Guides
Practical, specific and tested against real CVs: what to write, what to cut, and what changes from country to country. Each guide links into the builder with a matching template or example.
Basics
What a CV is, how long it should be and what goes on it, country by country.
CV vs résumé: what's the difference?The same document has different names, lengths and rules depending on where you apply. Here is how to tell which one an employer expects.
How long should a CV be? Typical length by countryPage-count conventions by country and career stage, and a simple way to decide what to cut.
Should you put a photo on your CV?Photos are normal in some countries and a liability in others. A country-by-country answer, plus how to take a good one if you need it.
Personal details on a CV: what to include and what to leave offName, contact details and location are universal. Date of birth, nationality and marital status depend on the country, and in the US and UK they usually stay off.
A4 or US Letter: which paper size should your CV use?Use US Letter for the US and Canada, A4 almost everywhere else, and check the print dialog matches before you save.
How to save your CV as a PDF (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, phones)Every modern browser can save a clean, text-based PDF from its print dialog. These are the exact settings to check, browser by browser.
Writing
Turning duties into achievements, with before-and-after rewrites.
How to write achievement bullets on a CVTurn duty lists into achievement bullets with one repeatable pattern and eight worked rewrites.
How to quantify achievements on a CV (even without obvious numbers)Six places to find numbers for your CV, and how to estimate honestly when nobody measured.
Action verbs for your CV, by fieldHow to pick the right opening verb, plus curated lists with example bullets for 13 fields.
How to write a CV summary (personal profile or statement)A three-sentence formula for the summary at the top of your CV, with five examples and a list of what to cut.
CV clichés and buzzwords, and what to write insteadA replacement table for the phrases every recruiter has read a thousand times.
Tense and pronouns on a CV: I, me, present or past?Present tense for what you do now, past tense for what you did, and usually no "I".
How to write dates on a CVPick one date format, use it everywhere, and know when year-only is fine.
Section by section
What to put in each part of the CV, and in what order.
CV section order and headings that ATS software recognisesUse plain, standard headings and put your strongest evidence first. Three ready-made orders for different situations.
How to write the work experience section of your CVA repeatable format for every role: a clear header line, a one-line context, and three to six bullets that show results.
How to write the education section of your CVGraduates should give education room and detail; experienced applicants can shrink it to one line per qualification. Here is what goes in at each stage.
How to write the skills section of your CVA short, grouped list of specific skills, backed up by evidence in your experience bullets. No rating bars, no percentages, no filler.
How to write a projects section on your CVA projects section turns things you have built or led into evidence. Use a fixed format: what it was, what you did, what happened.
Certifications and languages on a CV (with CEFR levels explained)List certifications with issuer and date, and describe languages with a recognised scale such as CEFR rather than 'fluent' or 'conversational'.
Hobbies, interests and references on a CVInclude interests only when they add evidence or a conversation starter. Leave references off unless the employer asks for them.
Applicant tracking systems
What the software actually does, and the formatting that trips it up.
What an applicant tracking system (ATS) actually doesAn ATS is a database and workflow tool for recruiters, not a robot that secretly bins most CVs.
ATS formatting pitfalls, and a two-minute test for your CVNine layout habits that scramble parsed CVs, and how to test yours in two minutes.
How to use job ad keywords in your CV (honestly)Read the ad like a recruiter, then use its words for the things you have really done.
How to tailor your CV for each job (without rewriting it)One master CV, one tailored copy per application: reorder, hide, reword.
CV checklist: 35 checks before you send itConcrete checks to run on your CV before every application, grouped so you can work through them in 15 minutes.
Situations
Gaps, career changes, first jobs, long careers, academia and Europe.
How to explain a career gap on your CVName the gap in one line, say what you did, and move on: example entries and interview answers for common reasons.
Writing a CV for a career changeMake the move make sense: a summary that explains it, evidence first, and your old job rewritten in the new field's terms.
How to write a graduate CVEducation first, then projects, part-time work and societies, each written as evidence of what the employer wants.
Returning to work after a break: your CVLead with your strongest experience, show the break in one line, and add recent evidence that you're up to date.
The one-page résumé: when to use it and how to cutOne page is the US norm for early-career résumés; here's when two is fine and the order to cut in.
How to write an academic CVA complete, well-ordered record of your research, funding, teaching and service, with every citation in one consistent style.
Writing a CV after a long careerDetail for the last 10 to 15 years, one-liners for earlier roles, and no dates that do no work.
CVs for freelancers and contractorsGroup short contracts under one heading, describe clients you can't name, and make it obvious which roles were contracts.
CV conventions in Europe, country by countryPhotos, personal details, signatures and length vary across Europe; here's what's commonly expected in each country, and how it's changing.