How to Write a Perfect CV

1. CV Structure & Sections

A well-structured CV makes it easy for recruiters to find what they need quickly. Most hiring managers spend under 10 seconds on the initial scan, so clarity is everything.

Essential Sections (in order)

1. Header — Full name, job title, phone, email, LinkedIn, location (city only, not full address)
2. Professional Summary — 2–3 sentence overview of your experience and value proposition
3. Work Experience — Reverse chronological order, most recent first
4. Education — Degrees, institutions, graduation years
5. Skills — Technical and professional skills relevant to your target role

Optional Sections

• Certifications — Professional certifications, licenses, courses
• Languages — Especially valuable in international job markets like Norway and the EU
• Projects — For tech roles, freelancers, or career changers
• Volunteer Work — Shows community involvement and soft skills

2. Writing a Strong Summary

Your professional summary is the first thing a recruiter reads. It should communicate who you are, what you bring, and what you're looking for — in 2–3 sentences.

Formula for a Great Summary

[Title] with [X years] experience in [key area]. Proven track record of [measurable achievement]. Seeking to [goal] at [type of company].

Notice how the strong version includes a specific title, years of experience, a measurable result, and a clear career direction. Avoid vague statements like "passionate" or "team player" without evidence.

3. Work Experience That Stands Out

Your experience section is the most important part of your CV. Each role should demonstrate impact, not just list duties.

The STAR Bullet Formula

For each bullet point, try to include what you did (the Action), how much or how many (the Metric), and what changed as a result (the Result).

Action Verbs That Work

Start every bullet with a strong action verb: Led, Built, Designed, Launched, Reduced, Increased, Automated, Implemented, Negotiated, Delivered, Optimised, Scaled, Mentored, Established.

4. Skills Section Best Practices

Your skills section should be tailored to each job application. Pull keywords directly from the job description and match them to your actual abilities.

How to Organise Skills

• Technical Skills — Programming languages, tools, platforms, frameworks
• Professional Skills — Project management, data analysis, financial modelling
• Languages — Especially important in Norway and Europe (include proficiency level)

5. Education & Certifications

For most professionals, education should be brief — degree, institution, and year. If you're a recent graduate, you can add relevant coursework, GPA (if strong), and academic projects.

Certifications That Add Value

Industry certifications can significantly boost your CV, especially in tech, finance, healthcare, and project management. Examples include AWS Certified Solutions Architect, PMP (Project Management Professional), Google Analytics Certification, CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst), and PRINCE2.

List certifications with the full name, issuing body, and year obtained. If the certification is in progress, write "Expected [Month Year]".

6. ATS Optimisation

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are software used by over 90% of large companies to scan and filter CVs before a human ever sees them. If your CV isn't ATS-friendly, it might be rejected automatically.

ATS Rules to Follow

• Use standard section headings — "Work Experience" not "My Journey", "Education" not "Learning Path"
• Avoid tables, columns, and text boxes — Many ATS systems can't parse complex layouts
• Don't put critical info in headers/footers — Some systems skip header/footer content
• Use keywords from the job description — Match the exact terminology the company uses
• Submit as PDF — Unless the employer specifically requests .docx
• Don't use images for text — ATS can't read text embedded in images

7. Formatting & Design

Your CV should look professional and be easy to scan. Good formatting shows attention to detail.

Design Guidelines

• Font — Use clean, professional fonts (Calibri, Garamond, Helvetica, or the fonts in our templates). Size 10–12pt for body text, 14–16pt for headings
• Margins — 0.5–1 inch on all sides. Don't cram text to fit more content
• Consistency — Same date format throughout, same bullet style, same spacing
• White space — Leave breathing room. Dense blocks of text are hard to scan
• Colour — One accent colour maximum, used sparingly for headings or dividers

All 10 MakeMyCVNow templates are designed with these principles and are fully ATS-compatible.

8. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Typos and grammar errors — The number one reason CVs get rejected. Proofread carefully
• Using the same CV for every application — Tailor your skills and summary for each role
• Including a photo — Not expected in the UK, US, or India. Common in Norway and parts of Europe, but optional
• Listing every job you've ever had — Focus on the last 10–15 years. Older roles can be summarised
• Including personal details — No need for date of birth, marital status, or national ID number
• Using an unprofessional email — Use firstname.lastname@gmail.com, not cooldude99@hotmail.com
• Writing in third person — "John managed a team" should be "Managed a team of 12 engineers"
• Exaggerating or fabricating — Background checks are common. Stick to verifiable facts

9. Using AI to Improve Your CV

AI can dramatically improve your CV quality — but it works best when you start with real content. Here's how to get the most from MakeMyCVNow's AI features:

1. Start with your real CV — Upload your existing resume. The AI enhances real experience; it doesn't invent it
2. Let AI rewrite your bullets — The AI transforms passive descriptions into action-driven, metrics-rich bullet points
3. Use Gap Analyser before applying — Paste the job URL to see your match score and fix gaps before you apply
4. Generate a matching cover letter — The AI creates a cover letter that complements your CV and targets the specific role
5. Review everything — Always review AI-generated content. You know your career better than any algorithm

10. Final Checklist

Before you send your CV, run through this checklist:

• ☐ Contact details are current (phone, email, LinkedIn)
• ☐ Summary is tailored to the target role
• ☐ Every bullet point starts with an action verb
• ☐ At least 50% of bullets include a measurable result
• ☐ Skills section matches keywords from the job description
• ☐ No typos or grammar errors
• ☐ Consistent formatting (dates, fonts, spacing)
• ☐ 1–2 pages maximum
• ☐ Saved as PDF with a professional filename (e.g., "Alex_Carter_CV.pdf")
• ☐ Tested with CV Gap Analyser against the target job