The answer depends on your experience level and industry.
General Guidelines
| Experience | Recommended Length | |-----------|-------------------| | 0-5 years | 1 page | | 5-15 years | 1-2 pages | | 15+ years | 2 pages | | Academic/Research | 2-3+ pages (CV) | | Federal/Government | 3-5 pages |
The One-Page Rule
For most job seekers with under 10 years of experience, one page is ideal.
Why?
- Recruiters spend 6-7 seconds on initial scan
- Conciseness shows communication skills
- Forces you to prioritize
How to Fit on One Page
- Remove outdated experience (15+ years ago)
- Cut irrelevant jobs
- Use concise bullet points (1-2 lines each)
- Reduce margins to 0.5" (no less)
- Use 10-11pt font size
When Two Pages Are OK
- 10+ years of relevant experience
- Multiple technical skills to list
- Publications, patents, or certifications
- Career changers who need to show transferable skills
Never Do This
- Don't use 8pt font to squeeze content
- Don't remove all white space
- Don't include a "filler" second page with just 3 lines
- Don't include every job you've ever had
Rule of Thumb: If your second page is less than half full, cut it to one page.
