How Long Should Your Resume Be?
Resume length is one of the most debated topics in career coaching — and for good reason. Too short, and you look inexperienced. Too long, and recruiters lose interest before reaching your best achievements.
The right length depends on your experience. Entry-level candidates (0-2 years) should aim for a tight, focused 1-page resume with 300-450 words. This forces you to prioritize your most relevant experiences and keeps every line high-impact.
Mid-career professionals (3-5 years) have more to show. A 400-600 word resume on a single page gives enough room to demonstrate career progression while maintaining the conciseness recruiters value. For consulting specifically, McKinsey, BCG, and Bain all expect candidates under 5 years to fit on one page — no exceptions.
Senior professionals (5-10 years) can justify 1-2 pages at 500-700 words, especially if they have leadership roles, cross-functional projects, or industry transitions worth highlighting. The key is making sure every word earns its place — no filler, no padding.
Executives and seasoned leaders (10+ years) should use 2 pages with 600-900 words. At this level, breadth of experience and strategic impact matter. But even here, recruiters spend an average of 7.4 seconds on an initial resume scan, so front-load your strongest achievements.
Beyond word count, watch your bullet point length. Each bullet should be 15-25 words — long enough to convey an achievement, short enough to scan. If any bullet exceeds 2 lines, break it into two or tighten the language.