What we think

Your CV is often the first thing a recruiter or employer will see, so getting it right can make a big difference to your chances of getting an interview.

But what actually makes a good CV? And how can you make sure yours stands out for the right reasons?

Carry on reading for some simple CV tips 👇

What makes a good CV?

A good CV should make it easy for someone to understand your experience, skills and what you could bring to a role.

Recruiters can be looking through lots of applications, so you want the important information to be clear and easy to find.

Your CV should:

• Be easy to read
• Highlight your most relevant experience
• Show your achievements
• Be tailored to the role
• Use clear and professional language
• Be free from spelling and formatting mistakes

How to write a CV that gets interviews

1. Start with a strong personal profile

Your personal profile is one of the first things someone will read, so use it to quickly explain who you are and what you do.

Try to avoid generic phrases such as “hardworking”, “motivated” or “excellent team player”. These don’t tell the recruiter much about you.

Instead, focus on your experience, industry and key skills.

For example:

“FMCG marketing professional with five years’ experience working across consumer brands, with experience in digital marketing, campaign planning and brand strategy.”

This gives the recruiter a much better idea of who you are and what you can offer.

2. Tailor your CV to the role

• Sending the same CV for every job might be easier, but tailoring it can make a big difference.
• Take a look at the job description and think about what the employer is actually looking for.
• What skills do they mention? What experience do they need? Are there any specific areas that appear more than once?

If you have that experience, make sure it is easy to find on your CV.

You don’t need to completely rewrite your CV for every application. Small changes to your personal profile and the way you highlight your experience can help make your CV much more relevant.

3. Focus on achievements, not just responsibilities

One of the most common CV mistakes is simply listing what you were responsible for.

Your CV should also show what you achieved.

For example:

Instead of:

“Managed social media accounts and created content.”

Try:

“Managed social media across five consumer brands, increasing organic engagement by 42% over 12 months.”

• The first example tells us what you did. The second tells us what you achieved.
• Think about your own experience. Have you increased sales, won new business, improved a process, grown a team or exceeded a target?
• If you have numbers to back up your achievements, even better.

4. Use keywords from the job description

When writing your CV, pay attention to the language used in the job advert.

If the employer is looking for experience in account management, category management or commercial analysis, and you have that experience, make sure those terms appear naturally on your CV.

This can help your CV when applications are screened using applicant tracking systems, but it also makes it easier for recruiters to quickly see that you have the right experience.

Don’t add keywords just for the sake of it. Make sure they genuinely reflect your skills and experience.

5. Keep the format simple

• Your CV doesn’t need to be full of graphics, colours and different fonts to stand out.
• A simple, professional layout is usually much more effective.
• Use clear headings, short sections and bullet points. Make sure your job titles, companies and dates are easy to find.
• Think about how quickly someone can scan your CV.
• Can they easily see what you do, where you’ve worked and what you’ve achieved?

If not, it might be time to simplify it.

6. Check for common CV mistakes

Before sending your CV, take a few minutes to check the basics.

Make sure you haven’t got:

• Spelling or grammar mistakes
• Incorrect dates
• Inconsistent formatting
• Long paragraphs
• Outdated or irrelevant information
• An unprofessional email address
• Responsibilities with no evidence of achievements

It’s also a good idea to ask someone else to read it. A fresh pair of eyes can often spot something you’ve missed.

And don’t forget your file name! YourName-CV.pdf looks a lot more professional than CV-FINAL-FINAL-V7.pdf.

We’ve all been there.

How long should a CV be?

There isn’t one set length that works for everyone.

If you’re early in your career, one or two pages may be enough. If you have many years of relevant experience, you may need more space.

The important thing is to keep it relevant.

You don’t need to include every job you’ve ever had or every responsibility you’ve ever been given. Focus on the experience that is relevant to the type of role you want next.

Final thoughts

Your CV doesn’t need to be complicated.

Keep it clear, focus on the experience that matters and make sure your achievements are easy to see. Most importantly, tailor it to the role you’re applying for.

Before you press send, put yourself in the recruiter’s position and ask:

“If I only had 30 seconds to look at this CV, would I understand why this person is right for the role?”

If the answer is yes, you’re on the right track.

Looking for your next opportunity? Get in touch with the Seven team to find out how we can help with your next career move.

Why not check out our latest vacancies here.