no need to put “References available upon request.” Hiring managers are aware they can request them, so use the extra space to highlight your achievements instead.
Photograph. While in some countries—mainly in Europe and Asia—a professional headshot won’t do any harm, it can get your CV immediately rejected in other places, including the United Kingdom. To be on the safe side, only add a photo if the employer asks for it or it’s relevant for the job (e.g., you’re a model or an actor).
Salary history or expectations. There’s a time and place for salary negotiations. Unless you’re applying for a job in the U.S. federal government—which you probably aren’t—skip the money talk; it doesn’t look professional. Plus, depending on the number, your application may be rejected or you may get a lower offer than you deserve.
Overly personal or irrelevant information. You don’t need to disclose age, marital status, family details, nationality, etc., in your CV. The only exception is if it is relevant for the job (e.g., you may have to mention your date of birth in a bartender CV since there may be age requirements for selling alcohol).
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Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that you should keep your CV short and sweet—a three-page CV is only justified if you’re applying for a senior position. In other cases, a one- or two-page document will usually do the trick.
If your CV is quite lengthy, don’t hesitate to trim it. Besides, you can always mention any information you’ve left out in a cover letter (as long as it’s relevant, of course!).
How Long Should a CV Be FAQ
#1. Is two pages too long for a CV?
Two pages are not too long for a CV if you are a mid- or senior-level professional. If you are just starting and have little to no work experience, however, you should keep your CV one page long.
#2. How long should a CV be for a graduate?
A CV for a graduate should be one page long. While you may think a longer CV might help you appear more experienced, the truth is that recruiters appreciate concise documents they can skim.
#3. How do I reduce the length of my CV?
You can reduce the length of your CV by editing out non-essential information. Remove any outdated or irrelevant jobs and make sure you don’t repeat yourself. If you’re struggling to fit your CV within a page or two, consider using a CV builder—it’ll do the heavy lifting for you!
#4. Does CV length affect job applications?
CV length can affect job applications. The main factor that determines how long a CV should be is your level of experience—while a one-page document is ideal for someone with little work experience, it can make a senior professional seem inexperienced.
