How to write a good CV in 2025

Anyone about to embark on a job search needs a toolkit that supports their next steps. That toolkit will include a cover letter, a LinkedIn profile, a professional network, a job search strategy and, most importantly, a CV. In this article, we’re going back to basics and looking at how to write a compelling CV that both impresses recruiters and fills the job seeker with confidence. 

What is a CV and why is it important?

CV is short for Curriculum Vitae. Translated from Latin, it means “course of life”. A CV these days, though, is so much more than a dry life story. Think of it as your personal sales brochure or shop window. When you apply for a new job, the CV needs to contain enough information to tempt the recruiter or hiring manager to read on and, ultimately, to invite you to an interview. 

A CV is important as it represents the first impression a recruiter will have of you. And they aren’t only making judgements about your career. They’re also evaluating whether you can lay out a document professionally, write concisely, show self-awareness, and so on. On top of that, the content itself needs to be persuasive and informative, without being over-detailed. 

A good CV is clearly a must-have tool to ensure your job search is as short and productive as it can possibly be. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some CV best practice. 

How to create a CV

First up, we’ll examine CV structure. A CV is divided into several standard sections, which help you to organise your information and enable a recruiter to easily locate the details they’re looking for. The standard sections are: 

• Header

• Profile

• Key Skills

• Professional Experience 

• Qualifications and Professional Development 

• Further Details

Each section should have its own heading that stands out on the page (apart from the Header section, obviously). When you’ve added the headings to the page and you’re no longer staring at a blank document, the rest of the CV becomes much easier to populate. 

What does a CV look like? Well, apart from the standard headings, it’s generally recommended that you use a standard, sans-serif font and stick to black text on a white page. It’s fine to add a splash of colour if you like, but keep design tricks to a minimum. In particular, you’ll want to avoid text boxes, tables, images, graphics, graphs, and icons. They don’t always parse into HR systems accurately, so the CV you’ve spent hours perfecting may not look as great by the time a hiring manager sees it. 

What to include in a CV

Now that you have the format and layout sorted, let’s take a look at what to include in each section. 

Header

This is where you add your name and contact details. You can use your preferred name, rather than your legal name, at this stage if you’d rather, but be sure to include both a first name and a surname. Contact details should include: 

• Mobile phone number

• Email address

• Location (city and state is enough, there’s no need for your full address)

• LinkedIn URL

• If you have a portfolio or professional website, you can add a link here

The header can also include a headline. This could be as simple as your current or target job title, or something that shows off your unique selling point. For example: 

• Marketing Manager 

• IT Support Technician specialising in Microsoft Azure

• Sales Executive - exceeded targets by 135% YTD

Profile

The profile is usually presented as a short paragraph. Think of it as your personal elevator pitch - you’ll want to include details such as what you do, the industry you work in, your area of expertise, how you add value to a business, and any skills you wish to highlight. 

Key Skills

This section has two purposes. Firstly, it gives the recruiter a snapshot of what you can offer. Secondly, it contains keywords that will help your CV to be found in recruiter searches. Aim to include around six to 10 skills, with a focus on hard, role specific skills rather than generic transferable skills. If you look closely at job adverts for roles you’re interested in, you’ll be able to identify skills that businesses are looking for and which you can include in this section. 

Professional Experience 

For most people, this section will take up the majority of the space on the CV. Roles are listed in reverse-chronological order - that is to say, most recent first. For each role, add a subheading containing your job title, employer name, and dates of employment (month and year is sufficient). 

Below each subheading, add a very brief outline of the role (aim for no more than four lines) and follow that paragraph with a bulleted list of achievements. By adding achievements to the CV, you’re showing clearly how you can add value to a business and giving hiring managers a compelling reason to invite you to an interview. 

Expert tip: If you can quantify your achievements, they’ll sound even more credible and impressive. 

If you’re early in your career, or have gaps to fill, it’s fine to include internships, part-time roles, and volunteer work in this section. 

Qualifications and Professional Development 

Depending on how much information you have to include here, and how strong each section would be on its own, you can split this section into two or merge it into one. 

List your academic qualifications. If you have a degree, there’s no need to include any lower-level courses. For each qualification, add the level, the subject, the institution, and the year of completion. 

If you’ve completed any training, certifications, or workshops, they can also be added. Include the name of the course and the year it was taken. 

While this section usually sits under the Professional Experience section, recent graduates or people with minimal work experience may choose to position it higher up the CV to give it greater prominence. 

Further Details

Now you’ve filled out the key details required, but what would make your CV stand out? What can you offer that maybe other candidates can’t? This is the section to promote your candidacy even further. Consider adding IT skills, languages, awards, publications, personal achievements… there are endless options. You may also like to add a Volunteering section if it would give you the chance to show off skills not coming through strongly elsewhere. 

Finalise your CV

Think you’ve finished now you’ve filled out all the sections? Not so fast! Complete this checklist before you start applying: 

• Save the document with an appropriate filename that includes your name

• Proofread the CV yourself, then have a trusted friend, family member, or colleague do the same

• Ask someone external if they understand your CV - it may be read by HR departments or recruiters with no hands-on experience in the job

• Tailor the CV - that means you’ll need to save a master copy and tweak it to meet the specific requirements of every role you apply for, demonstrating that you’re a good match

What to avoid when writing a CV

We’ve discussed how to structure and word your CV, so you should have a pretty strong document by now. Let’s just check in on a few common mistakes, so that you’re not unknowingly undoing all your hard work.

• Not relevant to the role: The recruiter is only interested in filling a vacancy, so delete anything not relevant to the role you’re applying for. Unnecessary detail dilutes the more important information you’re trying to convey. 

• Inconsistent: Show your attention to detail by keeping the formatting, verb tenses, font and header style consistent between sections. 

• Dishonest: A well-written CV will be persuasive without needing to resort to untruths. Lies make for awkward interviews and even more awkward dismissals if they’re found out. 

• Generic: If you’re lifting content directly from the internet or copying from a colleague, your CV is unlikely to be inspiring or successful. Recruiters can spot bland, generic content and would much prefer a tailored and interesting CV. 

What is the difference between a CV and a resume?

You’ve probably heard the terms “CV” and “resume” used interchangeably, but it can be confusing. Essentially, in Australia, a CV and resume are the same thing. In the UK, the term CV is used almost exclusively, whereas in the US they refer to a resume - but also use the term CV in academic contexts and for certain industries such as law or science. It doesn’t really matter which term you use - it’s more important that the document you prepare is fit for purpose. 

Lean on the CV experts

In this article, we’ve covered the basics of creating a strong CV that conveys your key selling points to a hiring manager. We’ve discussed structure, contents, and format, so that you can prepare a CV that positions you as a desirable candidate and enables you to stride into a job search with confidence. 

When you’ve finalised your CV, why not send it for a free CV review by the experts at TopResume? You’ll receive constructive advice on potential improvements, so that you can iron out any problems before you begin applying.