CVForge / Resume length
How long should a resume be?
One page under about eight years of experience, two pages above it. Paste yours to see where it lands.
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Paste text to estimate. Outlined pages show the target length for your experience.
Resume length by situation
| Situation | Length |
|---|---|
| Student, graduate, 0–3 years | 1 page |
| 3–8 years | 1 page, 2 if every line is relevant |
| 8–20 years, managers | 2 pages |
| Senior executives | 2–3 pages |
| UK / Ireland CV | 2 pages of A4 |
| Australia | 2–3 pages |
| US federal jobs (USAJOBS) | 2 pages maximum (USAJOBS rule since late 2025) |
| Academic CV | No limit |
Length matters less than density. A recruiter’s first pass takes seconds, so page one must carry your strongest material. Keep the best three bullets of each job at the top of that job. See resume format for margins and fonts.
Questions people ask
How long should a resume be?
One page if you have under about 7–10 years of relevant experience, two pages if you have more or work in a field with many projects or certifications. Three pages only for senior executives, federal US jobs or academic CVs.
Is a 2-page resume OK?
Yes, if the second page is full of relevant content. A study by the career site ResumeGo found recruiters were more likely to prefer two-page resumes for experienced candidates. What hurts is half a page of filler.
How many words should a resume be?
Roughly 400–600 words for one page and 700–1,000 for two, depending on layout and font size.
How far back should a resume go?
About 10–15 years in detail. Earlier roles can be one line each or grouped under “Earlier experience”, unless they are directly relevant.
How do I shorten my resume?
Cut bullets older than 15 years, merge similar bullets, delete “References available on request” and objective statements, shrink margins to 0.6–0.75 inches, and keep only skills that match the target job.