4 Steps to a Top CV

Writing a top CV is no rocket science. It just requires some concentration on your part — and a clear understanding of four principles that separate a CV that earns interviews from one that goes straight to the reject pile.

Key Takeaways

• Choose the right CV format for your career stage: functional for career changers, chronological for a consistent track record.
• Organise your achievements into clear categories so recruiters can scan in under 60 seconds.
• Appearance matters: a poorly formatted CV signals carelessness before a word is read.
• Quantify everything you can — numbers make achievements concrete and credible.
• Keep it to one or two pages; cut anything that does not directly support your application.

Step 1: Organise Your Life — Choose the Right Format

Before you type a single word, decide which CV format fits your situation.

Functional CV: You group your skills into categories, then briefly list past job titles at the bottom. This format suits people who have been unemployed for extended periods, held several different types of jobs, changed roles frequently, are returning to work after a career break, or are actively changing career direction.

Chronological CV: The most common format. You list your jobs in reverse date order — most recent first — with bullet-point achievements for each role. This is the preferred format for recent graduates and anyone on a consistent career path. Hiring managers expect it, and ATS systems handle it best.

If you are unsure which format to use, default to chronological. Only choose functional if your work history genuinely makes a linear timeline look unflattering.

For an in-depth guide to both formats — including templates — see: How to Write a CV That Gets Interviews in 2026.

Step 2: Categorise Your Achievements

Once you have chosen a format, structure your content into clearly labelled sections. HR teams and employers spend less than a minute scanning a CV, so you must make the structure immediately obvious.

Standard sections include:

• Professional Summary — 2–3 lines at the top answering “why hire this person?”
• Work Experience — reverse chronological, with 3–5 bullet points per role
• Education — degree, institution, year. For recent graduates, this goes above Work Experience.
• Skills — a concise grid of technical and transferable competencies
• Certifications — any relevant professional qualifications
• Additional sections — volunteer experience, publications, language skills, relevant projects

If you are a recent graduate with limited work history, emphasise your Education section. Include relevant coursework, honours, and any awards. Academic projects that mirror real-world work can go under a “Projects” section and carry real weight for entry-level roles.

Quantify wherever you can. Instead of “helped grow the company’s sales,” write “contributed to a 35% uplift in regional sales over 18 months, exceeding quarterly targets by an average of 12%.” Every bullet point that includes a number is more persuasive than one that does not.

Step 3: Appearance Can Make or Break Your CV

A recruiter forms an impression of your CV before they read a single word. Formatting signals professionalism — or the lack of it.

Fonts: Use a clean, modern sans-serif — Arial, Calibri, or Verdana at 10–12pt. Avoid Times New Roman, which reads as dated, and novelty fonts entirely. If you email, fax, or post your CV, the recipient should be able to read it without effort on any device.

Formatting rules:

• Stick to one font family throughout
• Use bold sparingly — for section headers and role titles only
• Use simple bullet points for achievements (no decorative symbols)
• Keep margins at 1.5–2 cm (around 0.75 inches)
• Use consistent spacing between sections

Colour: A subtle accent colour (dark navy or dark green for headers) is acceptable in creative fields. For most corporate, finance, legal, or government roles, black and white is the right choice.

File format: Always send a PDF unless the application explicitly asks for Word. PDFs preserve your formatting across every device and operating system.

Step 4: Content is King

Even a beautifully formatted CV fails if the content is weak. Three techniques separate strong content from filler:

Action verbs: Start every bullet point with an active, past-tense verb. Not “responsible for managing the client relationship” — “managed relationships with 40+ enterprise clients, maintaining a 96% retention rate.” Strong verbs include: led, delivered, launched, grew, reduced, redesigned, negotiated, trained, secured, and built.

Numbers and percentages: Include measurable results wherever you can. “Increased monthly sales by £80,000 over a six-month period” is infinitely more compelling than “improved sales.” “Supervised a team of 12” is better than “managed a team.” Even approximate numbers count — “reduced customer complaints by approximately 30%” is still far stronger than “helped improve customer satisfaction.”

Length discipline: Two pages maximum for most roles. If your content overruns, cut the oldest or least relevant roles, not the achievements from your most recent positions. The hiring manager cares most about what you have done in the last five to seven years.

Common Mistakes That Sink Otherwise Good CVs

• Starting bullet points with “responsible for” instead of an action verb
• Listing job duties (what the role required) instead of achievements (what you personally delivered)
• Inconsistent date formats — pick one style and use it throughout
• Using a table or text box that ATS software cannot parse
• Submitting a .docx file that displays incorrectly on the recruiter’s device

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Next step: pair your CV with a strong covering letter. See: Job Application Letter: Free Template + 3 Examples

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a functional and a chronological CV?

A chronological CV lists your work history in reverse date order and suits candidates with a consistent career path. A functional CV groups skills into categories and is better suited to career changers, people returning after a gap, or those with varied employment histories.

How should I format my CV for readability?

Use a clean sans-serif font like Arial or Calibri at 10–12pt, consistent bullet points, and sufficient white space between sections. Avoid mixing multiple fonts, colours, or graphic elements — simplicity signals professionalism and is easier for ATS software to parse.

Should I use numbers in my CV?

Yes. Numbers make your achievements concrete and credible. Include figures such as revenue generated, percentage improvements, team sizes managed, or cost savings delivered. Even approximate numbers are far more persuasive than vague descriptors.

How long should my CV be?

One page for graduates and candidates with fewer than five years of experience; two pages for more experienced professionals. Anything beyond two pages should be cut unless you are in academia or applying for a senior executive role.

What action verbs should I use on my CV?

Strong action verbs include: led, delivered, grew, reduced, launched, managed, negotiated, redesigned, trained, and secured. Start every bullet point with a strong verb in the past tense (or present tense for your current role) to convey ownership and initiative.