What Makes a Good CV? Key Traits of a Strong Resume
A good CV isn't about a fancy design — it's about getting the right information in front of a hiring manager in the right order.
Clear, predictable structure
Hiring managers and applicant tracking systems both scan for the same standard sections in the same order: contact info, a short summary, work experience (most recent first), education, and skills. A CV that reorders or buries these makes the reader work harder to find what they need — and a rejected CV rarely gets a second look.
Achievements, not just duties
Listing what your job title normally involves tells the reader nothing they didn't already assume. "Managed social media accounts" is a duty; "Grew Instagram following from 2,000 to 15,000 in six months" is an achievement — it's specific, measurable, and shows impact. Rewrite each bullet point to answer: what changed because you did this?
If you genuinely don't have a hard number, an approximate one is still stronger than none — "reduced average response time from about two days to same-day" beats "improved response time" even without a decimal-precise figure.
Tailored to the role, not generic
The same CV sent to every application signals the least effort possible. Adjust your summary and the skills you highlight so they mirror the language of each job listing — if the posting says "stakeholder management," use that phrase if it genuinely applies to your experience, rather than a vaguer synonym.
Respectful length
One page is enough for most candidates. Two pages are acceptable with 10+ years of relevant experience — never because the font was made bigger to fill space. If you're struggling to fit everything, that's usually a sign to cut older or less relevant roles, not to shrink the margins.