CV GUIDE · 8 MIN READ

How to write a CV that gets you interviews

A recruiter spends only a few seconds on a first look at your CV. This guide shows you what to put in each section, how long your CV should be, and how to make sure both people and applicant tracking systems (ATS) can read it.

1. Start with your name and contact details

Put your full name at the top in a large font, with the job title you are aiming for underneath. Then add your email, phone number and city. You don’t need your full street address. A LinkedIn profile or portfolio link is a plus if it is up to date.

Use a professional email address — ideally some version of your name — and double-check every digit of your phone number.

2. Write a short profile

Your profile (also called a summary) is two or three sentences that say who you are, what you are good at and what you are looking for. Write it for the job you want, not for every job.

3. List your work experience — with results

List your jobs with the most recent first. For each one, add your job title, the company, and the dates (month and year, or just the year). Under each job, write three to five bullet points.

The biggest mistake is listing duties instead of results. Start each bullet with an action verb, and add a number whenever you can — money saved, customers served, time cut, people trained.

No work experience yet? Use internships, volunteering, student jobs, projects or freelance work. They show the same skills.

4. Add your education

Add your degree or diploma, the school and the year you finished. If you are a student or recent graduate, you can put education above experience and add relevant courses, your thesis topic or a good final grade. With more experience, keep education short.

5. Show your skills and languages

List six to ten skills that match the job post — tools, software and specific abilities such as “Excel”, “forklift licence” or “React”. Avoid vague words like “team player” unless you prove them in your experience. Languages are a real advantage: list each one with your level, for example “English (fluent)”.

6. Add extra sections that help

Only add extra sections if they help for this job. Good options:

• Certifications — industry certificates, licences and courses.
• Projects — especially for tech, design and students.
• Volunteering — shows initiative and fills gaps.
• Interests — keep it short and specific; it can start a conversation.

How long should a CV be?

One page is ideal for students and people with less than about five years of experience. Two pages is normal for experienced professionals. More than two pages is rarely needed. If your CV is long, cut older jobs to one line and remove bullet points that don’t support the job you are applying for.

Should you add a photo to your CV?

It depends on the country. In much of Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia a professional photo is common. In the US, UK, Canada and Australia most employers prefer CVs without a photo to avoid bias. If you add one, use a recent, well-lit photo with a plain background where you look friendly and professional.

Make your CV ATS-friendly

Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) that read your CV before a person does. To get through:

• Use the same words as the job post for your skills and job titles.
• Use standard section headings: Experience, Education, Skills.
• Send a PDF with real text (not a scanned image) unless the job post asks for Word.
• For large company portals, a simple layout like our Classic template is the safest.

Before you send it: a quick checklist

• No spelling mistakes — read it out loud, or ask a friend.
• Dates are consistent and there are no unexplained gaps.
• The file name is clear, for example “Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf”.
• You changed the profile and skills for this specific job.