You’ve spent hours fine-tuning your resume, double-checking every bullet point and detail. Only to hear nothing back. How frustrating? So the reality of the situation is that 75% of resumes are filtered by the applicant tracking system. This means that many resumes never make it to the hiring manager’s desk. This is why a professional resume is essential to land that first job, dream role, and turn opportunities into interviews. 

In this guide, you’ll learn how to craft a polished, impactful resume that opens doors and makes an unforgettable impression. Let’s turn your experience and skills into a document that truly reflects your potential. 

Why do you need a professional CV? Why does it matter?  

Imagine you are a recruiter tasked with scanning through 200 CVs. What will make yours stand out?  

Your CV is not just a PDF document that you send out – this is your personal brand, employment history, and first handshake rolled into one. It sets the stage long before you get the anxiously awaited reply in your inbox. So, regardless of whether you are applying to a fast-paced startup, a Fortune 500 company, or a remote job from another country, your CV is the gatekeeper.  

Why does this matter so much now?   

Well, there are a few reasons why a professional CV is more important now than at any other time in history:  

• Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Natural Language Processing created the Applicant Tracking System. According to LinkedIn’s 2023 Talent Solutions report, approximately 75% of resumes are filtered out by applicant tracking systems before reaching human recruiters. 

• Your CV should tell a story, it’s not just a list of jobs and skills. Your career path should be intentional.  

• Globalization and the influx of remote jobs have recruiters feeling overwhelmed. With the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting continued growth in remote work opportunities, standing out becomes even more critical. You need to stand out from the competition. 

These are just some of the reasons why a clean, compelling, tailored CV is your best shot at being remembered.  

What are some key elements I should consider to create an effective CV?  

Several key building blocks are essential to creating an effective CV. Let’s dive into them: 

Contact Information 

You cannot create a CV without your contact information. If you want a reply or an interview, the recruiter needs to be able to get hold of you.  

Some key info to include in a modern format includes:  

• Full name 

• Phone number 

• Professional email (no “coolprincess1993@yahoo.com”) 

• LinkedIn profile  

• Optional: Portfolio, GitHub, website 

Professional Summary 

The next must-have item on your CV is a professional summary. In 3 to 5 memorable sentences, you want to describe who you are, what you do, and why you’re the one for the job. Make it fit the job description, so they cannot resist but give you a call back. Strong communication skills are essential for crafting compelling professional summaries—learn more about mastering this critical skill in our comprehensive Communication Course.  

Here is a random example:   

“Motivated and detail-oriented content marketing professional with over 5 years of experience in  

content creation, SEO optimization, and team leadership. Proven ability to manage cross-functional teams and remote contributors while delivering high-quality content strategies aligned with business goals.”   

Skill set 

In the next section, you want to list both hard and soft skills in bullet points. You probably want to include about 8 to 15 for optimal results. Try to avoid the generic skills and tailor them to the specific role that you are applying for.  

Work Experience  

For each role that you had, you should include the job title, location, company, and dates. Also, this is your time to shine and use action words to showcase achievements, outcomes, and any other metrics. You want to do this in 3 to 6 bullet points for each role.   

Education 

Keep this section short, sweet & clean. You only want to be expansive if you are working in academia. You should include degrees, institution, and graduation year.     

7 mistakes to avoid when creating your CV  

Let’s make “no regrets” your resume writing mantra. Avoid these classic mistakes: 

1. Don’t use the same CV for every job, recruiters can tell that you are using a general CV across the board.  
2. Avoid having a big wall of text. Use bullet points, break up sentences, and create categories. You want to make it easier to scan. Don’t make your recruiter’s eyes hurt.  
3. Be specific and use action words to describe your skills and achievements. Avoid phrases like “handled things.” 
4. Avoid mentioning irrelevant experience. Trust me, no one needs to know that you worked as a cashier in high school.  
5. Avoid packing your CV with clichés—but don’t strip out all personality either. Our CV should sound human, clear, confident, and true to you. 
6. Please don’t send a resume that has typos, grammatical errors, or even worse, wrong contact information. A CareerBuilder survey found that 58% of hiring managers will immediately dismiss resumes containing typos or grammatical errors. This is so careless. Ask a friend to review your CV or use online tools to help with grammar and typos.  
7. Avoid tables, graphics, or funky fonts because the ATS will most likely reject them. You don’t want to be boring, but try to stick to a rather classic layout and structure.    

How to Adapt Your Resume to a Specific Job Description?  

According to research from Harvard Business Review, a tailored resume is 10x more likely to land you an interview. Let us share with you some secrets on how to make this magic happen for you. First of all, make sure that you mirror the keywords you see in the job offer. So, for example, if the job description says “project coordination,” don’t write “task management.”   

Another tip to adapt your resume to a specific job description is to use their job title in your resume. If you are going for a ‘project manager’ position, then alter your current position to “Team Leader / Manager”.   

When showcasing your experience, make sure that you show your impact using statistics. Developing strong business management skills can significantly enhance your professional profile and help you stand out to employers seeking leadership potential.  

Highlight results that align with what the role values, like revenue growth, conversions, or leads.  Also, reorder any experience to make the most relevant roles appear at the top. Put the most aligned accomplishments at the top of each section.  

Finally, when you are writing your professional summary, curate it so that it’s exactly what your prospective employer wants to hear. Your summary isn’t just about you. It’s about how you fit them. Tailor it to the role by focusing on your most relevant value, not just your background. 

Top 6 guidelines for formatting your CV   

Here are 6 must-follow guidelines to format your CV for success:  

• Font: Use a professional and standard font.  

• Length, for an experienced professional, your resume should be no longer than 2 pages. If you are a junior in the field, one page is more than enough.   

• The file type should always be PDF unless the job description specifies otherwise.  

• Sections are clearly labeled with bold headings.  

• Margins and spacing. Make sure to keep it clean and breathable. Avoid edge-to-edge text. 

• Bullet points over paragraphs.  

Formatting your CV isn’t just about looks. It’s about getting you noticed by a potential employer. Clean layout, consistent style, and role-specific details can be the difference between a callback and the bin. 

Real-world examples & inspirations of professional CVs  

Sometimes the best way to improve your CV is to model what already works. Real examples can provide some much-needed inspiration. You can gain ideas on how to word things, layout, and showcase your experience in an effective way. Let’s explore a couple of professional resumes together:  

Sample CV – Web Developer (Modern Format) 

So above, we have an example of an aesthetic, modern, and clear resume template for people in the tech industry, specifically web development and design. Here are 5 reasons why this CV application works:  

1. There is a clear headline and job role. The recruiter looking at this CV knows exactly who this person is and what they have to offer for this new role.  
2. The professional summary effectively combines creativity, hard skills, and work experience. This is a ready-made professional pitch for the job role they are interested in.  
3. The skills section is visually presented, giving the recruiter an idea of where this person’s skill level is at this point in his career. Moreover, it is more visually interesting than just simple bullet points.  
4. Another section, which may be useful in North America and some European countries, is references. While not all companies will ask for references, it shows an openness and transparency from the recruit.  
5. Finally, the aesthetic and modern design. The use of blue and gold adds some personal style without distracting the recruiter. There is a nice balance of text and white space. You are not overwhelmed with a wall of text. Also, it’s neatly organized under categories. Finally, the profile picture adds a nice touch, even if it’s not always required or mandated, it depends on the country and the company.      

This CV not only shows what I did, but more importantly, it shows where this person excels and what they have to offer.  

Sample Resume – Marketing Manager (Clean & Professional Format)

Okay, let’s review why this particular CV is a good example and inspiration for you to draw from for yours:  

• The individual has curated her personal brand with this resume. This application has a professional photo (again, not always required), a clear heading, and a title. It creates identity and credibility in the eyes of the recruiter  

• The education and work experience section is logically presented, and it offers a timeline. This is great for a recruiter, because they are able to scan through it quickly and get an idea, where this candidate is at in her life and career.  

• A particularly powerful element in this CV is the relevant and repetitive reinforcement of vital keywords or phrases. So, for example, the phrase ““lead, mentor, and manage a high performing marketing team” reinforces the candidate’s leadership skills across multiple roles.  

• The resume uses a well-structured two-column layout with clear sections. It provides enough white space and a uniform font and typography. This layout and design make it easy to read and more accessible to the recruiter.  

Recapping, this resume showcases a marketing manager’s skills and experience in a clean, modern, and easy-to-read format. If you’re inspired by this marketing example and want to develop your own digital marketing expertise, our Digital Marketing Course covers everything from campaign creation to conversion optimization.  

Summing up how to create a professional resume  

So, let’s be honest, when it comes to applying for jobs, your resume is your moment, so make it count. Whether you are just entering the job market, switching companies, leveling up, or changing paths, your resume is your first impression. It is your virtual business card and handshake, before you ever meet a person.  

So, here is a snapshot, no-fluff summary of our guide to create an effective CV application:  

• Keep it clear, clean, and tailored to the job 

• Speak in measurable results, metrics, and achievements  

• Your golden ticket is to use the exact keywords included in the job description  

• Format it for humans and machines (ATS matters)  

• Avoid resume-killers like clichés, typos, or clutter 

Create a resume that works as hard as you do, so that you can land that dream job.  

Ready to take your career to the next level? Explore KEMP Center’s comprehensive course offerings designed to help you build the skills that make resumes shine and careers soar.