If you are wondering how long should a resume be, it’s important to understand that your resume is often the first impression you will make on potential employers. It is your personal marketing tool, and like any good marketing campaign, it needs to be compelling, concise, and impactful. But how long should your resume be to make the most lasting impression? The common debate is whether a resume should be one page, two pages, or longer. A lengthy resume may fail to hold on to the attention of the hiring manager, whereas a too-short one may not provide enough information. In this post, I’ll dive into exploring the ideal resume length so you can craft a strong, polished resume that helps you stand out from the crowd.
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Length of your resume: How many pages do you really need?
So, how long should a resume be? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The answer largely depends on your industry standards, professional background, and career stage. However, there are general rules that everyone is advised to follow. “A resume should generally be one to two pages long, depending on your career stage and relevant experiences,” says a career expert from Jobseeker.com.
“For entry-level professionals or those with less experience, a one-page resume is ideal to keep it concise and focused on key skills and achievements. More experienced professionals can extend to two pages, but every detail should be carefully curated to add value and relevance. Avoid unnecessary information or excessive detail—employers typically spend only a few seconds on each resume, so clarity and impact are essential.”
This advice from a career expert highlights the importance of balancing depth with brevity. For further understanding regarding how long should a resume be, let’s break this down:
One-page resume
One full page is the most common length for many resumes, especially for entry-level professionals, recent graduates, or those with less than five years of experience.
Being in the early stages of a career means you probably don’t have a robust work history or a long list of accomplishments. Therefore, one page is more than enough to showcase your qualifications and skills.
Here are some reasons why a one-page resume remains a standard length fitting several use cases, especially for early-stage professionals:
- Concise – One-page resumes are concise, which is highly appreciated by employers and hiring managers. Usually, one-page resumes highlight key skills, education, and relevant experience.
- Easier to scan – Often, hiring managers spend less than ten seconds reviewing a resume before deciding whether to continue reading. A short, one-page resume ensures the most essential information is quickly seen.
- No space for fluff – A one-page format forces you to be precise and to the point without filling in unnecessary details. This is much more effective in grabbing attention.
Pro tip: Make your one-page resume stand out by summarizing your achievements and responsibilities. For example, increased social media engagement by 35% within six months.
Two-page resume
The two-page format is more appropriate for mid-career professionals or executives with extensive experience in their field. If you have taken on a variety of roles or accumulated more than 10 years of experience, you might need extra space to cover essential achievements.
A two-page resume is beneficial if:
- You have extensive experience and worked in various positions that are directly relevant to the job you are applying for. A two-page format will allow you to showcase the breadth of your experience without leaving out critical information.
- You have a fruitful career spanning 10-15 years and need space to highlight your career progression. Employers hiring for senior roles usually want to see how the candidate has grown professionally, specialized in specific areas, or taken on leadership roles.
- You are applying for portfolio roles where you need to showcase the projects you have worked on and your accomplishments, along with listing your skills.
Pro tip: Even with a two-page resume, it is crucial to maintain clarity and focus. Do not fill the second page with outdated or irrelevant information.
Three or more pages
Resumes of three or more pages are rare but occasionally justifiable. Typically, this applies to specialized industries or fields where detailed descriptions of publications, projects, or certifications are required. For example, researchers and academics, government or international jobs.
If you are creating a resume longer than two pages, you must be absolutely sure that every piece of information is relevant and serves a purpose. As previously mentioned, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer on resume length. While some fit their professional experience and accomplishments on one page, others find that the two-page format is ideal for them.
However, if you are in doubt, remember this rule of thumb – the ideal length of a resume is as short as possible while including all the relevant accomplishments, experiences, skills, and personal information.
Is Two Pages Too Long for a Resume?
A two-page resume can be appropriate depending on your career stage, industry, and the amount of relevant experience you have. Here are some guidelines to help decide if a two-page resume is suitable for you. For example, if you have 10+ years of experience, especially in senior or specialized roles, a two-page resume is often justified to capture your achievements and relevant skills.
In certain fields like academia, research, or highly technical industries (e.g., engineering, IT), it’s common to list detailed projects, publications, or technical skills, which may require a second page. In addition, if you’ve held multiple roles across different companies or sectors, a second page allows you to clearly explain your progression and key accomplishments.
How Long Should a Resume be in 2024?
Employers are scanning resumes more quickly, often using AI-driven tools, so relevance to the job description is paramount. Tailor your resume for each role, ensuring it’s laser-focused on qualifications that align with the job.
For early career (0-5 years of experience)
One page is ideal. Employers expect concise resumes for candidates with limited experience. Focus on highlighting key skills, internships, education, and relevant accomplishments without overcrowding the page.
Mid-Career (5-10 years of experience)
The ideal length is one to two pages. With more experience, a two-page resume can provide room to highlight diverse roles, achievements, and skill sets. It’s important to keep the most relevant information toward the top of the first page.
Senior-Level, executives, or specialized roles (10+ years of experience)
They will typically have two or more pages, and sometimes longer for executives or those in highly technical fields.
Senior professionals often have a wealth of experience that justifies a longer resume, especially when detailing leadership roles, major projects, or specialized expertise.
Typical questions regarding how long should a resume be
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What is the 30 second rule for resume?
The 30-second rule for resumes refers to the idea that hiring managers or recruiters typically spend about 30 seconds (or less) scanning a resume before deciding if the candidate is worth further consideration. In that brief time, they’re looking for key information that stands out and demonstrates your qualifications for the job. This is why it’s crucial to have the most important information toward the top of your resume.
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How far back should a resume go?
When determining how far back your resume should go, the general rule is to focus on the past 10-15 years of experience. If your experience is relevant to the job you are targeting, it’s a good idea to include it on your resume, even if it’s not your most recent experience and it’s 10 years old or even older. If you have an experience that is not relevant to your career goal and it’s 10 years old or older, you can leave it off.
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How long should a resume be for a high school student?
For a high school student, a resume should ideally be one page long. Since high school students typically have limited work experience, keeping the resume concise and focused on relevant achievements, skills, and experiences is key.
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How long should a resume be for a college student?
For a college student, a resume should typically be one page in length. Since most college students are still building their professional experience, a single-page resume is sufficient to highlight relevant skills, education, and early work experience.
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How long should a resume be for 5 years of experience?
For someone with five years of experience, one to two pages is typically the right length. The decision to expand to two pages depends on the depth and variety of your experience, but in either case, prioritize relevance and clarity to ensure your resume stands out.
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How long should a resume be for 20 years of experience?
For someone with 20 years of experience, a resume should typically be two pages. At this stage in your career, you’ve likely held multiple roles and developed a wealth of skills and accomplishments, which may require more space to adequately showcase. However, it’s important to still be concise and focused, ensuring the resume is tailored to the specific role you’re applying for. Any experience that does not relate to your current career goal or targeted role can be left off of the resume.
Final Thoughts
If you’re still trying to determine how long should a resume be, before you start crafting your resume, pay attention to your career stage, experience and education levels, as well as the job you are targeting. I suggest creating a rough draft of all your accomplishments and skills and label this resume something like “Master Resume.” From there, you can copy and paste relevant information from your master resume and use it to write shorter, targeted resumes for each job you apply for.
