CV Writing Guide
Your CV is your first impression. Follow our expert tips to create a document that gets you shortlisted.
Structure & Format
Recommended CV Structure
- Contact Details — Full name, phone, email, LinkedIn URL, and location (city is enough)
- Personal Statement — A concise summary tailored to the target role
- Key Skills — A quick-scan list of your most relevant competencies
- Work Experience — Reverse chronological order with bullet-point achievements
- Education — Qualifications, certifications, and relevant training
- Additional Information — Languages, voluntary work, or relevant hobbies
Formatting Best Practices
- Use a clean, professional font such as Calibri, Arial, or Helvetica at 10-12pt
- Set consistent margins (2-2.5cm) and use clear section headings
- Save as PDF to preserve formatting across different devices
- Name the file professionally, e.g. “FirstName-LastName-CV.pdf”
Content Tips
Lead with a Personal Statement
Open with a 3-4 line summary of who you are, your key strengths, and what you bring to the role. Tailor this for every application.
Quantify Your Achievements
Use numbers to demonstrate impact. Instead of saying you improved sales, state that you increased revenue by 25% over 12 months.
Use Action Verbs
Start bullet points with strong verbs like delivered, managed, built, reduced, or implemented to convey ownership and results.
Tailor for Each Role
Adjust your CV to match the job description. Mirror key skills and requirements listed in the advert throughout your experience section.
Include Relevant Skills
Create a dedicated skills section listing technical proficiencies, certifications, and software competencies relevant to your target roles.
Keep It Concise
Aim for two pages maximum. Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds on an initial CV scan, so make every word count.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Including a photo unless specifically requested by the employer
Using an unprofessional email address
Listing every job since school rather than focusing on relevant experience
Writing in paragraphs instead of concise bullet points
Forgetting to proofread for spelling and grammar errors
Quick Checklist
- Contact details are up to date
- Personal statement is tailored to the role
- Work history is in reverse chronological order
- Achievements are quantified with numbers
- No spelling or grammar errors
- File saved as PDF with a professional filename
- Skills section matches the job description
- References available on request (no need to list them)
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