How Long Should a Resume Be?
Updated October 2026 · Best Resume Studio
For most US jobs, a resume should be one or two pages. The right length depends on your experience — and on whether every line helps you get this job.
One page
Best for students, new graduates and people with under about 5–7 years of experience, or career changers whose earlier experience is less relevant.
Two pages
Normal for mid-career and senior professionals with substantial, relevant experience. Make sure the most important information is on page one, and put your name on page two.
More than two pages
Usually only for academic CVs, some federal jobs and some executive or research roles. For most private-sector jobs, cut it down.
How to shorten a resume
- Keep only the last 10–15 years in detail; summarize older roles in one line.
- Limit each role to 3–6 bullets, and each bullet to one or two lines.
- Remove "References available upon request" and outdated skills.
- Merge small sections (e.g., awards into experience).
Every template on Best Resume Studio uses US Letter size, and the checker warns you when your resume runs past two pages.