How long should a CV be?

As soon as you dive into the job search, you’re faced with the eternal question: how long should a CV be!

Surely, you’ve heard different advice, and read a bunch of articles online, and yet, here you are, still confused. Why is that so? Why is it that complicated?

CVs vs. Resumes

Well, firstly, it’s because we can’t think objectively about ourselves. Or, at least, we rarely can.

Next,  it’s probably because people use the term “CV” and “resume” interchangeably. Not sure if you know this, but CVs and resumes used to be two very different documents.

While resumes were traditionally a 1-page document that give an overview of the candidate, CVs were more detailed representations of candidates. However, it is important to note that today, most countries, use the terms interchangeably. Some job ads will ask you to attach a resume while others to attach a CV. It’s the same thing; they want a document that presents their candidates. In our Linking Lines world, we call it a “CV”, even though our approach is more similar to writing a resume (keeping it short). No matter what you call it, the point of the document is the same – to get you to the interview phase.

Why are CVs and resumes referred to interchangeably?

This is primarily because we live in a busy world and no one has time to read long documents. Especially when there are dozens, if not hundreds of applications.

So, to answer your question of how long should a CV be, you need to keep in mind you’re not the only person applying for a job.

On top of that, with the rise of LinkedIn, recruiters and hiring managers can find candidates’ full history online. So, there’s really no reason why you should write a very long document that used to be called CV.

 

So, what is the optimal length?

Honestly, this depends on whom you’re talking to.

A good rule of thumb when it comes to how long should a CV be is: keep it up to 2 pages. There are rare exceptions where it’s OK to go up to 3. But this is only if there is a lot of relevant experience and/or educational background.

Remember, there’s always a way to say things differently so if you’re going over 2 pages, see if you can reduce the CV length.

When we’re talking about the word number, it varies depending on your situation.

At Linking Lines, the word number can be anything from 280 to 800, and we never go above 2 pages. So, if you ask us how long should a CV be, we’ll definitely say: two pages maximum.

Remember, you’re not the only person applying for the job and you really want people read your CV. Do not overload it with information, as it will put people off.

 

How to reduce your CV?

Not that you know how long should a CV be, we come to the issue of reducing your CV. This process is painful for most job seekers because they can’t let go of certain things.

Oftentimes, people have a 3-5 pages in their CVs and it can be cumbersome to reduce it. Hence, we bring you some tips on how to reduce it.

#1 Use bullet points

Instead of long and complex sentences, use concise bullet points that make your CV more readable and less content-heavy.

#2 Check for duplicate information

Frequently, what happens in CV writing is the repetition of information. Especially when we talk about keywords that appear in job ads. So, for example, if one of the desirable skills is “attention to detail”, you can only write it once. There’s no need to mention it in every single section of your CV. Mentioning it once is enough for the CV screening software and it’s enough for the reader, too.

#3 Rephrase

If a bullet point spills over to the next row or page, you need to rephrase it. There’s always a way to say something differently, so make sure to explore it.

#4 Limit your experience

When thinking in terms of presenting experience, try to limit it to relevant experience only. Present only those positions that are related to the job you’re applying for now. If you have no relevant experience and want to give an overview of your work history, focus on the last 5-10 years (depending on how many different positions you’ve had).

#5 Font & formatting

This is more to do with the “technical” aspect of CV writing, but it is still a part of the answer to the question of how long should a CV be.

Here’s a good trick: use standard fonts. This means Times New Roman, Calibri, and Arial. Use 10-11 size for your text, and a slightly bigger size for your section titles. People can always zoom in if needed, and it’s better to have a smaller font than 3+ pages in your CV.

When it comes to formatting, we’re talking about line spacing and indents. You can choose 1.0 and no spaces before/after the text. Your CV will then be very dense, but at least it’ll be under 2 pages.

The same thing goes for indents – you can move your indent to the left and, therefore “buy” yourself a bit more space.

How to write a winning CV?

Not that you know how long should a CV be, you just need to write it. And that can be quite an adventure. To help you out, we’ve written many blog posts on the topic. You can find all that free advice on our Blog page.

If you need more support, we’d recommend you get a professional CV writing guide that’ll secure replies to job applications here. Simply follow the principles outlined in this book and change your job search.