How to Write a Professional CV: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Your CV is the first impression you make on any employer, and recruiters usually read it in under a minute. The good news: a strong CV does not need talent, just the right structure and a few simple rules. This guide walks you through it from the first line to the final file.

1. Contact details: short and clear

Start with your full name and, right below it, the job title you are targeting. Then one line with:

• A professional email address (firstname.lastname@…).
• Your phone number with country code.
• City and country only; no full street address.
• Your LinkedIn profile link.

2. Professional summary: three sentences that sell you

The summary is the most important part of your CV. Mention your years of experience, your field and your two strongest skills or one key achievement. Example:

Avoid empty phrases such as "Hard-working person looking for a challenging job"; they say nothing about you.

3. Experience: newest first, achievements not duties

List jobs in reverse chronological order. For each one add the title, company, location and dates (month and year), then 3–5 bullets. The secret to good bullets: start with a verb and add a number.

Strong verbs to start with: Managed, Led, Increased, Reduced, Built, Improved, Launched, Trained.

4. Education

Add your degree and major, university and graduation year. Fresh graduates should include a strong grade and their graduation project. With more than 3 years of experience, education goes after experience.

5. Skills: taken from the job ad

List 6–10 skills and pick them from the words used in the job ad, because applicant tracking systems (ATS) search for those keywords. Mix hard skills (Excel, SAP, Photoshop) with soft skills (communication, teamwork).

6. Languages and certifications

Be honest about each language level: Native, Fluent, Professional or Intermediate. List courses and certificates with the issuer and year, for example: Google Digital Marketing – Google, 2024.

7. Layout: simple, one or two pages, and PDF

• One page with under 5 years of experience, two pages at most.
• A single-column layout with a clear font and no complex tables, so ATS can read it.
• Send a PDF unless the company asks for Word, and name the file after yourself: Ahmed_Hassan_CV.pdf.

8. Proofread before you send

Read your CV out loud, check spelling and dates, and double-check your email and phone number. One typo in your email can cost you the whole opportunity.