How to Write a CV in 2026

Updated March 2026 · 7 min read

Most CVs are rejected in under 10 seconds — not because the person isn't qualified, but because the CV makes it hard to see that they are. This guide covers the things that actually matter.

1. Structure

Keep it in this order — recruiters expect it and scan for it:

1. Name & contact details — email, phone, LinkedIn, city
2. Professional summary — 2-3 sentences, who you are and your strongest asset
3. Work experience — most recent first
4. Education — most recent first
5. Skills — relevant tools, technologies, languages
6. Optional: certifications, volunteering, side projects

2. Write a Summary That Actually Says Something

This is the first thing a recruiter reads. Don't waste it.

Weak: "Motivated software engineer looking for new opportunities."
Strong: "Backend engineer with 6 years building high-traffic APIs in .NET and Go. Led a team that cut checkout latency by 40% at a fintech serving 2M users."

The difference: the second one tells you something real. Write yours the same way.

3. Make Bullets Count

Every bullet should follow: Action → Task → Result.

• ❌ "Responsible for managing the deployment process"
• ✅ "Automated deployment pipeline, cutting release time from 4 hours to 20 minutes"

Numbers make claims credible. Percentages, team sizes, revenue, users — add them wherever they're honest.

4. Tailor It to the Job

One CV for every application rarely works well. Read the job description, find the keywords they use, and make sure your CV reflects them naturally. This matters especially for ATS screening — the automated filters many companies use before a human sees your application.

5. Formatting

Do:

• Single column layout — cleaner and ATS-safe
• Clean font at 10-12pt (Calibri, Arial, Inter)
• Consistent spacing and date formats throughout
• Save as PDF unless the posting says otherwise

Don't:

• Tables or text boxes — ATS systems often can't read them
• Graphics, icons, skill bars — they add noise, not signal
• Important info in headers/footers — some ATS ignores these entirely

6. Common Mistakes

• Listing duties instead of achievements — show impact, not just tasks
• Generic objective statements — replace with a targeted summary
• Wrong contact details — happens more than you'd think. Double check.
• Typos — read it out loud, then get someone else to read it too