<\/p>\n
Our CV Format 6 Step Guide:<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
1) Decrease Your CV Page Margins<\/strong><\/h3>\nWhen it comes to CVs (curriculum vitae) one page is ideal however, two pages is fine as long as everything on it is relevant. This means it important that we make the most of the pages and minimize blank space. Minimizing your CV page margins will allow you to fill more of the page with compelling content to encourage the employer \/ recruiter to invite you to a job interview.<\/p>\n
The top of your CV is particularly important as it\u2019s the first part they\u2019ll see, and some recruiters will even skip your CV without scrolling down if they don\u2019t see enough of what they want at the top! The CV below is an example of a bad margin at the top. Take a look and see the effect it has on you \u2013 none of the important information is available at the top.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cxk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/1.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Whereas if you decrease the margin you can show important information from the very beginning, and fit more onto the page in general. Important information like your current \/ most recent job role or core skills should be visible straight away so recruiters can see what you\u2019re capable of. Below is an example of a CV with decreased margins, and exactly how you can decrease them yourself!<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cxk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/2.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n2) Minimise Contact Details \u2013 Keep it Simple<\/strong><\/h3>\nIt\u2019s easy to think that the more contact details you add, \u00a0the better off you are. Wrong!<\/p>\n
Contact details can take up so much space. Not only do they take up the real estate they\u2019re on, but they also leave a lot of empty white space to the side of them too. This can be really damaging as it\u2019s pushing down important content, and hiding what might be crucial to securing your interview.<\/p>\n
Recruiters don\u2019t need your date of birth, social media account, full address etc \u2013 this is too much information on CV. Below is an example of how this might look and the effect it has on your formatting.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cxk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/3.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
All you need is your name, mobile number and email address. You can provide additional information if it\u2019s relevant to the role<\/strong>, but only if it\u2019s relevant. For example if the role is in the middle of no where and they\u2019re after someone who lives nearby, you could add the town or county you live in and that you have a driving license.<\/p>\nRemember it\u2019s best to adapt the content in your CV for every single application, the same can be said for formatting too.<\/em><\/p>\nBelow is an example of how less contact details can drastically improve your formatting.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cxk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/4.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBonus Tip:<\/strong> I\u2019ve used a table to spread my contact details across the top of my CV, minimising blank space even further!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
3) Divide Your CV into Clear Sections<\/strong><\/h3>\nClear headers for each of your CV’s sections are vital in order to ensure it\u2019s easy to read. Really it\u2019s simple, if your CV is easy to read, recruiters \/ employers will like your CV more. However, one exception to this rule is your personal profile. Don\u2019t get me wrong, it looks fine if you give it a heading but, I believe your name can be seen as a heading for this section.<\/p>\n
The next 2 headings could be Skills and Work Experience. The actual wording may differ dependent on your CV, and you might put career summary, employment history, experience, etc instead of work experience. This is fine, make your CV<\/strong> feel like it\u2019s your CV<\/strong>. Just make sure whatever content you choose to include has a clear header \u2013 1 or 2 font sizes bigger and bold.<\/p>\nBelow is an example of the first few sections with clear headers, look at how it divides all of the sections clearly.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cxk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBonus Tip:<\/strong> I\u2019ve chosen to use borders\u00a0 to make the different sections even clearer. This isn\u2019t a must do, but it\u2019s a stylistic choice you could explore.<\/em><\/p>\nYour CV should also use subheadings, a good example is for your job titles which would be a subheading within your work experience heading. Sub headings should be bold and can be bigger than your main text but, make sure its smaller than your main headings. Just like the example below.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cxk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/6.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
4) Bullet Points in Your CV Work Experience Descriptions<\/strong><\/h3>\nRemember, the golden rule is to make your CV as easy as possible to read because the recruiter \/ employer have potentially sifted through hundreds of CVs already. You want to STAND OUT<\/strong> from the crowd.<\/p>\nWith that said, one way to do so is with bullet points in your work experience descriptions. Big messy paragraphs are time consuming, hard to read, and just make the recruiter \/ employer reluctant to read them. Take a look at the bad examples below.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cxk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/7.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
By breaking your description into short bullet points you\u2019re making it much easier to consume, so your important skills can be picked out with speed.<\/p>\n
The example below contains the exact same content as the example above but, see how much easier and quicker <\/strong>it is to read though, thanks to the bullet points.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cxk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/8.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n5) Tidy CV Page Splits<\/strong><\/h3>\nIf your CV is multiple pages long (remember we suggest 2 pages maximum), the pages will be split and read separate to each other.<\/p>\n
Therefor it\u2019s important your sections don\u2019t spill across multiple pages. Look at the bad example below.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cxk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/9.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThis looks untidy and might cause the recruiter \/ employer to doubt your ability. Luckily, you can easily split this by just moving the section across to the next page. See the example below.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cxk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/10.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
6) Save Your CV as a PDF Document to Retain the CV Format<\/strong><\/h3>\nFirstly it\u2019s important to note that you should create your CV in a word processing programme such as Microsoft Word of Google Docs \u2013 both of which have free online versions. Make sure you save a copy for yourself in this format so you can continue to update your CV in the future.<\/p>\n
But, if you submit a Microsoft Word CV and it\u2019s opened in Google Docs, the formatting and spacing you\u2019ve worked so hard on can change. The same can be said the other way round too. That’s why it\u2019s important your final CV submission is saved as a PDF file. This is vital because it means the CV formatting cannot be changed and when recruiters \/ employers open your CV, it will look the same as when you open it.<\/p>\n
Make sure you name your CV appropriately \u2013 FirstName LastName CV. Firstly this makes it look more professional but, it also makes it easier for the recruiter \/ employer to search for your CV too. Remember we want to make your CV as easy and quick as possible for them to consume!<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cxk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/11.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
CV Format Conclusion & CV Templates<\/strong><\/h3>\nA well formatted CV will help you to secure more interviews, which is exactly why we\u2019ve put together two templates for you to choose from. You can download CV Template 1 here<\/a>, or our CV Template 2 here<\/a>, and we also suggest our full CV Guide<\/a> which has examples of both templates<\/strong>.<\/p>\nEveryone\u2019s CV should look and feel different, so try out both versions and see which CV format works best for you.<\/p>\n
So if there\u2019s only one thing you take away from this blog, it\u2019s that you need to make your CV as easy as possible for the employer \/ recruiter to consume, and that the CV’s format matters just as much as the content does. This is also relevant to any cover letters you write too, so we\u2019ve also explained how to write a cover letter<\/a><\/strong> in this blog.<\/p>\nGood luck with your job search!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The\u00a0National Careers Service<\/a>\u00a0offers free advice about careers and skills to anyone aged 13 or over and living in England. To speak to a professional careers adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use\u00a0webchat<\/a>\u00a0(8am \u2013 8pm Monday \u2013 Friday; 10am \u2013 5pm Saturday)<\/em><\/p>\n
When it comes to CVs (curriculum vitae) one page is ideal however, two pages is fine as long as everything on it is relevant. This means it important that we make the most of the pages and minimize blank space. Minimizing your CV page margins will allow you to fill more of the page with compelling content to encourage the employer \/ recruiter to invite you to a job interview.<\/p>\n
The top of your CV is particularly important as it\u2019s the first part they\u2019ll see, and some recruiters will even skip your CV without scrolling down if they don\u2019t see enough of what they want at the top! The CV below is an example of a bad margin at the top. Take a look and see the effect it has on you \u2013 none of the important information is available at the top.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Whereas if you decrease the margin you can show important information from the very beginning, and fit more onto the page in general. Important information like your current \/ most recent job role or core skills should be visible straight away so recruiters can see what you\u2019re capable of. Below is an example of a CV with decreased margins, and exactly how you can decrease them yourself!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to think that the more contact details you add, \u00a0the better off you are. Wrong!<\/p>\n Contact details can take up so much space. Not only do they take up the real estate they\u2019re on, but they also leave a lot of empty white space to the side of them too. This can be really damaging as it\u2019s pushing down important content, and hiding what might be crucial to securing your interview.<\/p>\n Recruiters don\u2019t need your date of birth, social media account, full address etc \u2013 this is too much information on CV. Below is an example of how this might look and the effect it has on your formatting.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n All you need is your name, mobile number and email address. You can provide additional information if it\u2019s relevant to the role<\/strong>, but only if it\u2019s relevant. For example if the role is in the middle of no where and they\u2019re after someone who lives nearby, you could add the town or county you live in and that you have a driving license.<\/p>\n Remember it\u2019s best to adapt the content in your CV for every single application, the same can be said for formatting too.<\/em><\/p>\n Below is an example of how less contact details can drastically improve your formatting.<\/p>\n Bonus Tip:<\/strong> I\u2019ve used a table to spread my contact details across the top of my CV, minimising blank space even further!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Clear headers for each of your CV’s sections are vital in order to ensure it\u2019s easy to read. Really it\u2019s simple, if your CV is easy to read, recruiters \/ employers will like your CV more. However, one exception to this rule is your personal profile. Don\u2019t get me wrong, it looks fine if you give it a heading but, I believe your name can be seen as a heading for this section.<\/p>\n The next 2 headings could be Skills and Work Experience. The actual wording may differ dependent on your CV, and you might put career summary, employment history, experience, etc instead of work experience. This is fine, make your CV<\/strong> feel like it\u2019s your CV<\/strong>. Just make sure whatever content you choose to include has a clear header \u2013 1 or 2 font sizes bigger and bold.<\/p>\n Below is an example of the first few sections with clear headers, look at how it divides all of the sections clearly.<\/p>\n Bonus Tip:<\/strong> I\u2019ve chosen to use borders\u00a0 to make the different sections even clearer. This isn\u2019t a must do, but it\u2019s a stylistic choice you could explore.<\/em><\/p>\n Your CV should also use subheadings, a good example is for your job titles which would be a subheading within your work experience heading. Sub headings should be bold and can be bigger than your main text but, make sure its smaller than your main headings. Just like the example below.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Remember, the golden rule is to make your CV as easy as possible to read because the recruiter \/ employer have potentially sifted through hundreds of CVs already. You want to STAND OUT<\/strong> from the crowd.<\/p>\n With that said, one way to do so is with bullet points in your work experience descriptions. Big messy paragraphs are time consuming, hard to read, and just make the recruiter \/ employer reluctant to read them. Take a look at the bad examples below.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By breaking your description into short bullet points you\u2019re making it much easier to consume, so your important skills can be picked out with speed.<\/p>\n The example below contains the exact same content as the example above but, see how much easier and quicker <\/strong>it is to read though, thanks to the bullet points.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n If your CV is multiple pages long (remember we suggest 2 pages maximum), the pages will be split and read separate to each other.<\/p>\n Therefor it\u2019s important your sections don\u2019t spill across multiple pages. Look at the bad example below.<\/p>\n This looks untidy and might cause the recruiter \/ employer to doubt your ability. Luckily, you can easily split this by just moving the section across to the next page. See the example below.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Firstly it\u2019s important to note that you should create your CV in a word processing programme such as Microsoft Word of Google Docs \u2013 both of which have free online versions. Make sure you save a copy for yourself in this format so you can continue to update your CV in the future.<\/p>\n But, if you submit a Microsoft Word CV and it\u2019s opened in Google Docs, the formatting and spacing you\u2019ve worked so hard on can change. The same can be said the other way round too. That’s why it\u2019s important your final CV submission is saved as a PDF file. This is vital because it means the CV formatting cannot be changed and when recruiters \/ employers open your CV, it will look the same as when you open it.<\/p>\n Make sure you name your CV appropriately \u2013 FirstName LastName CV. Firstly this makes it look more professional but, it also makes it easier for the recruiter \/ employer to search for your CV too. Remember we want to make your CV as easy and quick as possible for them to consume!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A well formatted CV will help you to secure more interviews, which is exactly why we\u2019ve put together two templates for you to choose from. You can download CV Template 1 here<\/a>, or our CV Template 2 here<\/a>, and we also suggest our full CV Guide<\/a> which has examples of both templates<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Everyone\u2019s CV should look and feel different, so try out both versions and see which CV format works best for you.<\/p>\n So if there\u2019s only one thing you take away from this blog, it\u2019s that you need to make your CV as easy as possible for the employer \/ recruiter to consume, and that the CV’s format matters just as much as the content does. This is also relevant to any cover letters you write too, so we\u2019ve also explained how to write a cover letter<\/a><\/strong> in this blog.<\/p>\n Good luck with your job search!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The\u00a0National Careers Service<\/a>\u00a0offers free advice about careers and skills to anyone aged 13 or over and living in England. To speak to a professional careers adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use\u00a0webchat<\/a>\u00a0(8am \u2013 8pm Monday \u2013 Friday; 10am \u2013 5pm Saturday)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n2) Minimise Contact Details \u2013 Keep it Simple<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n3) Divide Your CV into Clear Sections<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n4) Bullet Points in Your CV Work Experience Descriptions<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n5) Tidy CV Page Splits<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n6) Save Your CV as a PDF Document to Retain the CV Format<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nCV Format Conclusion & CV Templates<\/strong><\/h3>\n