How to write a CV that gets interviews in 2026

Writing a great CV is one of the most important steps in your job search. Recruiters spend an average of just 7 seconds scanning a CV before deciding whether to read on — so yours needs to make an immediate impression.

What to include in your CV

A strong CV typically contains these sections in this order:

1. Personal details — Your name, phone number, professional email address, LinkedIn URL, and location (city/county is enough — no need for your full address).

2. Personal statement — A 3–4 sentence summary at the top that explains who you are, what you do, and what you're looking for. Tailor this for every application.

3. Work experience — List your roles in reverse chronological order (most recent first). For each role include: job title, company name, dates, and 3–5 bullet points of achievements.

4. Education — Degrees, A-levels/GCSEs if relevant, professional qualifications.

5. Skills — Technical skills, software, languages.

6. Interests (optional) — Only include if genuinely relevant to the role.

How to write achievement-focused bullet points

The biggest mistake on most CVs is listing duties instead of achievements. Compare these:

❌ "Responsible for managing the sales team"

✅ "Led a team of 8 sales reps, increasing quarterly revenue by 34%"

Always try to quantify your impact. Use numbers, percentages, and timescales wherever possible.

ATS optimisation

Most large employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter CVs before a human sees them. To get past ATS:

• Use keywords from the job description naturally throughout your CV
• Avoid tables, text boxes, headers/footers, and images — ATS can't read them
• Use a clean, simple font (Arial, Calibri, or Georgia)
• Save as PDF unless the job ad specifies Word format

CV length

• Under 5 years experience: 1 page
• 5–10 years experience: 1–2 pages
• Senior/executive roles: 2 pages maximum

Common CV mistakes to avoid

• Using a photo (not standard in the US/UK — can introduce bias)
• Listing references ("References available on request" is assumed)
• Using the same CV for every job
• Spelling and grammar errors (always proofread twice)
• Using "I" — write in third person without pronouns

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