A CV, or curriculum vitae, is your first impression with an employer—so it needs to be clear, concise, and effective. One of the most common questions job seekers ask is: how long should a CV be? In the UK, the answer is simple: your CV should always fit on one page. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a mid-career professional, or changing industries, a one-page CV ensures recruiters can quickly scan and understand your qualifications.
In this guide, we’ll explore the ideal CV length in the UK and explain how long each section of a CV should be. Whether you’re writing a graduate CV or updating your professional one, here’s how to keep it short and impactful.
Why One Page Is Always Enough
Many candidates mistakenly believe that longer CVs appear more impressive. In reality, hiring managers spend just a few seconds on each CV. A concise, one-page CV helps you:
- Highlight only your most relevant experience.
- Maintain the reader’s attention.
- Pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- Appear more organised and strategic.
One page is not a limitation—it’s a competitive advantage.
How Long Should a CV Be in the UK?
In the UK job market, one-page CVs are the gold standard, especially when applying online or to larger companies. While older conventions allowed for two pages, recruiters today expect short, focused applications. This applies across all industries—from marketing and tech to retail and finance.
Even if you have 10+ years of experience, the key is to tailor your content, not expand it. A longer CV doesn’t mean better results—it usually means lost opportunities.
How Long Should Each Section Be?
To help you stick to one page, here’s how long each section of your CV should be, along with tips to keep it impactful and tight:
1. CV Header
- Length: 1-2 lines
- Content: Your full name, professional title, location, email address, and LinkedIn URL if relevant.
Keep it clean and avoid adding your full address or date of birth—they’re not required.
2. Personal Profile / CV Summary
- Length: 3-4 lines max
- Also referred to as a CV summary or personal statement, this is your elevator pitch.
Tip: Use this space to showcase who you are, what you bring to the table, and what kind of role you’re targeting.
For example:
“Results-driven marketing graduate with strong communication skills and hands-on internship experience. Passionate about digital content, SEO, and brand strategy. Seeking a junior marketing role in a growth-focused environment.”
3. Skills Section
- Length: 5-8 bullet points
- Focus on technical and transferable skills relevant to the job.
Avoid long descriptions—this is a scannable list, not a paragraph. Use keywords from the job description to optimise your CV for ATS systems.
4. Work Experience
- Length: 1–4 bullet points per role
- List only your 3 most relevant roles (or less if you’re a graduate). For each one, highlight achievements and outcomes, not just duties.
Example:
Marketing Intern | XYZ Agency | London | June–Aug 2023
- Created and published 15+ social media posts weekly, increasing engagement by 25%.
- Assisted in planning and reporting on 3 influencer campaigns.
Avoid including jobs unrelated to your target role unless you can extract transferable skills.
5. Education
- Length: 2–3 lines max
- List your highest qualification first, including degree name, institution, and graduation year. If you’re a graduate, this section can go above your work experience.
Example:
BA (Hons) Business and Marketing
University of Leeds, 2023 | 2:1
6. Certifications & Training (Optional)
- Length: 1–2 lines
Only include this if it’s directly relevant and can help you stand out (e.g., Google Analytics, BCS, HubSpot).
7. Hobbies & Interests (Optional)
- Length: 1–2 lines
Use this to show culture fit or personality—but keep it brief and specific. Avoid generic listings like “reading and music.”
How Long Should a CV Be for a Graduate?
Even if you’re writing a graduate CV, one page is still the rule. If you lack work experience, use the space to highlight:
- University projects
- Internships
- Volunteer work
- Extracurricular activities
Focus on what you’ve learned and how those experiences prepared you for your first full-time job.
How Long Should a CV Personal Statement Be?
A CV personal statement (also known as a profile or summary) should be 3–4 lines. Avoid overloading it with clichés. Instead, give a snapshot of your career goals, strengths, and unique value.
How Long Should a CV Be for Professionals?
Whether you’re a mid-level professional or a senior candidate, your CV should still be one page. Use the following strategies:
- Remove older, irrelevant roles.
- Focus on achievements over responsibilities.
- Quantify results (e.g., “Increased web traffic by 60%”).
Tailoring your content for each application is more effective than listing everything you’ve ever done.
Summary: Keep It Short, Make It Count
How long should a CV be in the UK? One page. Always. This length ensures you stay focused, demonstrate clarity, and get your CV seen by hiring managers. Use clear formatting, targeted content, and ATS-friendly language to boost your chances of landing interviews.
If you’re unsure how to start, try using a graduate CV or one-page professional template as a reference. Modern recruiters don’t have time for fluff—so neither should your CV.
