How to Write the Perfect CV

In today’s job market, your CV (Curriculum Vitae) is more than just a list of where you’ve worked—it’s your personal marketing brochure. With recruiters spending an average of only 6 to 10 seconds scanning a CV before deciding if it goes in the "yes" or "no" pile, every word counts.

Here is your step-by-step guide to crafting a CV that stands out and gets you the interview.

 

1. The Foundation: Layout and Formatting

Before a recruiter reads a single word, they see the layout. If it looks cluttered, they’ll move on.

• Keep it Brief: Aim for two pages maximum.

• Font Choice: Use clean, professional fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica (10–12pt).

• White Space: Use generous margins and clear headings to make the document "scannable."

• PDF is King: Always save your CV as a PDF to ensure the formatting stays exactly how you intended.

 

2. The Structure: What to Include

A perfect CV generally follows this logical flow:

Section	What it should cover
Contact Info	Name, phone number, professional email, and LinkedIn profile.
Personal Profile	A 3–4 sentence "elevator pitch" highlighting who you are and what you offer.
Core Skills	A bulleted list of your top 6–8 hard and soft skills.
Experience	Your work history in reverse chronological order (most recent first).
Education	Degrees, certifications, and relevant training.

 

3. Focus on Achievements, Not Just Duties

The biggest mistake most candidates make is listing their job descriptions. Recruiters already know what a "Sales Manager" does; they want to know how well you did it.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to quantify your impact:

• Weak: "Responsible for increasing social media engagement."

• Strong: "Boosted Instagram engagement by 25% over 6 months by implementing a new video-first content strategy."

 

4. Optimise for the Bots (ATS)

Many large companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter CVs. To beat the bots:

• Keyword Match: Mirror the language used in the job description. If they ask for "Project Management," don’t just write "Leading teams."

• Standard Headings: Stick to simple titles like "Work Experience" rather than "Where I’ve Been."

 

5. The Final Polish

• Proofread: A single typo can signal a lack of attention to detail. Use tools like Grammarly, but also read it out loud.

• Link Your Portfolio: If you’re in a creative or technical field, include a link to your GitHub, Behance, or personal website.

• No Photos: Unless you are a model or actor, skip the headshot. It can trigger unconscious bias and mess with ATS software.

Pro Tip: Customize your CV for every application. A generic CV is a forgettable CV.