Busting the One- and Two-Page Resume Myths: How to Choose the Right Length

Recently, I’ve had several clients who were convinced that their resumes needed to be limited to just one or two pages.

It’s a common belief that anything longer is excessive or will turn off potential employers.

But here's the problem – these clients had extensive, valuable experience that was impossible to capture fully within such tight constraints.

When we forced their resumes into a specific length, we ended up cutting key details that highlighted their accomplishments, qualifications, and project involvement, potentially diminishing the CV’s impact.

The truth is, limiting your resume to a page or two isn’t always necessary or even advisable, especially if you have years of experience to showcase.

I’m not saying a one-page resume doesn’t have its merits – it certainly does, but only in the right context. It’s particularly effective for entry-level candidates, recent graduates, or those with limited work experience. In these cases, a single page ensures focus and clarity, presenting the most relevant information without overwhelming the reader. When there’s less experience to cover, a concise resume can be just as effective in highlighting your potential.

Another instance where resume length guidelines are important is in Australian government jobs. It’s common for resumes to have a 2 – 3 page limit, especially for roles within the Australian Public Service (APS). While not a strict rule across all departments, many agencies set a 2-page limit to encourage candidates to focus on their most relevant experience and achievements.

Of course, we still want to meet the 7-second rule—the time it takes for a recruiter to decide whether to continue reading. But as long as you reel the reader in quickly, you now have the chance to dazzle them with your valuable experience and achievements.

During my time in recruitment, I always followed my personal mantra that as long as everything in the resume added value, the length became less of an issue. Of course, let’s be honest – no one is going to sit down and read through an 8-page resume. But by restricting yourself to just 1 or 2 pages, you might actually be cutting out the very information that would show your value to the reader.

A well-curated, detailed resume that’s 3 or 4 pages can be far more compelling than a concise one that misses key details.

Some roles require more flexibility in resume length, especially when it's important to showcase the full scope of projects, responsibilities, and key achievements. For seasoned project managers, for example, readers expect to see the complexity and impact of the projects they've led. Effectively presenting these details often requires more space and condensing them too much can risk leaving out critical information that highlights their true expertise and contributions.

I’ve also noticed that some people are simply summarising their positions with just the title, company name, and dates – in an effort to meet the one-page "rule." While this may be fine for roles that were 20 years ago or in a completely different industry, it’s crucial to use your recent positions to highlight your achievements and contributions to the success of the projects or company. By overly summarising, especially in the areas where you’ve made the most impact, you could be saving room on the resume but missing out on potential call-backs.

Length Guidelines

These are general guidelines, and every resume may vary slightly depending on the role or industry. However, these key points provide a good framework to keep in mind when deciding resume length:

1 Page: Best for early-career professionals or those with 0-2 years of experience, where focus and brevity are key

2 Pages: Common for early to mid-career professionals with 2-5 years of experience, allowing for a bit more detail while still being concise

3 Pages: Suitable for mid to senior-level professionals with 5-10+ years of experience, providing room to showcase deeper accomplishments and more complex roles

4 – 5+ Pages: Suitable for executives, technical specialists, or individuals with long career histories (spanning 10+ years) and significant accomplishments, where detailed project scope and contributions need to be highlighted

Two crucial principles to keep in mind are Quality Over Length and Conciseness. Rule number one is always making sure that every detail on your resume adds value. It’s far better to have a two-page resume packed with relevant information than a one-page resume that feels incomplete. However, even when extending beyond one page, it's important to keep it concise.

Avoid unnecessary words and focus on key accomplishments, skills, and experiences that are directly relevant to the job you're applying for.

The trick is finding that perfect balance between providing enough detail and keeping it clear and impactful.

If you’re unsure whether your resume is truly effective, I offer free, no-obligation reviews and quotes for updates.

It’s better to be informed than to send out a resume that’s missing opportunities.