Curriculum Vitae is a Latin term meaning ‘the course of one’s life’. While it is often defined as a brief account of a person’s education, qualifications and work experience, this description only tells part of the story.
In reality a CV is best thought of as a personal sales brochure. When written and presented effectively, it highlights your strengths, showcases your skills, and maximises your chances of securing an interview.
This guide walks you through how to write a strong, professional CV that gets noticed.
Understand the Purpose of a CV
A good CV is not about including everything you have ever done. It is about presenting the most relevant information in the most effective way, with one clear goal in mind: getting you invited to an interview.
Recruiters typically spend seconds rather than minutes scanning a CV before deciding whether to continue reading. That means your CV must be:
- Clear
- Relevant
- Easy to read
- Tailored to the role
Choose the Right CV Structure
A well-organised CV makes it easy for employers to find the information they need. A standard often structure includes:
- Contact Information
- Professional Profile
- Education & Qualifications
- Career History
- Key Skills and Achievements
- Additional Sections (optional)
💡Top Tip
Avoid cluttered layouts, unusual fonts, and photographs unless explicitly requested.
Professional Profile
A Professional Profile is a brief introduction at the top of your CV that gives the reader a snapshot of who you are professionally.
It should highlight:
- Your profession and experience level
- Your key skills and areas of expertise
- The strengths and value you bring to the role
💡Top Tip
Keep it to 5-10 lines in length. Make it compelling, focussed, and avoid generic statements or waffle.
Education and Qualifications
Recruiters are usually most interested in your most recent qualifications so always list education in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent qualifications and working backwards.
Include:
· Degree or qualification
· Institution name
· Graduation year
· Grades achieved (if relevant)
· Relevant coursework or projects (optional)
· Professional memberships and awards
💡Top Tip
Use bullet points or tables to keep this section clear. Only include grades if they strengthen your application.
Career History
As with Education and Qualifications list your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. Focus on recent roles and summarise older ones where appropriate.
For each role, include:
- Job title
- Company name and location
- Dates of employment
- Key responsibilities, achievements and skills
💡Top tip
· Make sure your current or most recent role is on the first page of your CV
· Avoid unnecessary details like reasons for leaving
· Use action verbs and, where possible, quantify achievements
· If your CV exceeds two pages, reduce detail and focus on relevance
Key Skills and Achievements
Including this section is optional, but it can be particularly useful for graduates, career changers, or candidates whose experience does not directly match the role.
Key Skills
For school leavers or graduates, include skills gained through education or projects. For experienced candidates, focus on transferable skills.
Skills may be grouped into categories such as:
· Soft skills: communication, teamwork, leadership, adaptability, time management
· Technical skills: role-specific or industry-specific skills
Be honest—only list skills you can confidently discuss in an interview.
Achievements
Highlight achievements from your professional, academic or personal life. Personal achievements can help demonstrate character, motivation, and transferable skills, making your CV more memorable.
Ensure all achievements included are relevant and add value to your application.
Additional Sections
Interests and Activities
Including interests can add personality and help differentiate you from other candidates. Keep this section brief and avoid generic hobbies. Where possible, highlight interests that demonstrate positive qualities or align with the role.
References
References are optional. A simple line stating ‘References are available on request’ is sufficient, unless specifically requested. Focus space on information that supports your suitability for the role.
Tailor your CV for each job
Avoid sending the same CV to every employer. Tailor it for each role by:
· Using keywords from the job description
· Emphasising relevant experience and skills
· Adjust your professional profile to match the role
Keep It Concise and Error Free
· Stick to two A4 pages maximum
· Use clear headings and bullet points
· Choose professional fonts (eg Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
· Proofread carefully for spelling and grammar mistakes
· Ask someone else to review your CV – a fresh pair of eyes can often catch errors
Final Thoughts
Your CV should be easy to scan, with clear sections and headings. Avoid long blocks of text and use bullet points to help break up certain information. Keep it clean, concise, informative, and free of errors. Take the time to tailor your CV for each application. It can make the difference between being overlooked and being invited to interview.