As manager who receives hundreds of CVs every month, I can tell you – most people are making the same mistakes. Your CV isn’t just a document; it’s your first impression. It can open doors or be thrown out in seconds. So, let’s get straight to the CV checklist.
I’ll walk you through exactly what to include in a professional CV, what to leave out, and how to make sure your CV actually lands you an interview. It’s not rocket science. There’s really no reason for you to have slip-ups with this.
1. Keep It Simple – #1 CV Checklist Tip
Hiring managers don’t have time to read your life story or to learn about your hobby of socializing with friends over the weekends. A two-page CV is plenty to highlight your skills, experience, and achievements. Anything longer? You’re losing them.
💡 Pro tip: Canva has tons of free CV templates that are professional and simple.
2. Contact Info That’s Professional and Easy to Find
Right at the top, make sure your contact details are:
✅ Up to date (seriously, double-check your phone number!)
✅ Professional (if your email address has funny or unprofessional words in it, create a new one. A new Gmail email address can be created in seconds – and it’s free.)
✅ Clean and clear (no weird fonts, no tiny text)
💡 Pro tip: You don’t need your full address. Just your city and country are fine.
3. A Strong Opening
Instead of a fluffy “Objective Statement” (which employers skip), start with a short, punchy Professional Summary:
- Who you are (e.g., “Results-driven project manager with 7+ years of experience…”)
- What you bring to the table
- Why you’re a great fit for the role
💡 Keep it 3-5 sentences max—think of it as your elevator pitch!
💡 CV Checklist Pro tip: If you get stuck on this, simply open ChatGPT (or your preferred AI writing tool) and ask it for help. The prompt can be as simple as: “Please write my 4-sentence, simple summary to be added as the opening paragraph of my CV. It should highlight my experience in [add role or skills that would be relevant]. Ask me questions to help you guide in writing the summary.”
4. Work Experience: Make It Easy to Skim
List your most recent jobs first. For each role, include:
✅ Your job title
✅ Company name & location
✅ Dates of employment
✅ Key responsibilities & achievements (keep it bullet-pointed & results-focused)
🚀 Tip: Show impact, not just duties. Instead of “Handled customer calls,” say “Managed 50+ daily customer inquiries, maintaining a 98% satisfaction rating.”
5. Tailor Your CV to Each Job
I get it – you want to send your CV to 1,000 places. But if you don’t tweak it per job, you’re reducing your chances big time. Besides keeping it simple, this is the most crucial tip in the CV Checklist.
Example:
- If you’re a software developer and the job ad screams C#, make sure that’s front and center.
- If you’re applying for a Team Lead role and you already lead a team, don’t bury that info on page 2. Put it at the top!
Hiring managers don’t dig through CVs. If they don’t see what they’re looking for fast, they move on.
6. Education (but Make it Relevant)
Include:
- Your highest degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, etc.)
- Where you studied
- Graduation year (optional if it was forever ago)
⛔ Skip your school marks unless specifically asked. If an employer wants them, they’ll ask.
7. Key Skills: Get Specific
Your skills section should be:
✅ Relevant to the job (leave out the fluff like “Microsoft Office”)
✅ A mix of hard skills (coding, project management, data analysis) and soft skills (leadership, problem-solving)
8. A Professional Photo (If You Include One, Make It Work for You)
A CV photo isn’t mandatory, but if you add one, make sure it’s:
✅ Professional-looking (no beach pics, no bathroom selfies)
✅ Well-lit and clear
✅ Friendly but polished
A bad photo is worse than no photo. If in doubt, leave it out.
9. Certifications and Extra Training
Courses, workshops, or industry certifications? List them! This is especially key if:
- You’re changing careers
- You need to prove technical skills
10. LinkedIn Profile (Only If It’s Up to Date!)
A solid LinkedIn profile can boost your credibility. If yours is strong, add the link to your CV.
⛔ But if it’s outdated, don’t include it.
11. Languages (If You Speak More Than One, Flaunt It)
Fluency in multiple languages is a huge plus, especially for global companies or if you work in a country where multiple languages are spoken. Be honest about your proficiency level.
What to Avoid in Your CV
The final section of the CV Checklist is just as crucial as the first. Don’t overlook it!
🚫 Irrelevant info (e.g., hobbies like “Netflix and chill”, “socializing with friends”, or “drinking too much coffee”)
🚫 Too much personal detail (date of birth, marital status, number of children, no one needs to know this)
🚫 Weird fonts & colors (keep it clean and professional – unless of course you apply for a creative role where a creative or quirky CV would be the norm)
🚫 Spelling mistakes (triple-check, then have a friend check too!)
CV Checklist – Final Thoughts: Make It Easy for Hiring Managers
A great CV isn’t about fancy design or excessive detail. It’s about clarity, relevance, and making it effortless for the hiring manager to say, “YES, let’s go for an interview!”
Before hitting send, ask yourself:
✅ Is my CV 2 pages max?
✅ Are my biggest strengths easy to find?
✅ Have I checked for typos?
✅ Does it look clean and professional?
If you can tick all those boxes of this CV checklist, you’re good to go.
For more tips on advancing in your career, be sure to check out my blog.