Your CV has one job: to get you an interview. Employers and recruiters often look at a large number of applications for a single role, so the first look at your CV is usually quick. In that time they want to see three things: what you do, what you have done, and whether you fit the role in front of them.
A good CV makes that easy. It is clear, well organised and focused on the job you are applying for. This guide takes you through how to put one together, section by section, with the mistakes to avoid and a checklist to run through before you send it.
Before you start
Gather everything you need in one place first. It is much easier to write a strong CV when you are not trying to remember dates and details as you go.
- A list of every role you have held, with the employer, your job title and your start and finish dates (month and year is enough).
- Your main responsibilities in each role, and anything you improved, achieved or were trusted with.
- Qualifications, courses and training, including practical certificates and licences such as Safe Pass, manual handling, first aid, forklift or a full driving licence.
- The systems, software and equipment you have used.
- The job advert or description for the role you are applying for.
How long should a CV be?
For most people, two pages is the right length. If you are starting out, with limited work history, one page is fine. Senior, technical or specialist candidates sometimes need a little more space, but only if everything on the page is relevant. A short, focused CV is far more effective than a long one that makes the reader search for the important parts.
Layout and format
Keep the design simple. Fancy templates, columns, graphics and photos make a CV harder to read and can cause problems with the software some employers use to sort applications.
- Use one clear, readable font in a size between 10 and 12 points, with slightly larger headings.
- Use clear section headings and keep the spacing consistent throughout.
- Use short bullet points rather than long paragraphs.
- List your experience in reverse order, with your most recent role first.
- Save and send it as a PDF unless the employer asks for a Word document, and give the file a clear name, such as Mary-Murphy-CV.pdf.
What to include, section by section
Contact details
Put your name, phone number, email address and the town or county where you live at the top. A link to your LinkedIn profile is useful if it is up to date. Use a sensible, professional email address.
You do not need to include a photo, your date of birth, your marital status or your nationality. Never put your PPS number on your CV. An employer will only need it once you have been offered a job.
Profile
A short profile at the top tells the reader who you are and what you are looking for. Keep it to three or four lines, and make it specific to you rather than a list of general qualities that anyone could claim.
For example: “Production operative with four years’ experience in medical device manufacturing, working in cleanroom environments on day and evening shifts. Trained in GMP and line clearance, with a strong record on quality and attendance. Looking for a permanent role in Clare or Limerick.”
Work experience
This is the most important section. For each role, include your job title, the employer, the location and your dates, followed by three to six bullet points.
The best bullet points show what you achieved, not just what you were responsible for. Where you can, add numbers, results or examples.
- Instead of “Responsible for stock control”, try “Managed stock for a warehouse of 2,000 product lines, reducing stock discrepancies by carrying out weekly cycle counts.”
- Instead of “Dealt with customer queries”, try “Handled up to 60 customer calls a day, resolving most queries on the first call.”
- Instead of “Trained new staff”, try “Trained eight new starters on line procedures and safety checks during a busy production period.”
If you have had several short-term or contract roles doing similar work, you can group them under one heading, for example “Temporary warehouse roles, 2023 to 2024”, and list the employers underneath.
Skills
List the skills that are relevant to the job: technical skills, systems and software, equipment, languages and licences. Practical, specific skills are more useful to an employer than general qualities such as “hard working” or “team player”, which are better shown through examples in your experience section.
Education and training
Include your qualifications, the name of the college or school and the year you completed them. Add relevant courses, certificates and professional training. The more experience you have, the less detail you need here. If you are early in your career, this section can come before your work experience.
Additional information
Volunteering, community involvement or interests can add something useful, particularly if they show skills or commitment that are relevant to the role. Keep this section short.
References
You do not need to write “References available on request”. Employers will assume this. Instead, make sure you have two referees ready, ideally recent managers, and ask their permission before giving out their details.
Tailor your CV to each role
Sending the same CV for every job is one of the most common reasons people do not hear back. You do not need to rewrite it each time, but you should adjust it.
- Read the job advert carefully and note the skills, experience and qualifications the employer is asking for.
- Make sure the evidence that you have those things is easy to find, and move the most relevant points to the top of each role.
- Adjust your profile so it reflects the type of role you are applying for.
- Use your own words. Copying phrases from the job advert word for word rarely reads well; showing how your experience matches is what counts.
Gaps, career changes and other situations
Gaps in your work history
Gaps are common and are rarely a problem if you explain them briefly and honestly. A single line is usually enough, for example “Career break to care for a family member” or “Travelling, 2022”. If you studied, volunteered or picked up new skills during that time, include it.
Changing career or sector
Focus on transferable skills: the things you did in previous roles that apply to the new one, such as working to quality standards, handling customers, managing schedules or leading a team. Use your profile to explain the move in a sentence.
Your first job
If you have little or no work experience, lead with your education and include part-time jobs, summer work, volunteering, sports or school projects. These all show reliability, teamwork and responsibility.
Operational and shift-based roles
For production, warehouse, logistics and similar roles, employers want to know quickly that you have the right certificates, that you understand safety and quality procedures, and which shift patterns you have worked. Put this information where it is easy to see.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Spelling and grammar errors. Read your CV out loud, and ask someone else to check it.
- Out-of-date contact details.
- Long paragraphs that hide the important information.
- Listing duties without showing what you achieved.
- Unexplained gaps or dates that do not add up.
- Including personal details that are not needed, such as your PPS number or date of birth.
- Sending the same CV for every role.
Checklist before you send it
- Your contact details are correct and your email address is professional.
- Your profile is specific to you and to the type of role you are applying for.
- Your experience is in reverse order, with clear job titles and dates.
- Your bullet points show results and examples, not just duties.
- The skills and experience the employer asked for are easy to find.
- Your certificates, licences and training are listed.
- Any gaps are explained briefly.
- It is two pages or fewer, unless there is a good reason for more.
- You have checked it for spelling and grammar.
- It is saved as a PDF with a clear file name.
Next steps
Once your CV is ready, browse current vacancies or register your CV with eFlexes and we will have your details on file when suitable opportunities become available.
