How to write a great CV

What to include in your CV

The structure of a CV is flexible. But there are sections that employers expect to see on your CV, such as:

name
professional title
contact details

You should position this essential information at the top of the page.

There is no need to title your CV with ‘curriculum vitae’, ‘CV’ or ‘Resume’ as it’s a waste of valuable space. Treat your name as the title instead.

For your contact details, email address and phone number are essential.

With your address you can include the county where you live.

You can also include a link to your Linked-in profile page in this section – but only if it’s up to date!

A professional profile photo is not required on a CV.

Personal statement

A personal statement is one of the most important parts of your CV.

It is a short paragraph placed underneath your name and contact details. It gives employers an overview of who you are and what you’re all about.

You should change your profile to fit every job you apply for. You should highlight qualities that match you to the role.

Keep your personal statement short no longer than a few sentences.

When you are applying for management roles, the employer may want more information. So, it is ok for these personal statements to be a little longer.

To make the most of this section, you should try to describe:

who you are
your values and strengths
what you have to offer to the prospective employer
your career goals

Experience and employment history

This section gives you a chance to outline your previous jobs and work experience.

List your experience in reverse order as your recent role is the most relevant to the employer.

For each job, state your job title, the employer, the dates you worked and a line that summarises the role.

Then bullet point your responsibilities, skills and achievements. Support each with powerful verbs that showcase your impact.

It helps to choose the duties most relevant to the job you’re applying for, especially if it’s a long list.

If you have many years’ worth of experience, you can reduce the detail of old or irrelevant roles. If you have positions from more than 10 years’ ago, you can remove them or provide a summary list.

Education, qualifications and research

You should list your education in reverse date order.

Include:

the name of the place you studied
the dates you were there
the qualifications and grades you achieved

If you are about to graduate or still studying, ensure you include the date you qualify.

Include all certificates, awards and modules that are relevant to the role. This will assure employers you have continued to develop your career.

Many professionals undertake research, write articles and receive recognition awards. It is important that you list these. Many employers will want to use your achievements to promote their services.

Extra Information to include

There is a range of extra sections that may strengthen your CV and highlight your skills.

These can include:

Key skills

If you have abilities that you want to show off to the employer include a key skills section. Place this underneath your personal profile. You should aim to detail four to six abilities at most.

Suitable roles

To help the employer understand the roles you are suitable for, you could list these within your CV. This gives the employer the opportunity to find other roles for you,

Hobbies and interests

You can boost your CV with a hobbies and interests section at the end. This can help to show how well you fit into the company or industry. This could include any charities or fundraising you support, or any voluntary work you have done. Avoid listing hobbies that don’t add value to your CV or are standard, like reading. Use interests that make you stand out or are relevant to the job.

References

Adding your referees to the end of your CV is not required. You can include a line that reads ‘references available on request’. Most employers will be request references only when they are confident, they wish to offer you a role.

Formatting and spacing guidelines

If you are unsure of how to format your CV, it’s worth downloading a few CV templates to familiarise yourself. After all, formatting and spacing your CV is as important as the content. Here are some formatting and spacing tips to bear in mind.

Proof-reading and consistency

Your formatting must be consistent on your CV. Make sure you don't include typos or inaccuracies. Proofread to capture every mistake and use spellcheck.

Length

The standard length of a CV is two A4 pages.

For some roles, it is normal to provide an extra page that lists research, awards and achievements.

Headings

Introduce each section by a heading help the employer to read.

Font type

Most employers will receive your CV in a digital format, so choose a clear font like Calibri or Arial. You can use a different font type for your headings but keep it professional and easy-to-read.

Page margins

Page margins should be around 2.5 cm. Never reduce them to less than 1.25 cm or your CV will appear cluttered and hard to read. White space ensures clarity and professionalism.

What not to include in a CV

Some of your details are protected characteristics that don’t affect your ability to do the job. It’s against the law for employers to ask about some of these. You do not need to include your:

age and date of birth
marital status and dependants
religion
irrelevant secondary or high school qualifications unless you are a school leaver.