CV writing tips: a step-by-step guide to stand out

When it comes to applying for your next role, your CV is one of the most important tools at your disposal. Yet writing a CV is a skill many jobseekers underestimate - and getting it right could be the key to landing your ideal position.

Getting your CV to the best possible standard could open up many more doors for you throughout your career. It is therefore essential that you put as much time and effort as possible into getting it right to ensure whoever reads it has the best first impression of you.

Whether you're starting your career, looking for a new challenge, or returning to work after a break, a professional, well-structured CV can help you make a strong first impression. In this guide, we’ll take you through how to write a CV, step-by-step, with tips on layout, structure, and content to help you stand out to employers.

Here are our top CV writing tips to ensure your CV stands out:

Why a strong CV matters

Your CV is your personal marketing document - it's your chance to demonstrate why you're the right person for the job. A clear, concise, and tailored CV can increase your chances of landing an interview.  

How to write a CV: the basics 

First and foremost, remember that a CV is a snapshot of your career, skills and achievements. Keep the following in mind: 

• Length: keep it short, snappy and easy to read - aim for 1-2 pages.
• Layout: use clear section headings and bullet points to break up information. 
• Tone: write in accessible, professional language that showcases your skills and experience. 
• Tailor: your CV should be tailored to the job you're applying for. 

Formatting your CV

A clean, professional format ensures your CV is easy to read and leaves a good impression. Here's what to include: 

• Use a simple, readable font - for example, Arial or Calibri in size 10-12. 
• Avoid excessive formatting or colour. 
• Use bullet points to keep information concise and highlight key achievements. 
• Do not include a photograph, this can conflict with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices and what you look like has no impact on your ability to do a job. 

Always check your CV for spelling and grammatical errors, as these will be picked up and will reflect poorly on your attention to detail. Remember that spell-checking software does not correct words if they are used in the wrong context (i.e. there and their or board and broad), so keep an eye out for these common errors. Better still, ask someone you trust to review it for you and provide honest feedback - you could ask family, friends or even your Recruitment Consultant.  

It is important to make sure you change your contact details after moving to a new house or obtaining a new phone number so that you are always reachable.

What to include in your CV: a step-by-step guide

Contact details and professional profile

Start with your name, phone number, and professional email address. There's no need to include your date of birth, marital status, nationality or photo - these are all factors that should not be considered by employers during the hiring process.  

Follow this with a short professional summary (also known as a personal statement or profile). Remember that this section should be tailored to every position you are applying for so you need to highlight relevant skills and detail why you think you are the perfect candidate for that particular job. 

This should be three to four lines, summarising: 

• Who are you?
• What can you offer the company?
• What are your career goals?

Your work experience and employment history

Next you need to include your work experience and previous roles to date. This is vitally important as it will showcase your skillset and give the employer a chance to see whether your skills are right for the role you are applying for. This is the section of your CV that you can really tailor to the role, and ensure you show the prospective employer your achievements and career progression.

• List your roles in reverse chronological order (most recent first). 
• Include job title, employer name, dates, and a short summary of responsibilities. 
• Use bullet points to list key duties and achievements. 
• Quantify success where possible - e.g. 'Increased sales by X,' or 'Managed a caseload of X clients'. 

Only include relevant positions from the last 10–15 years, unless earlier experience is particularly important for the role you're applying for. Equally, if you're new to the workforce, you could use previous positions but think about and highlight relevant transferable skills e.g. communication, stakeholder engagement/management, customer service and organisation. 

Education and relevant qualifications

Add in details of your education, qualifications and evidence of further study. Include the name of the institutions and the dates you were there, followed by the qualifications and grades you achieved. If you have recently left education, you may want to include your degree, A-levels and GCSEs (or equivalents), otherwise, focus on higher education (university/training qualifications) and professional training relevant to the job. 

You should list your educational background in reverse chronological order. 

Additional sections you can include 

There are a range of additional sections that may strengthen your CV and highlight your skills. Here are just a few you can include if you have room:

• Key skills: consider writing a short bullet point list of four to six core skills that reflect the job requirements. This is especially useful for functional CVs or candidates changing career direction. 
• Certifications and courses: include any relevant industry accreditations or online courses that support your application. You could add these into your education and relevant qualifications section. 
• How to include references: you don't need to list reference contact details. Simply state 'References available upon request' or leave this out completely. It is standard and expected that you will have references available if the employer wants these. 

CV writing tips: final checklist 

• Tailor your CV for every job you apply for. 
• Be honest and avoid exaggeration. 
• Make sure formatting is consistent throughout. 
• Check spelling and grammar thoroughly. 
• Ask someone to review it before you send it. 

CV templates and further resources 

Need a bit more support? Download our free CV templates to help you get started: 

• Legal CV template
• General CV template. 

Alternatively, you can take a look at our candidate section here. We have tips on everything from LinkedIn best practice to interview tips, or you can get in touch with one of our expert team for more advice on how to write a good CV.