How Long Should Your Entry-Level CV Be in 2024?

How Long Should Your CV Be in 2024 for Entry-Level Positions (0-2 years experience)? Expert Advice and Guidelines

Starting your career journey is exciting! But figuring out the ‘rules’ of job hunting, like how long your CV should be, can feel confusing. You’ve probably heard different opinions, leaving you wondering: what’s the right length for an entry-level CV in 2024?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. As an entry-level candidate (meaning you have 0-2 years of professional experience, perhaps including internships or placements), the answer is usually straightforward.

The Golden Rule: Aim for One Page

Yes, you read that right. For the vast majority of entry-level roles, your CV should ideally fit onto a single page.

Why? Recruiters and hiring managers are busy people. They often spend only a few seconds initially scanning each CV. A concise, one-page CV allows them to quickly grasp your key qualifications, skills, and potential without getting bogged down in unnecessary detail. It shows you can prioritise information and communicate effectively – valuable skills in any job!

Keeping it to one page forces you to focus on what’s most relevant and impactful for the specific job you’re applying for.

Are There Any Exceptions?

While one page is the standard, there might be very rare exceptions for entry-level candidates:

• Extensive, Highly Relevant Experience: If you’ve had multiple significant internships, complex projects, or research directly related to the role that genuinely requires more space to detail effectively.
• Specific Industry Norms: Some academic or research fields might traditionally expect longer CVs (Curriculum Vitae), but this is less common for typical entry-level corporate or industry roles.

However, always default to one page unless you have a compelling reason. If you’re unsure, stick to one page. It’s safer and generally preferred.

Tips for Keeping Your Entry-Level CV to One Page

Okay, so how do you condense your experience, education, and skills onto that single, powerful page? Here are some practical tips:

1. Be Ruthless with Relevance: Tailor your CV for each job application. Only include experience, skills, and achievements that directly relate to the job description. Cut anything that doesn’t add value for that specific role.
2. Use Concise Language:
   • Start bullet points with strong action verbs.
   • Avoid jargon or overly technical terms unless essential for the role.
   • Keep sentences short and to the point. No waffle!
3. Optimise Formatting:
   • Use clear headings and bullet points.
   • Choose a professional, readable font (like Calibri, Arial, Georgia) in a reasonable size (10-12pt for main text, slightly larger for headings).
   • Set appropriate margins (around 1 inch or 2.5cm). Don’t shrink margins or font size too much – it needs to be readable! Using a well-designed template, like those available on ThePerfectCV, can automatically help optimise space.
4. Prioritise Key Sections: Ensure these are clear and easy to find:
   • Contact Information: Name, phone, email, LinkedIn profile URL.
   • Personal Statement/Objective (Optional but Recommended): A brief (2-3 sentence) summary tailored to the role, highlighting your key skills and career goal.
   • Work Experience/Internships: Use bullet points to list responsibilities and achievements (quantify them where possible!).
   • Education: List your most recent and relevant qualifications.
   • Skills: Include relevant technical skills, software proficiency, languages, and key soft skills.
5. Know What to Leave Out:
   • Irrelevant hobbies or interests.
   • Detailed high school information (unless it’s your most recent qualification and highly relevant).
   • Generic objective statements (“Seeking a challenging role…”).
   • References (provide them when asked, not on the CV itself).
   • Photos (unless specifically requested or standard in your region/industry).

You’ve Got This!

Creating a concise, impactful one-page CV is achievable, even with limited experience. Focus on quality over quantity, highlighting your most relevant strengths for the job you want.

Ready to build a CV that fits on one page and impresses recruiters? Try using ThePerfectCV’s builder and professionally designed templates to get started today!