How to Write a CV: The Complete Guide for 2026
Knowing how to write a CV is one of the most useful skills a job seeker can have — and one of the most misunderstood.
Most CVs fail not because the candidate lacks the right experience, but because the document is structured badly, too long, or invisible to the ATS system filtering it before a human ever sees it. This guide fixes all three.
Whether you're writing your first CV or overhauling one that isn't getting responses, here's exactly what to do.
What is a CV and how is it different from a résumé?
In the UK and across Europe, a CV (curriculum vitae) is the standard application document for most roles. It's typically 2 pages and covers your full professional history in a structured format.
A résumé — the term used in North America — is usually a shorter, single-page document tailored tightly to one specific role. If you're applying for jobs in the UK or EU, write a CV, not a résumé.
How long should a CV be?
Two pages. That's the standard for most candidates with 2–15 years of experience.
- Graduate or entry-level: One page is fine if you genuinely don't have enough to fill two.
- Mid-career: Two pages is the target.
- Senior or executive: Two pages still. A third page is acceptable only if you have an unusually extensive publication or project record.
Recruiter attention is limited. A tight, well-structured 2-page CV beats a sprawling 4-page document every time.
CV structure: the sections every CV needs
1. Contact information
At the top of the page. Include:
- Full name (large, easy to read)
- Professional email address
- Phone number
- LinkedIn URL (optional but recommended)
- Location — city and country is enough; no need for a full address
Do not include: date of birth, nationality, marital status, or a photograph (unless specifically requested, which is rare in the UK).
2. Personal statement (professional summary)
Three to four sentences directly beneath your contact details. This is your first impression.
A strong personal statement:
- States who you are professionally
- Names your most relevant experience or skill
- Says what you're looking for
Keep it specific. "Experienced marketing professional with 6 years in B2B SaaS, specialising in demand generation and content strategy. Seeking a senior role in a growth-stage tech company." is far stronger than "A highly motivated individual with excellent communication skills."
3. Work experience
Listed in reverse chronological order — most recent role first.
For each role include:
- Job title (bold)
- Company name and location
- Dates (month and year: Jan 2022 – Present)
- 3–5 bullet points describing your responsibilities and achievements
The most important principle here: lead with results, not duties.
Weak: Responsible for managing the company's social media accounts. Strong: Grew LinkedIn following from 2,000 to 18,000 in 12 months by implementing a content calendar focused on industry news and employee stories.
Where possible, quantify your impact. Numbers catch the eye and stick in the memory.
4. Education
List your highest qualification first. Include:
- Degree or qualification title
- Institution
- Dates (years are enough)
- Grade, if strong (e.g., 2:1, First Class, Distinction)
For candidates with 5+ years of experience, education moves to the bottom of the CV. For recent graduates, it sits near the top.
5. Skills
A short section listing hard skills relevant to the roles you're targeting. Think: software tools, languages, certifications, technical competencies.
Avoid listing soft skills ("excellent communicator", "team player") — these should be demonstrated through your experience bullets, not stated.
6. Optional sections
Depending on your background, consider adding:
- Languages — with proficiency level (native, fluent, conversational)
- Certifications and courses — particularly relevant in tech, finance, and compliance
- Projects or portfolio — important for creative, tech, and freelance roles
- Volunteer experience — if relevant or if it fills a gap
How to write a CV that passes ATS filters
Most large employers use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to screen CVs before a human reads them. If your CV isn't optimised for ATS, it may be filtered out regardless of how well-qualified you are.
Here's how to make sure yours passes:
Use standard section headings. ATS systems look for headings they recognise: Work Experience, Education, Skills. Clever alternatives like My Journey or What I've Done will confuse the parser.
Match keywords from the job description. Read the job posting carefully. If they use the word "stakeholder management", use that exact phrase in your CV — not a synonym. ATS tools do literal keyword matching.
Avoid graphics, tables, and text boxes. These break ATS parsers. Use plain, left-aligned text with clear formatting.
Use a clean, standard font. Calibri, Arial, or Georgia. Minimum 10pt body text, 11pt preferred.
Save as a .docx or .pdf. Most ATS systems handle both, but check the job listing — some specify a preference.
ApplicantGrid's ATS optimisation tools scan your CV against the job description and flag missing keywords before you apply — try it here.
Common CV mistakes to avoid
Generic personal statement. If your summary could apply to any candidate in any industry, rewrite it. Specificity is everything.
Duties instead of achievements. Listing what your job was doesn't tell a recruiter how well you did it. Turn every bullet into a mini-achievement where you can.
Poor formatting. Inconsistent spacing, mixed fonts, walls of text — these signal a lack of attention to detail before the recruiter has read a word.
Wrong email address. Still using a university email or a nickname from 2009? Create a professional email: [email protected].
Outdated content. A job from 12 years ago shouldn't get the same space as your most recent role. Older experience can be summarised in one line.
Missing contact details. Surprisingly common. Always double-check that your phone number and email are correct.
Tailoring your CV for each application
A single CV sent to every job is rarely as effective as a targeted version. You don't need to rewrite it from scratch each time — but you should:
- Adjust your personal statement to reflect the specific role
- Reorder bullet points so the most relevant experience comes first
- Mirror the language in the job description (especially for ATS)
- Add or remove skill keywords depending on what's asked for
This is where an application tracker like ApplicantGrid helps — you can store different CV versions against each application and track which version performed best.
CV writing for different markets
If you're applying across European borders, note that conventions vary:
- Germany: A photo is standard and expected on a German Lebenslauf. Formal structure with exact dates.
- France: A single-page CV is normal. No photo required but sometimes included.
- Italy: Europass format is widely used but not mandatory. A clean, structured CV works well.
- Poland: Personal information (date of birth, nationality) is more commonly included than in the UK.
For advice on applying in multiple European markets simultaneously, read our guide to organising an international job search.
Using CV templates
A well-designed CV template gives you a clean, professional starting point without the risk of formatting errors. ApplicantGrid offers 180+ ATS-compatible CV templates — free to download, built to work with every major ATS system.
Start from a template, then fill in your own content following the structure in this guide. The template handles the design; your content does the rest.
After your CV: the cover letter
A strong CV gets you through the door; a strong cover letter makes you the obvious choice. For most roles that request one, a well-written cover letter lifts your application from the pile.
Read our guide: How to Use AI to Write a Cover Letter That Actually Gets Read
Frequently asked questions
How long should a CV be in the UK?
Two pages is the standard for most candidates. One page works for graduates with limited experience; a third page is occasionally acceptable for senior roles with extensive project or publication records. Always prioritise quality over length — a tight two-page CV is stronger than a padded three-page one.
What should I include in a CV?
Every CV needs: contact information, a personal statement, work experience in reverse chronological order, education, and a skills section. Optional sections include languages, certifications, projects, and volunteer experience — include these only if they're relevant to the roles you're applying for.
Should I include a photo on my CV?
In the UK, a photo is not standard and not expected. Leave it off unless specifically requested. (Note: in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, a professional photo is the norm.)
What format should I save my CV in?
PDF is generally safest — it preserves your formatting across devices. Some ATS systems prefer .docx, so check the job listing. When in doubt, have both versions ready.
How do I make my CV ATS-friendly?
Use standard section headings, mirror keywords from the job description, avoid tables and graphics, and save in a compatible format (.pdf or .docx). ApplicantGrid's ATS optimisation tool scans your CV against the job description and flags missing keywords automatically.
How often should I update my CV?
Update it every time you change roles, complete a significant project, gain a certification, or acquire a new skill. Don't wait until you're actively job searching — a CV updated in real time is far easier to work with than one you're trying to reconstruct from memory.
Keep every version of your CV organised, matched to the right application, and tracked in one place.
Start with ApplicantGrid — free
Related reading: How to Use AI to Write a Cover Letter That Actually Gets Read · The Best Free Job Application Tracker