How to Write a CV That Actually Gets Interviews (Free Template)

Category: Career | Read time: 5 min

Your CV isn't getting you interviews? It's probably not because you're unqualified. It's because your CV doesn't speak the language that recruiters and ATS systems are looking for.

The Hard Truth

Recruiters spend 6-8 seconds on your CV. Six seconds. If they can't immediately see what you do, what you've achieved, and why you're relevant — you're in the no pile.

The Format That Works

One page. Always. Unless you have 15+ years of experience, one page.

Header

Your name. Phone number. Email. LinkedIn URL. City and state (no full address). That's it.

Professional Summary (3 lines max)

Not an objective. Not "I am a hardworking individual seeking opportunities." Nobody cares.

Instead: "[Your role] with [X years] experience in [key skill]. Known for [specific achievement]. Looking to [what you want to do next]."

Example: "Operations coordinator with 4 years in retail management. Reduced stock loss by 23% through process improvements. Transitioning into project management."

Experience (Most Recent First)

Job title — Company — Dates

Then 3-4 bullet points per role. Each one follows this formula: [Action verb] + [what you did] + [measurable result]

Bad: "Responsible for managing the team" Good: "Managed a team of 8, reducing staff turnover by 30% through structured onboarding"

Bad: "Helped with customer service" Good: "Resolved 50+ customer issues weekly with a 95% satisfaction rating"

Numbers. Always numbers. If you don't have exact numbers, estimate honestly.

Skills

A simple list of relevant skills. Match these to the job description. If the job says "Excel," your CV says "Excel." If it says "project management," yours says "project management." This is how you beat ATS filters.

Education

Degree, institution, year. If you don't have a degree, list relevant courses, certifications, or training instead. No one cares about your GCSEs.

The Mistakes That Kill Your CV

1. Generic objective statements — delete them
2. Listing duties instead of achievements — "responsible for" is a red flag
3. Fancy designs — ATS systems can't read columns, graphics, or unusual fonts. Use a clean, simple layout.
4. Typos — one typo and you're done. Read it out loud. Get someone else to read it.
5. Including everything — your paper round at 15 is not relevant. Only include what matters for THIS job.

The Cover Letter (Keep It Short)

Three paragraphs:
1. Why you're writing (which job, where you saw it)
2. Why you're a good fit (2-3 specific examples that match the job description)
3. What you want to happen next ("I'd welcome the chance to discuss how I can contribute")

That's it. Half a page max.

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