CV writing guide
A CV recruiters actually read.
Recruiters decide whether to read on in well under a minute. This guide shows you how to put the important facts where they will be seen, and how to describe your work so it stands out.
The first read
What a recruiter checks first
On a first read, a recruiter is answering four questions: what you do now, what level you work at, where you are based, and whether your recent results match the role. If those answers are easy to find, your CV gets a proper read.
- Current title and employer, with dates, at the top of your experience.
- Total and relevant experience, stated in your summary.
- Location, notice period and willingness to relocate, near your contact details.
- Two or three measurable results in your most recent role.
Structure
Six sections, in this order
- 01Contact details
Name, mobile number, professional email, current city, LinkedIn URL. Add notice period here as well; Indian recruiters ask about it first.
- 02Professional summary
Three or four lines: your role, years of experience, specialism, and the result you are best known for. Write it for the role you want next.
- 03Experience
Most recent first. For each role: title, employer, city, dates, one line on scope (team size, budget, region), then three to six results.
- 04Skills
Tools, systems, methods and certifications that the job description asks for. Group them, and leave out generic traits like "hard-working".
- 05Education
Degree, institution and year. Add professional qualifications such as CA, CFA, PMP or a nursing registration.
- 06Optional extras
Languages, publications, awards or relevant volunteering. Only include them if they support the role.
Wording
Show results, not duties
A duty describes what you were supposed to do. A result shows what changed because you did it. Use this pattern: action + what you worked on + measurable outcome.
| Instead of | Write |
|---|---|
| Responsible for month-end close | Cut month-end close from 8 days to 5 by automating three reconciliations |
| Handled key accounts | Grew a portfolio of 14 enterprise accounts by 22% in revenue over two years |
| Managed recruitment for the plant | Hired 60 technicians in four months for a new production line, with 90% still in role after a year |
| Worked on the mobile app | Rebuilt checkout in the mobile app, reducing drop-off at payment by 15% |
If you cannot share exact figures, use proportions, rankings or scale: "top three of 40 branch managers", "a team of 12", "a ₹30 crore budget".
Formatting
Make it easy to read
- Two pages for most professionals; three only for senior roles with long relevant histories.
- A clean, single-column layout. Tables, text boxes and graphics often break when your CV is read by applicant-tracking software.
- One standard font at 10–12 points, with clear headings.
- Save as PDF unless the employer asks for Word, and name the file with your name and role.
- Use the same job titles and dates as your LinkedIn profile.
- Leave out photographs, date of birth, marital status, religion and family details unless an employer specifically asks.
- Don't include salary on your CV; it belongs in your application or a conversation with your recruiter.
- Keep roles older than ten years to one or two lines each.
- Explain gaps in a line rather than leaving them unexplained.
- Check spelling, dates and contact details twice.
Tailoring
Adjust it for each application
You don't need a new CV for every job, but you should adjust the summary and the order of your results so the most relevant appear first. Read the job description, note the three requirements that matter most, and make sure each is visibly supported in your first page.
When you apply through Believers HR, your consultant will tell you what the employer values most and whether anything in your CV needs clarifying before it is shared.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Should I write a cover letter?
For most roles applied through a recruiter, a short note in the application is enough. For senior or career-change applications, a half-page letter explaining your motivation helps.
How far back should my CV go?
Give detail for the last ten to fifteen years. Summarise earlier roles in a single line each.
Should I include my current CTC?
Not on the CV. Our application form asks for current and expected CTC separately, and that information is shared only with employers you apply to.
Do I need a different CV for each industry?
Only if you are changing industry. Otherwise, tailor the summary and the order of your results.
Can Believers HR review my CV?
When you apply for a role, the consultant handling it reviews your CV against the brief and will tell you if something needs to be clarified.
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