Your experience.
Clearly put.
A CV is easier to write when you know what you want it to say. Explore practical notes on structure, describing your experience and preparing an application that reflects the work you have actually done.
Explore the field guide CVs · Covering letters · Interview preparationat a glance.The outline
Start with the evidence.
Then find the right words.
Illustrative structure — adapt it to the application.
A little structure.
A clearer application.
Six practical notes to help you decide what belongs on the page — and what needs another look.
Give your CV a clear structure
A well-ordered layout helps an employer navigate your background quickly. Organise your document chronologically, placing your most recent employment or education first. Use distinct section headings such as work history, education, and skills to establish an orderly visual hierarchy.
Choose clean formatting with consistent spacing, standard fonts, and legible margins. Keep the presentation simple rather than decorative. Always check the specific application instructions provided by the employer, as some organisations request particular file formats, page limits, or anonymised personal details.
Make the profile specific
If you include a personal statement at the top of your CV, keep it concise and directly relevant to the role. Focus on your occupational background, primary areas of knowledge, and the sectors in which you have developed practical experience.
Avoid subjective claims and unsupported adjectives such as dynamic, exceptional, or natural leader. Instead, ground your summary in factual statements that your employment history immediately supports, allowing the evidence in the remainder of the document to speak for itself.
Show what you did, not just your job title
Job titles rarely explain the day-to-day reality of a post. For each role, outline the operating context, the scope of your responsibilities, and the specific tasks you carried out. Highlight active contributions, such as coordinating projects, supporting clients, or maintaining operational processes.
Mention outcomes and improvements only when they are accurate and verifiable from your own work. Do not fabricate numerical metrics or invent percentages to sound impressive. Clear descriptions of dependable routine duties are far more credible than exaggerated achievements.
Use the experience you already have
When entering the workplace or changing fields, draw upon practical experience gained outside formal employment. Academic coursework, voluntary service, community activities, and family responsibilities often demonstrate reliability, organisation, and problem-solving. Present these commitments with the same structured clarity as paid employment.
If you choose to explain a break between roles, use a brief, truthful description that you are comfortable sharing. Avoid inventing a job to fill the space. Keep the application focused on relevant experience and follow the employer’s instructions; sensitive personal circumstances do not need to become the centre of your CV.
Write a covering letter with a purpose
A covering letter allows you to connect your background directly to the requirements listed in the job specification. Rather than repeating your CV verbatim, select one or two relevant examples that illustrate how your past responsibilities align with the advertised duties.
Ensure the letter complements your application by explaining your interest in the post and the sector. Check the employer's instructions carefully regarding submission methods, addressing the letter to the named contact where one is given.
Prepare examples you can explain
Interview preparation relies on knowing your own history thoroughly. Review the role requirements and select real workplace situations that illustrate your capabilities. When describing an event, outline the initial context, your personal responsibilities, the action you took, and the final result.
Be careful to distinguish between your own individual contributions and tasks completed by a wider team. Practise delivering clear, concise explanations out loud so you can respond calmly without relying on scripted notes or exaggerating outcomes.
Give the reader
something concrete.
“Good communication skills” leaves the reader to guess. A description of what you did gives them something to understand.
Choose a context to see a fictional illustration. Use your own truthful experience when drafting an application.
I kept the team’s appointment diary up to date, checked changes with colleagues and made sure each handover included outstanding requests.
Read it once more.
With a different question.
Does each part help the reader understand your fit for this particular role? Check the detail as well as the overall story.
This checklist stays in this page. No CV upload or personal information is needed.
A few useful questions
Does this site offer CV writing or recruitment services?
No. CV Consultancy is a new independent information publication. It does not offer recruitment, paid career advice, personal CV reviews or document editing, and it is not a continuation of a former business using this domain.
Should every application use the same CV?
Maintain a comprehensive master copy of your work history, then tailor each application to the specific post. Highlight the most relevant responsibilities and qualifications requested in the employer's job description, whilst keeping your factual career dates, job titles, and core records completely consistent throughout.
What if I do not have much paid experience?
Focus on actual unpaid experience, including educational projects, voluntary positions, community tasks, or vocational training. Describe your responsibilities clearly, noting the tasks you handled and the practical skills you applied, without inventing employment or exaggerating your contribution.
Keep reading
The National Careers Service has a detailed guide to CV sections and further application resources.