The short answer
- Under 10 years of experience: one page
- 10+ years of experience, or senior and executive roles: two pages is acceptable
- Academic and research roles: follow the academic CV format, which has no page limit
If you're not sure, default to one page. Recruiters overwhelmingly prefer brevity when given the choice.
Why one page is usually right
A recruiter spends on average 7–10 seconds scanning a CV at the initial stage. In that time, they're looking for: your current job title, the previous role or two, education, and whether any of it matches what they need.
Everything useful about you can fit on one page. The things that don't fit are usually the things that don't need to be there.
A one-page CV forces you to prioritise. That constraint is a feature, not a bug.
When two pages makes sense
Two pages is appropriate when:
- You have 10 or more years of continuous, relevant experience where older roles genuinely matter
- You're applying for a senior, director, or executive role where depth of track record is the point
- The role has a technical depth requirement (engineering, medicine, science) and your full history is relevant
- The job description explicitly says it expects a two-page document
Even then, every line on page two should earn its place. If you could cut it and lose nothing important, cut it.
What to remove to fit one page
If you're struggling to fit onto one page, remove in this order:
1. Jobs older than 15 years (unless directly relevant to the application)
2. Early education once you have substantial work experience
Once you have 5+ years of experience, your secondary school grades add nothing.
3. Hobbies and interests
Unless directly relevant to the specific role, cut them.
4. "References available on request"
Everyone knows this. It wastes a line.
5. Skills that are assumed
"Proficient in Microsoft Word" is not a differentiator for most roles in 2026. Leave out skills that any candidate would have.
The two-page trap
Many CVs accidentally reach two pages without earning it. The most common causes:
- Multi-sentence bullet points that could each be one sharp line
- Job descriptions listing every task rather than focusing on impact
- Keeping irrelevant old jobs out of habit
- Font sizes or spacing that could be tightened
If you're at 1.8 pages, don't add blank space to fill a second page. Tighten the content until it lands on one.
If you do use two pages
Make sure your name appears at the top of page two — in a footer or small repeated header. If the pages get separated, a recruiter needs to know whose CV they're reading.
NobelCV shows you a live preview as you build, so you can see exactly how your content sits on the page. Adjust template, font size, and content until the length feels right.