How to Write a Great CV

2. Writing a Professional Summary

Your professional summary is the first thing a recruiter reads after your name. It should immediately communicate your value and relevance to the role. A strong summary includes three elements:

• Who you are — Your professional identity, years of experience, and area of expertise. For example: “Senior software engineer with 8 years of experience in full-stack web development.”
• What you have achieved — One or two headline accomplishments that demonstrate your impact. Use numbers where possible: “Led a team of 12 developers and delivered a platform serving 2 million monthly users.”
• What you are looking for — A brief mention of the type of role you seek, showing the recruiter that you are a deliberate applicant rather than someone sending the same CV everywhere.

Keep it between 40 and 80 words. Avoid clichés like “hardworking team player” or “results-driven professional.” Instead, let specific achievements demonstrate those qualities.

3. Describing Work Experience

Your work experience section is typically the most important part of your CV. The key to writing effective bullet points is to focus on achievements rather than duties. Anyone can list what their job involved; what sets you apart is what you accomplished.

The STAR Method

Use the STAR method to structure each bullet point. While you do not need to include every element in every bullet, this framework helps you write achievement-focused statements:

• Situation — What was the context or challenge?
• Task — What was your specific responsibility?
• Action — What did you do?
• Result — What was the measurable outcome?

Strong Action Verbs

Start every bullet point with a powerful action verb. Avoid passive constructions like “was responsible for” or “helped with.” Here are some effective alternatives:

Quantify Your Achievements

Numbers make your CV concrete and credible. Wherever possible, include metrics such as:

• Revenue generated or costs saved
• Percentage improvements (efficiency, speed, accuracy)
• Team size managed
• Number of projects delivered
• Customer satisfaction scores
• Deadlines met or time saved

Even if you do not have exact figures, reasonable estimates are better than no numbers at all. “Reduced processing time by approximately 30%” is far more compelling than “improved efficiency.”

4. Education Section Best Practices

How much detail you include in your education section depends on your career stage:

• Recent graduates (0–3 years experience): Include your degree classification, relevant modules, dissertation title, and any academic achievements. Consider placing education above work experience if your degree is more relevant than your work history.
• Mid-career professionals (3–10 years): List your qualifications with institution, degree title, classification, and dates. You can omit individual modules.
• Senior professionals (10+ years): A brief mention of your highest qualification is usually sufficient. Your work experience speaks louder at this stage.

Always include the full name of the institution and the official title of your qualification. If you achieved a First or 2:1, include your grade. If your grade was lower, you may choose to omit it and focus on other strengths.

Professional qualifications (ACCA, CIMA, CIPD, etc.) should also appear in this section or in a dedicated “Certifications” section, whichever makes more sense for your CV.

5. Skills Section Tips

A well-crafted skills section gives recruiters a quick snapshot of your capabilities. Follow these guidelines:

• Be specific. Instead of “computer skills,” list the actual tools: “Microsoft Excel (advanced, including VBA macros), SAP, Salesforce.”
• Group by category. Organise skills into logical groups such as “Programming Languages,” “Project Management Tools,” and “Languages.” This improves readability and helps ATS systems categorise your abilities.
• Match the job description. Review the job posting and include the specific skills and tools they mention, provided you genuinely have them. This improves your ATS match score.
• Include proficiency levels thoughtfully. Only indicate your level if it adds value. Listing “beginner” next to a skill suggests you are not yet competent, which is not helpful.
• Prioritise hard skills. Technical and measurable skills carry more weight than soft skills in most CV contexts. Demonstrate soft skills through your work experience bullet points instead.

6. Tailoring Your CV for Each Application

Sending the same generic CV to every job is one of the biggest mistakes job seekers make. Tailoring your CV for each application significantly improves your chances:

1. Read the job description carefully. Highlight the key requirements, preferred qualifications, and specific terminology the employer uses.
2. Mirror the language. If the job posting says “stakeholder management,” use that exact phrase in your CV rather than a synonym like “client relations.” This is especially important for ATS screening.
3. Reorder your bullet points. Place the most relevant achievements first within each role. The recruiter may only read the first two or three bullets.
4. Adjust your professional summary. Tailor it to reflect the specific role and company. Mention the industry or type of work they are looking for.
5. Update your skills section. Move the most relevant skills to the top. Add any specific tools or technologies mentioned in the job description that you are proficient in.

This does not mean rewriting your entire CV for every application. Create a strong base document and adjust the summary, skill ordering, and bullet point emphasis for each role. With FreeCV Pro, your data is saved locally so you can quickly make changes and download a fresh PDF.

7. ATS Optimisation Tips

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are used by the vast majority of large UK employers and recruitment agencies to filter CVs before they reach a human. To ensure your CV passes through successfully:

• Use standard section headings. Stick to recognised titles like “Work Experience,” “Education,” “Skills,” and “Professional Summary.” Creative headings like “Where I’ve Made My Mark” confuse ATS software.
• Include keywords from the job description. ATS systems search for specific terms related to the role. If the posting mentions “project management,” “Python,” or “PRINCE2,” include these exact terms if they apply to you.
• Submit as PDF. PDF preserves your formatting and is universally readable by modern ATS systems. FreeCV Pro generates clean PDFs that are both visually appealing and machine-readable.
• Avoid tables, columns, and text boxes in your core content if you are concerned about ATS parsing. Our ATS-Friendly template uses a deliberately simple single-column layout for maximum compatibility.
• Do not embed text in images. ATS cannot read text within graphics. All your information should be real, selectable text.
• Spell out abbreviations at least once. Write “Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)” so the ATS can match either the full name or the abbreviation.
• Use a standard font. All FreeCV Pro templates use web-safe, professional fonts that render correctly in any ATS viewer.

8. Common CV Mistakes to Avoid

Even strong candidates undermine their applications with these avoidable errors:

1. Spelling and grammar errors. A single typo can cause a recruiter to reject your CV. Proofread carefully and ask someone else to review it. Pay particular attention to company names and technical terms.
2. Using a generic “one-size-fits-all” CV. Employers can tell when you have not tailored your application. Take the time to adjust your CV for each role.
3. Listing duties instead of achievements. “Responsible for customer service” tells the recruiter nothing about your impact. Replace duties with measurable results.
4. Including irrelevant information. That Saturday job from 15 years ago is no longer relevant unless the skills directly apply. Keep your CV focused on what matters for the target role.
5. Using an unprofessional email address. Create a simple email address based on your name. Avoid addresses like [email protected].
6. Making it too long. Recruiters spend an average of 6–8 seconds on an initial CV scan. If your CV is five pages long, most of it will never be read. Be concise and relevant.
7. Unexplained employment gaps. If you have gaps in your employment history, briefly explain them. Career breaks for travel, family, or study are perfectly acceptable when acknowledged honestly.
8. Using a photograph. In the UK, including a photo on your CV is generally unnecessary and may introduce unconscious bias. Save space for content that demonstrates your qualifications.
9. Lying or exaggerating. Background checks and reference calls will catch fabrications. Represent your experience honestly and let your genuine achievements speak for themselves.

9. UK-Specific CV Conventions

CV standards vary significantly between countries. If you are applying for jobs in the UK, be aware of these conventions:

• Use “CV” not “resume.” In the UK, the document is called a CV (curriculum vitae). The term “resume” is primarily used in the United States.
• No photograph. Unlike some European countries, UK CVs do not typically include a photo. Including one may be seen as unnecessary and could introduce bias.
• No date of birth, age, or marital status. Under the Equality Act 2010, employers should not make hiring decisions based on these factors. Omitting them is standard practice.
• No nationality or visa status in the header. You may be asked about your right to work in an application form, but it does not need to be on your CV.
• British English spelling. Use “organised” not “organized,” “colour” not “color,” and “centre” not “center.” Consistent spelling shows attention to detail.
• UK date format. Use “Sep 2020 – Jun 2023” or “September 2020 – June 2023.” Avoid the US format (06/2023).
• “References available upon request” is unnecessary. This is assumed and wastes valuable space. Only include references if specifically asked to do so.
• Two pages is the norm. While there is no absolute rule, most UK recruiters expect a CV to be two A4 pages for experienced candidates or one page for graduates.