"Keep it to one page" gets repeated as universal advice so often that it's worth pushing back on slightly — it's genuinely good guidance for some candidates and actively unhelpful for others.
Early career: one page, usually
With limited work history, a single page is not just achievable but preferable — a one-page CV that's tightly written signals focus, while a two-page CV padded to fill space at this stage usually reads as padding, not substance.
Mid-career: one to two pages
Once you have several years and multiple roles worth describing properly, two pages is entirely normal and expected. Forcing a decade of relevant experience onto one page usually means cutting detail a recruiter actually wants to see.
Senior or highly specialized roles: length follows substance
Extensive leadership experience, publications, or specialized technical depth can justify going beyond two pages — but only if every section still earns its place. Length should follow from genuinely relevant content, not the other way around.
The actual test, regardless of page count
Every line should answer "why does this matter for the job I'm applying to?" If a bullet point doesn't pass that test, it's taking up space better used elsewhere, whether your CV is one page or three.
What to cut first when trimming
Outdated jobs from over a decade ago (unless directly relevant), redundant bullet points that repeat the same skill in different words, and generic soft-skill claims without supporting evidence are usually the easiest, safest things to remove.