Your CV is often your first opportunity to make an impression on a potential employer. Before you're invited to an interview, your curriculum vitae and covering letter must convince a hiring manager that you have the skills, experience and potential to succeed in the role.
In today's competitive job market, employers often spend only a few seconds reviewing each CV before deciding whether to progress an application. That's why it's essential to produce a document that is clear, professional and tailored to the role you're applying for.
Whether you're starting your career or looking for your next senior position, these practical tips will help you create a CV that maximises your chances of securing an interview.
One of the most important sections of any CV is the personal profile at the beginning.
This short introduction provides employers with an immediate overview of who you are, what you do and the value you can bring to their organisation.
Your profile should briefly highlight:
Keep it concise—around three or four sentences—and tailor it specifically to the role you're applying for.
Rather than writing:
"I am a hardworking individual looking for new opportunities."
Consider something more impactful:
"Experienced Facilities Manager with over eight years' experience managing commercial estates, delivering compliance improvements and leading successful workplace projects. Passionate about operational excellence, customer service and creating efficient, safe working environments."
A strong profile immediately demonstrates relevance and encourages employers to continue reading.
One of the biggest mistakes candidates make is sending the same CV to every employer.
Every vacancy is different.
Read the job description carefully and adjust your CV to highlight the experience, skills and achievements most relevant to that particular role.
Employers should be able to see within seconds why you are a strong match for their vacancy.
Your employment history is often the section employers spend the most time reviewing.
Rather than simply listing previous responsibilities, focus on what you achieved in each role.
For every position include:
Where possible, quantify your achievements.
For example:
Numbers help employers understand the value you delivered rather than simply the tasks you completed.
Employers are interested in more than what your responsibilities were.
They want to know:
Whenever possible, explain the outcome of your work.
Instead of writing:
Responsible for contractor management.
Try:
Managed multiple service contracts, improving contractor performance and reducing response times by 20%.
Showing measurable results makes your CV much more persuasive.
Include a section that outlines your most relevant professional skills.
Examples may include:
Focus on skills that directly relate to the position you're applying for.
List your educational background and any professional qualifications that support your application.
Include:
If you are early in your career, education may appear before work experience. More experienced professionals usually place employment history first.
For graduates and early-career professionals, practical experience can often be just as valuable as academic qualifications.
Include:
Employers value evidence that you've successfully applied your skills in real working environments.
Never exaggerate your experience or include information that cannot be supported.
Your CV will usually form the basis of interview questions, and inaccuracies are often uncovered during the recruitment process.
Honesty builds credibility and ensures you enter a new role with realistic expectations.
Support your claims with examples.
Rather than stating:
Excellent leadership skills.
Explain how you've demonstrated them.
For example:
Led a team of 15 facilities professionals across three sites, introducing new maintenance procedures that reduced reactive call-outs by 18%.
Evidence always carries more weight than unsupported statements.
Recruiters often review dozens—or even hundreds—of CVs.
Clear formatting makes your document much easier to navigate.
Use:
Avoid large blocks of text that make important information difficult to find.
A CV does not need to include every detail of your career.
For most professionals:
Focus on relevance rather than length.
If older experience no longer adds value, consider summarising it briefly.
Presentation matters.
Choose a clean, professional design that allows employers to quickly locate key information.
Use readable fonts such as:
Recommended font sizes are:
Avoid decorative fonts, excessive colours or unnecessary graphics unless applying for a creative role.
Many employers now use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen CVs before a recruiter even sees them.
Including keywords taken directly from the job description can improve your chances of passing these automated systems.
Examples might include:
Only include keywords that genuinely reflect your experience.
Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors can undermine an otherwise excellent application.
Before sending your CV:
Attention to detail reflects professionalism.
A well-written covering letter complements your CV by explaining:
A tailored covering letter demonstrates genuine interest and helps personalise your application.
A great CV is more than a list of previous jobs. It is a marketing document designed to demonstrate your value to prospective employers.
By tailoring your CV for each application, focusing on measurable achievements, presenting information clearly and maintaining a professional layout, you can significantly increase your chances of securing interviews.
Remember, employers are not simply looking for someone who can do the job—they're looking for someone who can make a positive impact on their organisation. Your CV should clearly demonstrate why that person is you.
Take a look at our advice on writing the perfect CV.
