Short CV Template: One Page Is Enough

The short template forces a hard decision: what earns its place. One page without filler gets read in full in seconds, which suits anyone with under ten years of experience or anyone applying to a role with hundreds of applicants.

The steps

1. Start with a two-line summary: your specialism and your strongest result
2. Keep three roles only, or your last two plus two standout projects
3. Make each bullet one line that ends in a number
4. Compress skills into two classified lines: technical and interpersonal
5. Read the whole page in under a minute — if you cannot, cut more

Practical tips

• Concise does not mean cutting blindly: keep what serves the target role
• Use it for a crowded vacancy, where clarity gives you an edge over long CVs
• With a long career, compress older roles into one line rather than deleting them

Common mistakes to avoid

• Squeezing content into a tiny font, which turns brevity into a visual defect
• Deleting the numbers to save space when they are the first thing that should stay

Frequently asked questions

Is a short CV weaker?

No. A recruiter gives the first scan a few seconds; a short, dense CV delivers its message in that window, while a long one needs a reader with time to spare.

When should I use a full template instead?

Beyond ten years of experience, or as an academic or executive with publications and achievements that need room.

Links for this guide

• See the short template
• Read the one-page CV guide