Reducing Pages in a CV

It can be very hard, if you are writing your own CV, to determine what goes in, what gets left out, and what's important. It's even harder if you have a very long career history across multiple positions.

The general rule of thumb is that two pages is sufficient for your prospective employer to determine whether they should offer you an interview. This is not set in stone, however. For a graduate, one page is perfectly normal, whereas it's not uncommon to see a senior-level CV exceeding three pages. If you find yourself going beyond that, the tips below will help you reduce the length of your CV.

You should put nothing in your CV that would allow anyone to make a negative decision about you before they have met you. Your CV should make you shine, and if you need 20 years of career history to do that, there's a reason why you are looking to change jobs now.

The most important page to focus on is the first. The second is merely a backup — a confirmation that you can do what you say. Including a brief profile and bullet-pointed areas of expertise trains the eye towards these keywords and allows you to pinpoint exactly where your knowledge lies.

How to Reduce Your CV's Length

• Limit career history to the last 10 years Unless you have been in one position for a long time, list only the last decade of experience. If earlier roles contain significant achievements worth highlighting, these can be summarised in an "Earlier Career" section with brief bullet points underneath.
• Remove job descriptions — focus entirely on achievements If you have a lot to say, strip out all traces of job description and focus each bullet point purely on what you achieved or how you added value. A list of your job parameters will not sell you — it's the outcomes that matter.
• Streamline your education section Unless you are applying for a particularly high-level medical or law-related role, focus on degrees and A-Levels. Showcase your personal development through a separate training and development section that highlights directly relevant qualifications only.
• Quantify, don't qualify Only include achievements you can quantify. "Increased revenue" is weak — "Increased revenue by 22% YoY through renegotiated supplier contracts" earns its space. Numbers earn their keep; vague claims don't.
• Use your cover letter for the extras You can tailor a cover letter to include additional points of interest and achievement. A well-written cover letter provides much-needed context that supports your CV without bloating it.
• Remember: less is more The key principle throughout is restraint. Only include achievements, quantify them where possible, and allow your CV to show your future employer exactly what you could achieve for them. Don't be tempted to keep writing.