How Long Should A CV Be?

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Writing a CV can be highly challenging. It can be difficult to sell yourself to the right employers without seeming like you are bragging. When it comes to finding a job role that is the right fit for you, you should check that your CV highlights some of your strengths and areas of expertise.

Recruitment can be a challenge for many, thanks to the large number of applications which companies need to process. Because of this, it is important to make your CV intriguing and stand out from other candidates.

Here is a guide into how long your CV should be, with some tips for cutting out some filler text. For more detail, check out the differences between cv vs resume.

Aim For One Page

Firstly, most CVs should aim for one page of text. This is so that recruiters can see all of your relevant skills and experience in one glance.

It is one of the most effective ways to stand out to potential employers, and it can save you money on printing!

Single page CVs could be achieved by stripping it down into basic points detailing your experience and qualifications. Consider the different formatting options when you are working on this.

Two Pages Can Be Okay

On the other hand, single page CVs can be slightly limiting for those that have more experience or specific terms to discuss.

As long as everything included in your CV is relevant to the job you are applying for, and you feel like each point is needed, then most employers will accept a two-page CV.

However, it all comes down to how relevant the details provided are. For example, you may look at your current CV and think that there are some unnecessary points.

If you can, it can be useful to begin stripping your CV back. From there, you can outline the type of areas you are interested in, and key skills relating to those.

Font Size

If you are finding it difficult to condense the details on your CV, but you want to get it down to one page, you could change the font size.

There is, however, a fine line between making the font on your CV too small, and fitting everything on one concise page.

You will need to keep your font above size 11 so that it is easy for recruiters to read.

Another way that you can give yourself a little space for text on your CV is by changing the margins of the document. If you haven’t already, you can change the margins to 0.75 inches.

It may seem like a small change, but it can make a great deal of difference when it comes to adding important information.

Reduce Your CV Length

Here are some of the ways that you can reduce your CV length to make it easier for recruiters to glance at and take in as much information about your experience and background as possible.

Relevance

Make sure that everything you mention is relevant to you and the positions you are applying for. Contrary to common beliefs, your CV does not need to give a complete life history.

It doesn’t have to include details about you that are not relevant to the role, so you can get rid of many irrelevant points and still make sense.

Some recruiters like seeing your personal interests and hobbies, while others do not read that section at all. Because it is highly subjective, you should focus on making other sections of your CV detailed and relevant.

Your personal information and hobbies should be kept concise so that they can still be discussed if the recruiter asks, but won’t take up too much of your CV.

Repetition

Similarly, nobody should repeat anything on their CV. This means that anything you mention in your cover letter does not need to be discussed in depth on your CV.

Even if you are rewording a particular point slightly differently, you are still repeating yourself.

A great mindset to use here is if you have made the point well enough, then you won’t need to make it again. Avoid using excessive synonyms to describe yourself, and approach it with a different angle if you are struggling to write your CV.

Bullet Points

Your CV should not be a page filled with text. It makes it difficult for recruiters to read and skim their eyes over.

Focus on making each of your points concise using bullet points. Focus on what you want them to see, and make that stand out.

Consider getting someone you know to read over your CV if you are struggling to cut out points or decide on a format.

They can tell you which words or phrases are less relevant and allow you to change your layout. In turn, this can significantly increase your chances of getting a particular position.

Use A Cover Letter To Expand

Another key approach to creating a high quality CV is to write a cover letter that provides more details about yourself, your experiences, and the skills you have developed. You can use this as a chance to expand on certain points made in your CV.

If you want to include a paragraph about a particular lesson which you learned on the job, then you can bring it up in your cover letter.

In this way, your cover letter can be used to highlight your relevant skills for the job, personal interests, as well as why you want this job, so that your CV doesn’t need to have as much text.

Summary

Most CVs are one to two pages long in general. When it comes to creating a high quality CV, it is important to avoid sharing too much about yourself.

This can come off as unprofessional, and make it look like your experience is less relevant for the role you are applying for.

Consider the basic requirements found in the job description, and make sure you are writing a high quality cover letter.

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  1. […] of your résumé is optional. If you can’t think of any interests or think your résumé is already too long, you can leave it out of your […]

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