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Is it better to have a one or two-page CV?

CV Oct 7, 2022

It's a common mistake to assume that the CV is just a list of your education and work history. Your CV needs to show that you have the right skills and experience for the job, so it should focus on what you've achieved in previous roles!

Check out below, how important is to keep your CV in one page, in order to be better optimized and find much easier a job!

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Is it better to have a one or two-page CV?

If you have a lot of experience, a one-page CV is the best choice. It shows that you are confident and know how to get the most out of your experience. If you don't have much experience, two pages are fine, but it's better to keep it under than over this.

In general, if the job requires multiple skills and achievements, then two pages are more appropriate as they can show more about yourself and make sure that nothing gets left out.

If the job does not require a lot of skills or achievements, then one page is enough for most people as long as they include their main qualifications in at least one sentence each (e.g., "Certified Scrum Master" would usually be enough).

PS: Have in mind something really important. The recruiters and the employers take six to seven seconds in order to read your CV. So, based on the pages your CV is, calculate the time it takes for someone to read it :)

Is it better to have a one or two-page CV?

A CV is like a sales brochure.

Your CV is like a sales brochure for your achievements as a potential employee. It should be tailored to the job you're applying for, and it should describe your career progress in reverse chronological order, with the most recent items at the top of each section.

Your CV needs to be tailored to the job you're applying for.

If a recruiter reads through your CV and sees that it doesn't seem like it's relevant to the job they advertised, they're not going to give you an interview and move on to the next candidate. When writing your CV, make sure that you read the job description carefully and highlight any skills or experiences that match what is needed for the role in question.

Additionally, try adding some keywords from their listing into your own resume. This will ensure that when hiring managers search for candidates online, yours pops right up in front of them!

How should you describe your career progress?

In reverse chronological order. When you're writing your CV, start by describing your most recent job or project. Then describe the previous one. Repeat this process until you've described all of your jobs and projects, ending with the most recent one first.

If you are applying for a job that requires a lot of experience in a particular area, it may be tempting to list only these relevant positions on your CV.

However, unless they were very long-term positions or highly significant roles within an organization (in which case they might go at the top of the page), including at least some information about other jobs will help demonstrate how well-rounded and experienced you are as an employee.

Use bullet points.

Instead of paragraphs, and use lines and bold type to make important information stand out.

As the name implies, bullet points are lists of brief items that can be read in a couple seconds. They're ideal for conveying important information quickly and effectively.

For example:

  • Have an eye for detail.
  • Be passionate about your work.

Bullet points also allow you to highlight important information without overwhelming the reader with text.

For example:

  • Worked as a freelance web designer from 2006 to 2016 and created several websites for small businesses in the greater Portland area.
  • In 2015 joined up with a team at [company name] to develop their digital marketing strategy and online presence.

Once it's finished, make sure it's error free.

Once you have a clean copy of your CV, make sure it's error free. Check for typos and grammatical errors. Also, check the formatting of your CV to ensure that it's consistent throughout. You don't want to have three different fonts in one page!

You should also check against any job descriptions or scholarship application forms you're applying for if possible. This will help you find any weaknesses in your CV and get a better idea of what recruiters or sponsors are looking for when they read through resumes.

Take time to think about your cover letter as well.

The cover letter is a way of introducing yourself to potential employers and explaining why you are right for the job. It should be written in the same style as your CV and should be no longer than one page.

Include any information that wasn't included on your CV or that would make you stand out from other candidates (if applicable).

PS: When applying for jobs by email, always address it to a specific person. The person who will read it!

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Conclusion

Your CV is the first thing employers will see when they're considering your application, so it's important to make sure it's as good as possible. A well-written CV will show that you're a strong candidate and give them more reasons to hire you than someone else.

It's also worth taking time over your cover letter too. This is the second thing people will see, so make sure it highlights some of your best qualities and convinces them that you're a perfect fit for their company!

Keep it short, simple, and impressive with your expertise. Not, your amount of words and pages!


You can also read our article:

5 Tips on Enhancing Your CV to Make an Impression on New Employees
5 Tips on Enhancing Your CV to Make an Impression on New Employees

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Zoi Kotsou

Copywriter - Content writer - Content Strategist

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