How to write a CV that stands out

An employer spends seconds on each CV. A clear, tidy CV makes a strong first impression and boosts your interview chances, whatever your experience.

Start with a short summary

Put two lines at the top summarising your specialisation, key experience, and what you're looking for. This summary is read first, make it specific and professional, not generic.

Organise the content clearly

• Work experience newest to oldest, with concrete achievements, not just duties.
• Relevant qualifications and certificates.
• Technical skills and languages, realistically.
• Clear, up-to-date contact details.

Tailor it to each job

Adjust the summary and skills to fit each ad, using words from the job description. A tailored CV always beats one generic version sent to everyone.

Keep it short and clean

One or two pages is usually enough. Use a simple layout and clear font, and proofread for spelling, a small typo signals a lack of care.