How Long Should a Resume Be? The Complete Guide to Resume Length in 2025

Ever stared at your resume wondering if it's too long or too short? You're not alone.

Thousands of job seekers struggle with this exact question, trying to figure out if they should cut that internship from five years ago or keep that volunteer experience that might just catch a recruiter's eye.

Resume length isn't about picking a random number of pages. It's about showing your experience in a way that makes recruiters want to learn more about you.

And yes, there's actually some solid data behind what works and what doesn't.

Your resume like a movie trailer. It needs to be long enough to tell your professional story but short enough to keep someone's attention.

Getting this balance right can mean the difference between landing in the "maybe" pile or the "must interview" stack.

The ideal resume length

Applicant Tracking Systems…don't care about page length – they care about relevant keywords and experience.

Recruiters spend seconds on their first scan of your resume.

That's not just a random guess – it's based on eye-tracking studies conducted by Ladders, Inc. Pretty cool, right?

Many recruiters are still skimming resumes for…just 7.4 seconds

That same research shows that two-page resumes don't actually hurt your chances, contrary to the old "one-page-only" rule. In fact, for experienced professionals, a two-page resume might even give you an edge.

The numbers also tell an interesting story. According to a 2023 survey, recruiters are 2.3 times more likely to prefer two-page resumes for experienced candidates. They found that these longer resumes provided a more complete picture of the candidate's capabilities.

ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) have changed the game too. These systems don't care about page length – they care about relevant keywords and experience.

So while human readers need a clean, scannable format, you also need to ensure your resume has enough substance for the bots to work with.

Does this mean you should always go for two pages? Not necessarily. Your resume's ideal length depends on a few factors we'll dive into next.

It’s a lot like a tailored suit – the right fit depends on your measurements, not someone else's.

Next up, let's break down some standard guidelines that apply to most job seekers.

Standard resume length guidelines

Let’s look at some of the generally accepted guidelines:

For new grads:

If you're just starting your career or have less than 5 years of experience, one page is probably your sweet spot. It's like a highlight reel of your best professional moments – short, impactful, and to the point. Fresh graduates, I'm looking at you. Your internships, relevant coursework, and those leadership positions in student organizations can all fit nicely on one page. And that's exactly what recruiters expect to see from early-career candidates.

For more experienced folks:

But what if you're a mid-career professional? This is where two-page resumes often make more sense. You've got multiple roles to showcase, significant achievements under your belt, or maybe even some industry recognition.

Here's a quick way to think about it:

• One page: Early career (0-5 years), career changers, or when specifically requested
• Two pages: Mid-career (5-15 years), technicalroles, management positions
• Three+ pages: Executive roles, academic CVs, federal positions

And federal resumes? They're a different animal entirely. For government positions, you might even need 4-5 pages to include all the required information. Academic CVs can run even longer, sometimes reaching 15-20 pages for senior professors.

Factors that influence resume length

The length of your resume should adapt based on several key factors that many job seekers overlook:

Industry

• Tech companies: Prefer shorter, skills-focused resumes
• Banking and finance: Expect detailed achievement records

Geography

• European CVs: Generally longer, include personal details
• American resumes: Typically shorter, more focused

Company size

• Startups: Might prefer shorter resumes due to limited HR resources
• Large corporations: may use ATS, which can handle longer resumes but still prioritize concise, keyword-rich content.

Application method

• ATS applications: Include more details and keywords
• Direct applications/networking: Keep it concise and punchy

How to optimize your resume length

A resume like prime real estate. Every word needs to earn its place, just like every square foot of a luxury apartment needs to serve a purpose.

You'd be amazed at how much space you can save with some smart formatting choices. A few quick examples.

Margins

Let's start with margins. Sure, you could squeeze them down to 0.3 inches to fit more content – but should you? Probably not. Stick to 0.5-1 inch margins for readability.

If your resume is hard to read, it doesn't matter how much information you've crammed in there.

Font

Font choice matters too – each font takes a different amount of page space.

For example, Times New Roman takes up more space than Garamond (even at the same size).

This is a great example of how the same font can take up different space (even while at the same size).

Here's a quick space-saving checklist that won't sacrifice readability:

• Play around with fonts, font sizes, and margins.
• Use bullet points instead of dense paragraphs for job descriptions
  • Use no more than 8 bullet points for recent AND relevant roles, and 2-5 for older, less relevant roles.
  • Don’t be afraid to remove old jobs at the back of the list that don’t contribute anything.
• Remove redundant words like "responsible for" or "duties included"
• Delete the "References available upon request" line – it's assumed

Want to know the biggest space-waster I see? Long bullet points that could be combined. Instead of three bullets describing similar tasks, merge them into one powerful statement.

Common resume length mistakes to avoid

The biggest mistake I see people make is sticking to a certain length just because someone told you to.

I've seen qualified candidates squeeze 10 years of experience onto one page because someone on LinkedIn told them so.

Another mistake is what I call "kitchen sink syndrome." That's when you include every single thing you've ever done, hoping something will stick. Your summer job from high school probably isn't relevant to that senior management position you're applying for.

White space is your friend, not your enemy. Some people try to shrink their margins down to microscopic levels or use 8-point fonts. Please don't. If a recruiter needs a magnifying glass to read your resume, they’re likely to move on to the next one.

Here's a weird one: inconsistent spacing between sections. Having three lines of space after one job and one line after another makes your resume look sloppy, no matter how long or short it is.

How to trim your resume length

If your resume's running a little long – don't panic. Let's walk through some practical ways to trim it down without losing the good stuff.

• First step? Do a relevancy audit. Look at every single bullet point and ask yourself: "Does this help me get the job I want right now?" If the answer isn't a clear "yes," it's time to let it go.
• Numbers are your best friends when it comes to trimming. Instead of writing "Responsible for managing a large team and significantly increasing sales," try "Led 12-person team to 43% sales increase in 6 months." See how much space we just saved?
• Third, combine related achievements. Instead of listing three separate projects with similar outcomes, write one strong bullet point like "Led 5 product launches, each exceeding revenue targets by 25-40%."
• Those long, flowery phrases? They've got to go. "Leveraged extensive experience in facilitating cross-functional team collaboration" can become "Led cross-functional teams." Same meaning, half the words.

And please, take a hard look at those dated technical skills. If you're in tech, do you really need to list that you know Windows XP? Focus on current, relevant skills that match the job description.

Special situations

There are some special situations that might affect your resume length. Because sometimes, the standard rules don’t apply.

For example, if you’re applying internationally? You’ll need to rethink your approach. European CVs often include personal details and can run longer than U.S. resumes. Japanese resumes (履歴書, rirekisho) follow a strict one-page format with specific formatting rules.

Got a killer LinkedIn profile? Your resume might not need to tell your whole story. Think of your resume as the trailer and your LinkedIn profile as the full movie. Just make sure to add your custom LinkedIn URL to your resume's header.

What about that side hustle or passion project? If it's relevant to your target job, absolutely include it. A software developer's personal coding projects or a marketer's successful blog can deserve space on your resume.

Digital portfolios are important too. Designers, writers, and developers can keep their resumes shorter by linking to online work samples.

Tips and recommendations

Let me share some insider secrets from hiring managers and recruiters I've talked to. Their perspective might surprise you – and it could give you the edge you need.

What a tech recruiter told me recently:

"I don't care if it's one page or two. I care if I can find the information I need in 30 seconds or less."

That's the key – making your resume scannable matters more than its length.

A banking HR manager shared another tidbit:

Candidates often underestimate the power of white space. A dense resume is exhausting to read, no matter how qualified the person is.

She's right – your resume needs to breathe.

Want to know what senior managers look for? According to one Fortune 500 executive, it's all about impact.

Show me what changed because of your work. I'll read three pages if every bullet point tells me about real results.

The most surprising advice came from a startup founder.

If you can tell me your story in half a page and make me want to know more, you're already ahead of 90% of applicants.

Sometimes less really is more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let's tackle some of the questions I get asked most often about resume length.

Can my resume be 1.5 pages?

I hear this one a lot. Short answer: no. If you're going over one page, fill the second page by at least 50%. A half-empty second page looks like you don't know how to format properly.

Should I use a different resume length for online applications versus in-person networking?

Smart question. For online applications, you might want to include more keywords for ATS systems. For networking events, a one-page "highlight reel" version often works better.

What about my extensive project list?

Try this: create a separate project portfolio document. Your resume can include your most impressive 3-4 projects, with a note that more examples are available upon request.

When should I switch from a resume to a CV?

Easy rule of thumb: use a CV for academic positions, research roles, or when specifically requested. For most other jobs, stick with a resume.

Key Takeaways

• Your resume length should be determined by your story, not arbitrary rules
• Consider these factors when deciding length:
  • Your experience level
  • Industry standards
  • Career level
  • Value proposition
• Quality matters more than quantity - make every word count
• Test your resume by reviewing it from a recruiter's perspective (30-second review)
• Keep updating your resume as job market trends change
• Trust your judgment while following industry guidelines
• Remember: Your resume is a living document that evolves with your career

Example Resumes

If you’re ever stuck on your resume, check out the sample library at Resumatic.