The ideal length for resumes depends on your experience. For most job seekers, it’s one or two pages. Here are some expert tips for how long your resume should be!
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Resumes are usually one to two pages long. Your goal is to keep your resume as concise as possible while ensuring it fits the length of your career.
Writing your resume is much easier when you have a target length. The ideal resume length depends on your years of work experience and specific industry. We’ll explain that more below.
Two main factors will help determine how long you should make your resume.
Experience level: The accepted rule is that your resume should be one page for every 10 years of work experience. Here’s a chart breaking it down:
| Years of experience >10 years | Ideal resume length 1 page |
Job industry or field: Longer resumes are expected in specific job fields. When applying for academic, science or research positions, your resume or CV may need more than a page.
If you’re ready to write your document, take advantage of our best tool for the job, our Resume Builder.
The builder features 25+ resume templates that take care of resume formatting so that your document can easily fit onto a single page if that’s what you need. You can also customize it with additional sections!
Can a resume be two pages long? Absolutely. You can let your resume stretch onto two or even three pages if you’ve had enough jobs relevant to the current position.
Deciding what to keep on your resume may be easier if you get someone to review it for you. Check out our professional writing services for an expert’s opinion on your resume length!
We also have a digital alternative, our Resume Check. Resume Check will scan your document for 30+ resume issues and suggest how to fix them!
With the right template, you can fit all your relevant accomplishments and skills into a one-page resume. Edit the resume template below with your personal details, or find resume examples for various jobs and industries for a pre-written document tailored to your needs.
Although resumes are one-to-two pages long, a curriculum vitae (CV) can extend to 10+ pages. Because of their highly detailed nature, CVs don’t have a limit on their number of pages.
A CV should mention all the key details of your career and education. In some cases, employers even encourage you to share more personal information, such as volunteer work or hobbies, all to get a complete picture of the candidate they’re considering hiring.
If you need help customizing your CV, check out our CV Builder. You’ll access over a dozen editable templates plus pre-written content suggestions tailored to your desired job.
The resume summary is a key section consisting of a brief paragraph between two to five sentences long, highlighting your most impressive, relevant qualifications.
Resume summaries are the first section recruiters see. Therefore, you shouldn’t overextend or overload it with too much information. Stick to the qualifications that are the main requirements for the job, such as years of experience, education level or degree, top skills or a relevant quantifiable achievement to help you stand out.
Looking for a shorter version of a resume profile? Try opting for an objective statement, which tends to be shorter than resume summaries and is best suited for inexperienced candidates.
Most of your resume’s content will be written in bullet point format. Sections like the skills section, summary of qualifications, and work experience will consist of bullet point phrases that are easier for recruiters to read than longer paragraphs.
The length of your resume bullet points should be no longer than two to three lines on your resume’s page. Keep these phrases concise by using a true-and-tried formula:
Action: Managed cross-functional teams
Task: To complete a major product launch on time and within budget
Result: Delivered the project two weeks ahead of schedule, saving $50,000 in costs.
Example: “Managed cross-functional teams to complete major product launch on time and within budget, delivering project two weeks ahead of schedule and saving $50k in costs.”
Another way to reduce the length of your resume bullet points is to omit unnecessary words like “a,” “an,” and “the” and possessive pronouns like “my,” and “your.” This unusual grammar rule is perfectly acceptable for resumes.
Resume length is flexible; there is no one-size-fits-all length!
The ideal resume length is typically one to two pages, depending on your experience level. Aim for one page for every ten years of experience.
Students’ resumes should be one page since most students have limited work experience to discuss.
Some fields, like academia or research, may require a CV. To write a CV, check out our CV Builder.
Tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for, highlighting relevant skills and experiences.
Use the limited space of your resume wisely: Bullet points, quantifying achievements, and focusing on results rather than daily tasks will make it more impactful.
Your resume summary is the only section that will be an actual paragraph and should extend to two to five sentences.
Your resume bullet points should be one to three lines long. Ensure their conciseness by following the Action, Task, Result (ATR) formula and leaving out unnecessary words and articles.
Fine-tune font size, spacing, and margins to make your resume visually appealing and fit within the desired length.
Ask for a review from a professional or trusted friend to ensure your resume is clear, concise, and effectively showcases your qualifications.
Ready to craft a resume that stands out? Our Resume Builder takes the stress out of creating a professional, impactful document.
Choose from stunning templates, get expert-written text suggestions, and build a resume that lands you interviews.
Best of all, it also comes with complete access to our equally helpful Cover Letter Builder.
Over the past 15 years, we’ve helped more than 10 million job seekers build stronger cover letters, discover their career paths, interview confidently, and boost their chances of finding the right job faster. Review our Editorial Policy to learn more about our process.
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