Your CV and Cover Letter: First Impressions Matter

Your CV and Cover Letter: First Impressions Matter

Your CV and cover letter are your first opportunities to make a strong impression on potential employers. This is your chance to showcase your skills, experience, and achievements. While there’s no universal template for the perfect CV, it should always be clearly structured and concise enough for quick review by hiring managers.

We recommend keeping your CV to 2-3 pages. There are some caveats to this; for example, contract professionals with extensive experience may need a fourth page. Most importantly, tailor your CV to the specific role you’re applying for, making sure to use relevant keywords throughout.

In today’s competitive job market, having an eye-catching and well-structured CV is more important than ever. Here are our top tips for creating a standout CV:

1. Tailor Your CV to the Role and Industry

To stand out from the crowd, it’s essential to customise your CV for each job you apply to. Incorporate keywords and phrases from the job description to highlight your most relevant qualifications.

Using a generic CV can dilute what makes you unique. Tailoring your CV for every role might take a bit more time, but it’s worth it. For example, if you’re applying for an accounting role, focus on your experience with finance, auditing, or data analysis, and be sure to quantify your impact in previous positions by using numbers and metrics.

We also recommend updating your CV every 6 to 12 months to reflect any new accomplishments, job roles, or skills.

2. What to Include in Your CV

Although there’s no single “perfect” layout, a strong CV typically includes the following sections:

  • Contact Information
  • Professional Summary: A paragraph overview of your professional value, key achievements, and why you’re a great fit for the role.
  • Skills
  • Work Experience: Highlight both your responsibilities and key achievements, making sure to use job-specific keywords.
  • Education
  • Additional Information

Always double-check that your contact details are accurate to ensure you don’t miss any opportunities. The education section should reflect the relevance of your qualifications to the industry and your level of experience, rather than simply listing every academic credential.

3. Presentation Matters

Your CV should be visually appealing and easy to read. Use a clean, professional font such as Arial or Calibri, at least 10pt in size. Be sure to leave enough white space between sections for readability. Avoid using overly complicated designs or flashy themes—simplicity and clarity are key.

For optimal presentation, save your CV as a Word document or PDF, and rename the file using your name and “CV” for easy identification (e.g., Jane_Doe_CV.pdf).

By following these guidelines—along with your experience and strong writing skills—you’ll create a professional, effective CV that stands out to recruiters.


Get in touch for a professional CV with one of our trained professionals. Or need more tips on improving your CV? Subscribe to our newsletter for regular career advice, or contact us for a personalised CV review!

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