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What to write on your CV: ideas for every situation
Staring at a blank document and thinking, “What am I supposed to write?” You’re not alone. A strong UK CV is not about fancy wording — it’s about choosing the right information, proving your value fast, and tailoring your content to the role.
CV ideas by section: what to write (and how to write it)
Header: keep it essential
Your CV header should help an employer contact you instantly — nothing more. Include your name, phone, professional email, location (city/region), and a LinkedIn/portfolio link if relevant.
Chloé Martin
London, UK · 07xxx xxx xxx · chloe.martin@email.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chloemartin · Portfolio: chloemartin.co.uk
Tip: add a portfolio only if it supports your target role (design, marketing, dev, writing, etc.).
More detail: Personal details to feature on your CV.
Personal statement ideas
A good personal statement answers three questions quickly: who you are, what you’re good at, and what you want next. Keep it specific and job-aligned.
- Simple formula: Job title + years/level + key strength + proof + target role
- Keyword tip: Pull 5–10 words from the job advert (tools, skills, job title) and reuse them naturally.
Example (experienced):
Detail-oriented Operations Coordinator with 5+ years’ experience improving processes in fast-paced logistics teams. Reduced order delays by 18% by introducing a simple tracking workflow and clearer handovers. Now seeking an operations role where I can streamline delivery performance and support continuous improvement.
Example (graduate / little experience):
Motivated Business Management graduate with strong teamwork and customer service skills built through part-time retail work and volunteering. Confident using Excel and presenting ideas clearly. Seeking an entry-level role where I can learn fast, support a team, and contribute from day one.
Full guide + more examples: CV personal statement.
Work experience ideas: turn duties into achievements
Recruiters don’t hire “responsible for…” — they hire outcomes. Your bullets should show impact, not job descriptions.
- Bullet formula: Action verb + what you did + how + result (ideally with a number)
- Keep it tight: 3–6 bullets per role (more only for highly relevant roles)
- Focus: your most recent and most relevant experience first (reverse chronological)
Achievement-led bullet ideas (examples):
- Improved customer satisfaction by 12% by rewriting help-centre templates and reducing response times.
- Cut stock discrepancies by 20% by introducing a clearer weekly checking routine.
- Supported a team of 6 during peak periods, maintaining service targets and queue flow.
More examples and formats: Work experience on a CV.
Skills ideas: list skills employers actually search for
The best skills section is short, job-specific, and proven elsewhere in your CV.
- Hard skills: tools, software, languages, certifications (easy to verify)
- Soft skills: communication, leadership, organisation — only if you back them up with examples
- Transferable skills: perfect for graduates and career changers (prove with projects/volunteering)
- Technical skills: Excel (PivotTables, VLOOKUP), Google Sheets, CRM (HubSpot), Canva, basic SQL
- Role-specific skills: customer onboarding, complaint handling, order tracking, reporting, stakeholder updates
- Soft skills (proof-led): communication, prioritisation, teamwork
- Languages: French (native), English (fluent)
Tip: mirror keywords from the job advert (tools, systems, responsibilities) and prove the top 2–3 skills in your work experience bullets.
See lists + examples: CV hard skills and CV soft skills.
Education ideas: what to include at each stage
Your education section should match your profile:
- School leaver / student: qualifications, key modules, projects, societies, responsibilities
- Graduate: degree + relevant projects/dissertation + placements + results if strong
- Experienced: keep it short (highest qualification + role-relevant certifications)
BSc Business Management — University of Manchester 2021–2024
Key modules: Marketing Strategy, Data Analysis, Project Management
Final project: “Improving customer retention in subscription services” (research + survey analysis)
Activities: Marketing Society (Events Coordinator), Volunteer Tutor
A Levels — Lycée International, Paris 2019–2021
Economics · Maths · English Literature
Tip: if you’re experienced, keep education shorter (highest qualification + relevant certifications only).
Deep dive: How to write the education section on a CV.
Projects, volunteering and certifications (high-value if you lack experience)
If you have limited experience (or you’re changing careers), this is where you can “prove skills” fast.
- Projects: treat them like a job entry (title, dates, 2–4 bullets, outcomes)
- Volunteering: show responsibility, teamwork, reliability, or relevant industry exposure
- Certifications: prioritise recognised, role-specific training (mention “in progress” if needed)
Volunteer Fundraising Assistant — Local Charity 2023–2024
- Supported event planning and coordinated volunteers during weekend fundraising activities.
- Handled cash-up and basic reporting, ensuring accurate records after each event.
Related: Internship CV (great structure for early-career profiles).
Hobbies and interests (only if they strengthen your application)
Hobbies are optional, but they can help you stand out — especially for entry-level roles — when they signal useful traits.
- Good: sports (consistency), volunteering (values), creative work (portfolio), team activities (collaboration)
- Avoid: generic fillers (“travelling”), anything controversial, or anything that takes space from stronger content
- Badminton (club level): regular training and competitions — shows consistency and teamwork.
- Volunteering: monthly community events support — shows reliability and initiative.
- Design projects: creating simple social media visuals for a local association — supports creative roles.
Tip: keep this section to 2–4 lines and choose hobbies that reinforce your fit for the role.
CV ideas by situation: what to focus on
Not every CV should look the same. What you write — and what you highlight first — depends on your situation. Use the sections below to focus on the content that matters most for your profile, so recruiters can understand your value in seconds.
If you’re an experienced candidate
- Lead with achievements and measurable impact (numbers, scale, outcomes).
- Trim older or irrelevant roles (1–2 bullets max, or remove).
- Keep education short; prioritise recent certifications and tools.
If you’re a graduate (or have little experience)
- Bring education, projects, placements and volunteering higher up the page.
- Use your personal statement to connect your skills to the job you want.
- Include a short “Projects” or “Relevant experience” section to prove your skills.
See: Graduate CV.
If you have no work experience
- Use “Experience” broadly: part-time work, volunteering, uni projects, societies, personal projects.
- Write bullets about outcomes (what you improved, delivered, organised, created).
- Add a skills section that matches the job advert (and prove those skills in projects).
If you’re changing careers
- Use a combination CV approach: relevant skills first, then proof (projects, achievements, transferable experience).
- Translate your past experience into the new role’s language (tools, outcomes, stakeholders).
- Add relevant training/certifications to “bridge the gap”.
If you have gaps or a scattered job history
- Don’t hide gaps with fake dates — explain them briefly and calmly.
- Group short contracts under one heading if needed (“Temporary roles – various employers”).
- Choose a format that makes your strengths easy to see (combination can work well).
Full guide: Gaps in the CV.
If you’re applying for temporary / contract work
- Prioritise the most relevant experience for the assignment (not your full history).
- Show reliability: availability, flexibility, fast onboarding, and proven routine tasks.
- Keep it short and easy to scan (recruiters move fast on temp roles).
Final checklist: make your CV easy to scan (and ATS-friendly)
Before you hit “send”, use this quick checklist to make sure your CV is clear, relevant, and easy to scan. These small tweaks can make a big difference — both for recruiters and applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- Tailor it: adjust your personal statement, skills and top bullets to each job advert.
- Keep it readable: clear headings, consistent spacing, bullet points (avoid walls of text).
- Choose the right format: reverse chronological works best for most UK candidates.
- Proofread: spelling, dates, job titles, links, and file name.
FAQ: What to write on your CV?
What should I write on my CV if I have no experience?
What should I write in my personal statement?
What are the best skills to put on a CV?
How many bullet points should I write for each job?
How do I write strong work experience bullet points?
What should I write on my CV if I have employment gaps?
Should I include hobbies and interests on my CV?
Do I need to include every job I’ve ever had?
How do I make my CV ATS-friendly without making it boring?
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