How to write a CV that gets you interviews

Your CV is the single most important document in your job search. It is the first impression a potential employer has of you — and in most cases, it determines whether you get an interview or end up in the rejection pile. Having reviewed thousands of CVs during my 15+ years in corporate HR at companies like PepsiCo, Accenture and Médecins Sans Frontières, I can tell you that the difference between a good CV and a mediocre one is rarely about qualifications. It is about presentation.

Why your CV matters more than you think

Recruiters spend an average of 6–8 seconds on an initial CV scan. That is not a myth — it is a well-documented reality confirmed by eye-tracking studies. In those few seconds, the reader forms an opinion about your suitability for the role. If your CV is cluttered, poorly structured or missing key information, it will be discarded regardless of your actual experience.

Moreover, before a human even sees your CV, it often has to pass through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). These software tools scan CVs for relevant keywords and formatting. A beautifully designed CV with graphics and columns may look impressive on screen, but if the ATS cannot parse it correctly, your application will never reach a recruiter.

The ideal CV structure

A well-structured CV follows a logical, easy-to-scan format. Here is the structure I recommend based on what actually works in corporate recruitment:

1. Contact details and personal summary

Start with your full name, telephone number, email address and LinkedIn profile URL. Below that, include a 2–3 sentence personal summary that highlights your key strengths and career focus. Think of it as your elevator pitch — concise, specific and tailored to the role you are applying for.

"Results-driven sales manager with 8 years of experience in FMCG across Central Europe. Proven track record of exceeding revenue targets by 20–35% year-on-year. Seeking a senior commercial role in a fast-growing international company."

2. Professional experience

This is the heart of your CV. List your roles in reverse chronological order (most recent first). For each position, include:

• Job title, company name and dates (month/year to month/year)
• A brief description of your responsibilities (1–2 sentences)
• 3–5 bullet points highlighting your key achievements with measurable results

The critical mistake most candidates make is listing duties rather than achievements. Do not write "Responsible for managing a sales team." Instead, write "Led a team of 12 sales representatives across 3 countries, achieving 128% of annual revenue target (EUR 4.2M)." Numbers and specifics make your CV credible and memorable.

3. Education

List your degrees in reverse chronological order. Include the institution name, degree title and graduation year. If you graduated more than 10 years ago, keep this section brief — your professional experience matters more at this stage of your career.

4. Skills and certifications

Include language skills with proficiency levels, relevant software competencies and professional certifications. Be honest about your level — claiming fluent German when you are at B1 level will backfire spectacularly during the interview process.

Common mistakes that cost you interviews

After reviewing thousands of CVs, these are the errors I see most frequently:

1. Too long. Your CV should be 1–2 pages maximum. Three pages are acceptable only for senior executives with 20+ years of experience. Anything longer signals that you cannot prioritise information.
2. Generic content. Sending the same CV for every application is a guaranteed way to get rejected. Tailor your personal summary and key achievements to match each specific role.
3. No measurable achievements. Vague statements like "improved sales performance" mean nothing without numbers. How much did you improve it? Over what period? Compared to what baseline?
4. Poor formatting. Inconsistent fonts, misaligned bullet points and walls of text make your CV physically unpleasant to read. Use clean, consistent formatting with adequate white space.
5. Spelling and grammar errors. A single typo can disqualify you, particularly for roles that require attention to detail. Always proofread, and ask someone else to review your CV before sending it.
6. Including irrelevant information. Your date of birth, marital status, photograph (in most countries) and hobbies like "reading and travelling" add no value and waste precious space.

ATS optimisation — getting past the robots

An estimated 75% of CVs are rejected by ATS software before a human ever reads them. To ensure yours gets through:

• Use standard section headings — "Professional Experience", "Education", "Skills" rather than creative alternatives like "My Journey" or "Where I Have Been".
• Include keywords from the job description. If the posting mentions "project management", "stakeholder engagement" or "SAP", make sure these terms appear naturally in your CV.
• Avoid graphics, tables and columns. Many ATS tools cannot parse complex layouts. Stick to a single-column format with standard fonts.
• Save as PDF unless specifically asked for a Word document. PDFs preserve formatting across different systems.
• Use a standard file name — "Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf" rather than "CV-final-v3-updated.pdf".

Modern format tips

The expectations around CV formatting have evolved significantly in recent years. Here are some current best practices:

• Include your LinkedIn URL. Recruiters will look you up anyway — make it easy for them and ensure your LinkedIn profile is consistent with your CV.
• Consider a skills-based format if you are changing careers or have gaps in your employment history. This highlights transferable competencies rather than a chronological work history.
• Keep the design clean but professional. A subtle use of colour (e.g., for section headings) can help your CV stand out without compromising ATS readability.
• Add a "Key Achievements" section at the top if you have particularly impressive accomplishments. This ensures the recruiter sees your strongest points during that crucial 6-second scan.

Final thoughts

A great CV does not just list your experience — it tells a compelling story about who you are as a professional. It demonstrates your value clearly, concisely and in a format that both humans and machines can easily process. Take the time to get it right, because a well-crafted CV is quite literally the key to unlocking interview opportunities.

If you are unsure whether your CV is working for you, or if you would like professional help creating one from scratch, I would be happy to assist. With 12+ years of experience on the hiring side, I know exactly what employers are looking for — and I can help you present your experience in the most compelling way possible.