How long should my CV be?

In Germany the standard is: 1-2 pages for career starters and skilled professionals, maximum 3 pages from senior level or with extensive project experience. A study by the recruitment agency StepStone shows that recruiters spend on average less than 30 seconds on the initial review — every unnecessary page costs you points. Caveat: Some industries (academia, public sector) expect more detailed academic CVs. Evidence base: Destatis and BA data show that both completeness and clarity are equally expected in Germany. Rule of thumb: Every line must add value — better one page less than one page of filler.