How do I write a CV that gets read?
A CV is not a record of everything you have done. It is an argument that you can do one specific job, made in under thirty seconds of somebody's attention.
- Session length
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Matched on
- Your field
Three things worth knowing.
Most CVs fail because they describe duties rather than results. "Responsible for social media" tells a reader nothing. "Grew the account from 2,000 to 30,000 followers in a year" tells them what you can do for them.
Fit it on two pages, put the most relevant role first, and rewrite the top third for every application. That top third is the only part many readers reach.
Where you have no work history, use coursework, projects and volunteering the same way: what you did, what changed because of it.
A sequence that works.
- 01
Read the job advert twice
Underline the five things it actually asks for. Those five decide what stays on the page.
- 02
Lead with evidence
Every bullet is an action and an outcome. Numbers where you have them, specifics where you do not.
- 03
Cut ruthlessly
Remove anything that does not support the five things. A shorter CV reads stronger, not weaker.
- 04
Get one honest read
Someone inside the industry will spot in a minute what you cannot see after a week.
What to avoid.
A personal statement full of adjectives and no evidence
The same CV sent to twenty different roles
Listing duties instead of what changed
Burying the relevant role on page two
Design so heavy the words get lost
The things people ask first.
How long should a CV be?
Two pages at most, and one is fine early in a career. Length is not seriousness.
Should I include a photo?
In the UK and US, no. In parts of Europe and Asia it is expected. Follow the local convention.
Do I need a cover letter?
If the advert asks for one, yes, and make it about them rather than about you.
Get this answered for your situation.
A mentor who does the job you are aiming at can tell you which of this applies to you.