Put the most relevant information first
Use a clear name and contact method, a short profile, relevant skills, and work history in reverse chronological order. Adjust section order to your experience: a recent graduate may put projects and education higher, while an experienced specialist may lead with work history.
Keep your layout simple and readable. Use consistent dates and job titles, descriptive section headings, and a file format requested by the employer. Avoid graphics or columns that make important text difficult for screening tools or readers to follow.
Write evidence-led accomplishment bullets
A useful bullet usually names the action, context, and result. State what you changed or delivered, who or what it supported, and the outcome you can substantiate. Numbers help when they are accurate and you can explain how they were measured.
When a result cannot be quantified, describe scope, quality, time saved, reliability, or the people supported. Do not invent percentages, client names, confidential details, qualifications, or responsibilities you did not hold.
Tailor without rewriting everything
Before applying, underline the employer’s core outcomes and repeated skills. Move your closest evidence higher, use the employer’s terminology where it truthfully matches your experience, and remove details that do not help explain your fit.
Use a private master CV as your source, then save a role-specific copy with a clear filename. Check spelling, contact details, links, dates, and the final exported file before sending it.
Action checklist
- The first half-page shows fit for this role.
- Each bullet describes work you actually did.
- Tools and skills are supported by an example elsewhere in the CV.
- Dates, titles, spelling, and contact details are consistent.
- The final file opens correctly and follows the employer’s format request.