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

What a CV is and what it is for

A CV (curriculum vitae) is a document that summarizes your work experience, education and skills on a page. Its job is simple: convince an employer in 6–8 seconds that you are a relevant candidate. That is why a CV should be short, scannable and tailored to the specific role.

The core sections of a CV

A professional CV usually contains these sections. This order works well in most cases:

• Contact details — name, phone, email, city and (if relevant) a LinkedIn/portfolio link.
• Professional summary — a 2–3 sentence introduction that positions you.
• Work experience — starting with your most recent role, focused on achievements.
• Education — university/school, qualification and graduation year.
• Skills — technical and soft skills that match the job.
• Extra sections — languages, certifications, projects (if you have space).

How to write a strong professional summary

The summary is the most-read part of a CV. Combine your title, years of experience and biggest achievement. For example: “Digital marketing specialist with 3 years of experience; grew monthly leads by 40% through paid campaigns.” Avoid generic phrases (“hard-working, responsible”) — numbers and results are far more convincing.

Write work experience as achievements

For each role, write results rather than duties. Start with a strong verb and add a number where you can: not “managed the sales team” but “managed a 5-person sales team and grew annual revenue by 25%.” This approach satisfies both human recruiters and ATS software.

Tailor the skills section to the job

Read the job posting and mirror its key skills (the ones you genuinely have) using the same words in your CV. This helps ATS systems score your CV as a match. Separate technical skills (tools, languages) from soft skills (teamwork, communication).

The most common mistakes

• A CV longer than one page, packed with text (one page is enough with limited experience).
• Spelling and grammar errors — always proofread before sending.
• Sending the same CV to every job — tailor it, even briefly.
• Duty descriptions with no results — add numbers and achievements.
• An unprofessional email address or out-of-date contact details.

Build your CV in minutes with Huntbl

Instead of formatting all of this by hand, Huntbl automates the process — from picking a template to writing your summary and experience with AI. You enter your details step by step, the system lays it out in an ATS-friendly format, and you download it as a PDF.