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CV guide: Tips on how to write a CV and resume format

There’s a lot of confusion about what makes a good CV. Graduates and less experienced individuals can especially struggle with crafting something concise and effective as it’s hard to know what to include without ten years of industry experience. 

Many fall into the mistake of rushing their CV rather than taking the time to properly understand what it should include or look like. But this is a huge mistake! 

Ultimately, your CV can make or break your job offer. It’s the first impression you make on an employer that often determines whether they invite you to the next step of the application process.

A CV is utterly personal, so one-size-fits-all does not apply here. Read through our advice on how to write a CV to put your best foot forward. This blog includes insider advice from our expert career consultants and our very own head of recruitment.

Oh, and if you’re wondering why us? It’s because we are the best! We get results. Harness the power of expertise with University Tutors from The Profs and shape your academic journey towards unprecedented success.

We help graduates and professionals each year secure coveted internships, apprenticeships and permanent job roles at competitive companies and businesses. There’s no reason you should be left behind! Connect for one-on-one support from an expert career consultant.

Content:

What does CV stand for?

CV stands for Curriculum Vitae. This means a concise description of an individual’s educational background, credentials, and prior employment experiences, commonly submitted alongside an application for employment.

So, what does CV mean?

Your CV is supposed to be your academic and professional life story boiled down to a page or two. It’s like a sneak peek into who you are, what you’ve done, and why you’d make a good employee. 

You should create a CV when you’re on the hunt for a job. It’s your chance to show off what makes you stand out from the crowd and why you’re the perfect fit for a particular role or opportunity. You usually give it to potential employers, recruiters, or networking contacts.

So, what should your CV show? Well, it should give a snapshot of your work history, education, any special skills you have, and any awards or accomplishments you’ve racked up along the way. The goal is to make it clear why you’re the right person for the job you’re applying for. 

Creating a CV can be difficult and overwhelming. It’s hard to know what gives the best impression to an employer and what it is that they are looking for! In response, many candidates end up throwing together a dense biography or something a little disjointed before hastily sending it out. This is a big mistake. 

In a competitive job field, a weak CV will cost you the chance of even being considered for the next step! Communicate with our expert guidance today. We know what works. Embark on your journey to expertise and career growth with Online Tutors from The Profs, paving your path to unmatched opportunities.

What is a CV versus a resume – Are a CV and resume the same?

In the UK, the word “resume” is rarely used. On the whole, CVs and resumes are understood to mean the same thing. However, they technically have different meanings, more so in the US.

Officially, a CV is a more detailed, comprehensive document that deep dives into your whole professional life, covering everything from education and work history to skills and achievements.

On the flip side, resumes are the short and snappy version. They’re tailored for specific job applications and focus on highlighting the most relevant experience and skills e.g. you might have one resume for your applications for publishing assistant roles and another for applications for junior journalist roles. 

CVs are common in academic and research fields or highly professional careers where you need to showcase a lot of detail. Hence, professors, surgeons and doctors are likely to use CVs. However, resumes are the go-to in most industries. So, much of the time when job applications request your “CV” they are really asking for your resume.

Please note: CVs and resumes are often used interchangeably, and in most cases, employers are looking for the official definition of a resume despite calling it a CV. Accordingly, this article uses both terms in reference to a “resume”, the document that most UK employers request.

Feeling flustered? Need a CV? We know how to help. Allow us to guide you through your job search and help you perfect your CV/resume and cover letters ready to hand out. 

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Why is a CV important for a job?

Your CV is what shapes your potential employer’s first impression of you and gets your foot in the door!

It’s your chance to impress. Employers use your CV to size you up and see if you’ve got the skills to tackle the role they’re offering. It’s your chance to showcase your strengths, achievements, and all the impressive stuff you’ve done in your career/academia.

So, here’s the bottom line: an impeccable CV can mean the difference between getting to the next stage of the application process or getting lost in the shuffle. It’s your time to shine, so don’t waste your opportunity. 

Unsure whether you are presenting yourself in the best way possible? Chat with us. We can support you all the way to the top.

Where is a CV used?

You can use your CV whenever you’re on the job hunt, whether you’re applying for a position online, at a career fair, or through networking. Employers use CVs to size up candidates and decide who makes the cut for an interview. However, your CV will often be viewed by the hiring manager of said company or a recruiter from an external agency who decides if it goes to the employer.

You can use your CV for more than just job applications. CVs are handy for securing internships, freelance gigs, or even academic pursuits like scholarships or research positions.

You might even need your CV when you’re updating your LinkedIn profile or chatting with a potential mentor. 

Resume tips: 9 top tips for writing a CV

After consulting with our expert career consultants and head of recruitment, we’ve put together some top CV tips to help you write a stellar CV. Read on for insider information!

1. Are you a graduate or professional? Important considerations

Before you get started on writing or reworking your CV, it’s crucial that you think about who you are. What’s your current position and what’s your angle? For example, have you just graduated from university or have you been working professionally for the past 5+ years? 

If you’re a graduate, the focus of your CV will be academia. You can start off by listing your grades and qualifications in secondary school up to your undergraduate or postgraduate degree in reverse chronological order. Next, delve into your practical experience – this could include internships, student jobs, work experience and, of course, any paid professional work if you’ve managed to acquire this. Then you can go into skills, achievements and/or publications. 

Remember, you’re a graduate who will be applying to graduate/entry-level jobs so it’s to be expected that you don’t have much, if any, professional experience. Keep everything as concise as possible. 

Don’t try to pad anything. It’s fine to list a relevant student job, but this shouldn’t have a dense descriptive paragraph below it. Keep everything simple and only include relevant information in a concise manner. 

If you’re a professional, the focus of your CV should be your experience as an employee. 

You can start off by listing your professional ventures in reverse chronological order. You can list all your jobs, even your student jobs, if you’ve not got a decade or more of experience as it can show a good work ethic. However, keep student jobs to one line; only expand on the relevant or recent jobs. You should also be more picky about what skills, achievements and/or publications you include. 

It can be tempting to keep everything in your CV from before your first job. There might be things in there that you are proud of and feel an employer could be impressed with. However, it could harm your application to keep absolutely everything in. 

You should be replacing old sections with new sections and keeping your CV fresh and relevant to strengthen it. If you keep lots of information from when you were 16, you could be mistaken for being more junior than you are.

Want to get your angle right? Perfect your CV with our expert support.

2. Get the length of your CV right

So, how long should a CV be? Generally, it should be about 1 page at minimum to 2 pages at maximum. 

Overall, the ideal length depends on your experience. After all, professionals with decades of experience manage to keep their CV to 1 or 2 pages, so you should be able to do the same. 

Remember, quality over quantity. You want to be as concise as possible and avoid any filler. Remain succinct – avoid verbose language and dense text. 

The shortest and clearest way to tell the employer what you want them to know about you is crucial. Recruiters and employers are busy, they will likely scan your text for key information. Hence, short and simple is the sweetest. 

3. What your CV should include: from contact details to real-life examples

Your CV should include:

  • Your name – Your full legal name. On this note, make sure that your social media is set to private and that you don’t have anything online attached to your name that you wouldn’t want an employer to find!
  • Home address – You do not need to include your specific house number or even street name. You might opt to only include the name of your city, especially if you live on the outskirts and don’t want to be ruled out for reliably commuting to the office. Similarly, if you live in central London, you might choose to highlight this if you’re applying for jobs in zones 1 and 2. 
  • Email address – You might also opt to include your mobile phone number but this is up to you.
  • Link to your LinkedIn profile – If you don’t have an account, make one. Not having an account could give an employer the impression that you’re low effort, plus you’d be cutting yourself out from a lot of job opportunities on LinkedIn and recruiters who might contact you there. 
  • A short paragraph or bullet points on your character/profile – Introduce yourself. Who are you and what have you been up to recently? Highlight your key credentials and traits that make you highly employable. What do you want the employer to know that they might miss when scanning your resume? Try to stay within 100 and 150 words.
  • Employment history – This should include all your jobs. We’ll go into more detail on this section in tip 5 below.
  • Education section – Whether you’re a graduate or professional, you should list the names of all the institutions you attended for GCSE, A level and higher level education, and ensure that you include all your grades. For graduates, there’s often no point trying to hide your grades as you’re likely to be asked, or you might be dismissed from the application process for not including them! This is especially the case for roles in education or medicine which tend to be more grade-focussed. However, if you’re not too happy about your GCSE grades, you could omit them as they are further in the past and less intensive than A levels or the IB. Professionals can get away with omitting their GCSEs and maybe even their A levels/IB as they have a lot of experience to highlight. However, if you have good grades, list them as this could help in building your positive impression!
  • Skills, achievements, hobbies and/or publications – This section is not clear cut. We’ll go into more detail on this section in tip 6 below.
  • References – You can add a segment on references if you have secured one or two people willing to vouch for you. This could include a current or former employer, a teacher, or a reputable figure within your community. This should not be a family member or friend. You can include their email if they’re happy with this. If not, you can write “contact details available upon request”. You can also omit any references and include the line “references are available upon request” at the end of your CV, but if you do choose to do this, make sure you have a reference ready for if an employer asks.

Don’t miss out on an amazing job opportunity just because you made the wrong call on what to include in your CV and how to do it. Get this right. Your CV could shape your future! Our expert career consultants secure success. 

4. Let your industry shape your CV

Your industry is likely to affect the design, and maybe even the content, of your CV.

For example, if you’re applying for a lot of graphic design jobs you might opt to make a visually pleasing CV which showcases your skills and creative flair. Your CV might also highlight skills, such as being proficient in Adobe and Figma, that you wouldn’t necessarily prioritise in a CV for a logistics role. 

If you’re applying for a sales role, you should put your estimated sales revenue or number of conversions from your last job in your personal introduction paragraph. Whereas, if you’re pivoting to a non-sales role, you might choose to add this as a bullet point in your employment history. 

Generally speaking, if you’re not applying for a creative or visual content role, you should go the traditional route. However, you might still opt to do so even if you are looking for a job like a designer or illustrator for example, and allow your portfolio to convey your capabilities.

It’s a good idea to decide on the kinds of roles you want to apply for. Next, Google the types of CVs that employers in those industries expect and prefer. Lastly, craft a few CVs, per role, in keeping with the expectations. 

Want to get your angle right? Perfect your CV with our expert support.

5. How to write work experience on your CV

Your employment history/work experience section should include all the job titles you’ve held. 

If you’re a graduate, you should list all your student jobs, unpaid work experience, internships and apprenticeships. You can even list a position you had in a university society as a job and explain the roles you took on and the skills you demonstrated. 

Even if you’re a professional, consider using a couple of lines to include all your jobs from 16+ as it shows that you’ve always been a hard worker and sought to be independent. However, if you have 10+ years of experience, it makes sense to be more choosey.

Under each role, include a one-line summary telling the employer what you did/do and what you achieved e.g. “Increased sales by 50% (2022-2024) and led all sales initiatives to dominate the UK car hire market.” Then follow with more granular detail on how this was done. You can do this by listing your responsibilities in a few bullet points. But be smart, think about writing everything in the language of your employer and write for them and what they’re looking for. For example, if you’re applying for a sales job and you are listing your work as an usher for a theatre, don’t write “collected tickets” as a bullet point. Instead, write “managed ticket sales and client interactions.” 

Not all jobs will require many bullet points. For jobs that feel irrelevant or outdated, only include a sentence or two. Obviously, write more for recent roles or those you feel are impressive or very relevant to your career.

Whether you’re a recent graduate or professional, don’t include positions that you held for a month or less (unless it was a short-term placement of that length) as that could make you appear flakey and likely to leave your next position.

Also, if you have gaps between jobs, address them. It’s valuable to present a career break as a positive upfront before employers ask questions. For example, you might have gained important experiences from grown-up gap years, learnings from sabbaticals or values by having been a stay-at-home parent.

Unsure whether you are presenting yourself in the best way possible? Chat with us. We can support you all the way to the top. Elevate your application success by collaborating with The Profs’ English Language Tutors, renowned for their expertise in boosting students’ admission to top-tier universities.

6. Hobbies and interests vs skills: Should you include them?

The short answer is yes. But of course, there’s more to it than that.

Typically, skills, achievements, hobbies and/or publications come as one or two sections at the end of your CV. This part is a little more dependent on your life experience and who you are as a person. If you’ve won any awards, competed in a sport nationwide, attained a grade 8 in piano, published a poem in a magazine or are fluent in a second language, here’s where to write that. 

If you’d like to include skills, something like ‘coding’, ‘fluent in SEO and AI tools’ or ‘Excel proficient’ can be great to write, especially if you have e a qualification to back this up (even if it is a free one or cost a few pounds on Udemy/Coursera). However, only include skills if they’re 100% true as you could be caught out or written off for lying. Also, try not to include fluff. It might harm your application to write ‘Word doc’ or ‘Google docs’ as a skill as that’s almost assumed. On the other hand, if you’ve got a bunch of technical skills, you might want to include a separate key skills section.

Similarly, it might not be worth writing down football as a hobby if you’re not in a team and don’t play frequently. You should also research the company culture, will they appreciate the fact that you love football or might it be off-putting? This also goes for anything divisive. Avoid writing anything that reveals your political stance, unless you’re applying for a role in the charity sector and you’d like to write something about protesting for relevant causes, for example. That said, many successful applicants opt not to include hobbies unless they’re relevant to the industry or demonstrate an impressive achievement. 

All in all, this section is not a deal breaker and you may choose to part with it if you’re a professional with a lot to say about your employment history and struggling to keep your document to 2 pages.

If you choose to include this section then try to keep it short and sweet. It should be no more than 1-2 sentences or a few small bullet points. Be concise and alter it according to your desired role and the culture of the company you’re applying to. 

Don’t take any risks with your future success, get this right. Chat with our team.

7. Where to put volunteer work in your CV

No matter your desired job role or your level of experience, you should always include any volunteer work in your CV. 

Volunteering shows that you are a worker by nature with a good work ethic. It also shows good nature and compassion, traits that are valued by many employers.

If you’re a graduate, you can list volunteer work in your employment history section to pad it out. Break down your role’s responsibilities, skills and achievements as though it’s a professional role. 

If you’re a professional, you’ll already have a lot to write for employment so you can list your volunteer work in your hobbies and interests section and keep it to one line or two.

Feeling unsure or overwhelmed by the job application process? Perfect your CV with our expert support. We can also guide you through looking for opportunities and applying to maximise your chances!

8. What a CV should look like – Which CV format is best?

First off, keep it clean and efficient. Stick to a simple, professional layout that’s easy to skim. Use clear headings, bullet points, and plenty of white space to keep things tidy. Again, stick to two pages maximum. 

Also, avoid quirky fonts and colours. If in doubt, stick to black, Times New Roman, size 11 or 12. Your CV should look professional, tidy and be easy to read. Don’t make the employer or recruiter have to think too hard or double-take anything.

As for the format, the reverse-chronological format is best. However, if you’ve got some serious skills or accomplishments to flaunt, a skills-based or combination format might be more your speed. If you’re a graduate, list your academic history before your employment history. If you’re a professional, flip this around. 

At the end of the day, the best format is the one that shows off your experience and achievements in the clearest, most organised way possible. 

Please note: Employers are AI scanning CVs more and more these days, and that’s only going to become more popular. So, make your CV AI literate. Use headings, keywords from job descriptions, clear and consistent formatting, and quantify your achievements. Similarly, don’t use image files like .pngs or .jpegs; stick to text documents like .pdf. You can find out more about this here.

Need to write, create and format a CV? Unsure whether you are presenting yourself in the best way possible? Chat with us. We can support you all the way to the top.

9. Keep updating your CV’s content and form

Last but not least, update your CV, and keep doing so. Always add to it. Even if you’re at a company you’re happy at and that you don’t want to leave, still add it to your CV and keep your CV ready to distribute. 

Why? – You might wonder. Well, firstly, you never know when you might be approached by an amazing opportunity, so you always want to be prepared. Secondly, it’s easy to forget the roles and courses you undertook, skills you developed, and achievements you amassed throughout a position once it’s been a couple of years or more. Hence, it’s good to keep track of everything so that when you’re ready to look for new opportunities, you have all the information you need instantly available.

Also, as you keep adding to your CV you might find that certain things from 10 years ago etc seem a little outdated or irrelevant. For example, as a professional with surmounting experience and achievements, you might opt to remove coming first place in a Maths competition or winning an international ballet competition when you were 16 with a leadership course you took or an article you published in the last few years.

Don’t miss out on an amazing job opportunity just because you made the wrong call on what to include in your CV and how to do it. Get this right. Your CV could shape your future! Our expert career consultants secure success. Harness your potential and set the stage for career growth with Writing Tutors at The Profs, where expertise meets opportunity.

Don’t forget to write a cover letter

Most job applications require a cover letter or give you the option to include one. Don’t waste this opportunity! 

Your cover letter is your chance to speak directly to the employer and align yourself with this specific job and the company. So, don’t use cover letter templates and hand in virtually the same cover letter to multiple employers. Take the time to write a resume tailored to each role you apply for. 

If you don’t write a cover letter, you might appear lazy or uncommitted to the job. It’s important that you show you’re willing to put effort in to get the role and that you’re enthusiastic about it.

Keep in mind that your CV is your list of experience, qualifications and achievements, whereas your cover letter is your pitch. Tell the employer/recruiter that you want the job, why you want the job and why you’re the best fit for it! 

For graduates, think of it as your personal statement for a company instead of a university. Why should they invest in you? What will you offer them?

Need help writing the perfect cover letter for your dream job? Or perhaps you want a masterclass in all elements of job applications, from finding roles to curating CVs and crafting excellent cover letters. Whatever your goal is, we have experts on hand to help. Empower your academic journey with The Profs’ Undergraduate Admissions Tutors, who offer specialized guidance to boost your university application success and secure your future at top institutions.

How do I write my CV: Example CVs

If you follow all the key takeaways in this article, you will write a stellar CV. If you visit tip 3 (What your CV should include) and tick off everything on that list one by one, you’ll be left with the first draft of your CV.

You can also check out some example CVs via the links below:

  • Indeed is a leading job site in the UK where you can upload your CV and search for jobs. It has a blog including 2 CV examples that you can use for inspiration.
  • StandOut CV has had their advice featured in BBC, Business Insider, Entrepreneur and plenty more trusted publications. They provide free examples per specific role for you to peruse here.
  • You can also check out free CV templates for an idea of layout and structure. However, it’s best now to download and copy templates completely. Try to only use them as inspiration, and don’t get sucked in by the cool designs. Remember the advice in this article regarding what suits your industry and role.

We’ve also put together our own graduate CV template with the help of our head of recruitment. More on this below! Strengthen your journey towards academic excellence and career advancement with The Profs’ top-tier Postgrad Admissions Tutors—your gateway to securing a spot in leading institutions.

Get your CV template (free resume blueprint)

Fancy an in-depth guide to formatting the perfect graduate CV? After enlisting support from our career consultants and head of recruitment, we’ve crafted our very own template. It reveals the ideal content and format, along with analytical notes. 

So, what does a good CV look like?

Access our free CV blueprint here.

Enlist support from our CV experts 

It’s all too often that candidates miss out on exciting and important opportunities because their CVs let them down. Don’t let that be you. Our team of expert career consultants is here to ensure your CV catches employers’ attention, making the best impression possible and opening doors to the opportunities you deserve. 

Whether you’re a student taking your first steps into the professional world or a seasoned pro looking to level up your career game, we’ve got your back. We can help you craft a CV that stands out from the crowd and lands you that job you’ve been dreaming of. Connect with us today and let’s make things happen.

FAQs

Which CV format is used in UK?

There is no official UK-format CV. However, the most common CV format in the UK is the reverse-chronological format, where you list your relevant work experience and academic qualifications in reverse order starting with the most recent. So, keep this in mind when you write your CV!

This is also the most common CV format in the United States.

Where do I put my driving licence in my CV?

Your driving licence can be included in the last section of your CV which might include skills, achievements and/or hobbies. However, it’s likely to be relevant. So, only consider including your driving licence if it’s related to the roles you are applying for.

Can a CV be 2 pages?

Yes, a CV can be 2 pages long. Generally, CVs should be 1 page at minimum and 2 pages at maximum. You should definitely use 2 full pages if you have extensive work experience or achievements to showcase.

Can a CV be 3 pages?

While a 3-page CV is generally discouraged, it may be acceptable in certain industries or for candidates with extensive experience and qualifications e.g. a doctor or a professor with multiple publications and over a decade of professional experience.

Are CV writing services worth it?

CV writing services can be valuable if you’re not sure what kind of CVs your industry is looking for, or you’re struggling to create a standout CV or if you want professional help to tailor your CV for specific job applications. Luckily, The Profs can help. Our career consultants know how to land competitive roles at renowned companies.

Which CV template is the best?

The best resume template depends on your industry, personal preferences and whether you’re a graduate or professional. Check our graduate CV blueprint here or connect for expert guidance. 

Does my CV need to include my date of birth?

Your CV doesn’t need to include your date of birth to comply with UK employment laws unless you’re applying for roles where age is a legal requirement.

Should I put a photo in my CV?

It’s not necessary to include a photo in your CV unless you’re applying for a job where appearance has relevance to the job, such as modelling or acting roles. Avoid it if appearance is irrelevant as it can open the door to unconscious bias. 

What is an academic CV?

An academic CV is a detailed document that highlights your educational background, research experience, teaching experience, publications, presentations, grants, awards, and other relevant academic achievements. It’s commonly used by scholars, researchers, professors, and graduate students applying for academic positions, fellowships, grants, or research opportunities. Unlike a traditional resume, an academic CV tends to be longer and more comprehensive, providing a comprehensive overview of your academic career and contributions to your field.

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