1. Tailor every application
Generic CVs get generic rejections. Change your profile, skills order and top 3 bullet points to mirror the job description. This is the single highest-impact thing you can do.
10 CV tips that actually get interviews
Ten things recruiters wish every applicant knew — and how to fix your CV today.
2. Front-load with a 3-line profile
Recruiters scan for 6–8 seconds. Your first three lines should state your role, years of experience, top 2–3 skills and what you're targeting next.
3. Quantify everything
'Improved sales' means nothing. 'Grew regional sales 34% YoY (£2.1M → £2.8M)' is a hire. Use numbers, percentages, timeframes and money wherever possible.
4. Match ATS keywords
Applicant tracking systems rank CVs by keyword overlap with the job posting. Include the exact job title and hard skills verbatim — not synonyms.
5. Use strong action verbs
Led, launched, negotiated, automated, redesigned, delivered. Avoid 'responsible for' and 'helped with' — they weaken every sentence they touch.
6. Keep it to 1–2 pages
One page under 5 years' experience, two pages beyond. Cut anything older than 15 years unless it's directly relevant.
7. Ditch the photo, DOB and address
In the UK and most of Europe, none of these belong on a CV. City + country is enough for location.
8. Save as PDF (unless asked otherwise)
PDFs preserve formatting. Only submit DOCX when the employer explicitly requests it — some ATS parse Word better.
9. Proofread out loud
Typos are the fastest way to the reject pile. Read your CV out loud, then run it through a second tool. Ask a friend to check dates and titles.
10. Update it every 3 months
Even if you're not job hunting. Adding wins while they're fresh is 10x easier than trying to remember them 2 years later.
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