Need Help Writing a Great CV? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Your CV is more than just a list of jobs and qualifications — it’s your personal marketing tool. It tells potential employers who you are, what you’ve done, and why they should hire you. And since it’s often your first impression, you need to make it count.
If you’re unsure where to start or want to make sure you’re doing it right, this guide will walk you through everything you need to create a powerful, professional CV that gets noticed.
1. The Essential Sections Every CV Should Have (and What to Leave Out)
A strong CV follows a clear structure and includes the right information in the right order. Here’s what every good CV must include:
✅ Essential Sections:
Contact Information: Your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile (optional but recommended). Make sure your email address is professional.
Personal Statement (or Summary): A brief paragraph summarizing who you are, what you bring to the table, and what you’re looking for.
Work Experience: List your roles in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Include job title, company name, dates, and a few bullet points on responsibilities and achievements.
Education: List your degrees, qualifications, and certifications with institution names and dates.
Skills: Highlight relevant technical and soft skills. Tailor these to match the job you’re applying for.
Additional Sections (Optional): Languages, certifications, awards, volunteer experience, or relevant hobbies — if they support your application.
🚫 What to Leave Out:
Unnecessary personal information (e.g., age, gender, marital status)
Irrelevant work history
Outdated skills (e.g., MS-DOS or fax machines unless relevant to the role)
Long paragraphs or overly detailed job descriptions
Photographs (unless required in your industry)
2. How to Write a Compelling Personal Statement or Summary
The personal statement is one of the first things employers will read — it should make them want to keep reading.
✔️ What to Include:
Who you are professionally (e.g., “Experienced Digital Marketing Specialist”)
Your key strengths or experience highlights
What you’re looking for in your next role
A brief, confident tone — aim for 3–5 sentences
✍️ Example:
“Detail-oriented and creative Marketing Specialist with 5+ years of experience in digital campaigns, SEO strategy, and content marketing. Proven success in increasing online engagement and generating leads. Seeking a new opportunity in a growth-focused company where I can drive innovative marketing initiatives.”
Avoid clichés like “hardworking” or “team player” unless you can back them up with evidence in the rest of your CV.
3. Tips for Highlighting Your Skills and Accomplishments — Not Just Your Duties
Many people make the mistake of simply listing what they did in their past roles. Instead, focus on what you achieved.
🔍 Here’s how:
Use action verbs: Start bullet points with words like “led,” “developed,” “managed,” “increased,” “designed,” etc.
Quantify your impact: Use numbers when possible. For example: “Increased website traffic by 40% in six months.”
Tailor to the job description: Match your experiences and achievements to the keywords and requirements in the job ad.
❌ Don’t say:
“Responsible for managing social media accounts.”
✔️ Instead, say:
“Grew Instagram following by 35% in 3 months through targeted content strategy.”
4. Formatting Tips to Make Your CV Clean, Readable, and Recruiter-Friendly
Recruiters often spend just 6 to 10 seconds scanning your CV — so make it as easy as possible for them to find what they’re looking for.
✅ Best Practices:
Keep it to 1–2 pages max (unless you’re in academia or applying for senior executive roles).
Use clear headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills, etc.)
Choose a clean, professional font like Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica.
Use bullet points for job responsibilities and skills (avoid long paragraphs).
Leave enough white space — don’t cram too much text onto the page.
Save and send your CV as a PDF to preserve formatting.
5. Common Mistakes That Could Land Your CV in the Rejection Pile
Even a great background can be overshadowed by careless errors or poor presentation. Avoid these common pitfalls:
❌ Avoid:
Spelling and grammar errors: Always proofread or use tools like Grammarly.
Generic CVs: Customize your CV for each job — recruiters can tell if you’re sending the same version everywhere.
Lying or exaggerating: Be honest — background checks can reveal the truth.
Too much jargon or acronyms: Keep it professional but understandable.
Outdated information: Don’t include irrelevant high school jobs or software no longer in use.
✅ Final Thoughts: Make Your CV Work for You
Writing a great CV takes time, but it’s worth the effort. Think of it as your personal brand statement — a way to show employers not just what you’ve done, but what you can do for them.
Ready to get started?
👉 Check out our free, step-by-step CV writing guide :
Craft a CV that opens doors, starts conversations, and gets interviews. You’ve got this!
✅ Step-by-Step CV Writing Guide
Whether you’re writing your first CV or updating an old one, this guide walks you through the entire process — from layout to content — so you can confidently present yourself to employers.
Step 1: Choose the Right CV Format
There are three main formats:
Chronological (most common) – Lists your work history in reverse order (most recent first). Ideal for those with steady experience.
Functional (skills-based) – Focuses on skills over job history. Best for career changers or people with employment gaps.
Combination (hybrid) – Blends both. Good for experienced candidates with specific skills.
🟩 Recommended: Chronological format for most job seekers.
Step 2: Add Your Contact Information
At the top of your CV, include:
Full Name
Phone Number
Professional Email Address (e.g., firstname.lastname@gmail.com)
LinkedIn Profile (optional but helpful)
Location (City, State — full address not required)
🛑 Do NOT include: Age, gender, marital status, photo, or personal ID numbers (unless required in your country).
Step 3: Write a Strong Personal Statement (Summary)
This is a short paragraph (3–5 sentences) that summarizes:
Who you are professionally
Key skills or achievements
What you’re looking for
📝 Example:
Results-driven IT Support Specialist with 4+ years of experience troubleshooting hardware, software, and network issues. Skilled in customer service, system diagnostics, and team collaboration. Seeking to leverage technical and communication skills in a fast-paced IT support role.
Step 4: List Your Work Experience
This section tells the story of your professional background. For each job, include:
Job Title
Company Name
Location
Dates of Employment (month/year)
Bullet Points of Responsibilities & Achievements
✅ Tips:
Use action verbs (e.g., “Managed,” “Led,” “Created”)
Focus on results and accomplishments, not just duties
Quantify where possible (e.g., “Increased sales by 20%”)
📝 Example:
Sales Associate
ABC Retail, New York, NY
June 2021 – May 2023
Exceeded monthly sales targets by 15% for 10 consecutive months
Trained 3 new employees on customer service techniques and product knowledge
Resolved customer complaints with 95% satisfaction rating
Step 5: Highlight Your Education
List your most recent education first.
Include:
Degree or Certificate
Institution Name
Location
Dates Attended
(Optional) Honors or GPA (if recent or relevant)
📝 Example:
Bachelor of Science in Marketing
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) – Los Angeles, CA
Graduated: May 2022
Relevant coursework: Consumer Psychology, Market Research, Digital Strategy
Step 6: Showcase Your Key Skills
Make a bullet list or a grid of skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.
🔹 Hard Skills (technical):
Python, SQL, Microsoft Excel, Graphic Design, Data Analysis
🔹 Soft Skills (interpersonal):
Problem-solving, Team collaboration, Time management, Communication
🎯 Pro Tip: Tailor this section to match keywords in the job description.
Step 7: Add Optional Sections (If Relevant)
Include these only if they strengthen your application:
Certifications (e.g., Google Analytics, CPR, AWS Certified)
Languages (e.g., Bilingual – Spanish and English)
Volunteer Work
Awards & Achievements
Professional Affiliations
Projects or Portfolios (especially for creative or technical roles)
Step 8: Format Your CV Professionally
📄 General Guidelines:
Keep it 1–2 pages
Use a clean, readable font (e.g., Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, 10–12pt)
Use bullet points for easy reading
Align headings consistently
Save as PDF to preserve formatting
Step 9: Proofread and Edit Carefully
✅ Check for:
Spelling and grammar mistakes
Consistent verb tenses (past tense for old jobs, present tense for current)
Proper formatting and alignment
Accuracy of dates and job titles
🧠 Bonus Tip: Ask someone else to review it — fresh eyes catch errors!
Step 10: Tailor for Each Job Application
Never send the exact same CV to multiple jobs.
🎯 Customize:
Personal statement to match the company and role
Highlight the most relevant skills/experience
Use keywords from the job description to pass applicant tracking systems (ATS)
🎉 You’re Done!
You now have a professional, polished CV that presents you at your best.
👉 Need more help?
Download our Free CV Templates and Examples or check out expert tips at: [Insert Link Here]
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