How to structure your CV

The purpose of your CV is simple; to get you the interview. To do this you need to consider two things. Firstly the structure – is it presented professionally, ordered correctly using suitable headings helping an employer to instantly spot the information they need. Secondly, the content – how do you structure sentences, what language do you use, is it concise and do you demonstrate achievement and value?

Having reviewed thousands of CVs it’s clear many have structural issues. This is a simple error easily fixed by following a few simple guidelines. Generating the content can be tough; following a sensible structure for your CV should be easy.

Whilst I’m not an advocate of templated CV’s, there are only so many sections an employer wants to read, so try following the below and tailor for your situation:


Name: (do not title your CV ‘Curriculum Vitae’ or ‘CV’)

Personal Details: Insert on one line your email, mobile number and address

Personal profile: use 3 or maximum 4 sentences and no more than 5 lines. Sentence 1 explain your experience / define who you are. Sentence 2, explain the skills you offer. Sentence 3, explain what you are looking for.

Key Skills: use (2-4) bullet points and back up with an explanation of how you developed or used the skill

Key Achievements: use (2-4) bullet points and explain what your contribution meant to the employer

Work Experience - for each job, state:

  • Company name / job title / dates

  • Insert a one line description of the business (optional)

  • Insert a sub heading ‘Responsibilities’ and use 3-4 bullet points to explain the key responsibilities

  • Insert a sub heading ‘Achievements’ and use 3-4 bullet points to articulate the points you are most proud of, being explicit about what it achieved for the employer

  • If you have worked for several businesses, condense the points you make for your least relevant jobs


Education & Qualifications: state latest qualification first, summarise oldest results

Interests: try not to be bland, instead state a point worthy of conversation

References: stating up-front demonstrates you can back-up what you say

If you have little or no work experience you should move the education section before your work experience. If you are trying to change career you should input more points in the key achievements and key skills section and reduce the focus on your work experience.

Think logically, write no more than 2-3 pages and keep it simple. An employer will flunk your CV if the structure is poor. Pass this test and they’ll take the time to evaluate the content.

Best of luck,

www.cvwritingindia.com