The 2-3 page CV...when you're in your 50s.

steampowered

I think you need to tailor a CV to your audience. Think: what does the person reading this CV need to know to determine whether I am a good candidate for this role?

In reality a recruiter will probably have made up their mind whether you are a viable candidate before they get half way down the first page.

In most circumstances, I would think that very old jobs could be tackled very briefly - perhaps just dates and job title.

Andy_L

another_casualty wrote: »

Having left school in '79 and constantly in employment either perm or temp , my cv could be like a small booklet .
I believe the rule of thumb used to be just to list your previous 3 permanent positions , and your hobbies .

TBH hobbies are a no these days unless they demonstrate some relevant comptetancy

Doshwaster

Andy_L wrote: »

TBH hobbies are a no these days unless they demonstrate some relevant comptetancy

I agree - only put them on if they show something that your employment history doesn't. A bland statement such as "I enjoy reading, gardening and holidays" is a waste of space. At best the employer doesn't care, at worst they make you look like a wierdo.

Some good advice here: https://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/hobbies-and-interests-should-i-include-them-in-my-cv/

TBagpuss

steampowered wrote: »

I think you need to tailor a CV to your audience. Think: what does the person reading this CV need to know to determine whether I am a good candidate for this role?

In reality a recruiter will probably have made up their mind whether you are a viable candidate before they get half way down the first page.

In most circumstances, I would think that very old jobs could be tackled very briefly - perhaps just dates and job title.

This.
If you are older, and have had numerous jobs,you don't need to list them all. Summarise (e.g. 'various customer service roles') and then highlight what skills those roles gave you which translate to the job you are looking for.

What is relevant will depend on what the job you are applying for is.

As an employer, the last thing I want on a CV is date of birth or a photo - I don't want to lay myself open to allegations of age discrimination. Unless you are in a specialised area such as acting where this is relevant, it's bad practice (at least in the UK) and I would be questioning an agency which was suggesting it. Is this for overseas jobs?

Similarly, if I get a CV which is more than 2 pages long, I'd be concerned about what that says about your ability to accurately assess and prioritise effectively - if you can't identify, or haven't identified, which of your skills and experience are relevant to the job you are applying for, it doesn't speak well to your understanding of the job.

Also, employers often have large numbers of applications and limited time. If you haven't got their attention by the end of the first page, they are probably never going to read the rest.