How Long Should a Resume Be?
Length should match your experience — not pad it. Here's the simple rule, and how to trim if you're over.
How to cut to one page
- Drop or one-line roles older than ~10–15 years.
- Delete the "Objective"; replace with a 2–3 line summary if needed.
- Trim each bullet to a single line; lead with the result.
- Remove generic duties everyone in that job does — keep achievements.
- Tighten margins/spacing before shrinking the font below 10 pt.
FAQ
Should a resume be one page or two?
One page for students, new grads and most people under ~10 years' experience; two pages once you have 10+ years of relevant experience or a senior role. Length should follow substance, not pad it.
How long do recruiters look at a resume?
Very briefly — a widely-cited eye-tracking study found recruiters spend around 7 seconds on an initial scan. That's why the top third and clear formatting matter so much.
How do I shorten my resume to one page?
Cut roles older than ~10–15 years to one line or drop them, remove the 'Objective', trim each bullet to one line, delete duties everyone in the role does, and keep only quantified, relevant achievements.
Does a longer resume look more impressive?
No. Recruiters value relevance and clarity over length. Extra pages of duties dilute your strongest points and make the quick scan harder.
The ~7-second figure is from a recruiter eye-tracking study (Ladders, 2018). General guidance; norms vary by country and field.