How Long Should Your CV Be?
The honest answer on CV length for students and graduates in South Africa.
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Short answer: one to two pages. That is it.
If you are a student or recent grad, aim for one strong page. You do not have twenty years to cover, and a recruiter spends about thirty seconds anyway.
Two pages is the ceiling, and only if every line earns its place.
What fills the space
- Education
- Projects, part-time work, volunteering
- Skills that match the job
- One or two real results, with numbers
Cut anything that does not help. A tight one-pager beats a padded three-pager every time.
More: what sections a CV needs.
Frequently asked questions
Is a one page CV too short?+
No. For a student or recent grad, one strong page is often better than two padded ones.
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