Crafting a strong CV isn’t just about listing your experiences – it’s about clearly communicating who you are, what you bring to the table, and making it as easy as possible for someone to see why you’re the right fit. As HR professionals, we review hundreds of CVs every week, and certain things truly make a difference. We asked our HR team to share their advice for applicants, and here are our top tips to help your CV stand out in the best way.
Start Strong: Introduce Yourself Clearly
Your CV should begin with a brief, clear summary that introduces you. It should be short (the right shortness is important), specific, and tailored to the role you’re applying for. What we want is to understand who you are, what you’ve been doing, and what makes you a great fit for the role. This is our first impression of you. Think of it like a thumbnail for a video – it should create a room for curiosity and make us want to read more!
Tips:
• Make a quick introduction, mention your core strengths, and career goal.
• Mention industries or technologies you’ve worked with, especially those relevant to the role.
Keep It Clear, Concise, and Structured
A great CV is informative but focused. HRs read hundreds of CVs every week, so clarity is key. Use reverse chronological order to highlight your most recent experience first. The most current role often gives us the clearest picture of where you are in your career right now. It shows your career progression at a glance and helps us track your skill development. This allows us to better assess how relevant your latest experience is to the role we’re considering you for. Avoid jumping around in time, as it can confuse the reader and reduce your credibility.
Skip subjective elements like skill meters (like “7/10 in Java”). Instead, show your skills in context:
• Where and how you used a specific skill
• What outcomes you helped to achieve
• Measurable results (like “reduced page load time by 30%”)
Tips:
• Separate sections for work experience, education, and certifications.
• Include your key achievements, responsibilities, and the tools or technologies used in each role.
• Include a hint of your personality or motivation, just enough to make us want to know more about you.
• Further details can always be shared during interviews, so leave room for curiosity.
Use Job-Relevant Keywords and Tech Stack Wisely
When we screen CVs, keywords matter a lot. They help us match your profile to the role more quickly. To make sure nothing is missed, don’t forget to mention your technical stack. In order to make it easy to spot, include a section under each role with the technologies used for that specific role, and also list your full technical stack at the beginning. For job-specific skills, also explain where you applied them in your experience, on what platforms, or for which methodologies.
Pro tip: Use bold or italic formatting to make important keywords stand out.
Show What You Did – Not Just Your Title
Writing “Software Engineer” alone doesn’t tell us much. We want to understand what you actually did. Describe your responsibilities, key projects, tools used, and measurable achievements. This gives essential context and shows how you created value in each role.
Mind the Details: Grammar, Formatting & Design
Typos and grammar mistakes send the wrong message even if your job isn’t writing-focused. It shows a lack of attention to detail. Imagine you are reading a book and detect some grammar mistakes. What would you think? Yes, you would possibly think how unprofessional it is for a writer to make such mistakes. Now imagine you are the HR reviewing the CV. It would be hard to lean toward a candidate who makes such mistakes, because it makes the CV look less professional.
Tips:
• Use a black font on a white background. A clean, minimal layout makes your CV more readable and professional.
• Choose a simple, legible font
• Minimize colors, icons, or charts to keep the focus on your experiences, not the images.
• Always proofread or ask someone else to review your CV before sending it
Final Thoughts
Your CV is the first impression you make and you want it to show the best of who you are. By following these tips, you’ll help the HR team (like us!) see your potential faster and more clearly. Think of your CV as your personal brand. Make it professional, make it powerful, and most importantly make it you.
Ready to put your CV to work? Explore open positions at BGTS and take the next step in your career with us.