How Many Pages Should a Resume Be? Guide + Tips

When you're looking for a job, your resume is a key tool to help you stand out amongst other candidates. It often creates a potential employer's first impression of you and your skills in a quick, easy-to-read format. Many employers use the resume to select candidates they want to interview, so you want a document that catches their attention and highlights what you do best. 

How long should your resume be? Typically, your resume should be between one and two pages long and focus on your professional skills. Read on to discover the best resume sizes for different types of job and internship applicants, including key tips for keeping your resume a manageable size. 

Resume length: How many pages you really need 

The length of your resume will depend on your work experience and the industry in which you work. To figure out the best approach for you, review the list below of resume lengths for some common scenarios. 

One-page resumes 

One full page is a common length for resumes. It is especially well-suited for anyone with one to 10 years of relevant work experience, current students, or recent college graduates. Career switchers might consider using a single-page resume instead of a two-page one, even if they have over a decade of work experience, if some of their previous experience is not relevant to the job. 

Nonetheless, one-page resumes remain a standard length that will fit many use cases, particularly for early-career professionals.

Two-page resumes

In the past, employers expected resumes to be only one page. Today, some professionals prefer two-page resumes because they allow job seekers to include more keywords in their resumes that might be recognized by automated systems. When in doubt, though, err on the side of the more focused and shorter resume.

Two-page resumes are becoming increasingly more common, particularly as electronic resumes replace paper ones. Now, hiring managers can easily scroll through resumes digitally rather than having to thumb through a physical stack of them on their desk, making a two-page resume a less daunting prospect. 

Two-page resumes are a good choice for those with enough experience to fill both pages. As a result, two-page resumes are best suited to mid-career professionals with 10 to 15 years of relevant experience, who are applying to leadership positions within an organisation. 

Three-page (or more) resumes

You should almost never submit a three-page resume unless you meet a specific set of criteria or the industry in which you work specifically asks for resumes of this length. 

Typically, resumes that are three pages or longer are reserved for researchers, who often have lengthy resumes or CVs due to long lists of citations for published work. Mid-to-late stage professionals with 15+ years of experience who are applying to senior-level positions may also find that a three-page resume is required to adequately highlight their work experience and accomplishments. 

Still not sure?  Consider this  good rule of thumb:

A one-size-fits-all resume length doesn’t exist. Whilst some might find that they can fit all their professional experience into one page, others might find that they can only make their resume work with two pages. 

When in doubt, remember this easy rule of thumb: the ideal resume length is as short as possible whilst also including all your relevant accomplishments, skills, and experience. Try to keep your resume short without losing value.

Resume length tips

You may find it difficult to keep your resume short while still including all your prior work experience. Use these tips to edit, refine, and focus your resume so it can have as much impact as possible. 

1. Use only 3-5 bullet points. 

One of the key places that resumes can bloat is in the work experience section. Here, you should limit your bullet points to between three and five for each work experience item. You’ll keep your resume focused only on the experiences that matter to the job you are applying for. 

If you find that you have too many bullet points under each job title, then consider consolidating some of them. This is a particularly effective strategy when the bullet points overlap with one another. 

To do this, read through your resume and look for related bullet points that are currently separated. Then, combine them together. 

For example:

2. Focus on achievements rather than duties.

Another good way to cut down on the size of the work experience section of your resume is to emphasise your concrete achievements. You can achieve this by cutting out descriptions of potentially less crucial tasks. This technique also allows you to highlight the impact that you had at your previous place of employment. 

To do this, read through your resume and identify the duties listed without describing a greater outcome. Consider revising them to better reflect your contribution. Be as explicit and concrete as possible with your achievements.   

The example below illustrates this principle in action:

The first example is much longer and less impactful than the second one because it hides the applicant’s actions and achievements in excessive text. Whilst the “Before” example would be suitable for a cover letter, the “After” example is better suited for a resume. 

3. Use active language (and be concise).

You want your resume to be a focused representation of what you have accomplished and what you can bring to your next place of employment. As a result, use active, action-oriented language that succinctly describes what you did and accomplished rather than spelling out full sentences that make scanning difficult. 

To make your writing more action-oriented and concise, take out any unnecessary words that take attention away from the actions you performed and the outcomes you achieved. For instance, consider the two examples below: 

4. Only include relevant experience.

When applying to certain jobs, you will likely find that not all of your experience is equally relevant to the position. Consider excluding work that doesn’t seem particularly relevant to the job you are applying for.  

For example, if you are applying for a senior-level position at a company, then you can safely leave out the work you did whilst an undergraduate in college. Similarly, if you are a career switcher, then you might leave out some of the work that you have done previously that doesn’t relate to your new position. 

That said, you might consider keeping the work if taking it out will create significant gaps in your employment history that might make employers believe you were out of work for a long time. Use your own discretion when following this tip but it is wise to always tailor your resume to whatever job to which you are applying, making sure that you only include the most relevant work experience. 

5. Include keywords. 

Today, many employers filter and rank resumes using applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan them for relevant keywords. Typically, these systems use the job description to identify relevant keywords and search resumes to rank them according to keyword matches.

As a result, you should tailor your resume to mirror the language used in the job description whenever you have experience or skills that match it. Some of the best places to include keywords or key phrases on your job application are your cover letter and in the summary, skills, and work experience sections of your resume. 

Optimise your job search with Coursera 

Submitting a polished resume is the first step to starting your new career. Choosing the optimal length for this document helps capture the attention of potential employers while conveying your qualifications effectively. 

As you prepare for your next job search, you might consider taking a flexible online course on Coursera on how to write a resume. In just five hours, you will craft an essential cornerstone of the modern-day job or internship search through a project-oriented course that leaves you with an eye-catching resume that lets your professional strengths shine.