How long is too long?

In the UK it was drummed into us in school that our CVs should be no more than two pages long.

The longest CV I received when I was in recruitment was eight pages of dense text. I didn’t reject it – I gave the candidate advice on how to edit it. The final edit was six pages long, which wasn’t quite what I had in mind.

So how do you cram in decades of experience on two pages?

You don’t.

Your CV shouldn’t include every task you’ve ever completed. It’s meant to show your best bits.

The first page should include the most important information. If the reader goes no further, they’ve got what they need: profile statement, career highlights and your latest position, with your best achievements and outcomes for that role.

The second page continues to list your achievements in previous roles, withtangible outcomes.

Positions older than 10 years can be listed without detail. If you worked on projects you’re really proud of during that time, put them in the highlights on the first page.

If you need to go onto a third page, use it for the sections someone will seek out if they’re important to them – like your education, professional development and interests (but only if they’re interesting!).

Also:

• Edit as you go.Don’t add a new position without editing the rest of the document.
• Think about what you want to be famous for. If you hate writing newsletters, don’t make it a main feature of your CV. Remember this is your highlight reel, not a comprehensive list of every task you’ve ever completed.
• Use bullet points and write concisely, without jargon. If the reader has to use Google or a dictionary to understand your CV, you’ve lost them.

I have LOADS more information to share about CV writing, which you will find in this CV writing guide you can download for free here.​