Original AI-generated editorial illustration. Fictional people.
Start with the advert
Read the duties, essential qualifications and application instructions before editing your CV. Make a short checklist. If the employer requests a particular format or documents, follow those instructions. Do not claim a qualification you are still working towards as completed.
Make the first page useful
Put your name, a working phone number and a professional email address at the top. Add a short summary connected to this role, rather than a general paragraph about wanting any job. State your location accurately. Include a portfolio or professional profile only when it supports the application.
Show evidence, not a list of adjectives
For each job or project, write what you did, the tools you used and the result. For example: maintained a spreadsheet of stock movements and checked differences against delivery records. Add numbers only when you can support them. Coursework, volunteering and practical training can provide evidence when you have limited paid experience.
Keep qualifications accurate
List the course, institution and completion year. Separate completed qualifications from studies in progress. Use the qualification name on your certificate. Do not assume that a short course is equivalent to a formal qualification required in the advert.
Check the file you will send
Open the final file on a phone as well as a computer. Check spelling, contact details and whether text can be selected. Use a clear filename such as your name plus CV. Send the file type and attachments requested by the employer. Keep a copy of the exact version submitted.
