How to Write a CV That Gets Interviews
Structure, length, keywords and the achievement formula recruiters respond to — plus the sections you can safely delete.
Short answer: Use two pages maximum, put your most relevant experience first, and write each bullet as action plus result plus number. Mirror the exact terms used in the job advert so screening software matches you.
A recruiter spends well under a minute on a first pass. Everything on the page should either prove you can do the job or get out of the way.
The structure that works
- Name and contact details, plus one line saying what you do.
- A three-line summary tailored to the specific role.
- Experience, newest first, with three to five achievement bullets each.
- Skills, listed in the same words the advert uses.
- Education, brief unless you are a recent graduate.
The achievement formula
Write what you did, what changed, and by how much. 'Responsible for social media' says nothing. 'Grew the newsletter from 4,000 to 11,000 subscribers in a year by adding a weekly digest' is evidence.
If you have no numbers
Use scale and scope instead: team size, budget, number of clients, volume handled, time saved. Anything specific beats anything general.
Keep or cut
| Section | Keep? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tailored summary | Keep | Frames everything below it |
| Photo | Cut in UK/US | Not expected; can bias screening |
| Date of birth, marital status | Cut | Irrelevant and outdated |
| Hobbies | Cut unless relevant | Space is better spent on results |
| References available on request | Cut | Assumed by default |
Passing automated screening
Applicant tracking systems match text, not design. Use a single-column layout, standard headings, no text inside images or tables, and repeat the job title exactly as advertised at least once.
Want to go further? Read our guide on How to Study When You Cannot Concentrate or browse everything in Education.
Frequently asked questions
- How long should a CV be?
- Two pages for most people. One page early in a career, three only for academic or highly technical roles.
- Should I write a new CV for every job?
- Keep one master version and adjust the summary, the top bullets and the skills list for each application.
- Do cover letters still matter?
- When optional they are often skipped by other applicants, which makes a short, specific one a cheap advantage.
Sources & references
About the author
Elena Marsh
Senior Editor, Money & Consumer
Elena has covered personal finance and consumer rights for over a decade. She translates dense financial rules into steps readers can act on the same day.
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