1. What to Include in a CV: 6 Essential CV Sections

What to Include in a CV: 6 Essential CV Sections

Danuta Detyna
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Wherever you are in your career, writing a CV is an excellent opportunity to highlight your strengths. With the right strategy, it’s easy to stand out—once you know what to include in a CV.

This guide will show you exactly what to put on a CV to impress recruiters, from must-have details to how to structure all the key CV sections. You’ll also find a ready-to-use example to help you decide what to put in a CV and create one that truly shines.

Key Article Insights:

  • What to include in a CV is not just your work history—contact details, a strong personal statement, key skills, and education are must-haves to create a solid foundation.
  • Understanding what to put on a CV means focusing on a clear structure, quantifiable results, and relevant skills that match the job description, helping you stand out to recruiters.
  • Organising your CV sections correctly—from contact information at the top to optional sections like hobbies at the end—makes your CV easy to read and more impressive at first glance.

 

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Create your CV nowwhat to include in a cv example

We created the sample on the right using our builder. See other good CV examples like this one.

What to include in a CV? 

Regardless of the job you are applying for, there are certain sections that every CV should have. Here are the 6 main things your CV should include:

short list of must and nice-to-have sections in a CV

1. Contact information

Your contact information is the absolute key section in any CV. It should be valid and put in the CV header.

Here’s what personal details you should put in your CV’s contact info section:

  • Your full name, ideally in the CV font 4-8 pts larger than the body text for emphasis
  • Your job title
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • LinkedIn profile + other social media if they are relevant to the job

And a gentle reminder: Don’t include your picture and a postal address; they just waste precious space, especially if you aim to write a one-page CV. Also, leave out personal information like date of birth, etc., as it leaves you open to discrimination.

What to put in a CV: contact information

 

Justin Page

Marketing Assistant

Ph: 0777 777 7777 

Email: jpage_lcuk@email.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/justin-page

Website: www.justinpage.com

 

2. Personal statement

The personal statement on a CV is vital because it gives recruiters a quick, compelling overview of who you are, what you offer, and why you’re the right fit for the job. Writing a strong personal statement helps you immediately grab the employer’s attention and encourages them to read the rest of your CV.

The personal statement, also known as a CV summary or CV profile, is an introduction to you as a candidate. You have to structure it in such a way that you convince the hiring manager you meet the basic requirements of the job you’re applying for. And the best way to decide what to include in a CV personal statement is to answer these questions.

  • Who are you?
  • What can you offer to the employer?
  • What are your career goals?

So, in the first sentence of your CV introduction, mention your job title and how much experience you have. Then mention skills or experience that match the job requirements. You can do this by referring to the job advert, noting the key requirements, and then choosing a professional accomplishment or skill of your own that matches. And finish off by stating how you plan to grow, develop and contribute to your new employer.

What to include on a CV: personal statement

 

Creative marketing assistant with 2 years of experience in the digital marketing sector. Strong image editing and photography skills with a keen eye for accuracy in written copy. Seeking to further develop my abilities and contribute to Orpheus Solutions’ reputation for innovation and superior client service.

 

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

Create your CV nowcv builder

3. Work experience section

The work experience section on a CV is one of the most important parts to include because it shows exactly how you’ve applied your skills in real-world situations.Employers often focus on this section first to evaluate whether you have the right background and achievements to succeed in the role.

List your jobs in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role. For each job, include your title, the employer’s name, and your dates of employment. Describe your responsibilities and professional achievements using strong action verbs and accomplishment statements. Quantify your impact with numbers, where possible, to make your experience even more convincing.

Things to put on a CV: work experience section

 

Marketing Assistant

The Greenfields Agency, London

September 2018–Present

  • Supported a team of five marketing professionals, providing administrative and creative assistance.
  • Created compelling visual presentations for use in client pitches that helped secure six contracts worth a combined total of £70,000.
  • Suggested a streamlined method for invoice processing that increased payment speed by 20%.
  • Wrote accurate and convincing copy for Facebook and Google advert campaigns that helped secure clients £50,000+ in sales revenue.

 

4. CV education section

A CV education section is essential to put in your CV because it highlights your academic background, proves your qualifications, and helps employers quickly assess if you meet the role’s educational requirements.

If you’re a university graduate or still studying, include your degree name, university name, and dates of study. If you’re writing a school leaver CV, list your A-levels with subjects, school name, and dates. GCSEs are only necessary if you’re a recent school leaver—mention maths and English explicitly, as they are often minimum requirements.

You can also adjust your CV structure: if you’re writing a CV for your first job and have little experience, place your education section before your work history. It’s also useful to mention specific modules, projects, or extracurricular activities if they’re relevant to the job you are applying for.

What to include in a CV: education example

 

BA (Hons) Digital Marketing

Ravensbourne University London

September 2014–June 2018

 

5. Skills section

The skills section on a CV is crucial because it shows at a glance that you have the abilities needed to succeed in the role. Knowing what skills to put on a CV can directly influence whether your application gets shortlisted.

Start by listing all of your professional skills. Next, highlight all the skills mentioned in the job advert and note any general transferable skills that would be applicable too. Then, choose 5–10 of your own skills that match the job requirements and include them on your CV.

You can also add a short sentence for each skill demonstrating your abilities. Try to find a good mix of soft skills and hard skills, and if in doubt, remember that some skills are universal. For example, IT skills and communication skills will look good on every CV.

What does a CV need: skills example

 

  • Software: Advanced user of Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Publisher. 
  • Programming: Intermediate HTML coding skills.
  • Customer service: Built relationships with demanding corporate clients.
  • Teamwork: Took on additional responsibilities to ensure deadlines were met despite team member absences.
  • Written communication: Created company newsletter that won praise from the executive team.

 

6. Additional sections in a CV

Adding additional sections to your CV is important because it helps you show extra qualifications, interests, and achievements that can set you apart from other candidates.

Including sections like hobbies and interests, volunteering, additional languages, certifications, and professional awards demonstrates that you are a well-rounded, motivated individual. If the information is relevant to the job and strengthens your profile, it’s definitely worth putting it in your CV.

What to put on a CV: hobbies and interests 

 

  • Rugby: Volunteer coach for Rosslyn Park under-12s and volunteer steward for home matches at Priory Lane.

 

What to include in a CV— copy & paste sample

 

Justin Page

Marketing Assistant

Ph: 0777 777 7777 

Email: jpage_lcuk@email.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/justin-page

Website: www.justinpage.com

Personal statement

Creative marketing assistant with 2 years of experience in the digital marketing sector. Strong image editing and photography skills with a keen eye for accuracy in written copy. Seeking to further develop my abilities and contribute to Orpheus Solutions’ reputation for innovation and superior client service.

Work experience

Marketing Assistant

The Greenfields Agency, London

September 2018–present

  • Supported a team of five marketing professionals, providing administrative and creative assistance.
  • Created compelling visual presentations for use in client pitches that helped secure six contracts worth a combined total of £70,000.
  • Suggested a streamlined method for invoice processing that increased payment speed by 20%/
  • Wrote accurate and convincing copy for Facebook and Google advert campaigns that helped secure clients £50,000+ in sales revenue.

Education

BA (Hons) Digital Marketing

Ravensbourne University London

September 2014–June 2018

Skills

  • Software: Advanced user of Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Publisher. 
  • Programming: Intermediate HTML coding skills.
  • Customer service: Built relationships with demanding corporate clients.
  • Teamwork: Took on additional responsibilities to ensure deadlines were met despite team member absences.
  • Written communication: Created company newsletter that won praise from the executive team.

Hobbies and Interests

  • Rugby: Volunteer coach for Rosslyn Park under-12s and volunteer steward for home matches at Priory Lane. 

 

What else to put in a CV?

A CV isn’t simply a list of sections. There’s more to it than that. Your CV should look good and be easy to read too, and the way to do that is with an effective CV layout. Follow these simple rules and you’ll have included all the elements you need for a perfect CV structure.

Pay attention to spacing and margins

Here we have another example of where what not to include in a CV is just as important as what you do include. In this case it’s all about how you create white space on the page to frame your content, it improves readability and makes your basic CV template more visually appealing.

All you need to do is set your page margins to one inch on all four sides, set line spacing at 1.15 and double space between all sections of your CV. That way, you’ll create the perfect balance between content and white space.

Opt for professional CV fonts

Your choice of font is also a critical consideration when deciding what to include in a CV. And it’s not just for looks, your CV font type actually alters the way you retrieve information from the page. In other words, a good font makes it easier for the recruiter to find the information they need and discover why you’re the best candidate.

But you don’t need to do anything fancy. The good old reliable classics are your best choice. We’d recommend sticking with dependable choices like Times New Roman, Arial, Garamond and Helvetica.

Adhere to the perfect CV length

It’s not just about what to include in a CV, it’s also about how much to include. The best CV length is 1–2 pages. Go for a one-page CV if you’re a fresh graduate or school leaver. It’s also a good choice for candidates with less than five years of experience.

Go for a two-page CV if you have more than five years of experience. And if you’ve got 10 or more years of experience and you’re targeting a senior position or you’re in a technically complex role then you could even stretch to a three-page CV.

Specialist formats such as an academic CV or a medical CV could be even longer, but for the majority of candidates 1–2 pages is the ideal CV length.

Save your CV as a PDF

When you’re finished writing, it’s important to keep your layout looking perfect. The best way to do that is to save your CV in PDF format unless the job advert requests otherwise. That way, you can be sure that absolutely everything you’ve decided to include in your CV stays intact.

What not to include in a CV

A CV that’s written to UK standards should not include the following sections:

  • Your postal address. It’s unnecessary and takes up valuable space
  • Personal information such as your photo, date of birth, or marital status 
  • References (unless specifically requested)
  • Excessive content. The best CV length is 1–2 pages
  • Lies, they’ll be found out, and it’s a crime under the Fraud Act 2006
  • Spelling and grammatical mistakes
  • Buzzwords, clichés and overly technical language
  • Unexplained gaps in employment

Having examined 6 million CVs created in our builder, we found that*:

  • The average time to create a compelling CV is 25.92 minutes.
  • 38.81% of CVs exceed 300 words, 18.64% are between 100 and 300 words, and 42.55% are under 100 words.
  • Typically, users include 6 skills in their CVs.
  • The average number of jobs listed in a CV is 2.85.

*The data comes from a period of the last 12 months (August 2023-August 2024).

 

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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Do you need more help with your CV? We recommend the following guides:

Thanks for reading. If there’s anything else you want to know about what to include in a CV, please ask in the comments section, and we’ll be happy to help.

How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with LiveCareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.

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About the author

Danuta Detyna
Danuta Detyna

Danuta Detyna is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer and career expert with over nine years of writing experience. Known for her empathetic, detail-oriented approach, she creates practical and empowering career resources that help job seekers move forward with confidence.

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