Is it bad to submit a long resume?
Mia Phillips
Updated on April 04, 2026
Resume length is among the biggest quandaries for job seekers. The presiding belief is that if it’s too long, you risk a hiring manager not reading the whole thing; if it’s too short, you might look like you don’t have enough experience. There’s no magic resume length that works for everyone.
How long is too long resume?
A general rule of thumb is the average resume is two pages in length. That’s not a rule, but an average. Executives with extensive experience and earning a high salary may well have a three page resume. If you find your resume runs beyond three pages, you should go back and look at relevance of information.
How many years of employment should be listed on a resume?
Keep it current. Career coaches and professional resume writers advise you focus on the past 10 to 15 years, for most industries. (Some roles, like those within the federal government or in academia, typically, require more complete career histories.)
How many resumes should you have?
You will only need 2 resumes if you have 2 career goals. If you are searching for a job in sales, one resume may be enough. If you are also searching for a job in investing, you will need at least 2.
Can I leave dates off my resume?
Unless the job calls for a huge amount of experience, most coaches recommend including the last 10 to 15 years of your work history, with dates, on your resume. Anything older than that can be kept off the resume.
Should I leave jobs off my resume?
Your resume is not a legal document and you are under no obligation to list every job you’ve ever had. You can include the parts that highlight your strengths, and leave jobs off your resume if you feel that don’t add any weight to it. …
How long should my resume be for a job?
If you just graduated, read more about how to search for a job as a recent graduate. When should your resume be two pages? Most resumes should be two pages long. Two pages is the standard length in 2020 to fit all your keywords, experience, and skills on your resume. Here are some situations that indicate you should use a two-page resume:
How long should my resume be for LinkedIn?
That length is better suited for a LinkedIn profile or a comprehensive CV. “Though we generally advise against a resume length beyond two pages, sometimes it’s necessary,” says Jennifer. “Some professions and industries have a different set of standards when it comes to resumes and therefore require more information.”
What should I put on my resume when I get a job?
The most important thing to keep in mind when writing both is that you no longer tell an employer what you want. You can actually boil it down to just a few words using our formula for resume titles. Instead you tell them that you’re going to give them what they want. 3.
How long should a two page resume be?
For highly skilled applicants, a two-page resume will also fit all your relevant experience, education, certifications, and additional training. When should your resume be three pages? Your resume should rarely be three pages or more. That length is better suited for a LinkedIn profile or a comprehensive CV.