What the perfect CV should look like?

  • Clear and Concise Presentation. Your CV should begin with a clean and organized format.
  • Contact Information. Start with your essential details at the top of the CV.
  • Professional Summary.
  • Technical Skills.
  • Work Experience.
  • Quantify Achievements.
  • Projects.
  • Education and Certifications.

When you write your CV, remember to:

  • use a clear font like Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri in size 11 or bigger.
  • always use the same style throughout.
  • use headings and bullet points to make it easier to read.
  • be clear and to the point.
  • get someone else to read it to double check your spelling and grammar.

Eight useful tips

  1. Keep it short … but not too short! Your CV should be one to two sides of A4 paper.
  2. Use active verbs.
  3. Fill in the gaps.
  4. Make sure it's up to date.
  5. Don't exaggerate or lie.
  6. Spend time on the layout.
  7. Check for mistakes.
  8. Include a cover letter.

What is an attractive CV : Keep it concise: Aim for a one- to two-page resume, focusing on the most important and impactful information. Be selective and avoid unnecessary details. Use concise and clear language to convey your qualifications.

How should a CV look like in 2024

In 2024, employers will be looking for concise, visually appealing, and customised CVs that highlight your soft skills and achievements. Using keywords that match the job description and including a personal statement can also help you get noticed. Don't forget to proofread your CV carefully before submitting it.

Does how your CV look matter : The presentation of your CV is the first impression a recruiter will form of you. Before someone even reads your name, they will start to form an opinion based on the appearance of your CV. If they see an unorganised, messy, inconsistent layout, they'll assume you have those qualities too.

Only cover the last 10 years of employment – or what is relevant to the role you're applying for. Choose a professional layout with clean spacing, concise wording, and a consistent font style and font size – it's fine to have your headers in a different style but keep that style the same throughout!

So, while your resume with the beautiful fonts, specially formatted indents and nice graphics on the border might look attractive to you, it does not look good to the hirer. In fact, all that great, creative work it took to make your resume layout stand out might actually block it from successfully passing the ATS.

How to make a CV look visually better

Here are steps you can follow to make your resume look good:

  1. Write a strong professional summary. One way to improve your resume and make it look more appealing is to create a professional summary employers notice and remember.
  2. Divide your resume into sections with headings.
  3. Choose a font scheme.
  4. Use a professional format.

You may want your CV to stand out from the rest, but this doesn't mean that it should be over the top. Avoid a busy CV with excessive bright colours and non-standard fonts.For the majority of job-seekers, the best resume format in 2024 is the reverse-chronological resume format. This resume format involves listing your resume information (e.g. your work experience and your education) starting with the most recent one and going backward through relevant jobs, degrees, or qualifications.

Even if you have decades of experience, recruitment experts generally recommend you detail the most salient points within two pages, up to a maximum of four pages if needed. Academic CVs are the only common exception.

Should CV have age : You may include your birth date if you wish. However, it is no longer necessary since the Equality Act of 2010 makes age discrimination illegal in the recruitment process. If you're having issues getting interviews, try removing it from your CV to see if it has a positive impact.

Is it unprofessional to have a Colourful CV : Conservative use of colors on your resume is acceptable to Applicant Tracking Systems. As a lead software engineer, I've seen many colorful resumes that are successfully parsed by Applicant Tracking Systems such as Lever. So don't use too much color on resume if you want your resume to be parsed correctly.

How do I make my CV not boring

One of the easiest ways to achieve this is by making your CV simple and easy to read. You can enhance your CV readability by splitting up the text, adding borders to separate each section of your CV, and keeping all the important information easily readable and digestible in bullet points or lists.

You may want your CV to stand out from the rest, but this doesn't mean that it should be over the top. Avoid a busy CV with excessive bright colours and non-standard fonts.A successful CV typically falls within one to two pages. While no strict rules dictate the CV's length, brevity is crucial given recruiters' time constraints. Opt for a one-page format for a quick snapshot, especially if a job listing specifies. A two-page CV is acceptable for those with extensive experience.

How long should a 20 year resume be : How long should a resume be The golden rule. If you've been in the workforce for a number of years, you're entitled to a maximum of two full pages of resume real estate. This rule applies to most senior professionals, whether you've been in the workforce for seven years or 27 years.