The length of the curriculum vitae

How do you calculate the length of the curriculum vitae? How many pages are there to write? These are two of the most searched questions of all when it comes to writing a good CV. There is no standard size but there are lengths beyond which you should never go, in order to keep the attention of recruiters high.

The ideal length of a CV

In general, a good CV should not exceed two pages either in Word format and PDF format: this is because condensing information allows recruiters to focus on a few but good details, avoiding losing the attention threshold required by longer documents. So the ideal length for an excellent resume is two pages in a4 format if printed or two pages in PDF if in electronic format. A good resume of up to two pages, correctly formatted, is the key to access the interview or the second part of the recruitment process.

Why the length of a CV is important

Paying attention to the length of the resume, taking care not to exceed two pages and limiting the information has several advantages:

It allows you to highlight only the strictly necessary and important information;
It allows to structure the document in the best possible way;
Facilitates comprehension and reading, both by recruiters and by ATS software.

How to keep the length of a CV?

To avoid writing a curriculum vitae that is too long and at the same time be sure that you can enter all the necessary information, just keep these tips in mind:

Have a basic CV to consult and extract information from;
Sort the information by customizing the CV based on the position for which you are presented, in order to really attract the attention of recruiters;
Use a font of the right size, without ever exceeding the size 12 and never go below 9;
Layout correctly, using titles, bolds and blocks is essential to put together a complete CV and still stay within the two pages;
Print the CV once ready to reread it and make changes both in structure and in layout, if necessary.

How to avoid going too far?

The length of a CV is often excessive for a simple reason: mistakes are made that naturally lead to having to add too much, and not very relevant, information. Among these:

Insert too much information on the CV: being exhaustive means taking up useless space without giving targeted information;
Use a font too large;
Create too many sections making the document redundant.

What are the other mistakes to avoid?

Other small precautions also help to make a CV attractive and well done in terms of length:

The CV must never have empty half pages: therefore it must never be 1.5 pages or 2.5. Better to reduce to 1 if you can’t get to 2 and reduce to 2 in the opposite case: the aim is always to avoid presenting a document that is too long and, in fact, boring to read;
The length of the curriculum should not be considered as imperative: in the case of long and complex experiences, it is possible to have a greater number of pages available. So take the ideal length as a point of reference, but don’t let it affect you too much in case you need more space, only if justified. An excellent example in this sense is the CV of an engineer, which is usually two pages longer between training and professional experiences.

The extra tip to grab attention

As they receive many resumes, company recruiters very often do not go beyond the first page of the CV: this is why it is advisable indicate as much information as possible on the first page, condensing it if necessary, in order to have an extra opportunity.

The exception that proves the rule: the CV European

A separate paragraph deserves the European CV which follows different rules, also in terms of length. The Europass is in fact characterized by its length and cannot be shortened: it is in fact a particular type of CV intended for specific uses, for example applications to official bodies, and requires that it be completed following the standard.

In conclusion

The maximum length of the curriculum must be no more than two pages;
To avoid going too far, it is good to focus on the information available and choose only the relevant ones ;
Don’t use too large fonts and don’t create too many sections;
Condensing the most important information on the first page can be a perfect way to grab the attention of recruiters, especially if the job position for which you are applying is in great demand.