How long should a resume be?
How long should a resume be? One page for most people, and two pages once you have about ten years of relevant experience. Never pad to reach a second page, and never go to three for an ordinary job. Academic CVs have no limit, and US federal jobs cap resumes at two pages.
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How many pages, by case
| Your case | Pages |
|---|---|
| Student, first job, or recent graduate | 1 |
| Under about 10 years of experience | 1 |
| About 10 years or more of relevant experience | 2 |
| Changing careers | 1, built around what transfers |
| Senior or executive roles | 2 |
| US federal job on USAJOBS | 2 at most. Since September 27, 2025, you must choose a resume of two pages or less to apply. |
| Academic or research CV | As many as your record needs. See CV vs resume. |
The test is not a page count, it is whether every line helps with this job. One strong page beats two padded ones.
When two pages is right
Go to two pages when cutting further would remove things the job asks for: a second relevant job, a certification, a project with a result. Then:
- Put your name and the page number at the top of page two.
- Keep the most recent and most relevant work on page one.
- Fill at least half of page two. If you cannot, go back to one.
How to cut a resume to one page
Work down this list until it fits. Each step loses less than the one after it.
- Delete the objective. Replace it with a two-line summary, or nothing.
- Delete "references available upon request" and any references. They belong on a separate sheet.
- Cut each job to its best two to four lines. Keep the ones that match the posting.
- Merge lines that say the same thing in different words.
- Put skills on one or two grouped lines instead of a column.
- Shorten or drop the oldest jobs. How far back a resume should go has the rule.
- Only then, tighten the layout: body text no smaller than about 10 points, margins no smaller than about half an inch.
How long, in words
A one-page resume is usually a few hundred words. Lines start with a verb and run one or two lines on the page. If a line wraps to a third line, it is two lines that want to be split, or one that wants cutting.
Check the length on the real page
Length depends on the template: the same words fill a page in one layout and spill over in another. Upload the resume you have to see it laid out on a clean template, and try another one if it runs over.
Questions
Is a two page resume OK?
Yes, when you have the experience to fill it with relevant work, usually about ten years or more. For a student or a first job, two pages usually means something should be cut.
Can a resume be three pages?
For an ordinary job, no. Three pages or more is for an academic CV, which has no limit. US federal jobs accept two pages at most.
How many pages should a resume be for a student?
One. Education, a few jobs or projects, and skills fit on one page, and recruiters expect that from a student.
Does a half-empty second page look bad?
It looks like a one-page resume that ran over. If page two has only a few lines, cut back to one page. If it is two pages, the second should be at least half full.
Should I shrink the font to fit one page?
Only a little. Keep body text at about 10 to 12 points and margins at about half an inch or more. Below that, cut words instead.
Sources
- Applicant guidance on the two-page resume limit, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, In effect since September 27, 2025
- Curricula vitae (CVs) versus resumes, The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Read October 2, 2026
Bring the resume you have
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Want a second opinion? Jobician, from the same team, scores your resume the way hiring software reads it. Check it on Jobician