How Long Should Your Resume Be in Pakistan?

One page or two? Recruiters in Pakistani banks, startups, and government offices have different expectations. Here is a practical rule set.

Default to one page

If you have less than five years of full-time work, one page is enough. Campus placement offices at COMSATS, LUMS, NUST, and public universities usually enforce this.

Recruiters doing initial screens at Rozee or LinkedIn often read on mobile. Long files get saved for later and forgotten.

One page forces you to drop filler and keep only strong bullets. That helps clarity more than extra length.

When two pages are fine

Senior managers, consultants, and specialists with ten plus years often need two pages to cover roles, budgets, and teams led.

Engineers with long project lists and multiple certifications can use page two for technical detail if page one stays a sharp summary.

Academics and healthcare professionals applying to hospitals or universities may need longer CVs, but corporate jobs still prefer two pages max.

What not to cut

Never shrink font below 10 point to cram content. Interviewers in Karachi and Islamabad notice and it looks desperate.

Keep recent roles detailed; trim older student jobs to one line each if you need space.

Education stays even when you are experienced. Pakistani hiring still checks degree and year.

Practical check

Print or PDF preview at 100 percent zoom. If you squint, simplify.

Ask a friend in your target industry to scan for ten seconds and repeat what they remember. If nothing sticks, shorten or rewrite bullets.

Match length to the employer culture. Banks and government lean shorter and formal; tech portfolios can link out for depth.