20 CV Tips to Get More Interviews in 2026
Most CVs fail for the same reasons. Here are 20 fixes — ordered by impact.
Content
1
Tailor it for every applicationThe single biggest lever. Read the job description, find the keywords, mirror them naturally in your CV. One generic CV sent everywhere converts badly.
2
Quantify everything you can"Improved performance by 40%" beats "improved performance." Numbers make claims believable. Add them wherever they're honest.
3
Lead with a strong summaryTwo to three sentences at the top. Not "motivated team player" — something specific that makes a recruiter want to keep reading.
4
Start bullets with action verbsLed, Built, Reduced, Launched, Designed. Avoid "Responsible for" and "Helped with" — they bury the actual achievement.
5
Show progressionPromotions, growing team sizes, expanded responsibilities — these signal growth. Make them visible rather than burying them in job descriptions.
6
Cut irrelevant experienceJobs older than 10-15 years usually don't add value. Summarise or remove. The space is better used elsewhere.
7
Don't list obvious skills"Microsoft Word" and "email" aren't worth a line. Use the skills section for things that actually differentiate you.
8
Include a skills sectionA dedicated section helps ATS systems find your keywords. List relevant tools, technologies, and methodologies.
Formatting
9
Keep it to 1-2 pagesOne page for under 5 years experience, two pages for more. If you're padding to fill space or shrinking fonts to fit, something's wrong.
10
Use a single column layoutTwo-column CVs look clean but get scrambled by ATS parsing. Single column is safer for applications to larger companies.
11
Be consistent throughoutSame font, same spacing, same date format everywhere. Inconsistency reads as careless.
12
Use white spaceDense text doesn't get read. Spacing between sections makes the document scannable.
13
Save as PDFUnless told otherwise. PDFs render the same everywhere — Word docs can reformat unexpectedly on different machines.
14
Name the file properly"FirstName_LastName_CV.pdf" not "CV_FINAL_v3.pdf." Small thing, signals professionalism.
Mistakes to Avoid
15
Check your contact detailsA typo in your email address means no one can reach you. Happens more than you'd think. Double-check before every application.
16
Know the photo rule for your marketUK and US — no photo. Iceland, Germany, and much of Europe — a professional photo is standard. See our CV vs Resume guide for country conventions.
17
Don't list referencesIt's assumed you have them. "References available on request" wastes space. Leave it out entirely.
18
Proofread out loudReading aloud catches errors your eyes skip over. Then get someone else to read it too.
Modern Touches
19
Add your LinkedIn URLMake sure your LinkedIn is up to date and consistent with your CV. Recruiters will check it — treat it as an extension of your application.
20
Run it through an AI checkerFresh eyes catch what you've stopped seeing. AI tools spot keyword gaps, weak bullets, and ATS issues after you've been staring at the same document for hours.
See how your CV scores
Get specific, actionable feedback on exactly what to fix — in about 15 seconds.
⚡ Score My CV Free →