For most jobs in the UK, a CV should be no more than two sides of A4. One side is fine if you're a school leaver, a student, a recent graduate or applying for part-time work. Going over two pages is rarely needed, and the reason is usually that old or repeated detail hasn't been cut. This guide covers what UK careers services and recruiters say, when the rules bend, and how to cut a long CV down.
The short answer
- Two sides of A4 for most people. Prospects, the University of Sheffield, Michael Page and Reed all put two pages as the norm.
- One side is fine for most part-time jobs (Sheffield) and recent graduates (Reed). Michael Page's two-page norm leaves out entry-level jobs, and it says a one-page CV isn't a bad CV.
- Three or more only for senior roles, long specialist careers or academic posts.
- If the advert asks for a length, do what it says.
- Cut by relevance, not by font size. Older jobs, repeated bullets and hobbies go first.
What UK careers services and recruiters say
The sources broadly agree, with small differences:
- Prospects quotes the University of Chester's careers team: no longer than two A4 pages. It adds that a three-page CV may suit high-level roles or people with a lot of experience.
- University of Sheffield: for most placement and graduate roles, two sides of A4 is the norm; for most part-time jobs, one side is fine.
- Michael Page: unless you're applying for an entry-level job, two pages is widely seen as the right length, with up to four at most if needed. Academic CVs are the common exception.
- Reed: two pages is the sweet spot for most professionals, and one page is fine for recent graduates. Its own adviser puts the real rule as including what's relevant and leaving out what's not.
- Hays is the most relaxed. It says length depends on your experience and where you are in the world, that the average CV is around two to three pages, and that if you can do it well in one page, one page is great.
So: aim for two, accept one, and treat three as something you'd need a reason for.
Is one page too short?
Not if it's full. A school leaver with GCSEs, a Saturday job and some volunteering will usually fill one side well. Stretching that to two with big fonts and wide spacing makes it look thinner, not stronger.
If you have several years of work, one page often means you've cut things the employer wanted to see. Try two, then cut back.
The awkward length is one and a half pages. It looks unfinished. Either tighten it to one full page or add the detail that earns a second (a stronger profile, a result for each recent job, a course you left out).
Is a three-page CV too long?
Usually, for UK jobs outside academia. Prospects and Michael Page both allow more for senior roles and long careers. For most people, a third page is a sign of:
- Old jobs with full bullet points. Michael Page suggests focusing on your last 10 years and summarising older roles with the company, job title and dates. Reed says the last 5–10 years of relevant experience.
- Repetition. Michael Page warns that duplication isn't your friend. If three jobs have the same bullet, keep it once, where it's strongest.
- Things a UK CV doesn't need. Prospects says your date of birth is irrelevant and, outside acting or modelling, you don't need a photo. Reed says to include hobbies only if they're genuinely relevant.
Academic CVs, and some senior medical CVs, are different documents and can run much longer. Follow your field's own guidance.
How to cut a CV to two pages
Work through these in order and stop when it fits:
- Older roles. For jobs more than about 10 to 15 years ago that don't bear on the job you want, keep the job title, employer and dates, and drop the bullets. Don't delete the job: that leaves a gap.
- Weak bullets. Keep 3 to 5 bullets for recent roles and 1 to 3 for older ones, strongest first. Cut duties anyone in that job would have ("answered the phone").
- The profile. 3–4 lines is enough. See our guide to writing a personal statement for a CV.
- School grades, if you have a degree or long work history. Keep your highest qualification.
- Hobbies and interests, unless they show something the employer wants.
- "References available on request." It takes a line and tells the reader nothing new.
Don't cheat it with a tiny font or no margins. It makes the CV harder to read, and a reader can tell.
Worked example
This is a made-up example, not a real person.
A warehouse team leader has a three-page CV: 7 jobs since 2005, each with 5 or 6 bullets, plus a hobbies section.
- The 4 jobs before 2012 keep their titles, employers and dates and lose their bullets, under a short "Earlier career" heading. That saves most of a page.
- The current job keeps its 5 strongest bullets: team size, pick rates, the forklift licence, training new starters, and a safety audit they ran.
- Two bullets that repeat across jobs ("Loaded and unloaded deliveries") are kept once.
- Hobbies go, except the Sunday league team they manage, which shows organising people.
The result is two full pages, with every job and every date still there.
FAQ
Does two pages mean two sheets of paper or two sides? Two sides of A4. That's how the University of Sheffield puts it, and Prospects says two A4 pages.
Should I go back to my first job? List every job with its dates so there are no gaps, but give the older ones little or no detail. Michael Page suggests focusing on the last 10 years; Reed says the last 5–10 years of relevant experience.
The advert asks for a one-page CV. What do I do? Do what it asks. Cut older detail and the weakest bullets first.
Do the same rules apply outside the UK? Not always. Hays notes that length depends on where you are in the world. This guide is for UK jobs.
Does a cover letter count towards the length? No. A cover letter is a separate document.
Sources (checked 14 Nov 2026)
- Prospects: How to write a CV
- University of Sheffield: Writing a CV
- Michael Page: How long should a CV be?
- Reed: How long should a CV be?
- Hays: CV writing tips: Your CV questions answered
This isn't careers or legal advice. Check the National Careers Service (England) or a careers adviser for your situation.
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