A well-crafted CV (curriculum vitae) should be clear, concise, and tailored to the job you're applying for. Remember, you are writing for your audience which are more than likely recruitment specialists at an agency or in-house recruitment function. These people have to wade through many CV's and care less about the use of fancy colours and layouts. Indeed, good recruiters are using AI and other tools to extract the data they need - make it easy for search engines to extract the dat they need. Chances are that they do not even see your CV.
Here’s a guide to best practices for writing and formatting your CV:
1. Structure and Format
Keep It Concise – Ideally 1-2 pages (unless you’re in academia or research, where longer CVs are acceptable).
Use a Professional Layout – Clean design, consistent fonts (Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, size 10-12), and logical structure
Bullet Points – Use bullet points for responsibilities and achievements to improve readability.
Clear Headings – Section headers should stand out (bold or slightly larger font size).
PDF Format – Always send your CV as a PDF unless specified otherwise (to ensure formatting remains intact).
2. Key Sections of a CV
Contact Information (Top of CV)
Full Name
Phone Number
Email Address (use a professional email)
LinkedIn Profile (optional but recommended)
Location (City & Country – no full address needed)
Professional Summary (Optional but Recommended)
A short, powerful 3-5 sentence summary of your key skills, experience, and career goals.
Example:
"Results-driven digital marketing professional with 5+ years of experience in SEO, content strategy, and paid media. Proven track record of driving website traffic and increasing conversions. Passionate about data-driven decision-making and digital transformation."
Key Skills
A bullet-point list of 5-10 key skills relevant to the job.
Example for a marketing role:
SEO & SEM
Google Ads & PPC Campaigns
Social Media Marketing
Email Marketing Automation
Data Analytics & Reporting
Work Experience
List jobs in reverse chronological order (most recent first).
Include Job Title, Company Name, Location, and Dates Worked (Month/Year – Month/Year).
Bullet points (max 5-6 per job) focusing on key achievements.
Example:
Digital Marketing Specialist | XYZ Company | London, UK | Jan 2021 – Present
Increased website traffic by 50% through SEO optimization and content marketing.
Managed a $20,000 monthly ad budget, improving ROI by 30%.
Launched a LinkedIn campaign that generated 200+ leads.
Education
Degree, University Name, Graduation Year.
Only include relevant qualifications (no need to list high school if you have a degree).
Certifications & Professional Development (if applicable)
Include relevant courses, workshops, and certifications.
Example:
Google Analytics Certified (2024)
HubSpot Content Marketing Certification (2023)
Additional Sections (if relevant)
Languages – If multilingual, list proficiency levels.
Volunteer Work – If relevant to the role.
Projects – Showcase any important side projects.
3. Design & Formatting Tips
Use a single-column layout (unless applying for design/creative roles).
Keep margins at 19-24mm for readability.
Avoid using too many colours or graphics unless applying for creative roles.
Use bold and italics sparingly to highlight key points.
Avoid fancy fonts or excessive styling—stick to a clean, minimalistic approach.
4. Tailoring Your CV for Each Job
Customise your CV for each application by aligning your skills and experience with the job description.
Use relevant keywords from the job post to help pass applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Highlight quantifiable achievements (e.g., "increased revenue by 25%" instead of "responsible for sales").
5. Final Checks Before Sending
Proofread for typos and grammar mistakes (use Grammarly or ask someone to review it).
Ensure consistency in formatting (fonts, spacing, dates, bullet points).
Save as "FirstName_LastName_CV.pdf" for a professional filename.
Here is a free word template:
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