How to Create a CV That Works in Today’s Hiring Market

Most CVs today are not read by a person first. They are read by systems.

This does not mean recruitment has lost its human side. It means your CV needs to be clear, structured, and easy for technology to interpret before a recruiter ever sees it. Understanding this changes how you should build your CV.

Start With Your Skills

One of the most common mistakes candidates make is burying their skills halfway down the CV.

Modern Applicant Tracking Systems and AI screening tools look for skills, keywords, and role relevance first. Recruiters then scan for the same signals when reviewing shortlisted profiles.

Your CV should start with a Skills Summary, placed immediately after your name and contact details.

This section should include core technical skills, role specific competencies, tools and systems you work with, and relevant soft skills where appropriate.

Use language taken directly from the job description where it is accurate. Job titles, skills, and terminology matter. If a role asks for specific systems, methodologies, or competencies, use those exact terms where they genuinely apply. Avoid keyword stuffing. Accuracy and clarity are far more effective.

Understand How ATS and AI Review Your CV

Most organisations use Applicant Tracking Systems supported by automation or AI to manage volume and consistency.

These systems scan for keywords and role related language, read job titles, employment dates, and responsibilities, and rank CVs based on relevance rather than presentation.

If your CV is clear and well structured, it passes the first screen. If it is overly designed, scanned, or inconsistent, important information can be missed.

Use a CV Format That Works

Keep formatting simple and predictable.

Use a clean, text based format. Submit your CV as a PDF or .docx depending on what the application requests. Use one easy to read font. Avoid columns, tables, text boxes, graphics, or logos.

Text based files are far more reliable for systems to read and for recruiters to review.

Avoid Scanned CVs

A scanned CV is one that has been printed and then scanned back into a PDF or image file.

These files are difficult for Applicant Tracking Systems to read properly. Even when Optical Character Recognition is used, accuracy drops significantly, especially with poor scans or complex layouts. Keywords, dates, and structure are often misread or missed entirely.

Always submit a text based CV. If your CV has ever been scanned, convert it back into a searchable document before applying.

Personal Details

Keep this section simple and accurate.

Include your full name, mobile number with international dialling code, and one personal email address.

Do not include multiple email addresses or work contact details. Using more than one email address can create duplicate profiles in recruitment systems and slow the process down.

Your Profile Summary

This should be short and factual.

Use it to state your current role or professional level, your area of expertise, and the type of role you are targeting.

Avoid generic statements. Recruiters want clarity quickly.

Employment History

List roles in reverse chronological order.

For each role include job title, employer name, start and end dates using month and year, a brief summary of responsibilities, and key achievements or outcomes.

Where possible, include measurable outcomes. Results help both systems and people understand impact.

Languages

Clearly state your level of fluency for each language where relevant.

Do Not Overload Your Application

As a general rule, only submit what is requested at application stage.

In most cases this means one CV and no additional attachments.

You do not need to attach ID documents, passports, certificates, or transcripts unless you are specifically asked. These are usually requested later once you have been shortlisted.

Overloading applications with unnecessary documents does not strengthen them. It often creates noise and slows the process down.

Applying for Roles

Always apply through the official application link provided.

If applying via email, include the correct job reference number where requested and follow the instructions in the advert. This ensures your application is correctly tracked and reviewed.

Length and Focus

Aim for one to two pages for most roles, with clear structure and relevant information only.

Longer CVs may be appropriate for specialist, academic, or senior leadership roles, but relevance always matters more than length.

Final Thought

A strong CV is not about design. It is about clarity.

If a system can read it easily and a recruiter can understand it quickly, you have done the job properly.