How to Write a CV: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2026

Your CV has one job: to get you an interview. Recruiters often skim a CV in under a minute before deciding whether to read on, so a good CV is clear, relevant and easy to scan. This guide walks you through every section — what to include, what to leave out and how to make each line count.

1. Choose the right CV format

There are three common CV formats:

• Reverse-chronological: your most recent job comes first. This is the format most recruiters expect and the one applicant tracking systems (ATS) read most reliably.
• Skills-based (functional): groups your experience by skill instead of by job. It can hide employment gaps, but many recruiters find it harder to trust.
• Combination: a strong skills section followed by a reverse-chronological work history.

If you're not sure, choose reverse-chronological. It works for almost everyone, from fresh graduates to senior managers.

2. Put your contact details at the top

Start with your full name in a larger font, followed by a short headline such as “Digital Marketing Specialist” or “Final-Year Civil Engineering Student”. Then add:

• your phone number with the country code;
• a professional email address, ideally firstname.lastname@…;
• your city and country — a full street address is rarely needed;
• a LinkedIn profile or portfolio link, if it supports your application.

Personal details such as date of birth, marital status, nationality or a photo are expected in some countries and discouraged in others. Follow the norms of the country and company you're applying to — and when in doubt, leave them out.

3. Write a short professional summary

The summary is two to four sentences under your name that explain who you are and why you're a good fit. A simple formula:

[Job title] with [X years] of experience in [key areas]. [One measurable achievement]. [What you want to do next and how you'll help the employer].

For example: “Accountant with 5 years of experience in financial reporting and VAT compliance. Closed monthly accounts two days faster by automating reconciliations in Excel. Looking to bring strong IFRS knowledge to a growing finance team.”

Need inspiration? See our CV summary examples for 15 different roles.

4. List your work experience

For each job, include your job title, the employer, the location and the dates (month and year). Underneath, add three to five bullet points. The best bullet points describe results, not duties: start with an action verb and add a number whenever you can.

Focus on the last 10–15 years and on roles that are relevant to the job you want. Older or unrelated jobs can be shortened to a single line.

5. Add your education

List your highest qualification first: degree, institution, location and graduation year. Add your grade, honours or relevant modules if they strengthen your application. If you're a student or recent graduate, place education above work experience and include projects, internships and relevant coursework.

6. Show the right skills

Read the job description and pick out the skills it mentions. Include the ones you genuinely have, using the same wording. Separate technical skills (software, tools, languages, certifications) from soft skills, and back up soft skills with evidence in your experience section rather than simply writing “team player”.

Tools: Excel, Power BI, SAP
Languages: English (fluent), Arabic (native)

7. Include optional sections that add value

• Certifications and courses — especially industry-recognised ones.
• Languages — with your level, such as fluent or conversational.
• Projects or portfolio — great for students, developers and designers.
• Volunteering — shows initiative and transferable skills.
• Awards — if they are recent and relevant.

Only add a section if it supports your application. A short, focused CV beats a long one.

8. Keep the format clean

• Length: one page for students and early-career roles, two pages for experienced professionals.
• Fonts: a standard font such as Helvetica, Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman at 10–12 pt.
• Layout: a single column, clear headings and the same date format throughout.
• File: send a text-based PDF unless the employer asks for Word, and name it clearly, for example Sarah-Ahmed-CV.pdf.

Free CV Maker handles all of this for you: the layout is single-column, the headings are standard and the PDF contains real text that ATS software can read. Learn more in our ATS-friendly resume tips.

9. Tailor and proofread

Before you apply, adjust your summary and the first bullet points of each role to match the job. Then proofread slowly: read it aloud, check names, dates and numbers, and ask a friend to look at it. Spelling mistakes are one of the easiest reasons for a recruiter to move on.

Common CV mistakes to avoid

• Sending one generic CV to every employer.
• Listing duties instead of achievements.
• Long paragraphs that are hard to scan.
• Fancy templates with tables, columns or graphics that ATS software can't read.
• Unprofessional email addresses.
• Out-of-date contact details or broken links.

Ready to write your CV?

Open the free CV maker, start from scratch or upload your old CV, and download a polished PDF in minutes — no sign-up required.