how long should a resume be

how long should a resume be

8 hours ago 5
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Most resumes should be between one and two pages long, with the ideal length depending primarily on your level of experience and the job you are applying for.

  • One page is generally recommended for:
    • Students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals with up to 10 years of relevant experience.
    • Career changers who want to focus on relevant skills rather than a full work history.
      This length is preferred because employers typically spend only a few seconds reviewing a resume, so concise and relevant information is crucial
  • Two pages are appropriate for:
    • Mid-career professionals with 5 to 15 years of experience.
    • Those with multiple roles, significant achievements, or technical and management positions.
      Two pages allow enough space to summarize longer-term roles and accomplishments while remaining readable
  • Three or more pages may be justified for:
    • Senior executives, academic CVs, federal government positions, or professionals with 20+ years of experience.
    • These longer resumes or CVs include detailed career and academic histories and sometimes run to 4-5 pages or more in specialized fields

Additional tips for resume length:

  • Focus on quality and relevance rather than quantity; remove outdated or irrelevant information.
  • Limit job descriptions to 3-7 bullet points per role, emphasizing achievements over duties.
  • Keep bullet points concise, ideally no more than two lines.
  • Generally, include work experience from the last 15 years to avoid overwhelming the reader

In summary, aim for one page if you have less than 10 years of experience, two pages for mid-level professionals, and three pages or more only if your career history and the job type warrant it. Always prioritize clarity, relevance, and impact over length alone

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