A CV is your personal calling card. It is often the first impression a potential employer gets of you, and in most markets it is the core application document. That is why your CV has to be professional, clearly structured and scannable in seconds. In this guide you will learn how to build a convincing CV, which conventions change from market to market, and what to check before you hit send.
The Basic Structure
A professional CV follows a clear structure that lets recruiters grasp the most important information quickly. These core sections cover most markets and most roles:
1. Contact Details
Name, city and country, phone number, email and a link to a professional profile. Important: the email address should be professional (e.g. firstname.lastname@email.com). Keep personal data to what the market expects – in many countries date of birth, marital status and national ID numbers must never appear on a CV at all.
2. Work Experience
List your professional positions in reverse chronological order (most recent position first). For each one give the company, job title, location, time period and your main responsibilities, and describe your achievements with numbers wherever you can.
3. Education
Degrees, school qualifications and vocational training – likewise in reverse order. Mention any distinctions, relevant areas of focus and the country-specific licences or credentials that the posting actually asks for.
4. Skills, Languages & Certifications
Languages, IT skills, soft skills, certifications and, for roles abroad, any work authorization that is relevant. Assess your skills honestly (e.g. basic, advanced, fluent) and mirror the wording of the job advert.
Important Tips for Your CV
✓ Clarity
Keep one single-column layout with standard headings, plenty of white space and an easy-to-read font. Aim for one page at the start of your career and two as the international default – up to three only if your experience genuinely needs the space.
✓ Relevance
Tailor your CV to the specific position and mirror the keywords of the job advert, so a recruiter and any software screening the file both see the match immediately.
✓ Up-to-dateness
Always keep your CV up to date with new qualifications and experience, and check the conventions of the market you are applying in before you send, because spelling, photo use and covering letters differ from place to place.
✓ Honesty
Provide only truthful information. Exaggerations or false statements are quickly exposed and ruin your chances.
Avoid Common Mistakes
Spelling mistakes
Always have your CV proofread. Spelling and grammar errors leave a very unprofessional impression. Use the spelling convention of the market – British or American English – and keep it consistent throughout the document.
Failing to explain gaps
Larger gaps in your CV should be communicated transparently. Parental leave, further training or a sabbatical are perfectly legitimate reasons.
The wrong photo decision
Photo conventions differ sharply between markets, so find out what is expected where you are applying. Where a photo is welcome it should be professional; where it is discouraged or banned, leaving it out is safer than sending a holiday snap or a selfie.
Too much detail
Focus on what matters. Hobbies are optional and belong on the CV only if they are relevant to the position or underline your personality. Leave out anything the recruiter does not need.
Design and Layout
The design of your CV should match your industry: a little more expressive for creative professions, classic and restrained for conservative fields such as finance and law. Pick the paper size the market expects too – A4 in most countries, Letter in North America – and choose a template that matches it, so your print and PDF layout stays intact. If you apply abroad, remember that local recruiters read local conventions and that a translated CV may be required.
Our template recommendations:
- Modern & Professional: For applications in IT, consulting and start-ups
- Classic & Elegant: For positions in banks, insurance companies and public institutions
- Creative & Artistic: For applications in design, marketing and media
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Use action verbs
Begin your task descriptions with strong verbs such as "developed", "led", "optimised" or "implemented". This makes your achievements more tangible and demonstrates initiative.
Quantify your achievements
Numbers and facts are convincing. Instead of "increased sales figures", write "increased sales figures by 35% within 6 months".
Keywords for ATS systems
Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS). Incorporate the relevant keywords from the job advert into your CV to get past the automatic pre-selection, and keep the layout single-column with standard headings so the software can read it.
Use PDF format
Always send your CV as a PDF. This ensures that the formatting is displayed correctly on every device and that the recruiter sees your CV exactly as you designed it.
Should your CV include a photo?
This is one of the biggest differences between markets. Some markets expect a professional application photo, while many others – including most English-speaking markets – discourage or even ban photos so that hiring stays free of bias. Check the convention where you are applying before you add one. If a photo is expected, have it taken by a photographer and place it in the header next to your personal details.
- Format: portrait, high resolution, consistent across every application
- Background: neutral and calm, with good lighting
- Clothing & expression: appropriate to the job and industry, friendly and confident
Frequently asked questions about CVs
How long should a CV be?
Length depends on the market and on your seniority. One page is standard for an early career, two pages is the international default, and up to three pages only make sense with extensive, relevant experience. Every entry should add value to the application.
What belongs in a CV?
The core sections are contact details, a short professional summary or objective, work experience, education, skills, languages and certifications. Optional extras include volunteering and role-relevant interests. Leave out anything that does not help the recruiter grasp the essentials quickly.
How do I create a CV online?
With CVwerk you choose a CV template, enter your data and adjust the design, colours and font in the live preview. Creating and previewing are free; you get the finished Premium PDF without a watermark for a one-time payment – no subscription.
Which format is best for a CV?
Always send your CV as a PDF, so the layout stays intact on every device and the recruiter sees the document exactly as you designed it. Also match the paper size to the market you are applying in – A4 in most countries and Letter in North America – so nothing shifts when the file is printed.