Revamp your CV: free template and expert advice

Are you struggling to land interviews despite thinking you’d be a great fit for most of the roles you’ve been applying for? This could, in part, be because there have been other applicants with even more suitable skillsets who have pipped you to the post. Or perhaps you have received some automated rejection emails as a result of jobs being withdrawn from the market. But it’s important to also consider that your CV could be playing a big role in your interview – or lack thereof – woes.

If you want to improve your chances of being invited for interviews and move one step closer to securing your dream job, it could be time to give your CV a refresh and weed out common mistakes. Below, you’ll find our expert guidance and a free CV template to help you present yourself in the best way possible.

CV dos and don’ts

Unpolished, off-putting CVs that fail to include the information hiring managers want to see will most likely end up in the rejected pile. Improve your chances of getting interview requests with these dos and don’ts.

Do include quantifiable data

Where possible, you should include tangible metrics on your CV, as these tend to be more impactful than vague statements and can give a better indication of the true value you have added to organisations. The quantifiable data you should incorporate will largely depend on your industry, but it may include monetary values to display sales successes or budgets you’ve managed, percentages to showcase cost-savings, and numbers to specify how many direct reports you had.

Don’t exaggerate or lie

If an employer discovers you have been dishonest on your CV, it can, at best, be embarrassing or, at worst, mean you’re terminated from the interview process or denied a job offer. Even what may seem like a small embellishment can make a hiring manager seriously question your integrity, so it’s important to make sure that all information on your CV, including qualifications, dates of employment and job titles, are accurate.

Do explain any gaps

It’s a good idea to briefly explain any gaps in employment or education history on your CV to avoid the hiring manager having unanswered questions when reviewing your application. A short sentence for each gap will suffice at this stage, as more detailed explanations should be saved for the interview process. Depending on the reasons for your gaps, mentioning them on your CV may mean that this line of questioning won’t even come up in your interview.

Don’t use unconventional formatting

Ditch the bright colours, borders and funky fonts, as rather than making you stand out from the crowd in a good way, they can actually be distracting and seem unprofessional. Instead, you should let your experience do the talking by using simple formatting. For the font, it’s sensible to choose between Arial, Times New Roman and Calibri to make you CV look clear and professional.

Do include exact employment dates

You should always include months as well as years in your employment history, otherwise your true tenure will be unclear. If you list your employment dates for a role as 2023-2024, for example, this could mean you worked there for almost two years (January 2023-December 2024) or less than two months (December 2023-January 2024). This lack of clarity may leave the hiring manager scratching their heads, and any confusion at this stage can impact your chances of securing an interview.

Don’t list irrelevant hobbies

Unless your hobbies are relevant to the position you’re applying for, or they showcase some impressive soft skills, it’s best to leave them off your CV altogether. They can act as a distraction from what the hiring manager is most interested in: your experience. That said, be sure to include any hobbies that you deem to be particularly notable or pertinent to your industry, such as volunteering activities, blogging or learning a language.

Do be mindful of CV length

Two pages is a good benchmark for CV length, though the ideal length can depend on your level of experience. If you have many years of experience, you might find it challenging to fit everything into two pages without sacrificing important details. In such cases, it's acceptable to extend beyond two pages, but try not to go too far. Research indicates that recruiters spend similar amounts of time on the first two pages, but much less on any additional pages.

Don’t make spelling or grammatical errors

Avoiding spelling and grammatical blunders on your CV is essential, as it can be immediately off-putting to employers. Always proofread your CV and consider using AI tools to help identify errors, especially if spelling and grammar aren't your strengths. Don’t just rely on spellcheck, as while these tools can catch many errors, they may allow some to slip through the net. For example, they might not catch a mistake like writing "form" instead of "from."

CV template

Want to start from scratch with creating a new CV? Simply copy and paste the below template into a Word document, then fill in the placeholders with your details as instructed. We've also included some advice from our experts to support you along the way.

Looking to put your revamped CV to good use? Check out our live vacancies – we add new roles daily.