How many pages should a CV be for the UK job market?
Summary/Overview
Your CV is often the first impression an employer gets of you. Everything from the structure of the CV to how many pages it covers can impact how they see you. So, it’s important to get the length right. After all, you don’t want the hiring manager to reject your application because your CV has too many pages.
How many pages a CV should be can depend on the role you’re applying for. You should tailor your CV for each application, making sure the content is concise yet detailed, and relevant to the role.
Well-organized CVs reflect professionalism and respect for the employer’s time, increasing the chances of landing an interview. Check out our top tips for curating the perfect CV length and get ready to craft your own with Adobe Express.
How long should a CV be?
Around two pages is how long a CV should be. The length can vary depending on the industry and the sector you’re in, as well as your experience level. In fact, CV length is based on several factors, including:
- Type of job you’re applying for. Specialised roles in areas such as academia often require longer CVs to show detailed research, published articles and journals, and projects. A corporate role might not need as much.
- Specific application requirements. Some employers may specify the length or structure of the CV. Always follow these guidelines to ensure your CV meets their expectations.
- Level of experience. If you’re fresh out of education with no work experience, keep your CV short and sweet, focusing on your education and skills. Senior professionals may need more space to highlight their achievements.
- Industry preferences. Roles in the creative industries, such as graphic design or illustrtation, will likely require visually engaging CVs. Others will want a more informative approach.
When to use a one-page CV.
A one-page CV template is ideal for jobseekers with limited experience or those applying for roles in which concise communication is valued. It's commonly used by recent graduates, career changers, or professionals targeting entry to mid-level positions.
An example of where to use a one-page CV is when attending job fairs or networking events, where employers need quick overviews. It’s an embodiment of ‘less is more’.
Pros: Easy to read, focused, and demonstrates your ability to prioritise information.
Cons: Can feel restrictive, especially for experienced professionals, and may leave out important details that showcase your full skillset. Personalisation is key to maximise its impact.
Free examples of a one-page CV in the UK.
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(To pull in manually curated templates if needed)
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(number of templates to load each pagination. Min. 5)
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When to use a two-page CV.
A two-page CV is suitable for experienced professionals, such as those with 10 years plus under their belt. Or when applying for senior-level positions that require you to showcase a variety of skills, accomplishments, and projects.
It's also great for technical roles such as engineering, where detailed descriptions of past projects, certifications, honours, and awards all matter.
Pros: Allows more space to fully detail your work history, skills, and achievements, making it easier for your CV to stand out for complex or senior roles.
Cons: May overwhelm recruiters who skim applications, and too much information could distract from key qualifications.
Editable two-page CV template ideas.
Collection ID
(To pull in manually curated templates if needed)
Orientation
(Horizontal/Vertical)
Width
(Full, Std, sixcols)
Limit
(number of templates to load each pagination. Min. 5)
Sort
Most Viewed
Rare & Original
Newest to Oldest
Oldest to Newest
Behaviors
(still/multiple-pages/video/animated)
Premium
(true, false, all) true or false will limit to premium only or free only.
Five tips to help you cut down your CV length.
Now we’ve looked at the what, let’s dive into the how. Follow these steps to create a concise CV using our free editable CV templates and cut through the noise to get noticed by employers.
1. Prioritise your most relevant and recent experience.
Put your most relevant and recent experience first. Recruiters can take, on average, anywhere between five and 10 seconds to skim your CV. Highlight experiences that match the role you’re applying for. Condense older experiences, especially if they’re from more than five years ago.
Emphasising recent experience is more likely to capture the recruiter’s attention because your current skills match their current needs. This is especially true if you’re working in a rapidly changing sector, such as technology or marketing.
2. Keep your personal summary short and sweet.
Your personal summary sits at the top of your CV. Keep it to a maximum of two to three concise sentences, highlighting your key strengths and what you bring to the table. Avoid using vague language, jargon, or unnecessary details. Short and sweet is key.
3. Tailor your CV to the job you’re applying for.
Personalising your CV to the job you’re applying for ensures you highlight the most relevant skills and experience related to the role. If you don’t have any, or very little, experience – don’t fret. All experiences have transferable skills that can still be useful for the job you’re applying for.
Look for other examples of job ads for similar roles to get an idea of the common keywords used. And try to incorporate these phrases into your CV. This can help it to display higher in recruiters’ search results.
4. List your highest education only.
Display your most recent educational achievements only. GCSEs are important, and so are A-Levels, but if you’ve since gained a degree, master’s degree or even PhD, they’re probably more relevant.
If you’ve also successfully completed industry qualifications, be sure to include those too. This might be the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) certification in the financial sector, or a CIM (The Chartered Institute of Marketing) qualification for those in advertising or marketing.
5. Proof, edit, then proof and edit some more.
Read through your work and check your grammar and writing style. Remove any errors, and don’t be afraid to rewrite different sections if you think they could be snappier. Take some time and space away from it, and come back to it later. Doing this can help you to see things you weren’t able to spot before.
Also, get someone else to look at it for you. Sometimes other people can see things which we may have missed. A second pair of eyes adds a level of objectivity to the polishing process.
Useful things to know.
How far back should a CV go?
Your CV shouldn’t go back more than 10 to 15 years. Only list the last five or six positions you’ve worked in that period. Including your earliest experiences isn’t recommended because work practices change with the times, so some of it might be outdated.
Is 3 pages okay for a CV?
Three pages is generally not recommend for CVs. However in certain cases it may be necessary, such as academic CVs, or if every bit of information applies to the role. But in most cases, keep it to no more than two pages.
What is the 7-second rule for a CV?
The seven-second rule for a CV refers to recruiters not spending more than seven seconds, on average, looking at your CV. You have a short window of time to impress them, so make it one they want to read with our free CV maker.