How to write a CV

Start with what a CV is actually for

A CV isn't your life story. It's a short case, read fast by someone deciding whether to spend more time on you. First reads are quick, so every line has to earn its place.

Write for that reader: someone who doesn't know you, is scanning for fit, and will move on the moment they're confused.

The structure that works

For most UK roles, this order reads cleanly:

• Contact details — name, phone, email, city, and a LinkedIn URL if it's current.
• Personal statement — two or three lines on who you are and what you're after.
• Key skills — a short, honest list matched to the role.
• Experience — most recent first, achievements over duties.
• Education — qualifications, most recent first.

The personal statement

Keep it to two or three lines. Say what you do, the kind of role you want, and one thing that makes you a strong fit. Tailor it to each application — a generic statement reads as generic.

Experience: achievements, not a job description

Anyone can list duties. What lands is evidence of impact. Lead each bullet with a strong verb and, where you can, a concrete result.

One honest rule: never invent numbers. If you improved something but can't measure it, say what you did and how — a specific, metric-free bullet beats a made-up statistic every time. A reader can tell the difference, and so can an interviewer.

Skills that match the role

List the skills the job actually asks for, in your own words, and only the ones you have. Padding the list with things you can't back up is the fastest way to lose trust.

Length and format

Two pages is the norm for most people; one page is fine early in your career. Use clear headings, consistent spacing, and a standard font. Elaborate layouts often confuse the automated systems that read CVs before a human does.

Tailor it to each job

The single biggest improvement most CVs need isn't better writing — it's better fit. Read the job description, mirror its language where it's honestly true of you, and lead with what that specific employer is looking for.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Listing duties instead of achievements.
• One CV sent to every role, unchanged.
• Invented or exaggerated claims you couldn't defend in an interview.
• Typos and inconsistent formatting.
• Burying the most relevant experience on page two.