How to write a CV: a step-by-step guide
A good CV does not tell your whole life story: it helps the reader decide in a few seconds whether you are worth a call. This guide covers what to include, in what order and what to avoid.
1. Pick the right format
- Reverse chronological: most recent first. It is the most common and the one recruiters understand best.
- Functional or skills-based: grouped by competencies. Useful if you are changing field or have gaps, but it raises more questions.
- Combination: a short block of key skills followed by chronological experience.
If in doubt, start with reverse chronological.
2. Sections you cannot skip
- Contact details: name, phone, professional email and, optionally, city and a LinkedIn or portfolio link.
- Profile or summary (2-4 lines): who you are, what you can do and what you are looking for.
- Work experience: job title, company, dates and 2-4 achievements per role.
- Education: degree, institution and year. With little experience, put it first.
- Skills: tools, techniques and languages, stating your level.
Optional sections: projects, volunteering, certifications, publications and awards. Include them only if they support the job you are applying for.
3. Write achievements, not duties
Instead of "Responsible for customer support", describe the result: "Cut average response time from 24 to 8 hours by organizing a shared inbox". A simple formula: action verb + what you did + measurable result. If you lack exact numbers, use honest magnitudes (number of clients, team size, frequency).
4. Length and layout
- One page if you have under 10 years of experience; two at most for senior profiles.
- A single clear reading column, comfortable margins and a legible font (10-12 pt).
- One accent color at most; contrast matters more than decoration.
- Save it as a PDF so the layout does not change on another device.
5. Photo, date of birth and other details?
It depends on the country and industry. In many European countries a photo is common; in others (such as the US) it is discouraged to avoid discrimination. Age, marital status or nationality are usually unnecessary. When in doubt, look at what CVs in your target sector look like.
6. Tailor the CV to each job
Read the job posting, spot the 5-6 most repeated keywords and make sure that, where they are true for you, they appear in your profile, experience and skills. Keeping several versions of the same CV saves a lot of time.
7. Common mistakes
- Typos: proofread twice and ask someone else to read it.
- An unprofessional email address or broken links.
- Unexplained gaps and inconsistent dates.
- Generic phrases ("dynamic, proactive person") with no evidence.
- False information: it surfaces in the interview or background check.
Final checklist before sending
- Does it fit in 1-2 pages and read well on a phone?
- Does every role list achievements and not just duties?
- Is it tailored to this job?
- Is the file name professional (for example,
First-Last-CV.pdf)?