A CV’s role is to make a case for why you are the ideal applicant for a specific position. Your CV must convey who you are, the skills you bring, and your future career aspirations. A CV that only fills half a page will unlikely achieve this objective. A CV that is four pages long will likely lose all its impact and fail to make a positive impression.
If you have significant education and work experience, you probably wonder if your CV should only be one page long. Here we answer the single-page CV quandary and clarify the circumstances when it is acceptable to continue onto a second or third page.
CV length
The rule of thumb is that a CV should be less than three pages. This guidance clarifies that one-page and two-page CVs are acceptable and effective.
A word of caution: Do not delete crucial information that quantifies why you are the perfect candidate. For some people, a three-page CV is perfectly justified.
CV writing tip: Take the time to ensure each CV section relays your message in a clear, concise, and presentable way. It helps to provide evidence of your skills or achievements rather than adding them as a single-word bullet point list. Use facts, figures, recognition, and awards to justify each statement.
Too much work history? It is rarely advantageous to go back more than 15 years when adding your work history. You can remove older roles and less relevant positions, as long as this does not leave a significant gap in your career timeline.
CV elements to include or exclude
Your CV must relay certain information, even if this takes you onto a second or third page. We recommend that all CVs include the following sections:
- Name and contact details
- Personal statement
- Qualifications, certifications, and education
- Career history or work experience
- Hobbies that utilise relevant skills
If your CV is too short or long, optional information includes:
- Professional profile or portfolio links
- Degree modules or projects
- High school and college qualifications if you are degree-educated
- Volunteer work or community projects
- List of references
How to get your CV onto one page
If you want to create a one-page resume without sacrificing the quantity of content, you can adjust the margin and font size. If your word processor is set to double or one and a half line spacing, you can reduce this to single line spacing. However, the format and professional presentation of your CV are more important than cramming everything onto one page. After all, if a hiring manager struggles to read your tiny typeface, your CV might be destined for the bin or shredder.
Conclusion: Should my CV be only one page long?
In most cases, a one-page CV is ideal, but two pages are advantageous if you have relevant information, experience, qualifications, and skills to convey. While less than three pages are advisable, academic, scientific, and highly-regulated business sectors may command a longer CV.
CV template examples
For further help creating a one or two-page CV, view our CV templates and explore our career advice.
- Accounting CV template
- Agriculture CV template
- Arts CV template
- Automotive CV template
- Banking CV template
- Charity CV template
- Construction CV template
- Customer Services CV template
- Education CV template
- Engineering CV template
- Environmental CV template
- Facilities Management CV template
- Finance CV template
- Healthcare CV template
- Hospitality and Leisure CV template
- Human Resources (HR) CV template
- Information Technology (IT) CV template
- Leadership CV template
- Legal CV template
- Manufacturing CV template
- Marketing CV template
- Media CV template
- Office Administration CV template
- Personal Care CV template
- Professional Services CV template
- Public Sector CV template
- Retail CV template
- Sales CV template
- Science CV template
- Social Care CV template
- Telecommunications CV template
- Transportation and Logistics CV template