How to write a CV recruiters actually read: a section-by-section guide

A recruiter reviews dozens of CVs in a day. The first pass is fast; the ones that earn interest get a careful second read. Your goal is to make that first pass say "this candidate is relevant" — and to prove it on the second.

The top block: who you are, how to reach you

• Name, title, contact. Bring your title line close to the role: if you're applying for "Accounting Specialist", don't headline yourself as "Experienced Office Worker".
• Use a professional email address and a current phone number. City is usually enough; a full street address is unnecessary.
• Photos, date of birth and marital status are not required for most roles; leaving them out saves space and avoids needless bias.

The summary: a three-sentence shop window

The 2–4 sentence summary at the top answers one question: why am I right for this role? Skip template phrases ("dynamic team player...") and be concrete:

"Six years in B2B sales; led a team of three in my last role. Hands-on experience setting up a CRM and designing the sales process. Looking for a role owning an enterprise client portfolio."

Experience: work and outcomes, not duties

This is the section that decides. For each role: title, company, date range and 3–5 bullets. Write bullets as evidence of what you did, not as a job description:

• Weak: "Responsible for reporting."
• Strong: "Built the weekly sales report from scratch; it became the standard input for management meetings."

Use numbers where you can — but only real ones. An invented figure collapses under a single interview question.

Don't try to hide employment gaps; a short note ("2023 — parental leave") always beats ambiguity.

Skills: an inventory of evidence, not a wish list

The skills section summarises your experience section; it is not independent of it. Put the skills from the posting that you genuinely have first. If you write "advanced Excel", at least one experience bullet should show it.

Stating a level (basic/intermediate/advanced) carries more meaning than progress bars; "English 90%" tells the reader nothing.

Education and certificates

If you're a recent graduate, education can sit near the top; it moves down as experience grows. Include certificates relevant to the role (with the year); unrelated ones only add clutter.

Format: one-page discipline, two-page tolerance

• Aim for one page under ~10 years of experience; never exceed two.
• One column, standard headings, 10–11pt, generous white space. Ornate templates strain both applicant tracking systems and human eyes.
• Save as a text-based PDF with a meaningful filename: "FirstLast-CV.pdf".
• Read it aloud once before sending; a typo is the cheapest possible proof of carelessness.

Final checklist

• Does the title line match the posting?
• Does the summary say why you fit this role?
• Does every experience bullet describe work plus outcome?
• Are the posting's core requirements visibly covered?
• Are dates clear and gaps explained?
• One or two pages, clean layout, text-based PDF?

Your CV opens the door. For what comes after, continue with building interview answers with the STAR method.