How to Write a Great CV in 2026

A great CV in 2026 is short, scannable, keyword-aware, and ruthlessly focused on outcomes.

1. One page until you have a reason If you have under 10 years of experience, fit it on one page. Recruiters spend 6–8 seconds on first scan.

2. Lead with a 2-line summary Not an objective. A factual snapshot of who you are, your specialism, and one signature achievement.

3. Achievements over duties Rewrite every bullet as: did X using Y resulting in Z (with a number where possible).

4. Mirror keywords from the job description Paste the job ad into a word-cloud tool. The frequent nouns and verbs are what the ATS scores.

5. ATS-safe structure Single column, standard fonts, plain section headings (Experience, Education, Skills). No text boxes, no images, no icons.

6. Quantify everything you can "Increased conversion 18%" beats "improved conversion" every time.

7. Cut the obvious No "References available on request". No date of birth. No marital status.

8. Save as PDF — but keep the .docx Most portals accept either. PDF preserves formatting; .docx is what ATS systems actually parse best when offered both.