The Ultimate CV Checklist

Contact Details

• Name, phone, and professional email address included.
• Location listed (no need for your full address).

Personal Profile

• A short, tailored summary at the top (4–6 lines).
• Highlight your skills, experience, and what you’re looking for next.

Key Skills

• Bullet-pointed list of your top 5–8 skills.
• Matches the job description where possible.

Work Experience

• Jobs listed in reverse order (most recent first).
• Job title, company, and dates clearly shown.
• Achievements listed with strong action verbs (e.g., “led”, “achieved”).
• Numbers used where possible to demonstrate results.

Education & Training

• Relevant qualifications and courses listed.
• Extra training or certificates added (e.g., software, first aid).

Tailored to Role

• Does your CV reflect the skills asked for in the job advert?
• Have you removed irrelevant info that doesn’t add value?

Format & Layout

• Clear, professional font (Arial, Calibri, etc).
• Consistent headings, spacing, and bullets.
• No photos or fancy fonts (unless a creative role).

Honesty & Gaps

• Any career breaks explained briefly (e.g., travel, study).
• No exaggerations or “creative writing”!

Proofreading

• Spelling and grammar checked.
• Read aloud once to catch errors.
• Checked by a friend for a second opinion.

IMPORTANT

Final Check

• CV is no longer than 2 pages.
• Updated with your latest role.
• Saved as a PDF (unless otherwise requested).