How to Write a CV: A Complete, Step-by-Step Guide

1. Start with contact details and a clear headline

At the very top, put your name, a professional email address, a phone number, and your city. A link to a portfolio, LinkedIn profile, or — if you publish one — a public CV page is a strong addition. You do not need a full postal address, date of birth, or a photo for most markets; they take up space and can invite bias.

Directly under your name, add a one-line headline that states the role you are targeting, for example 'Frontend Engineer · React & TypeScript' or 'Registered Nurse · Critical Care'. This orients the reader in a single glance.

2. Write a short professional summary

A summary is three to four lines that answer: who you are, what you are strong at, and what you are looking for. Avoid generic phrases like 'hard-working team player'. Instead, lead with measurable scope: years of experience, the size of teams or budgets you have handled, and the kind of problems you solve.

Treat the summary as a trailer, not the whole film. If a recruiter only reads this paragraph, they should still understand your value.

3. Make experience the centre of gravity

List your work history in reverse-chronological order — most recent first. For each role include the job title, organisation, location, and dates. Then, instead of describing duties, describe outcomes.

The strongest bullet points follow a simple shape: action verb, what you did, and the result. 'Rebuilt the checkout flow, cutting drop-off by 18% over one quarter' tells a recruiter far more than 'Responsible for the checkout flow.' Quantify wherever you honestly can — percentages, time saved, revenue, headcount, volume.

• Lead each bullet with a strong verb: built, led, reduced, launched, negotiated, automated.
• Keep bullets to one or two lines — readers skim, they do not study.
• Put the most impressive bullet first under each role.

4. Add education, skills, and the supporting sections

Below experience, list education with the qualification, institution, and year. Early-career applicants can place education higher and include relevant coursework or projects; experienced professionals can keep it brief.

A focused skills section helps both human readers and automated screening. Group skills meaningfully — for example languages, tools, and certifications — and only list what you can actually discuss in an interview.

5. Get the length and format right

For most people, one to two pages is the right length. A single page is ideal early in your career; two pages is acceptable once you have a decade of relevant history. Three pages is rarely justified outside academia and senior research roles.

Use consistent spacing, a readable font size, and clear section headings. A clean, well-structured template removes the guesswork here — which is exactly what SnapMyCV's editorial templates are built for.

6. Proofread, then tailor

Typos signal carelessness. Read your CV aloud, then ask one other person to check it. Finally — and this is the step most applicants skip — tailor it to each role. Mirror the language of the job description where it honestly applies, and move the most relevant experience to the top.

A tailored, error-free, two-page CV beats a generic five-page one every time.