Need support with your CV? We've got you.
A well-written CV should do more than list your work history—it should clearly demonstrate the value you can bring to an employer. The aim is to make it easy for recruiters to see why you're a strong fit for the role.
We've pulled together some of the best advice for building / reviewing your CV. There is also a downloadable CV template at the end of this page.
CV Building guide
Tailor your CV for every application
Avoid sending the same CV to every employer. Read the job description carefully and adapt your CV to highlight the skills, experience and achievements that are most relevant to the role.
Tip: Use keywords from the job advert where they accurately reflect your experience. Many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to search for these terms.
Start with a strong personal profile
Your personal profile should be a short introduction that explains:
- Who you are professionally
- Your key skills
- Your experience
- What you're looking for next
Example:
Experienced Customer Service Manager with over eight years' experience leading high-performing teams, improving customer satisfaction and delivering operational excellence. A confident communicator with strong leadership and problem-solving skills, now seeking a new opportunity to contribute to a customer-focused organisation.
Highlight your key skills
Include a concise skills section near the top of your CV.
Examples:
- Leadership
- Project Management
- Customer Service
- Data Analysis
- Sales
- Budget Management
- Team Development
- Microsoft Office
- CRM Systems
- Health & Safety
- Communication
- Problem Solving
Only include skills that are relevant to the roles you're applying for.
Focus on achievements, not just responsibilities
Recruiters want to know the impact you've made.
Instead of:
❌ Managed a customer service team.
Try:
✅ Led a team of 15 advisors, increasing customer satisfaction scores by 18% while reducing response times by 25%.
Use numbers wherever possible.
Examples:
- Increased sales by 20%
- Reduced costs by £50,000
- Managed budgets of £2 million
- Trained 40 new employees
- Improved productivity by 15%
Present your work history clearly
List your employment in reverse chronological order.
Include:
- Job title
- Employer
- Dates of employment
- Key achievements
- Main responsibilities
Keep each role concise and prioritise your most recent experience.
Explain redundancy professionally
If your role ended due to redundancy, be open about it.
Example:
Operations Manager
ABC Manufacturing | 2021–2026
Role concluded following company-wide restructuring and redundancy programme.
This reassures employers that your departure was due to organisational change rather than performance.
Include relevant qualifications
List:
- Degrees
- Diplomas
- Professional certifications
- Industry training
- Recent online courses
If you've completed training since becoming redundant, include it. It demonstrates initiative and continuous learning.
Keep the layout clean and professional
A recruiter may spend less than a minute reviewing your CV initially.
Use:
- Clear headings
- Consistent fonts
- Bullet points
- Plenty of white space
- Logical sections
Aim for one-two pages if you have several years of experience. One page is often sufficient for graduates or those early in their careers.
Keep it relevant
You don't need to include every job you've ever had.
Prioritise:
- Recent positions
- Relevant experience
- Transferable skills
- Significant achievements
Older or less relevant roles can be summarised briefly.
Proofread carefully
Small mistakes can leave a poor impression.
Check:
- Spelling
- Grammar
- Dates
- Job titles
- Contact details
- Formatting consistency
Ask someone else to review your CV before sending it.
Make your CV ATS-friendly
Many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems to screen applications before a recruiter sees them.
To improve compatibility:
- Use standard headings such as "Work Experience" and "Education"
- Avoid text boxes, graphics and tables
- Use a simple font
- Save as PDF if requested (or Word if specified)
- Include relevant keywords naturally
Include a strong contact section
Make sure recruiters can reach you easily.
Include:
- Full name
- Phone number
- Professional email address
- General location (town or city)
- LinkedIn profile (if up to date)
You don't need to include your full postal address, date of birth, marital status or a photograph unless specifically requested.
Common CV mistakes to avoid
- Using the same CV for every application.
- Writing long paragraphs instead of clear bullet points.
- Focusing on duties rather than achievements.
- Including irrelevant or outdated experience.
- Using an unprofessional email address.
- Leaving unexplained employment gaps.
- Including spelling or grammatical errors.
- Making the CV too long or difficult to scan.
- Exaggerating skills or experience.
CV Success Checklist
Before submitting your CV, ask yourself:
- ✓ Is it tailored to the role?
- ✓ Does my personal profile clearly summarise my strengths?
- ✓ Have I highlighted measurable achievements?
- ✓ Is my work history easy to follow?
- ✓ Have I explained any redundancy professionally?
- ✓ Are my contact details correct?
- ✓ Is the formatting clean and consistent?
- ✓ Have I checked for spelling and grammar mistakes?
- ✓ Would a recruiter understand my value within the first 30 seconds?
A strong CV doesn't simply describe what you've done—it shows the results you've achieved and the value you can bring to your next employer. By tailoring each application, emphasising accomplishments and presenting your experience clearly, you'll give yourself the best chance of securing interviews.