PassTheBot"Keep it to one page" is the most common CV advice there is, and like most common advice it's half right. Length matters, but only as a proxy for the thing that actually matters: is every line on the page earning its place for this specific job? A tight two-page CV of relevant achievements beats a padded one-pager every time.
The rough guide by experience
- 0–5 years of experience: one page. You don't have enough relevant material to justify two, and padding shows.
- 5–15 years: one or two pages. Two is fine if the second page is full of relevant, recent achievements — not a list of every job you've held since school.
- 15+ years or highly technical/academic: two pages, occasionally more for academic CVs with publications. Still, lead with the last 10–15 years.
What to cut first
When a CV runs long, these go before anything else:
- Jobs older than ~15 years, or roles irrelevant to what you're applying for now — a line each, or gone.
- The generic "personal statement" that could describe anyone. Replace it with a two-line summary specific to the role.
- Duties that were just expected of the role. Keep achievements (what you changed or delivered), cut responsibilities (what you were supposed to do).
- Hobbies and interests, unless they're directly relevant or genuinely distinctive.
A good test for any line: does it help this employer decide I can do this job? If not, it's taking up space a stronger line could use.
Why shorter usually wins
A recruiter spends seconds on the first pass. A dense, relevant CV respects that; a long one buries your best material under filler. And the applicant tracking system doesn't reward length either — it rewards a clear match to the requirements. Cutting to what's relevant helps you with both the machine and the human on the other side.
PassTheBot scores each version of your CV against the specific job, so you can see whether a cut actually costs you a match — or just trims the fat.