BEDFORDSHIRE, UK. March 19th, 2025 – Leading education recruitment company Teaching Tomorrow has collaborated with nine recruitment experts across education, marketing, hospitality, finance, tech and wider industries to reveal critical elements to write and format a CV to make candidates as hireable as possible.
Their collective insights, drawn from decades of industry experience, highlight recruitment best practices for crafting a CV that cuts through the noise.
The experts’ ten pieces of advice for the perfect CV are as follows:
1. Tailoring Is Non-Negotiable
Every expert emphasised adapting the CV to the specific role. Adam Shulman (Teaching Tomorrow) said: “A generic CV is a missed opportunity—recruiters want to see alignment with the job’s core requirements.” Joseph Berry (Stonegate Group) adds, “Relevance streamlines the hiring process and signals genuine interest.”
2. Clarity and Structure Win
The experts advised that a clean, logical layout is essential. Kevin Nixon (Partnerscale) said: “Use bullet points, clear headings, and a professional font. For non-design roles, avoid graphics.” Stephen Belcher (TeachingTomorrow) added: “A well-structured CV lets recruiters instantly grasp your career trajectory.”
3. Quantifiable Achievements Over Responsibilities
Recruiters prioritise measurable impact, according to the experts. Sam Pipkin (ReKinect) said: “Phrases like ‘increased sales by 34%’ prove value better than vague duties.” Rauiri Galashan (Lloyds Banking Group) added: “Focus on your contributions—use ‘I,’ not ‘we.’”
4. Demonstrate Career Progression
The experts claimed that unexplained job-hopping raises red flags. Stephen Belcher said: “Continuity and promotions within a company show adaptability and trust.” Jim Bluck (Quest Employment) advises addressing gaps head-on. He said: “Briefly note career breaks or upskilling periods.”
5. ATS (Applicant Tracking System) Compliance Is Critical
Pippa Owens (Bright Lights Experience) said: “If your CV isn’t ATS-friendly, it won’t reach human eyes.” Experts advised using standard headings (e.g. “Work Experience”) and avoiding columns or complex formatting.
6. Craft a Compelling Personal Summary
Kevin Nixon recommends a “super-relevant” opening statement. He said: “A concise, mission-driven summary grabs attention instantly.” For example: “Digital Marketing Manager with 7+ years in B2B roles, with demonstrable experience driving organic growth.”
7. Highlight Soft Skills
Jim Bluck said: “Teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability are vital in fast-paced industries like logistics.” Experts advised candidates to pair these with role-specific technical skills.
8. Two Pages Max
Experts unanimously agreed that brevity is key. Kealie Shulman (Teaching Tomorrow) said: “Overloading details dilutes your message.” Candidates are advised to focus on recent, relevant roles.
9. Consistency Across Platforms
Adam Shulman said: “Discrepancies between your CV and LinkedIn profile erode trust.” He urged candidates to check that dates, job titles and achievements match.
10. Proofread Relentlessly
Rauiri Galashan said: “Typos or formatting errors suggest carelessness.” He advised enlisting a friend or mentor to review.
Why This Matters
With hiring managers spending seconds per CV, the experts said these non-negotiables ensure the best applicants rise to the top. Adam Shulman said:, “Make your CV so obviously relevant, it’s impossible to ignore.”
ENDS
