A curriculum vitae, or CV, is a document that outlines your education and professional experience. There's a lot of information you can include in a CV, including your skills and experience, education, and accomplishments. But how long should a CV be? While there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer, we'll explore some best practices to help you determine the right length for your CV and how to make the most impact with it.
- The ideal CV length
- What to include in your CV
- What not to include in your CV
- How to shorten your CV
- More CV advice
- Summary
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The ideal CV length
When it comes to CV writing, one of the most common questions that come up is "how long should my CV be?". The answer is that the ideal length for a CV is between two and three pages, depending on your experience. If you have fewer than 10 years of work experience, two pages should be enough. But if you have more than 10 years of professional experience or extensive qualifications, a three-page CV may be appropriate.
It's always best to keep things concise and relevant to allow employers and recruiters to quickly get an idea of who you are and your experience. Make sure that everything you include in your CV is pertinent to the position or industry you're applying for, and avoid unnecessary details or overly long descriptions. This will help you keep your CV concise and to the point — which will prevent it from getting lost in the pile of other applications.
What to include in your CV
When crafting your CV, there are certain elements that you should always include. Here's a quick breakdown of the most important components:
- Your contact information
- A brief summary
- Work experience
- Education and training
- Awards and achievements
- Important research projects
- Published work
- Speaking engagements
- Relevant skills and competencies
- Languages
- Scholarships
- Memberships to professional bodies
By including these elements, you can ensure that your CV is comprehensive and tailored to the job you're applying for. This will help you stand out from other candidates and highlight why you’re the best person for the role.
Remember, as a student or graduate, not all of these sections will apply to you. If you don't speak any other languages or aren't a member of a professional body, for example, it's fine to leave these sections out.
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What not to include in your CV
As well as including certain elements in your CV, it’s important to also avoid including anything that could be perceived as unprofessional or irrelevant. Here's a list of the most common things employers and recruiters don't need to see on CVs:
- Unnecessary personal information (such as your age, height, marital status and religion)
- Photographs
- References
- Reasons for leaving jobs
- Salary history
- Excessive jargon and buzzwords
- Grammatical and spelling mistakes
If you have any of the above information on your CV, it’s best to remove it. This will help ensure that your CV is professional.
How to shorten your CV
Keeping your CV concise and relevant is key, but it can be hard to know what to cut out when you’re limited by a certain number of pages. Here are some tips for trimming down your CV.
Focus on the job you’re applying for
Make sure every word in your CV relates back to the role and why you’re the best person for it. Anything that isn’t related to the job should be removed. For example, if you’ve got a degree in a subject that isn’t relevant to the role, it can be left out. Or, if you have extra qualifications that are unlikely to be noticed, you can remove them or condense them into a single line. This will help make space for more important information.
Be concise in your descriptions
Try to avoid overly long descriptions or lengthy explanations of your experience. Keep things as brief as possible, while still conveying the most important information about yourself. Use bullet points to make it easier for employers to quickly scan for the key details they need to know about you. You can also try using specific action words and active phrases to describe your experience and skills.
Watch out for repetition
If you have already listed a skill or experience in your CV, there’s no need to repeat it. Make sure that any extra information you include isn't redundant. Each sentence should include something new and contribute to your application. When you re-read your CV, try to spot any redundancies and delete them to save space.
Leave the smaller details for your cover letter
Some details don’t necessarily need to be included in your CV and can be left out. Your cover letter is a great place to provide extra information about yourself, such as why you want the job or how you would benefit the company. This will give employers a better understanding of who you are without making your CV too long.
Reduce the font size
If you’re still struggling to keep your CV under the page limit, try reducing the font size slightly. This will help you fit more information into a smaller space without making it look overcrowded. However, try to avoid going below 10 points — as this can make your CV difficult to read. You can also reduce the margins slightly, but remember to keep them consistent throughout the document.
Shorten your personal summary
Your personal statement is a great way to introduce yourself and highlight why you’re the best person for the job. However, it’s easy to go overboard with this section. Try to keep your personal statement brief and relevant. Aim for no more than two small paragraphs or four sentences in total — and make sure to include key details only.
More CV advice
Writing a great CV is an essential step towards success in any job search. While this gives you a great starting point, there are lots of other tips and tricks available to help you create a winning CV. Make sure you read:
How to write a CV: This guide will help you create an effective structure and layout for your CV, as well as provide tips on what to include.
Top CV tips: To really stand out from the crowd, it’s important to make sure your CV is up-to-date and follows best practices. This article shares some of the most important tips for writing a successful CV.
What is a personal profile: It's important to include an impactful personal profile at the start of your CV. This article explains how to write one and what key information it should include, grabbing the attention of the employer right from the start.
Key skills for a CV: Employers often look for specific skills in your CV. This article outlines some of the most useful and important skills to mention on a CV to give you an edge over other applicants.
These guides will help you master CV writing and make sure your application stands out from the crowd. With the right advice, you can create a CV that will get you noticed by employers and bring you one step closer to landing your dream job.
Take the extra step towards creating a CV that will get you noticed by top employers with this free e-learning module.
Summary
Crafting an effective CV is a key part of the job search process. It’s important to include all relevant information and make sure it’s presented in a clear, concise way. Avoid including any unnecessary information or irrelevant details, and don’t be afraid to cut things out if they aren’t necessary. Finally, make sure to double-check for any typos or mistakes before sending it off, as this can really hurt your chances of getting an interview.