Your CV could become a golden ticket to your bright professional future. But if you make one that doesn’t look professional, you may be inadvertently harming yourself.
A quick look at the recruitment documents is enough for hiring manager to decide whether or not they’d like to give you a shot.
And this “quick look” lasts only about 7 seconds.
So—
Make sure your CV looks nothing short of awesome.
In this article you’ll learn:
And if you’re looking for a step-by-step guide on how to make a perfect CV, check: CV 101—How to Write a CV [Templates and 25+ Examples]
Listen—
There’s no better way of learning what a good CV looks like than actually seeing one.
So, here it is:
Save hours of work and get a CV like this. Pick a template, fill it in. Quick and easy. Choose from 21 CV templates and download your CV now.
What users say about ResumeLab:
I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your CV.”
Patrick
I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work!
Dylan
My previous CV was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful!
George
Before we discuss what makes this CV example a particularly good one, consider this:
Studies show recruiters spend only about 7 seconds initially scanning a CV.
The CVs that recruiters favour have several things in common:
In fact—
This last element is something the recruiters spend the most time looking at.
But this isn’t everything.
To fully grasp what a good CV should look like, you must also know what bad CVs have in common:
And—
Thanks to such findings, we were able to compile a list of actionable formatting hints to help you make your job CV look professional.
So—
This is how to make your CV look great:
Even though this may seem pretty obvious, many job seekers don’t realise that setting the wrong margins will ruin the balanced look of their CV.
So—
The optimum size for margins is one inch on each side.
If you want to find out how exactly this works, and what the other acceptable sizes for CV margins are, read our dedicated guide.
You don’t want your CV to look either crammed or empty. The safest line spacing is in the range between 1 or 1.15.
And—
Avoid double spacing.
Even though adding white space is necessary, too much of a good thing is not such a good thing.
What are the best fonts for a CV?
Well—
Since we have a dedicated guide on the subject, let’s just put it this way:
Simple and easy on the recruiter’s eyes.
Helvetica, Arial, Roboto are all great choices. Comic Sans, Papyrus, and suchlike—you’d better give a wide berth to.
Your CV must reflect your experience and skills in the most relevant way.
That’s why choosing the right CV style is vital. Without it, the recruiter won’t be able to find the information they’re looking for.
The three most popular CV formats are:
Each of them is suitable for different kinds of job seekers.
Outlining a CV is a crucial part of the CV writing process.
Once you know what sections to put on your CV, you’ll find it much easier to give the document a good flow and coherent look.
Remember:
The most effective CVs are tailored to a specific job offer.
So, see to it that you don’t send a generic-looking document to multiple employers.
Expert Hint:The length of a CV matters. As a rule, it’s best to make your CV as long as necessary but not longer. For instance, entry-level candidates or those applying for junior positions may opt for one-page CVs. However, recent studies show that recruiters may have a preference for two-page CVs, so there’s no need to cram if you find it hard to fit everything into a single page.
The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your CV in our CV builder now.
Nail it all with a splash of colour, choose a clean font, highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You’re the perfect candidate and we’ll prove it. Use the ResumeLab builder now.
Now that you’ve seen what a good CV should look like, and learned some basic formatting rules—
Let’s see what sections a CV should consist of and what order you should put them in.
The first four sections are the most important ones on your CV, and they comprise the CV’s main body:
It doesn’t matter what kind of CV you’re writing—
The topmost section is always the same, and it’s called the CV header.
It’s where you put your contact details and other basic information to let the recruiter know who you are and how to get in touch with you.
The next section of your CV is the so-called CV profile.
Think of the CV profile, as a brief rundown of your entire CV that’s supposed to serve a sales pitch of a sort.
Your CV intro can take the form of a:
The meat and potatoes of your CV.
The way you present your experience on a CV could be a make or break factor in your job search.
This is where you have a chance to use CV keywords in context and show the recruiter you’ve got what it takes to succeed in the role.
Expert Hint: Avoid the so-called keyword stuffing on your CV. Mindless copy-pasting sections of the original job offer into your document may help you get past the ATS scan, but you’ll be shooting yourself in the foot. Once the recruiters see what you’re up to, they may not only reject your CV but blacklist you eventually.
Depending on how much experience you have, the education section on a CV could be either just a formality or your main selling point.
Plus, if you’re fresh out of university you may consider putting your education on a CV before the experience section.
The skills you put on a CV must testify to one thing—
You have the knowledge and expertise necessary to succeed in the role.
You can either place the skills section in a sidebar on your CV, just like you can see in the example above or put them in the main body if you have enough room.
The sections listed above can be found on the vast majority of CVs.
But—
You can consider including other sections as well. Just make sure they actually add value rather than simply fill in the blank space:
Remember:
Relevance is the name of the game.
Double your impact with a matching CV and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter builder and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There’s 18 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Here’s all you need to remember about what a CV should look like:
Do you have any questions? Would you like to share your observations on what a CV should look like? We’d love to hear from you! Give us a shout out in the comments below!
A CV job description is a CV section where you list your professional experience, usually in reverse-chronological order. It means you start with your most recent position and proceed backwards. Each entry should contain 3-6 bullet points. It is recommended to include 10-15 years of work history on your CV.
CV words that add horsepower to any CV. This CV action words list is so well organised you can find the best CV verbs for your CV in your sleep.
What to include in a CV? Which CV sections to keep off? This complete guide outlines exactly which things to put on your CV to make it shine.
