How to write a CV that is easy to read

Start with the role you want

Read the job description and identify the work the employer needs done. Put your most relevant experience near the top. Keep your name, email and phone easy to find. You do not need a full street address, date of birth or portrait unless the application calls for them.

Write achievements with context

For each role, add the employer, dates and a few specific contributions. Start bullets with a clear verb, describe what you did and explain the result. Use numbers only when you can substantiate them. If you are early in your career, relevant projects, coursework and volunteering can provide the evidence.

Choose clarity over decoration

For applications that parse a CV automatically, a single-column layout such as Ledger or Brief is a useful starting point. Use conventional headings such as Experience, Education and Skills. A visual layout can work well for direct sharing, but always follow the employer’s requested format. No layout guarantees a screening result.

An example to work from

Before: Responsible for customer support.

After: Rewrote the five most-used help articles after reviewing recurring support questions, helping new customers complete setup with fewer requests for help.

Before you finish

Replace every example, verify dates and links, read every page and confirm the PDF text can be selected. Upload it to the actual application and review any parsed fields.