How long should a CV be? CV Writing

CVs are your first point of contact with hiring managers and employers. They are a way for you to tell your potential employer about your skills and experiences while showing why you feel you’d be a great fit for the job. But how long should a CV be? 

Is there a recommended length? 

Can a CV be too long? 

Read on through Building Better Opportunity’s latest Knowledge Hub article to find out how long your CV should be and some handy tips on grabbing the reader’s attention.

How long should my CV be?

The length of a CV will vary naturally depending on the person’s work history and experience. That being said, most recruiters agree that a CV should be no longer than two pages. These pages should be in various sections describing your skills, work experience, academic history, and a statement about why you’re ideal for the job.  

How do I make my CV shorter?

If you find your CV is looking a bit too long, then take some time to make it shorter. There are a number of ways you can do this.

First of all, have a look through and make sure everything you’ve included is relevant. Ask yourself if the employer looking at your CV would regard the information as important to the job and interesting. If you find that there is something in there that doesn’t cover this, then it may be wise to take it out. This is particularly true of your skills and interests section. Compare your CV to the job description and only include the skills and interests that are relevant to the role.

Similarly, you may want to consider cutting down your work history depending on how far back you have gone. If you have lots of work experience, it isn’t necessary to include a paper round you had as a child or a summer job you did as a teenager.

Finally, remember to keep in mind that your CV is only the starting point of your application. Many jobs may require a cover letter, or something similar, and it is here that you can go into more detail about previous employment or gaps in your CV.

Employment Advice in Staffordshire

Building Better Opportunities has a wide variety of resources available on our website to help you with CV writing. These include:

Our Advocates can also support you with writing your CV, personal statement, cover letter and preparing for interviews. 

]To get in touch with Building Better Opportunities,  give us a call on 01902 696 228 or fill in the enquiry form below to request a callback. 

You can also find us at various Work Clubs across Stafford & South Staffordshire. 

Visit our Drop-In Sessions page to find a location near you and further information on the free welfare advice in Stafford, Stoke-On-Trent, and the rest of the area.