Writing an Effective CV or Resume

16 items · Productivity · Medium difficulty · 1 hour

Create a clear, ATS-friendly CV that highlights achievements and fits the role.

• Decide one- or two-page format based on experience

  Use one page for under ~10 years; two pages for senior roles or extensive relevant experience.

• Choose reverse-chronological layout for work history

  List your most recent role first and include job title, company, and dates.

• Write a concise professional summary or headline

  Keep it 2–3 lines with role, years of experience, and top strengths.

• Curate a focused skills section with role-relevant hard skills

  Prioritize tools, technologies, and core competencies the job asks for.

• Quantify achievements with metrics and outcomes

  Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or dollar impact to each key bullet.

• Write achievement-focused bullet points starting with action verbs

  Use verbs like 'Led', 'Improved', 'Reduced' and keep bullets concise.

• Tailor the resume for each application by mirroring job keywords

  Match phrasing and required skills from the job description naturally.

• Optimize for ATS by using standard headings and role titles

  Avoid images, complex tables, and unusual fonts; use clear section names.

• Keep formatting clean and consistent

  Choose a legible font (10–12pt), consistent spacing, and simple bullets.

• Use consistent date formats and concise company descriptions

  Format dates uniformly (e.g., Jun 2018 – Aug 2021) and summarize roles in 1–2 lines.

• Remove irrelevant, outdated, or low-value entries

  Omit roles older than 10–15 years unless directly relevant to the target role.

• Include education and relevant certifications with dates

  List degrees, institutions, and recent certifications that support the role.

• Proofread for spelling, grammar, and formatting consistency

  Read aloud and verify names, numbers, and verbs for tense consistency.

• Run automated spelling and grammar checks

  Use tools like spellcheck and grammar apps to catch common errors.

• Get a second pair of eyes to review clarity and impact

  Ask a mentor or peer to check for clarity, relevance, and typos.

• Export to PDF, name the file professionally, and test layout

  Save as 'FirstName_LastName_Role.pdf' and open to confirm spacing and links.

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