Writing a perfect CV is not the easiest task in the world. You need to make sure that your CV is tailored to the position and that your skills are presented in a clear and understandable way so that recruiters don’t dismiss it at first glance. What else should you pay attention to?
What a perfect CV looks like in 2024
A standout CV captures the interest of potential employers and reflects who you are and what you can do at a glance.
To write a great CV that will get you noticed by recruiters and hiring managers in 2024, follow our basic design and formatting rules to highlight the most important information.
- Tailor your CV to the position you are applying for.
- Incorporate keywords from the job description into your CV.
- Actively edit the information most relevant to the job you’re applying for, leaving room for important details.
- Cover only the last 10 years of employment or whatever is relevant to the position you are applying for.
- Choose a professional format with clean spacing, concise wording, and a consistent font style and size—it’s okay for headers to have a different style, but keep that consistent throughout the document.
- List your skills in short, clear bullet points that are easy to read quickly.
- Summarize your qualifications and any personal information clearly and concisely so recruiters can review your information at a glance.
What personal information should a perfect CV include?
One of the most important things to remember is to include up-to-date contact information and keep this section brief. Include:
- Personal email address.
- Mobile phone number. If this is not your preferred method of contact, please include a note to clarify.
- Brief information about hobbies and interests that highlight your personality.
- Remember, the goal is to create a one-page resume that stands out to recruiters. Removing unnecessary details will help ensure you have enough space to include valuable information.
- Please avoid including additional personal information, such as your marital status or religion, as this is not relevant to your job application.
- Include a link to your LinkedIn profile on your CV. Remember to keep your profile up to date and accurately reflect the information on your CV. You can also include links to your social media, websites or online portfolios if they are relevant to the position.
Should I include a photo on my CV?
Although there is no clear rule on whether or not to include a photo on your CV, we suggest doing so only if it is relevant to the position you are applying for.
Photos reveal characteristics such as age, gender, nationality and physical appearance. Unconscious bias exists, and one way companies and recruitment agencies can protect themselves against it is by keeping CVs and applications as anonymous as possible, making decisions based on skills rather than a person’s identity.
While it is their responsibility to train and self-correct, including a photo, even if you do not consider yourself part of a minority group, could trigger biases in whoever views your CV, which could influence a decision during the early stages of evaluation.
What should I write in my CV profile?
Keep your CV profile concise and direct. Try to write between 4 and 6 sentences, approximately 200 words.
Follow these steps to help you customize your CV:
- Describe who you are by summarizing your work experience and the position you are seeking.
- Sell your skills by highlighting any relevant experience you’ve had and include evidence to back it up. Avoid using buzzwords or including your hobbies and interests to keep this section simple and concise.
- Highlight your aspirations and include a brief mention of what you hope to gain from the position you are applying for, showing what motivates you and where your ambitions lie.
What skills should I include on my CV?
It’s important to highlight your key skills to stand out from the crowd. Avoid generic skills such as “written and verbal communication skills” or “Word expert” as these add no real value to your CV.
Above all, keep your skills relevant to the position you are applying for.
For example, if you’re applying for a design position, it would be helpful to mention any design software skills you have, such as experience with Adobe Photoshop or InDesign.
Try to include only relevant or unique skills that are key to your application. Create this section with the role in mind and use key details from the job description. This will give you a better idea of what experience and skills the recruiter is looking for, allowing you to tailor your CV accordingly.
Your cover letter and interview are opportunities to share more about how you have used your skills in practice and the results you have achieved.
How long should a perfect CV be?
Generally, you should aim for a one-page CV. A one-page CV can help a candidate stand out, as regardless of how much experience or skills you have, being concise and specific makes the hiring manager’s job easier when reading through a stack of CVs, which is a desirable skill in itself.
Please include the following details in your CV:
- Full name
- Mobile number
- Email address
- Relevant work experience, focused on skills and results
- A bulleted list of the skills, languages, and tools you can use
- A link to your personal website, if relevant
- A link to your LinkedIn profile
- A link to your social media or online portfolio
- Hobbies and interests, if you have the space
How to write a CV without work experience?
If you’re applying for a job for the first time and don’t have any work experience, it can be tricky to fill out your CV. While it’s not helpful to say “get work experience”, it’s a good idea to contact companies for a one or two week internship, which also gives you lots of new contacts to expand your network. You’ll be surprised how receptive and understanding people can be, as everyone remembers their first job search.
There are many ways to showcase your skills outside of internships and work experience.
You could:
- Analyze the skills they ask for in the job description: You’ve likely demonstrated these skills in school, higher education, or extracurricular activities. Try to prove how you’ve demonstrated the skill they’re looking for when you talk about past experiences, hobbies, or interests.
- Volunteering – There are always causes that need volunteers, and this is a great way to develop your skills and experience, as well as highlight causes that are important to you on your CV. This also allows you to show evidence of teamwork, self-motivation and problem-solving.
- Start your own project: You can create a portfolio to showcase your skills by redesigning a website, app, or ad on Canva, or any platform you feel comfortable designing on. You could also start your own business, selling used clothing or baked goods, and highlight what you’ve learned.
How to address a career break on your CV in 2024?
Do you have a gap in your CV and don’t know what to do about it? Don’t worry, this happens more than you think, and having gaps in your CV is completely understandable.
There are many reasons why you might have gaps on your CV, from becoming a full-time parent or carer to being made redundant due to organisational changes or being off on medical leave.
Here we recommend how to frame your work break in an interview:
Try to be honest and upfront about your career break. Briefly acknowledge the break up front and then direct attention to your employable skills and ability. If the recruiter has any questions or concerns, feel free to address them so you can take the initiative to control the narrative during your interview.
When deciding how to write a CV, focus your efforts on your key skills and work experience, keeping in mind the new position you are applying for. This will show the recruiter that you are capable of the role and that you are confident that you would be a great fit for it.
