How Long Should a CV Be? (1 Page or 2?)

Most CVs should be one page for students and early-career candidates and no more than two pages for experienced professionals. Academic, medical and some senior or highly technical roles can be longer because employers expect detailed publication lists, clinical rotations or project histories. Whatever your level, every line should help you get this particular job.

Length by career stage

How to cut a long CV

1. Summarize roles older than 10 to 15 years. See how far back a CV should go.
2. Cut duties; keep achievements.
3. Limit bullets to three to six per recent role.
4. Remove references, full address and unnecessary personal details.
5. Shorten the personal statement to three or four lines.
6. Tighten formatting without shrinking fonts too far.

How to fill a short CV

Add education details, projects, volunteering, part-time work, skills and certifications. See CV with no experience.

See the best CV format and the full guide on how to write a CV.

Page breaks and layout on two-page CVs

• Put your strongest content on page one: profile, skills and your most recent role.
• Avoid splitting a single job awkwardly across pages if you can.
• Add your name and page number to page two in case pages are separated.
• Keep margins and font sizes readable rather than squeezing content in.

What recruiters actually notice

Length matters less than relevance. A two-page CV packed with clear achievements is better than a crammed one-pager, and a one-page CV with strong evidence beats two pages of duties. Ask yourself whether each line helps you get this specific job.

Quick checklist

1. Does page one show your fit for the role?
2. Are older roles summarized?
3. Have you removed references, photos (where not customary) and unnecessary personal details?
4. Is every bullet an achievement or essential responsibility?
5. Is the font at least comfortably readable?