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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.
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
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.
2. Elements of a Professional CV
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:
1. CV Header
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.
2. CV Profile
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.
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.
4. Education
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.
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.
6. Additional Sections
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:
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.
Key Points
Here’s all you need to remember about what a CV should look like:
Format your CV so that it’s reader-friendly.
Divide it into easy-to-find sections.
Make sure your job titles are well-visible.
Choose the best CV format for your needs.
Include all the relevant sections and put them in the right order.
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!
Maciej Duszynski is a career advice writer and a resume expert at ResumeLab. With over 8 years of experience in recruitment, hiring, and training, Maciej shares insider HR knowledge to equip every job seeker with professional advice to nail the job hunt. His insights have been featured by the Chicago Tribune, SparkPeople, Toggl, Referral Rock, and Databox, among others. Maciej has helped job candidates at all stages of their career paths, from interns to directors to C-suite members, to thrive in their job. His mission is to help you find the right opportunity and create a job application that gets you the career you deserve. Maciej holds a Master’s degree in English with a specialization in communication and education management.
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.