How Long Should a Resume Be? The Definitive Answer for 2026

The ideal resume length depends on your experience level, industry, and target role. Here is the straightforward answer most people need, plus guidance for special situations.

The Quick Answer

Most job seekers: 1 page
Senior professionals (10+ years): 2 pages
Executives and academics: 2-3+ pages

When in doubt, stick to one page. A focused, one-page resume beats a padded two-page resume every time.

Resume Length by Career Stage

Entry-Level and New Graduates: 1 Page

If you have less than 5 years of experience, your resume should be one page. Period. You do not have enough relevant experience to justify more, and padding with irrelevant information hurts your candidacy.

Include: education, internships, relevant projects, skills, and any work experience. Leave out: high school details (unless recent graduate), every job you have ever had, lengthy descriptions of basic duties.

Mid-Career Professionals: 1-2 Pages

With 5-10 years of experience, you might genuinely need two pages—but only if the second page contains substantial, relevant content. A page and a half with white space looks worse than a tight one-pager.

Test: If removing anything from page two would weaken your candidacy, keep two pages. If page two is filler, cut to one.

Senior Professionals: 2 Pages

With 10+ years of relevant experience, two pages is appropriate and expected. You have achievements worth documenting. However, still be selective—focus on the last 10-15 years and most relevant accomplishments.

Executives: 2-3 Pages

C-suite and senior leadership roles warrant longer resumes. Board memberships, speaking engagements, publications, and strategic initiatives all belong. Some executive resumes reach 3 pages.

Academic CVs: As Long as Needed

Academic CVs follow different rules. Publications, presentations, grants, and teaching experience all require documentation. CVs of 5-10+ pages are normal for established academics.

Industry-Specific Guidelines

Tech: 1 page preferred, 2 acceptable for senior roles. Focus on projects and technologies.

Finance: 1 page standard, even for experienced professionals. Conciseness is valued.

Healthcare: 1-2 pages depending on credentials and certifications.

Federal Government: 3-5 pages standard for USAJobs applications.

Creative Fields: 1 page resume + separate portfolio.

How to Fit Everything on One Page

If your resume spills onto a second page, try these strategies:

• Cut old jobs – Anything beyond 10-15 years can usually go
• Reduce bullets – 3-5 per job, not 8-10
• Remove obvious skills – Microsoft Office does not need to be listed in 2026
• Tighten margins – 0.5 inch margins are acceptable
• Adjust spacing – Single spacing with minimal gaps
• Use a compact template – Some designs fit more content

Common Mistakes

Mistake: “More pages means more impressive”
Reality: Recruiters spend 6-7 seconds on initial screening. Longer resumes mean important information gets missed.

Mistake: Including every job since high school
Reality: Only include relevant, recent experience. Your pizza delivery job from college does not belong on your engineering resume.

Mistake: Tiny fonts to fit more content
Reality: Fonts below 10pt are hard to read. Cut content instead.

The Bottom Line

Your resume should be as long as it needs to be to sell your candidacy—and not one line longer. For most people, that means one page. Quality beats quantity.

Focus on achievements that demonstrate value to your target employer. Everything else is optional.

Related Articles

• Resume Format Guide
• Common Resume Mistakes
• AI Resume Builder

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