How To Write a CV in 2026 (+ Examples & ATS Tips)

Your CV is no longer just a document for recruiters. In 2026, your CV may first be reviewed by:

• Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
• AI-powered screening tools
• recruiter search databases
• semantic matching systems

That means a good CV needs to work for both humans and machines.

The good news? Writing a strong CV is much easier once you understand how modern hiring actually works. In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to create a CV that is:

• recruiter-friendly
• ATS-friendly
• AI-readable
• tailored to the job you want

If you are looking for a US-style resume instead, read our guide on how to write a resume.

What is a CV?

A CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a document used to apply for jobs. It summarizes your:

• work experience
• education
• skills
• qualifications
• achievements

In the UK, the terms “CV” and “resume” are often used interchangeably. In the US, however, a CV usually refers to a longer academic or research-focused document.

For a deeper explanation, read our guide on CV vs. resume.

How to write a CV – step-by-step

Here are the essential steps to writing a modern CV in 2026:

Choose the right CV format

Write a targeted CV headline

Add professional contact information

Write a strong CV summary

Add relevant work experience

Use keywords and action verbs

Add your education

Showcase relevant skills

Add optional sections if relevant

Write a matching cover letter

Choose your CV format

Your CV format affects both readability and ATS compatibility. There are three common CV formats:

Reverse chronological CV format
This is the most popular and recruiter-friendly format. It lists your most recent experience first and works best if you have relevant work experience.

Functional (skill-based) CV format
This format focuses more on skills than experience. It can work for career changers or candidates with limited experience.

Hybrid (combination) CV format
A combination of skills and work experience. Useful if you have transferable skills but limited professional experience.

For most job seekers, the reverse chronological format is the best option. Recruiters prefer it because it clearly shows career progression and recent experience.

Read more in our guide on CV formats.

Best CV format for ATS and AI systems in 2026

Modern ATS systems and AI hiring tools work best with:

• single-column layouts
• standard section headings
• simple formatting
• clear typography

Avoid:

• graphics
• text boxes
• excessive icons
• complicated layouts
• multi-column designs

We tested this extensively in our guide on ATS-friendly vs. graphic CVs.

If you want to save time, using a professional CV template is often the easiest solution. Our CV templates are designed to work well for both recruiters and ATS systems.

Write your CV headline

Your CV headline is usually your:

• name
• professional title

Example:

• Marketing Manager
• Registered Nurse
• Software Engineer
• Project Coordinator

However, in 2026 it is important to tailor your title to the job description whenever appropriate. Why? Because recruiters and ATS systems often search for exact job titles.

For example:

If a company is hiring a Marketing Manager, but your previous title was “Marketing Executive,” you may still want to use “Marketing Manager” if it accurately reflects your responsibilities.

Many companies now use applicant tracking systems and AI-powered search tools to identify candidates.

That’s why tailoring your CV to each role matters more than ever.

Add your contact information

Your contact information should appear near the top of your CV.

Include:

• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Town/city and county
• LinkedIn profile
• Portfolio or website (if relevant)

We recommend avoiding:

• full street address
• unnecessary personal details
• photos

Most recruiters in the UK do not expect a photo on a CV. 

Should you add LinkedIn to your CV?

Yes — especially if your profile is updated and professional. Recruiters often compare your CV with your LinkedIn profile during the hiring process.

Read more here:

LinkedIn summary 
how to optimize your LinkedIn profile

Write a strong CV summary

Your CV summary is one of the most important sections on your CV.

Recruiters often spend only seconds scanning a CV initially. Your summary should quickly communicate:

• who you are
• what you specialize in
• what value you bring

A strong CV summary in 2026 should include:

• your professional identity
• years of experience
• industry expertise
• measurable achievements
• keywords relevant to the role

Keep it short:

• 2–4 sentences
• highly relevant
• achievement-focused

Example CV summary

“Store Manager with 12+ years of experience in retail operations, customer service, and sales leadership. Increased customer satisfaction by 83% through self-service implementation and improved staff retention across multiple locations.”

Weak vs strong CV summary

Relevant work experience

Your work experience section is usually the most important part of your CV. This is where recruiters and AI systems evaluate:

• relevance
• responsibilities
• achievements
• career progression
• business impact

How recruiters read CVs in 2026

Most recruiters do not read every CV line-by-line initially.

Instead, they typically:

• Scan job titles
• Look for relevant keywords
• Check recent experience
• Search for measurable achievements
• Compare your experience to the job description

That means your CV should be:

• easy to scan
• tailored to the role
• achievement-focused
• clearly structured

Only include relevant experience

Do not include every job you have ever had.

Focus on:

• relevant experience
• transferable skills
• recent roles
• measurable impact

In most cases, going back more than 10 years is unnecessary unless older experience is highly relevant.

Structure each work experience like this

• Job title
• Company name
• Location
• Employment dates
• 3–5 bullet points with achievements and responsibilities

Example:

Weak bullet point
“Responsible for social media.”

Strong bullet point
“Managed multi-platform social media campaigns that increased engagement by 62% within 6 months.”

Another strong example:

“Led a team of 12 employees and reduced sick leave by 37% through improved scheduling and feedback processes.”

Use the STAR method

One of the best ways to improve your work experience section is by using the STAR method.

The STAR method helps you explain:

• Situation
• Task
• Action
• Result

This makes your achievements much more convincing and measurable.

No experience yet? If you are new to the workforce, read:

how to write a resume with no experience

Use keywords and action verbs

Modern ATS systems and AI hiring tools use semantic matching to evaluate CVs. That means they analyze:

• skills
• job titles
• context
• related terminology
• measurable results

ATS systems now use semantic matching

Modern hiring systems do not only search for exact keywords.

For example:

• “Customer Support”
• “Customer Success”
• “Client Relations”

may be interpreted as related skills.

However, using the same terminology as the job description still improves your chances significantly.

How to optimize your CV with keywords

• Read the job description carefully
• Highlight important skills and phrases
• Naturally include these terms throughout your CV
• Match relevant job titles where appropriate
• Use power words

Strong action verbs make your achievements more impactful.

Examples of strong action words:

• Led
• Increased
• Improved
• Managed
• Built
• Developed
• Optimized
• Reduced
• Coordinated

Read more here:

power words

Education

Your education section should be concise and relevant. In most cases, you should include:

• degree
• institution
• location
• graduation year

You usually do not need to include:

• primary school
• secondary school
• unrelated coursework

Education example

Bachelor of Graphic Design
Strohacker Design School
Chichester, UK
2010-2014

As you can see it’s just a matter of entering your data and you’re all set. The outcome looks like this: 

Adding skills to your CV

Your skills section should support the rest of your CV — not replace it.

Recruiters increasingly look for:

• proof of skills
• measurable outcomes
• contextual relevance

Hard skills vs soft skills

Hard skills
Technical or measurable skills learned through:

• education
• training
• work experience

Examples:

• Excel
• Python
• SEO
• accounting
• CRM systems

Soft skills
Personal and interpersonal strengths.

Examples:

• communication
• leadership
• problem-solving
• teamwork
• adaptability

Read more here:

soft skills and hard skills
interpersonal skills

Best practices for skills sections in 2026

Focus on:

• job-relevant skills
• technical tools
• measurable competencies
• ATS keywords

Avoid:

• generic buzzwords
• huge skill lists
• vague descriptions

Weak skills section

• Team player
• Hard worker
• Motivated

Strong skills section

• Google Analytics 4
• Meta Ads
• SQL
• Budget forecasting
• Stakeholder management
• B2B lead generation

How to make your CV AI-friendly in 2026

Modern hiring increasingly involves AI-assisted screening. To improve your CV’s readability:

• use standard headings
• avoid graphics and tables
• use consistent formatting
• include measurable achievements
• tailor keywords to the job
• use reverse chronological order

Many recruiters now search databases using:

• job titles
• skills
• certifications
• industry keywords

A clean and structured CV improves both recruiter readability and machine readability.

Optional additional sections

Additional sections can strengthen your CV when relevant.

Examples:

• Certifications
• Volunteer work
• Projects
• Awards
• Languages
• Publications

Only include sections that strengthen your application.

Examples:

• Volunteer leadership experience
• Relevant certifications
• Technical projects
• Industry awards

Common CV mistakes in 2026

Many job seekers still:

• send the same CV everywhere
• overload the skills section
• use vague descriptions
• avoid measurable results
• use difficult layouts
• ignore ATS compatibility
• fail to tailor keywords

But the biggest mistake? Focusing on responsibilities instead of results. Recruiters care more about:

• what changed
• what improved
• what you achieved

Supplement your CV with a cover letter

A cover letter can still strengthen your application significantly.

Especially when:

• changing careers
• applying competitively
• explaining gaps
• adding motivation and context

Unless the employer specifically says otherwise, it is generally worth including one.

Use a matching cover letter template to create a more professional application.

You can also read: cover letter format

What is a good CV? Examples

Sometimes the easiest way to improve your CV is by studying strong examples.

Below are examples of CVs created using our templates.

Project Manager CV example

Graphic Designer CV example

Digital Marketing CV example

How to write a CV with no experience

Not everyone has years of professional experience — and that’s okay.

If you are:

• recently graduated
• changing careers
• entering the workforce

focus on:

• transferable skills
• projects
• internships
• volunteer work
• education
• achievements

How to build a strong CV without experience

• Analyze the job description carefully
• Identify relevant skills and keywords
• Include projects and achievements
• Highlight transferable skills
• Use internships and volunteer work
• Focus on measurable contributions

Transferable skills can include:

• communication
• leadership
• teamwork
• organization
• customer service
• technical proficiency

Create a professional CV optimized for recruiters and ATS systems

Build a modern CV using ATS-friendly templates designed for today’s hiring process. Improve readability, optimize keywords, and create a professional application faster.

Already have a CV lying around that needs updating? Import it into our CV builder in one step and start improving it today. 

Import my CV now