How to Write a Job-Winning CV

When you make a CV, you need to choose the right CV template. That’s one that was designed with your profession in mind. Take a look at our examples and note the structure, format and language used, then ensure that your CV meets these expectations.

The structure of your CV needs to be clear and easily navigated. Separate sections should be marked with clear headings, and the emphasis placed on particular sections will change depending on the position being applied for. The use of bullet points and lists in sections such as ‘Employment History’ and ‘Additional Skills’ should make it easy for a recruiter to skim read and find vital keywords.

The most common CV format is a reverse chronological format. In this CV format, your most recent work experience is listed first, enabling a recruiter to instantly see the position you’ve risen to and the skills you’ve acquired.

If you lack work experience you might want to opt for a skills-based format, which details educational achievements and skills gained outside the workplace.

CV examples set out exactly how to write a CV that gets you the job you’re looking for. You’ll be able to examine the template used, the format for specific positions, and the way in which the facts are set out. You’ll also learn to create a CV that packs the maximum information into the smallest space.

Since recruiters only spend 6 seconds reading the average CV, anything longer than 2 sides of A4 is likely to be rejected instantly. An exception to this rule might apply if you’re seeking an executive or managerial position and want to highlight a wider range of work experience and achievements.

Learning how to write a CV means avoiding the kind of mistakes which recruiters are all too used to seeing. These include the following:

• Typos and grammatical mistakes.
• Not using the keywords that a recruiter and an ATS will look for. It’s possible to identify likely keywords when writing a CV by studying the job ad and description, or examining other CVs written for the same kind of position.
• Using clichéd words and phrases like ‘hard-working’, motivated’ and ‘team player’. A recruiter will expect these as a matter of course. Ask yourself if anyone is ever likely to write the opposite of what you’ve written (i.e. ‘doesn’t like hard work’). If not, then it probably doesn’t need to be stated.

An online CV builder can make writing a CV fast and simple. You get a template designed by professionals for the position you’re applying for in mind, which makes it easy to decide where to put the information you need. And sample text, tips and advice will enable you to make the strongest possible CV.

The best way to showcase your achievements is to pick those that are most relevant to the job in question, and back them up with specific facts and figures. Rather than saying ‘strong track record of boosting sales’ for example, explain that you ‘increased sales in the south-east region by 15% in 2 months’.

Learning how to write a CV means learning how to showcase your strong points in the most accessible manner possible. A personal statement at the top of a CV will give a recruiter a brief but effective summary of who you are, the position you are applying for and what you could bring to the role.

In the UK the words ‘CV’ and ‘resume’ mean the same thing. In both cases, it will be a brief summary of who you are, your employment history and educational achievements, and what you feel makes you the ideal candidate for the position in question.

Including a skills section when you make a CV is your chance to highlight any attributes that might not otherwise be covered by your employment history. Being in charge of a household, for example, may have given you experience of handling a budget. A sporting achievement could be relevant to a job that has specific physical demands.

Make sure that you only include those skills that are directly relevant to the job in question. You may be very proud of the fact that you can play piano, but it won’t have much relevance when you’re applying for a job in nursing.

Your CV is your chance to sell yourself to a recruiter, so it’s not the place to highlight any negatives. If you have any gaps in the kind of work experience that a position demands, try to find a way of covering them by referring to transferable skills from other parts of your life.

It may be tempting to create a visual CV if you’re applying for a more creative position. But a text-based CV is the best way to communicate the maximum amount of information in a clear and accessible way.

Text that has been formatted properly is more likely to get past an ATS, and will also make it simple for a recruiter to skim-read and decide that it’s worth exploring in depth.

Learning how to write a CV is as much about deciding what to leave out as it is about choosing what to include. A recruiter wants to know about details which are relevant to the position you’re applying for.

You don’t have to include your date of birth, marital status or whether you have children, for example, and research has shown that including a photograph with your CV could lead to 88% of recruiters rejecting it immediately.

You may lack direct employment-based experience of the job in question, but you could still have transferable skills from other areas of your life.

Volunteering, for example, could demonstrate your commitment and ability to work hard, while running a household could show that you can manage a budget. Concentrate on any personal skills or experience that are relevant to the position.

One of the key aspects of how to write a CV is making sure that it is tailored to the position being applied for.

A CV builder will provide the right templates and formats as well as other tips and advice. The content should be altered each time to include relevant keywords, and to ensure that the details apply to the particular job.

You should always include a cover letter with your CV. It will give a recruiter the opportunity to quickly appraise your application and decide whether the CV itself is worth reading. Using the same online tools to create a CV and cover letter will ensure that they both convey a consistent message and create a positive impression.

ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. It is a form of software which is now used by 75% of multinational companies to scan CVs and look for particular keywords.

If the ATS can’t find these keywords, then your CV won’t even make it into the hands of a recruiter. It’s usually possible to figure out what these keywords will be by closely studying the job ad and description.

The key to writing your work experience section when you create a CV is to set it out in reverse chronological order, so that your current status and level of experience is the first thing that a recruiter sees.

You should also highlight any experience which is directly relevant to the job in question, and always try to underline the achievements you mention with facts and figures. If you managed to boost productivity for your company, for example, then tell the recruiter what percentage the increase was over a 12-month period.

When you’re writing a CV the header section should include your name and up to date contact details. You don’t need to give it a title such as ‘CV’ or ‘Curriculum Vitae’ as the recruiter will be well aware what they are reading. Make sure it’s clearly set out in a legible font in order to create an instant good impression.

Although your LinkedIn profile may include many of the details a recruiter wants to see, they won’t have the time to read through the profiles of everyone who applies for a position.

When you make a CV, it is your chance to highlight your strongest features in a quick and simple format that can be easily accessed. By including your LinkedIn profile amongst your contact details, you’ll make it possible for a recruiter to explore further if they wish.

The contact details you include when you create a CV should include your home address and current phone number. If you have a landline and mobile phone, then you should provide both to minimise the chances of missing an important call.

Don’t use a work-based email address as this will look very unprofessional, and make sure that the address you do use is suitable. You might have set up the address ‘bigfatmike@gmail.com’ because you thought it was funny, but a recruiter might not get the joke.

If you don’t have a professional sounding email address, then set up a separate account for job applications.

Similar rules apply to social media profiles - your Instagram, for example, might include pictures from big nights out that you don’t want a prospective employer viewing. Listen carefully to your answerphone message as well - if it’s something light-hearted like ‘Wassup dude?’ then this could be the time to change it.

Use a CV builder and study other examples from the same industry to decide how formal your CV should be. A simple rule when deciding how to write a CV is that it should be formal enough to look professional, but not so formal that it stops your personality coming through at all.

When just a single spelling or grammar mistake could lead to your CV being rejected then it really couldn’t be more important. Proofread andcheck your CV several times to check for any mistakes, and ask someone else to read it for you as they might spot something you’ve missed. Don’t rely on a spell checker to pick up every mistake, as errors can often slip through.

Although many people admit to being less than truthful on their CV, it really isn’t recommended. By all means concentrate on positive aspects of your life and career, but don’t make claims you can’t actually back up.

Falsely stating that you’re bilingual might seem like it boosts your case, but it won’t feel like such a good idea if an interviewer starts asking you questions in French.