"How Long Should Your Resume Be?"

“Keep it to one page” is outdated advice – but 10 pages is too many.

Here’s the real answer for Australia.

The General Rule

2-3 pages is standard for most professionals in Australia.

• Early career (under 5 years experience): 1-2 pages
• Mid-career (5-15 years): 2-3 pages
• Senior/executive: 3-4 pages acceptable

These are guidelines, not laws. Quality matters more than length.

When One Page Works

One page is fine if:

• You’re a recent graduate
• You have less than 3 years experience
• You’re in a field where brevity is valued
• You’re applying for a junior role

Don’t pad a thin resume. Short and strong beats long and weak.

When More Pages Are Okay

More than 3 pages can work if:

• You’re senior with genuinely relevant experience
• The role requires detailed technical skills
• You’re in academia or research (CVs can be much longer)
• You’re including a relevant publication list

But every line should earn its place. No filler.

What to Cut

If your resume is too long, cut:

• Jobs from 15+ years ago (summarise briefly)
• Irrelevant roles (your high school job if you’re 35)
• Detailed descriptions of obvious duties
• References section (provide separately when asked)
• Personal interests (unless relevant)
• Lengthy “objective statements”

What to Keep

Don’t cut:

• Achievements with quantified results
• Relevant skills and certifications
• Recent experience (last 10-15 years in detail)
• Professional summary at the top

The Real Test

Can a recruiter quickly find what they need?

If your resume is 3 pages but well-organised and scannable, it works. If it’s 2 pages of dense text with no structure, it fails.

Format matters as much as length. Use clear headings, bullet points, and white space.