How to write a CV employers read

What to put in your CV, in what order, and the mistakes that get CVs set aside.

Keep it short and clear

An employer often looks at a CV for less than a minute before deciding whether to read on. One or two pages is enough for most people. Use a simple layout, one clear font, and headings that are easy to find.

What to include, in this order

Your name and contact details: phone number, email and town. A professional email address helps.
A short summary: two or three lines on who you are and what you're looking for.
Work experience: your most recent job first, with dates, the employer and what you did.
Education: your highest qualification first.
Skills: the ones the job asks for, written the way the advert writes them.
Referees: two or three people who know your work, with their permission.

Show what you achieved

Under each job, write what you did and what changed because of it. "Prepared monthly reports for 12 branches" says more than "responsible for reports". Start each line with an action word, such as managed, prepared, sold or trained.

Fit it to each job

Read the advert's requirements and make sure your CV shows them clearly, where they're true for you. If the job asks for Excel and you use it every day, say so. Never claim a qualification or experience you don't have: employers check, and it can cost you the job later.

Common mistakes

Spelling mistakes and wrong phone numbers.
Long paragraphs instead of short lines.
Old jobs described in more detail than recent ones.
Personal details employers don't need, such as religion or marital status.
Sending a Word file when the advert asks for PDF.

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