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How to Write a CV in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide with Examples

A practical guide to writing a CV that recruiters and ATS software both read: the right sections, order, length and wording, with examples for freshers and experienced candidates.

By . Updated . 2 min read.

Quick answer

For an industry job, start with contact details and a short profile, then add relevant experience, projects, skills and education. Use specific achievements and tailor the CV to the role. Academic applications may require a longer CV with publications and research; check the employer’s instructions.

Whether your country calls it a CV or a resume, the job is the same: show a recruiter in a few seconds that you fit the role. This guide covers the industry-style CV used in the UK, India, Europe and most of the world. (Applying for a research post? See CV vs resume for the academic version.)

1. Start with the right sections

Use these headings, in roughly this order. Standard names matter because ATS software looks for them.

  1. Name and contact details: phone, professional email, city and country, LinkedIn or portfolio link.
  2. Professional summary: 2–3 lines on who you are and what you bring (examples).
  3. Work experience: most recent first.
  4. Education.
  5. Skills: grouped, e.g. Languages, Tools, Methods.
  6. Optional: projects, certifications, languages, volunteering.

Freshers can move Education and Projects above Experience; see the fresher guide.

2. Write experience as results, not duties

Each role gets a title, company, location, dates and 3–5 bullets. Start every bullet with an action verb and finish with an outcome.

Before: Responsible for the company's social media accounts. After: Grew Instagram followers from 4k to 19k in a year by moving to a 3-posts-a-week video calendar.

Numbers make results believable. Our guide to quantifying achievements shows how to find them even when your job wasn't "numbers-driven".

3. Keep it the right length

  • 0–10 years' experience: 1 page is ideal, 2 is acceptable in the UK and India.
  • 10+ years: 2 pages.
  • Never: 3+ pages for an industry job.

Cut older roles to one line each before you shrink the font.

4. Format it so software can read it

  • One column, no tables or text boxes for layout.
  • Real text, not an image or a scanned page.
  • Standard fonts at 10–12 pt.
  • Save as PDF unless the employer asks for Word (PDF vs Word).

5. Tailor it for every application

Read the job post and mirror its key terms where they're true for you. If the post says "stakeholder management" and you "worked with clients and senior leaders", use their phrase. Recruiters search the ATS with those exact words.

6. Check before you send

  • Spelling and dates are consistent.
  • Every link opens.
  • Your email is professional (firstname.lastname@…).
  • The file is named Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf.

Resume Creator's health check flags missing sections, weak verbs, long summaries and broken links before you export, and every template is a CV template too.