How to write a successful CV (including free template)
😱 2024 edit: WOW! This article has reached 20,000+ views, and I couldn’t be more pleased to know many people find it useful. Leave me a comment if you have any constructive feedback about this article or CV template. 🫶
I don't know why there is this misconception that a CV will get you a job. Because it won't. All your CV can do is give you a ticket to an interview. But, then, if things go well during your interviews… you will get a job.
Sure there are situations where you can just show up with a CV in hand and get hired directly, but in most cases, you will have to go through different stages of interviews before getting hired.
It's essential to keep this in mind when building your CV. You'll do a better job focussing on what will get you an interview rather than trying to compile every single piece of evidence on why you should get the job.
Writing a great CV in five steps
I have seen my share of CVs, and there are obvious pitfalls that explain why so many candidates fail when applying for jobs. Way too often, resumes are too long, too generic, or weirdly laid out.
Always remember that your CV:
- … is not a book. Being concise is critical. You don't have to detail every task you ever completed. Your CV is not an essay to tell the story of your life. There's Medium for that 😉
- … is not a job description. Instead, highlight the work or projects you delivered and your achievements. Recruiters don't need a definition of your role. They want to know how you performed in this role.
- … is not a piece of art. Unless you're in a design field, the more classic, the better. There is no need to put tons of colour, use fancy layouts, or go down the WordArt's (ugly) road. It will do more harm than good.
[Step 1] Better. Faster. Shorter.
Start with a non-negotiable rule: your CV needs to allow a quick read. Think of it as a flyer. Sell yourself by highlighting the main things recruiters need to know about you.
- Use a maximum of 5 or 6 bullet points per role;
- Be concise, avoid writing in first or third person;
- Make everything fit onto one or two pages;
- Put your current experience first and work your way back.
🙅♀️ Don't include your references' contact details. Your former managers don't need their emails and phone numbers disclosed to every company you send your CV to. It's unnecessary, and you're wasting some precious space. Recruiters will ask when they need your references.
[Step 2] Blow your own horn
The next step is to make sure you're bragging about your achievements. Remember that your CV is not a job description. Recruiters want to know what it's like when you use your skills and how you performed in the past.
- Illustrate your experience and skills with achievements;
- Add metrics and specifics to quantify your performance;
- Make sure to mention any promotions you have received;
- Insert action verbs and avoid saying "responsible for" too often;
- Promote a relevant list of skills and use keywords;
- If you have technical expertise, be specific with your skills.
💡 Here's a good example…
[Step 3] Shine bright like a career overview
Recruiters spend on average 7.4 seconds per resume. We also tend to focus more on what's at the top of your CV to check your most recent experiences. This is precisely where your career overview should be.
It's a quick preview of your resume
- Think about it as a movie trailer;
- Only a few sentences — one paragraph is enough;
- It's a snapshot of your background and skills;
- You can include the personal attributes that best describe you;
- You can also add your career goal.
🙆♀️ This is the step that can make you stand out. Your career overview is the storefront of your CV, the first thing recruiters will see. If it's short and well-written, we will get curious enough to spend more time reading the rest of your resume (assuming your experience matches with the role):
[Step 4] Embrace simplicity
The content of your CV isn't all you have to pay attention to. Recruiters will look at your CV before they read it. This step is about working on its form without overdoing it.
- Use a modern font: Avenir, Candara, Corbel, Cordia New, Helvetica…;
- 9–12 points font size for the body text is best;
- Use bold, caps, and italics consistently to structure your text;
- Use shades of grey instead of only pure black text for a lighter look;
- Don't use fancy layouts with headers, footers, or tables;
- Create margins to make it easy to read and avoid edge to edge text;
- Balance your text with white spaces.
Overall, don't over-use anything. Instead, go for modern, neat, and classic formatting. It will help guide the reader's eyes.
💁♀️ Recruiters might need to download, store and/or share your CV. It will be (very) handy if your file is named correctly. Some days, it feels like candidates are playing Guess Who? in my download folder…
[Step 5] Look it over. And over again.
By now, you will undoubtedly have invested hours working on your CV. Don't rush the proofreading steps! Sadly, a single typo could cause a significant hurdle and eradicate all your efforts…
- Double-check the dates in your experience and education sections;
- Double-check your email address and phone number;
- Remove any unnecessary info: age, marital status, religion, or nationality;
- Use a proofreading tool like Grammarly (their free version is fantastic 🤓);
- Grab a human with enough patience to read through your CV.
💆♀️ For your peace of mind, look over your CV one more time before sending your applications. Also, follow the job's requirements when submitting it (.docx, .pdf…). If no instructions, always send a PDF.
Et voilà! I created a free and public CV template that you can access by clicking here.
