How to write a CV – step by step
A great CV is clear, relevant and easy to skim in ten seconds. This guide walks through how to build a CV that both recruiters and ATS software understand — and how to stand out without overdoing it.
1. Start with the right structure
Stick to a clear order: name and title at the top, a short summary, then experience, education and skills. Put the most important things first — a recruiter often reads only the top third before deciding.
Aim for one page if you have under ten years of experience, two pages if you have more. Use plenty of whitespace and consistent headings so the CV is easy to skim.
2. Write a punchy summary
The first two or three sentences should sum up who you are, what you're good at and the value you create. Avoid clichés like “driven team player” — show it with concrete examples instead.
3. Describe experience with results
For each role: start with a strong verb and quantify the result. “Increased conversion by 25%” says more than “responsible for conversion”. Three to five bullets per role is enough.
Tailor the content to the job you're applying for. Highlight what's relevant to that specific role and play down the rest.
4. Avoid common mistakes
Typos, too much text, unclear headings and images containing important text (which an ATS can't read) drag a CV down. Proofread, and ideally have someone else read it through.
With Rosecut you build your CV in the browser, pick an ATS-friendly template and download it as PDF, Word or text — completely free.