CV Guide: The Dos and Don’ts of a Great CV

Your CV is your first impression on a potential employer, making it one of the most critical tools in your job search. ?

Updating your CV with a strategic approach can significantly enhance your chances of landing an interview.?

Here’s a comprehensive guide to the dos and don’ts of crafting a stand-out CV.?

5 Key Elements Every CV Should Include?

1. A Strong Professional Summary- A concise career summary should immediately showcase your value and relevance to the role.?
2. Tailored Experience and Achievements: Accomplishments that directly align with the job you're applying for. ?
3. Clear Contact Information and Links - Ensure your contact details are easy to find and include a link to your LinkedIn profile.?
4. Metrics and KPIs: Use numbers as tangible evidence of your impact.
5. Skills and Education: ?Detail your educational background and any relevant skills and certifications.?

The Dos:?

1. Tailor Your CV to the Role?

Customise your CV for each application. Highlight skills and experiences that align with the job description and use keywords from the posting to align your experience and skills with the employer’s needs. ?

2. Use a Clean and Professional Format?

Keep your CV layout simple, structured, and easy to read. Hiring managers often spend only seconds scanning a CV, so use clear headings, bullet points, and consistent formatting to make key information stand out. Avoid overly decorative fonts, distracting graphics, or cluttered layouts—unless you’re applying for a creative or design-focused role. Focus on clarity and professionalism to make a strong first impression.?

3. Focus on Achievements, Not Duties?

Demonstrate your achievements with metrics. For example, instead of “Managed a team of analysts,” you could write, “Led a team of analysts to implement a new financial forecasting model, improving accuracy by 15% and reducing reporting time by 10 hours per month.”?

4. Include Relevant Skills?

Highlight skills that are in demand in your sector, such as digital proficiency, project management, or data analysis. Be specific and list certifications where applicable. For example, if you are in Finance, showcase skills like risk analysis, financial modelling, or regulatory compliance. For Tech roles, emphasise programming languages, cloud technologies, or cybersecurity expertise, and include relevant certifications like CFA, ACCA, AWS, or Azure.?

5. Seek Feedback?

Have a trusted mentor, recruiter, or colleague review your CV for clarity and impact. Recruiters review hundreds of CVs on a weekly basis, so they are highly experienced and knowledgeable about what it takes for a CV to land an interview. ?

The Don’ts:?

1. Don’t Use the Same CV for Every Application?

A generic CV won’t make you stand out. Tailor your CV for each role by emphasising skills and achievements that align with the specific job description. For example, highlight financial modelling expertise for analyst roles or programming certifications for Tech positions.?

2. Don’t Rely Solely on AI?

While AI tools can help enhance your CV, copying and pasting AI-generated content is extremely risky. Recruiters and hiring managers can spot this a mile away. Use AI as a guide but adapt to your own personality. Tailor the content to reflect your unique experience and accomplishments.?

3. Don't Use Generic Language and Buzzwords?

Empty phrases like “team player” or “Seeking a challenging role in a dynamic company” add little value unless backed up with concrete achievements. Instead, include examples that highlight your unique value proposition.?

4. Don’t Include Irrelevant Information?

Avoid getting too personal with details like age, marital status, or hobbies unless they’re directly relevant to the role. Focus on what adds value, such as relevant certifications or industry-related projects.?

5. Don’t forget to proofread! ?

Proofread your CV multiple times and consider using spell-check tools like Grammarly. Even a minor error?can reflect poorly on your attention to detail?and lead to missed opportunities.?

These lists could go on—there are countless CV mistakes and missed opportunities that can hold you back from landing your next role. However, these are the most common that we encounter.

If you need guidance with a particular challenge in your CV, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our experts.

We can provide tailored advice to ensure your CV stands out in the competitive Financial and Technology sectors.

Browse our latest opportunities here.

Click here for our 2024 Salary and Market Trends Guide??

Click here for our Leadership Handbook?