How to Write the Perfect CV: What It Should Include and How to Make It Stand Out

Discover how to write a professional CV that gets noticed. Learn what to include, how to tailor your resume to each job, and tips to stand out in a competitive job market.

1. Why Your CV Still Matters More Than You Think

Believe it or not, your CV still matters—even in this modern age when your profile can be searched on every possible platform. A CV is like a first impression, and as we all know, first impressions are hard to change. Even with a well-curated LinkedIn account, your CV often speaks first.

You might have heard the myth that recruiters don’t even look at CVs anymore and that AI does all the work. But as an HR professional, I can assure you that 99% of companies still rely on good old-fashioned recruiters to make hiring decisions. This is the first time you truly meet the hiring team—not in an interview, but through your CV—and that’s exactly where you can make or break a new job opportunity.

In this article, we’ll walk through the essential elements of a great CV, how to tailor it to each job, what to avoid, and how coaching can help you create a standout resume.

2. The Core Elements of a Great CV

Contact Information

Always include the basics: your email address and phone number. It’s also helpful to list your city or region, especially if location matters for the role. Adding your LinkedIn profile link is a great way to show professionalism and openness.

Professional Summary

This should be a 3–5 line paragraph at the top of your CV summarizing your key experience, notable achievements, and career goals. Think of it as your elevator pitch on paper.

Work Experience

List your experiences in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. Include:

• Company name

• Position title

• Time period (ideally month + year)

• A short list of bullet points describing responsibilities and results

Make sure you include responsibilities that align with the job you’re applying for—without exaggerating your experience. Use metrics and results wherever possible to add credibility.

Education

Include your degrees, certifications, and any relevant coursework. If you have recent or ongoing education that’s applicable, make sure it’s visible.

Skills Section

List a mix of hard skills (technical, job-specific) and soft skills (communication, leadership, etc.). Don’t forget to include your language skills and their levels (e.g., B2, fluent, native).

Optional but Powerful Extras:

• Awards and recognitions

• Professional memberships

• Notable publications or projects (if relevant to the job/industry)

3. Tailoring Your CV to Each Job

So, you’ve created your CV and feel ready to send it out to every job you like—even in completely different industries or roles? STOP FOR A MINUTE!

That method no longer works. You need to make small but strategic adjustments to your CV for each job you apply to. Don’t worry—it doesn’t take hours. Just 5 extra minutes per application can make all the difference.

Why? Because recruiters are looking for alignment. The job description contains valuable keywords and phrases that you should mirror in your CV. Many companies also use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes, so if your CV lacks the right terms, it may never even reach a human.

Tips for tailoring:

• Identify key responsibilities and requirements in the job posting

• Use similar phrasing to show relevance

• Align your summary and bullet points with company values or goals

4. How to Write Achievements, Not Just Responsibilities

Most CVs list what someone was responsible for, but the best ones highlight what was actually achieved.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to frame your accomplishments:

• Situation: What challenge or context were you in?

• Task: What were you responsible for?

• Action: What did you do?

• Result: What was the outcome?

Example transformation:

• ❌ “Managed the customer service inbox”

• ✅ “Resolved an average of 50+ client issues weekly with a 95% satisfaction rate”

Numbers help you stand out. Try to quantify achievements wherever possible.

5. Design and Layout Tips for a Professional Look

You don’t need fancy graphics, but your CV should be clean, structured, and readable.

• Fonts: Use professional fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman (10–12 pt)

• White space: Leave space between sections for better readability

• Length: One page for early career, two for experienced professionals

• Photo: This depends on the country and industry. In Europe, a photo is often acceptable. In the US or UK, it’s usually discouraged.

Stick with a simple design unless you’re in a highly creative field where visuals matter (e.g., graphic design, branding).

6. Common CV Mistakes to Avoid

Even great content can be ruined by simple errors. Watch out for:

• Typos, grammar mistakes, inconsistent formatting

• Generic or vague descriptions (e.g., “team player,” “hard-working”)

• Passive language or clichés

• Listing too much irrelevant information

• Over-designing (using too many colors or graphics)

• Forgetting to update your CV regularly with recent achievements

7. How Coaching Can Help You Build a Winning CV

Sometimes it’s hard to see your own strengths. That’s where coaching comes in.

A career or job search coach can help you:

• Review and revise your CV objectively

• Identify your unique value in the market

• Practice job application scenarios like mock interviews

• Turn insecurities (like employment gaps) into confident storytelling

You’ll walk away with a document that doesn’t just show what you’ve done—but who you are and why you matter.

8. Final Thoughts and Next Steps

Remember: your CV is a living document. You should review and refine it regularly, especially when you gain new experiences or apply to different roles.

So here’s your call to action: Take 30 minutes today to review your current CV. See what you can improve based on what you’ve learned in this post.

Need support? I offer a free CV review session where we can go through your resume together and find ways to improve it for your next big opportunity.

✅ Let’s make sure your next application stands out. Book a free session and let’s work on your CV together.