It's easy to see how the CV remains a complex and troubling issue to candidates and employers. Candidates want to share what they perceive to be every last relevant detail with possible employers to make them understand what a truly marvelous and talented person they are. They want to leave no stone unturned in offering up their numerous qualifications. Employers, on the other hand, have specific and focused criteria of what they're looking for and don't want to bother with extraneous facts. They reason that the main points provide enough information to determine whether to call a candidate in for an interview and learn more.
Who wins this seemingly never-ending conflict? The answer is simple: the employer. Those with the power to make decisions always win, whether the candidate likes it or not. Therefore, your mandate is to tailor your CV to employers' needs and desires. Make it short, keep it focused and don't list every experience you've ever had. And if you think that the more words you use, the more impressive you'll seem, or the better your odds will be in matching key-word searches, try again. Even if your CV manages to come up in searches, how useful does it ultimately prove when no one wants to take the time to read it?
It's up to you to decide how to proceed. However, we feel it's far better to acknowledge for whom and why you're doing this and write a well-crafted CV than to continue with the flawed thinking that more is better. The power you hold is the ability to slant the odds in your favor. Don't miss the opportunity to use it wisely.