The Do’s and Don’ts of CV Writing

Writing a good CV can sometimes feel harder than it should.

You know your own career history, but turning years of experience into a document that is clear, relevant and interesting to a potential employer is another matter entirely.

The good news is that your CV doesn't need to be complicated. In fact, some of the best CVs are relatively straightforward. They make it easy for the reader to understand what you've done, what you're good at and why your experience could be relevant to the role.

When you're writing or updating your CV, there are a few simple rules worth keeping in mind.

The Do's

1. Make the reader's job easy

Recruiters and employers are busy people. When they first receive your CV, they're unlikely to sit down and read every word from beginning to end.

They'll usually scan it first, looking for information that's relevant to the role.

That's why your CV should be easy to read and easy to navigate. Don't make the reader work to find your job titles, employment history, key skills or achievements.

Use clear headings, sensible formatting and concise descriptions. Put the most relevant information where it is easy to find and avoid filling the document with unnecessary detail.

You also shouldn't expect an employer to "read between the lines". If you achieved something worthwhile, explain it. If you have experience that's directly relevant to the role, make that clear.

2. Tailor your CV for the job

One of the biggest CV mistakes is sending exactly the same document for every job.

Your career history doesn't change, but the way you present it can.

Read the job advertisement and think about what the employer is actually looking for. Which parts of your experience are most relevant? Which skills should be more prominent? Are there particular responsibilities, qualifications or areas of expertise mentioned in the advertisement that you can demonstrate?

You don't need to completely rewrite your CV every time you apply for a job, but you should make sure the document reflects the particular opportunity.

A hiring manager should be able to look at your CV and quickly understand why your background is relevant to their role.

3. Be honest

This one should be fairly obvious, but it's worth saying: don't lie on your CV.

It can be tempting to exaggerate a job title, claim responsibility for something you didn't actually do or make your experience sound more impressive than it was.

The problem is that you may have to explain those claims later.

You could be asked about something during an interview, have your qualifications checked or find yourself in a position where you're expected to perform a task you've claimed to have experience in.

It's perfectly fine to present your experience in the best possible light. That's what a CV is for. But there is a big difference between presenting your strengths confidently and making things up.

The Don'ts

1. Don't include unnecessary personal information

Your CV should focus on your professional experience and suitability for the role.

There is generally no need to include information such as your marital status, health information or other personal details that aren't relevant to your ability to do the job.

Likewise, salary information normally doesn't belong on your CV unless an employer has specifically asked for it.

Your CV isn't the place to provide your entire personal history. Keep the focus on your career.

2. Don't include reasons for leaving previous jobs

You generally don't need to explain why you left every previous position on your CV.

There may be perfectly good reasons for leaving a role — perhaps you wanted career progression, the position was made redundant, you relocated or simply wanted a new challenge.

Those conversations can happen during the recruitment process if they're relevant.

Your CV should focus on what you did in each position and what you achieved, rather than becoming a running commentary on why you moved from one employer to another.

3. Don't use negative language

Even if you've had a difficult experience with a previous employer, your CV isn't the place to vent about it.

Avoid phrases that make you sound bitter, frustrated or negative about previous workplaces, managers or colleagues.

Instead of focusing on what went wrong, concentrate on what you learned, what you contributed and what you achieved.

This doesn't mean pretending every job you've ever had was perfect. It simply means keeping your CV professional.

4. Don't fill your CV with unexplained jargon

ndustry terminology can be useful when it's relevant to the role you're applying for. In fact, using the right terminology can help demonstrate your knowledge and experience.

The problem comes when your CV is packed with acronyms and technical language that the person reading it may not understand.

If you use an acronym, consider writing it out the first time you mention it.

For example, instead of assuming everyone knows what a particular system, qualification or industry term means, spell it out first and then use the abbreviation afterwards if necessary.

Remember that your CV may initially be reviewed by someone in recruitment or HR rather than someone who works directly in your profession.

5. Don't use "etc."

"Etc." can make a CV sound unfinished.

If you have a list of skills, responsibilities or systems you've worked with, think about what is actually worth mentioning and include the relevant examples.

Rather than writing:

"Responsible for reporting, stakeholder management, administration, etc."

be specific about what you actually did.

Specific information is much more useful to an employer than a vague list followed by "etc.".

6. Don't let your formatting get in the way

Your CV should flow logically.

Try not to have a heading sitting at the bottom of one page with all of its information pushed onto the next page. Similarly, avoid awkward page breaks that split a section unnecessarily.

Good formatting makes the document feel considered and professional.

That said, don't become obsessed with forcing everything onto one or two pages if it means making the font tiny or cramming information into every available space.

The goal is a CV that is comfortable to read, not one that wins a competition for the smallest margins.

7. Don't overdo the design

This is one area where CV advice has changed over time.

There's nothing wrong with having a modern-looking CV, and there's certainly nothing wrong with using a small amount of colour. A subtle colour for headings or design elements can help make the document look polished and easier to navigate.

The problem is when the design becomes more important than the content.

You generally don't need bright backgrounds, multiple colours, excessive graphics, decorative borders, large photographs or gimmicks to make your CV stand out.

A clean layout, sensible typography and perhaps one or two complementary colours can be more than enough.

Remember, your CV is ultimately a professional document. The design should help the reader understand your experience, not distract them from it.

8. Don't leave spelling and grammar until the last minute

A spelling mistake doesn't necessarily mean you're a bad candidate, but several obvious errors can make your CV look rushed.

Once you've spent hours writing your CV, it's surprisingly easy to stop noticing mistakes because you know what the sentence is supposed to say.

Read through it carefully. Then read it again.

It can also help to ask someone else to proofread it because a fresh pair of eyes will often pick up things you've missed.

And don't rely entirely on spellcheck. Spellcheck can identify misspelled words, but it won't necessarily tell you when you've used the wrong word or written something that doesn't make sense.

Your CV doesn't need to be complicated

There is a lot of CV advice available online, and sometimes it can make the process seem far more complicated than it really is.

You don't need a CV packed with graphics, buzzwords and complicated formatting.

You need a document that clearly communicates your experience and makes it easy for an employer to understand what you could bring to their organisation.

Keep it relevant. Keep it honest. Make it easy to read and tailor it to the role you're applying for.

And perhaps most importantly, remember that your CV is there to open the door to a conversation. It doesn't need to tell your entire career story. It needs to give the employer enough relevant information to make them want to find out more.