That is the question. Or rather it seems to be one of the most common questions I get as a CV writer these days.
William Shakespeare may never have needed to worry about his CV, but a very common question I get from clients is about the correct length of a CV.
For example:
“I can’t possibly cut my CV down to two pages, I have too much experience and won’t fit everything in.”
Or.
“But a friend told me in the pub that they read somewhere that you should only have a one-page CV.”
So, what’s the answer?
Let’s break that barrier down by addressing three misconceptions
1) A CV should list all current and prior job responsibilities.
It shouldn’t. You need the details of each role to show your path and chronology but stick to key points and select relevant highlights that showcase (ideally with achievement-focused evidence) the scale and scope of the role, the impact you had and the value you generated for the business.
2) People read CVs end to end.
They don’t. They scan them, looking for key skills, experience and traits in order to make a decision on your application and move on to the next candidate.
3) You have to explain what you do in detail.
You don’t. A hiring manager or recruiter in the field of activity you are working in will know the nuts and bolts of what you do in your role, so you don’t need to explain all the facets or include the obvious. Look at your CV as a shop window. You don’t need to display everything in your CV window.
So, how do you move beyond these misconceptions?
The two page “rule” is best practice that has become an expectation rather than a rule set out anywhere, but it is a good rule to stick to, for the three reasons above – showcase, ease of information access and conciseness – and its good discipline to avoid the temptation to keep adding and adding.
But, more importantly in a time of online job adverts and submissions, applicant scanning software (ATS) employed by most recruiters and companies has a word limit, usually between 1,000 – 1,200 words, which is approximately two pages if you keep to a readable 10 or 11-point font. More than that and it gets cut off.
As for cutting down your activities, think about it. You don’t just keep talking and talking in an interview (or shouldn’t unless your aim is to bore your listener), so why keep writing and adding to your CV.
Be clear.
Be concise.
Be relevant.
If you have more than eight years’ experience, then I’d say two pages, but it does depend on what you’ve done and what you’re applying to do. If you have less than that, perhaps there’s an argument for a one-page CV. There’s no need to pad it out to two pages. It is also common to find one-page CVs in certain industries such as IT which highlight technical skills and languages as opposed to achievements.
In addition, don’t focus too much attention on anything more than 10 – 12 years ago. You’re more senior and experienced now and the chances are that what you have been doing in recent years is of far more relevance to the recruiter and your application.
Show all of your roles so your professional history is all there and include the basics of company, dates and role but think about condensing your earlier roles to give focus to your more recent and relevant achievements and outcomes.
As for flashy one-page CVs with lots of graphics, especially if you have a few years’ experience, don’t go there.
Text boxes, charts and icons don’t get read by most ATS software so it’s better to go for simple formatting and clear content. One column CVs work best as information in a side margin and some in the centre makes the narrative difficult to follow.
Some people also ask about three-page CVs. If you have experience and achievements that are relevant, maybe. Ideally you want to be as concise as possible and so you should try to do that in two pages. However, sometimes that may not be possible, so there is an argument from time to time for a three-pager. Either way…
Remember, white space is your friend.
A clear, concise accessible CV makes it easy for the reader to scan and puts you in the ‘must know more’ pile of candidates . Make their job easier! Don’t make them hunt for the info they need or they’ll move on!
Top tips
- Be sure that what you include is relevant to the targeted role.
- Use crisp phrases and short sentences, and cut the fluff and fillers.
- Keep personal details to a minimum – brief location (i.e., London, SW2), email, phone and a link to your LinkedIn profile, ideally using a vanity URL
- Avoid cliches. Who isn’t going to say they have excellent time management and are a great team player?
- Date of birth, gender, marital status and photo… outmoded and no need.
If you’d like some help creating a smart and concise CV that showcases your value, then why not get in touch for a quick chat?
Email jncvuk@gmail.com
Linkedin Jason Newton
Photo Matthew Henry on Unsplash
jncv.co.uk 
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