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In today's competitive job market, a successful curriculum vitae (CV) is essential to showcase your skills and experiences to potential employers. Ultimately, a CV is a personalised marketing document aimed at capturing employers' interest. Furthermore, you should ensure your CV is applicant tracking system (ATS) friendly. We share the best tips to achieve this.
Whether you're an expert in your field or a recent graduate, this article provides shows you how to compose a CV, gives valuable CV advice, examples, and tips to assist you in how to write a good CV.
In this article, we cover:
A sample of a good curriculum vitae.
What a good CV looks like.
Tips for a good CV format.
How to construct a CV with the essential sections.
Tips on how to write a CV for beginners.
Enhance your job application with CVMaker, the go-to platform for job seekers, offering professional CV templates that can be tailored to your career goals.
Are you thinking about using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to write you CV? Or have you already tried? Follow our tips for AI CV writing for a more professional CV.
What to include in a CV?
There are certain must-have versus optional sections when writing a modern CV. The most important thing to remember is that a CV should be tailored towards your career goals and highlight your strengths. Therefore, selecting which templates to use also depends on which phase of your career you're in.
Consider the following must-have sections for a CV in the UK:
Personal details
Personal profile
Work experience
Skills
Education.
You may include additional sections if they are relevant. This includes but is not limited to:
Professional affiliations and memberships
Languages
Awards
Career achievements
Professional training
Conferences
Publications.
If you not sure how a CV should look like, read more about how to write a CV for a first job.
What makes a successful CV?
An excellent CV should highlight your work experience, education, achievements, and relevant skills clearly and concisely. Additionally, tailoring your CV to match the job requirements you are applying for can greatly increase your chances of success.
The following sections delve into important considerations, including UK requirements and the naming conventions for different CV sections.
Personal details on a CV
A complete CV should always include personal details so that a recruiter or hiring manager can contact you. This section should be positioned at the top of your CV, and it's important to note that including a photo on a CV is not required in the UK.
Required on a CV in the UK:
Full name
Location (town/city)
Phone number
Email address.
Optional information (if applicable):
Link to your portfolio/website
Driving licence and type.
To be excluded:
Exact home address
Date of birth
Place of birth
Gender
Marital status
Photo.
For more tips, refer to whether or not to include a photo on a CV.
Personal profile on a CV
A personal profile serves as an introductory statement summarising your professional background, education, goals, and key soft skills tailored to your desired job and industry. It should be concise, clear, and relevant to make a strong impression on employers, giving them a quick overview of your identity and career objectives.
Retail CV personal profile example
Ambitious and customer-focused retail professional with over five years of experience in enhancing store turnover and productivity. Well-versed in staff training, coaching, and developing performance-driven teams. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with proven capabilities in problem-resolution, stakeholder engagement, and continuous process improvement.
Refer to the retail CV example or retail cover letter for more details.
Sales CV personal profile example
Customer-focused sales professional with 10+ years of experience in exceeding sales targets, spearheading new sales processes, and driving sustainable revenue growth within fast-paced environments. Influential leader, adept in delegating, training, and coaching cross-functional and performance-driven teams. Demonstrated track record in cultivating valuable business partnerships with proven success in implementing effective customer retention strategies.
Refer to the sales CV example or sales cover letter for more details.
For more guidance and examples, refer to how to write a personal profile that has over 30 examples to effectively showcase your soft skills and create a compelling personal profile.
Skills on a CV
Crafting the ideal CV involves tailoring it to align with your career goals, and the same principle applies to your skills section. The skills you put on a CV should be specific and relevant to the types of jobs you are targeting. If you find yourself unsure about which skills to include, seeking input from friends or colleagues can provide valuable insights into your top qualities.
Avoid common CV mistakes such as:
listing too many skills.
adding irrelevant skills.
neglecting the distinction between specific skills.
The example below shows very specific skills for a bookkeeping role.
Pro Tip
Selecting the right skills can be challenging, but researching and evaluating company expectations helps identify your expertise and determine which skills to include in your CV.
Language skills on a CV can be a great addition and are among some of the top skills employers look for.
Work experience on a CV
When it comes to work experience on a CV, it's important to consider that individuals have different levels of experience - some possess extensive backgrounds, while others are launching their careers. The main purpose of this section is to emphasise daily tasks, achievements, and pertinent background. Learn more about how to effectively showcase your work experience with the use of action verbs in this section.
A CV should always include recent work experience, focusing primarily on the past 10 to 15 years. Including irrelevant or outdated work experience can be detrimental to your job search, as it may make your CV excessively long.
Pro Tip
Include short-term or past experience in an additional experience section and elaborate on it during an interview.
Refer to how to write work experience on a CV for further guidance.
Education on a CV
This section plays a vital role in showcasing your qualifications and expertise, providing valuable information for prospective employers to assess your suitability for a position. It serves as a powerful differentiator, emphasising your dedication to personal and professional growth.
Education encompasses not only formal or tertiary education but also informal education. If you lack secondary or tertiary education, you can consider including relevant courses under the education section to make boost your CV.
Refer to our education on a CV article for more tips and examples.
Example of a good CV
Download this Designer CV sample in PDF
For more examples of a successful CV, refer to the following:
What is the best format for a CV?
The format of a good CV you choose relies on your unique career objectives and current circumstances. Nonetheless, the reverse chronological format is widely advised, where you start by listing your most recent experience and continue in descending order. Nevertheless, it's important to note that there isn't a universal format that applies to all situations.
For example, if you are transitioning to a new career, have taken a career break as a parent, or have recently embarked on a sabbatical, you may prefer to conceal any employment gaps and emphasise your skills.
CV formatting and layout checklist
Fast-track your job application process with this free CV formatting checklist.
For more tips and different CV formats, refer to the below examples:
Pro Tip
Modify the structure as necessary, considering your particular circumstances and the job requirements for which you are applying.
Refer to the CV Writing Process: Master CV versus Job-specific CV for more tips on what makes a successful master CV.
How to write a good CV with no experience
When creating a CV with no experience, highlight transferable skills, relevant coursework or projects, volunteer work, internships, or other experiences demonstrating your abilities and commitment. Emphasise your education, skills, and personal qualities that align with the job requirements. If you have no experience, are a recent graduate, or are transitioning into a new career, it may be best to opt for a skills-based CV. For more examples, refer to the following:
10 common mistakes to avoid on a CV
When crafting a CV, it is essential to present yourself in the best possible light. However, many candidates make mistakes that can detract from their professionalism and reduce their chances of securing an interview.
Spelling and grammatical errors.
Too much or too little information.
Poor formatting and layout.
Lack of specific achievements.
Using a generic CV for all applications.
Including irrelevant details.
Unprofessional email address.
Using generic statements
Ignoring keywords from the job description.
Outdated contact information.
Key takeaways
To create a perfect CV, it's important to customise it according to the job description. Using a generic CV is unlikely to pass through ATS, and recruiters or hiring managers may perceive it as a lack of attentiveness to the job description, resulting in rejection.
Get your hands on the ultimate free CV checklist—guaranteed to ensure your CV ticks all the right boxes!
Next steps?
If you're still unsure about how to structure your CV or what information to include, visit our extensive range of cover letter templates and CV examples for inspiration. Learn more about the ideal cover letter length to accompany your CV. Check out our tips for sending your CV via email to take the final steps with your job application! Alternatively, you can consult with an expert at CVMaker for our CV Writing Service.
FAQ
How do I navigate gaps in my CV?
There might be various reasons for gaps; perhaps you took a career break or had personal matters that required time off. Either way, hope is not lost, as we have provided key tips on how to explain unemployment gaps on a CV or after being made redundant.
Where can I get help with my CV?
CV Maker is an all-in-one career platform that aims to simplify the job search process for all users. With an easy-to-use builder and career advice, you can now also write professional career documents including matching cover letters.
How many pages should a good CV be?
The universal length for a CV is generally two pages. However, this can vary depending on your level of experience and job requirements. If you have extensive experience or a lengthy publication record, a CV may exceed two pages, especially if you are creating an academic CV. Conversely, if you are a recent graduate or have limited experience as a school leaver, a one-page CV is suitable. Explore more tips on how long a CV should be.
How to check if my CV is good?
Ensure that the information included aligns with the job you are applying for.
Check for clear and concise language, avoiding excessive jargon.
Ensure a consistent and visually appealing layout, with appropriate use of headings, bullet points, and white space.
Double-check for any spelling or grammatical errors.
Assess if your CV effectively showcases your skills, experiences, and achievements in a compelling way.
You can find more tips in our how to improve your CV blog article.
How to lay out a good CV?
Use a clear and professional font.
Maintain consistent formatting throughout the document.
Organise content with clear section headings.
Prioritise the most relevant information and place it prominently.
Utilise white space effectively for visual appeal.
Consider using a well-designed CV template for guidance and consistency.
Discover more tips, such as the best font for your CV or the best colour for your CV.
Should I use AI to write my CV?
Using AI for your CV can be beneficial as it can help streamline the process and ensure key details are highlighted effectively. However, it's essential to review and personalise the content to ensure it accurately represents your skills and experiences.
What is the first thing employers notice on a CV?
Employers first notice the overall layout and the top section of a CV, including the candidate's name, contact information, and personal profile. This initial impression influences whether they continue reading.
How far back should a CV go?
We suggest to focus on the past 10 years and only include relevant experience. Adding outdated or irrelevant jobs can make your CV too long and might impact your application. Keep it relevant and concise!
Should you put your address on a CV?
In general, it's better to not include your full address on a CV. However, you can mention the town or city to show that you are living nearby. If you are thinking about relocating you can mention this in your cover letter. For remote jobs, it's still useful for recruiters to know a location but again, you don't have to add your entire address. Read more about best practices when it comes to adding an address on a CV.
Is it acceptable to use my work email address on my CV when applying for another job?
It’s best to use a personal email address that you check regularly and is professional. This approach helps maintain privacy and ensures that potential employers can contact you without any issues related to your current job.
