In this guide
Resumes and cover letters
How long should a resume be?
How long a resume should be for your situation and market, what to cut first when it runs over, and how to save space without making it hard to read.
Length follows evidence, not a rule
There is no single correct length. A recruiter reads a resume to decide whether to talk to you, so every line should help with that decision for this role. A second page full of relevant evidence is better than a crammed first page; a second page of old duties is worse than a clean single page.
Conventions also vary. In the US, a one-page resume is a common expectation early in a career, while academic and research roles everywhere often ask for a much fuller record of publications and teaching. The vacancy and the employer's own instructions take priority over general advice.
Typical lengths by situation
| Situation | Typical length | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First job or early career | One page | There is rarely enough relevant evidence to fill more without padding |
| Several years in one field | One to two pages | Recent roles need room for achievements |
| Long or senior career | Two pages | Older roles can be condensed to single lines |
| Academic or research role | As the employer specifies | Publications, grants and teaching are often expected in full |
| Application with a word or page limit | Exactly what is asked | Ignoring a stated limit can count against you |
What to cut first when it runs over
- Duties that every holder of the job would share and that the advert does not mention.
- Detail from roles more than ten years old, reduced to title, employer and dates.
- Skills that are assumed for the role or not asked for.
- School qualifications once you have higher ones or substantial work history.
- Lines such as 'references available on request', which take space and add nothing.
- Repeated achievements: if two bullets prove the same thing, keep the stronger.
Making space without making it harder to read
Shrinking the font or margins to squeeze onto one page usually makes the document worse. UK careers guidance suggests a clear font at size 11 or above, and generous spacing helps both human readers and text extraction. If it still does not fit, the content is too long, not the layout too loose.
Illustrative example
Condensing an older role
Before
Sales Assistant, Brook Street Stores, 2012–2015 (followed by five bullets about tills, stock and customer service)
After
Earlier roles: Sales Assistant, Brook Street Stores (2012–2015); Team Member, Quayside Café (2010–2012)
One line keeps the timeline complete and frees space for recent evidence.
Check the length against the job
Is it the right length for this application?
- I have followed any length, page or word limit in the advert.
- Every bullet on the page supports something this job asks for.
- Recent roles have more detail than older ones.
- The text is still a readable size and the page is not crowded.
- Nothing important has been pushed onto a near-empty final page.
Common questions
Is a two-page resume too long?
Not for most experienced applicants, as long as both pages carry relevant evidence. Early in a career, one page is usually enough.
Should I use a smaller font to fit everything on one page?
Rather cut content. A small, crowded page is harder to read and suggests you have not decided what matters most.
Sources
- National Careers Service: how to write a CV / resumeNational Careers Service (GOV.UK) · England · checked 3 October 2026
Put it into practice
See how Luceria helps with thisDrafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards. Examples are illustrative, not real people’s results. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.