How Long Should a Resume Be?
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How long should a resume be? Some say no more than a page. Well, it’s not that simple. The ideal resume length depends on some information about your professional career. Your resume can reach 3 pages or even more than that. But in most cases, writing a 2-page resume should do the trick.
So which length of resume will be the best for you, huh? I'll explain everything you need to know about maintaining the perfect resume length, plus give you some useful tips on how to ace it!
This guide will show you:
- How long should your resume be.
- How many pages should a resume be, depending on your level of experience.
- How to keep the your resume length in control.
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Before you dive deeper, look at the video created by our career expert Caio on how long should a resume be:
Need more information on creating an effective resume? Check the guides below:
- Different Types of Resumes
- Essential Parts of a Resume
- How to Improve Your Resume in 12 Easy Steps
- Two Column Resume
- Best US Resume Format
How Many Pages Should My Resume Be?
Depending on your experience level, the ideal resume length is one to two pages. Does your resume have to be one page? No. Finding a great 1-page resume template is a no-brainer. But so is writing a 1.5-page resume. If you have relevant experience that won’t fit a page, writing a 2-page resume is a great idea. There are tons of 2-page resume examples that won over single-paged documents.
But can you write even more?
Sometimes, longer resumes work better. Three-page resumes are suitable for applicants with 25+ years of continuous work experience (such as executives) and for an academic CV or a medical resume.
To achieve the ideal resume length in your particular situation, focus on customizing it to the job offer. Tailor your resume by showing relevant accomplishments. If you can do that in one page, definitely do so. Add more achievements and go for a longer resume if you feel it can be your winning point. That works especially well for any job where long experience makes you a better match. Just make sure to keep it relevant and base it on achievements.
So, what’s the ideal length for a resume?
The shorter, the better. Keep only the most relevant information, but don’t spend hours trying to fit it on a page. Go for two instead. A resume can be one page or two pages. A good resume isn’t about the length. It’s about the relevancy.
Pro Tip: How Far Back Should a Resume Go? A resume should go back longer for jobs that need heaps of experience. If the job description says "3–5 years of experience required," don't list 20. Some studies suggest that overqualified candidates might have a harder time getting hired. Either way, list only relevant experience.
Making a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide, use ready-made content tailored to your job and have a resume ready in minutes.
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.
6 Tips for Ideal Resume Length
How many pages should a resume be to achieve the ideal length? If you follow the ideal resume length rules below, it won't matter whether you have a one-page, two-page, or longer one. Why?
Because the length of your resume will self-regulate like it's got a job-search thermostat.
1. List Only Relevant Information
Include on your resume things that would interest the hiring manager. Always build your resume with achievements that prove you've already nailed the job. This will keep your resume short and engaging. Remember: 83% of recruiters say they’re more willing to hire a candidate who has written a targeted resume for their job offer.
2. Condense Resume Descriptions
Don't repeat the same achievement over and over. Rather than saying you trained five employees in Lean Principles, two in Agile, and 15 in Six Sigma, say you trained 20+ employees in techniques like Lean, Agile, and Six Sigma. That uses up one bullet point and helps you save some space.
3. Adjust Font Size, Spacing, and Margins
Follow the right resume formatting to keep your document short. You can make resume fonts smaller and fiddle with line spacing and margins. But don't torture your resume layout so much that it looks like a black sheet of paper. Some extra resume length is okay if it boosts the overall readability of your document.
4. Replace Responsibilities With Achievements
Avoid listing all the many things you were responsible for. Not only will that make your resume too long, but it's also boring. "Cut inventory costs by 35%" beats "In charge of inventory management" any day. So, read the job description carefully, then list accomplishments that match.
5. Use Bullet Points in Your Resume
List 3–5 bullet points per job in your resume work experience section. Make them 1–2 lines each. Do you really have enough impressive achievements to fill up 30 lines per job? If so, you need a 2-page resume. Make sure to keep them relevant to this particular offer.
6. Keep It Brief and to the Point
Ask not, "How long should a resume be?" but "How can you keep it interesting?" Don't get bogged down with long descriptions of responsibilities. Our HR statistics report shows managers skim resumes, often in less than 7 seconds. Be brief and stick to achievements.
There are some rules in resume writing, but rule No. 1 is to include whatever helps you get the interview.
Pro Tip: How long should a resume for a college student be? If you solved the Riemann Hypothesis and fulfilled Einstein’s dream of describing the whole of nature in a single theory, you'll need a two-page resume or longer. The rest of the students can use single-page resumes.
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
Key Takeaways
Asking "How many pages should a resume be?" turns up a lot of answers. Remember these key tips:
- Resume length grows with the amount of experience required. For jobs requiring 7+ years of experience, a 2-page resume is fine.
- Most applicants' resumes should be one page. It all comes down to how many unique, impressive, and related achievements they have in their past.
- How long is a resume? Write 3–5 bullets per job. Go back 10 years for all but senior-level management jobs. Tailor your resume to fit the job description. If you do, the question answers itself.
- Learn the length and how to keep your resume impressive. Most resumes should be kept between one and two pages long.
Want to know more about how long should a resume be? Maybe you've got some great ideas for how far back a resume should go? Give me a shout in the comments! Let's start the conversation!
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This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.
