How Long Should an ATS-Friendly Resume Be?

Does Size Matter?

There is a myth that ATS systems reject resumes over 1 page. This is false. The ATS can read a 10-page resume in milliseconds. However, the human who reads it next cannot.

The Ideal Length

• Entry Level / < 5 Years: 1 Page. You don't have enough relevant experience to justify more.
• Mid-Senior Level / 5-10+ Years: 2 Pages. Enough space to detail significant achievements without fluff.
• Executive / Academic: 3+ Pages. (CV territory).

ATS Implications of Length

Too Short: You might miss opportunities to include relevant keywords and achievements, lowering your match score.
Too Long: You risk "keyword stuffing" or diluting your relevant experience with outdated roles, which might actually lower your relevance score if the algorithm weights recent experience more heavily.

Conclusion

Write for the human, format for the bot. 1-2 pages is the sweet spot. It provides enough data for the ATS to rank you high, and enough brevity for the recruiter to read it fast.