Why spending time on your CV is a great investment of your time

How to write a CV in 2025

Is Your CV Getting Lost in the Black Hole? How to Craft a Winning CV in 2025

Starting out your job search can be overwhelming; the process has changed significantly in recent times, making it getting a job more competitive than ever before. Most people feel disheartened by the job search process and comment that it often takes much longer than they imagined to secure a role.

Remember that your CV is your personal marketing document. Treat it as an investment in your career.

Crafting a strong CV requires time and effort. But by following our tips and leveraging the power of AI responsibly, you can increase your chances of landing your dream job in 2025.

When you submit your CV for a job application, it’s likely in 2025 that

• Your details are being filtered through an ATS (applicant tracking system). These systems scan for keywords and prioritise CVs that match the job description closely.

• AI-powered tools could review your credentials often with some bias, which could mean you are being unintentionally overlooked for jobs.

• There will be no human element; with the reliance on technology, the initial job search process will often feel impersonal.

Is there a way to get past technology and get an interview for the jobs you want?

Here are some of my top tips to write a great CV in 2025:

Start Fresh Start your CV from scratch each time you begin the search for a new job. Adding to an old CV can look mismatched, confusing the reader about your skills and intentions in a new role.

Think of the Reader Think of who will be reading your CV – would you pick yours out of a pile of 50 for this role? Did you clarify that you have the skills advertised in the job description? Don’t rush to submit your CV; you will only get one chance to be seen.

Consider a Skills Section: A dedicated skills section on your CV is crucial for showcasing your abilities to potential employers. It highlights both hard skills (technical expertise) and soft skills (interpersonal abilities), making it easier for recruiters to assess your suitability quickly. By tailoring the section to specific job requirements, using keywords, and quantifying your skills where possible, you can create a powerful and impactful CV that increases your chances of landing your dream job

Address Gaps and Changes Don’t leave the reader to make assumptions about your CV. Explain the gaps, why you moved on so soon, or why you changed industries. Ensure you are positive with the details; it will help them learn more about you.

Nail Your Profile Header Your profile header is critical. It’s your opportunity to tell them what you can do, what you have achieved, how you did it, and how that could benefit the new employer. Please don’t be shy here, make them so relevant to the targets of the role you are applying for.

Keep It Concise If your CV includes a few short-term roles that do not match or complement the job description at all, consider leaving them out, shortening the details, or thinking about which tasks within that role could be useful for the new position and using those instead. I often see a huge amount of text relating to a totally irrelevant and very short-term role, distracting me from the gold.

Use Action Verbs: Start each bullet point with a strong action verb (e.g., managed, developed, implemented, achieved). Avoid repeating the same opening line as it reads as lazy and unimaginative.

Make the Matches Your CV really has to match the job description, which includes titles, skills, qualifications, systems, and duties. Fold in the relevant keywords of your role and industry, as with AI doing a lot of the searching; it will rate you higher if you match the keywords in the job description. Be sure that it flows and is factual to your skills and experiences. Remember, the technology or person who is skimming your CV is looking for keywords; they will most often not be able (or willing) to read between the lines. Review your CV against a spec like you are playing snap! The more snaps, the better.

Quantify Achievements: Whenever possible, use numbers to demonstrate your accomplishments. For example, instead of saying “Increased sales,” say “Increased sales by 15% year on year or instead of “renewed customer accounts”, use “retained 97% of customers alongside a 3% price uplift”.

Perfect the Presentation Check the layout, font, spelling, and overall presentation. Bullet points are great because they allow the reader to skim through. Try to make it as easy as possible for the reader to get to the end without spotting something like a spelling mistake or font change that might stop them.

Sell Yourself A lot of people lack confidence when it comes to self-promotion, often hoping the reader will just guess that we are good. But guess what? They will assume you cannot do things without mentioning them! List out those work achievements, those things you are very proud of received praise for, or pushed through your comfort zone to deliver to the next level. The more you can show that you deliver on your goals, the more chance there is of being called for an interview.

Bonus Tip : Should the role require a qualification that you do not have but are actively pursuing and recognise as important, add in a line such as “In my next role, my objective is to gain a CIPD qualification as it is important to my career ambition to study towards this”. Whatever you don’t say will never be known (plus, AI will pick up on CIPD and put you in the yes pile – a sneaky win!).

In 2025, don’t underestimate the importance of giving your CV the time and thought it needs. In a busy world, you only get one chance to be seen, so attention to detail is key. Taking the time to tailor your CV to each opportunity and reviewing and refining it will help you stay relevant and increase your chances of success.

The Role of AI in CV Writing AI can be a valuable tool in CV writing, but it’s important to use it wisely. AI-powered tools can help you:

• Generate ideas: If you’re struggling to develop compelling content for your CV, AI can help you brainstorm ideas and generate text.
• Identify keywords: Many AI tools can help you identify relevant keywords to include in your CV, which can help your CV get past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

However, it’s important to remember that AI tools should be used to supplement your writing, not as a replacement. Always review and edit the AI-generated text to ensure it’s accurate, relevant, and reflects your unique skills and experience.

• Try not to be discouraged by silence or rejection, it is nearly always not you but how your CV was received. Every application is a learning opportunity. Analyse the job descriptions of roles where you weren’t successful and identify areas for improvement in your CV.
• Network with people in your field. Attend industry events, connect with professionals on LinkedIn, and reach out to your alumni network. These connections can provide valuable insights and potential job leads.
• Working with recruitment agencies that understand your background, story, needs, and ambitions can be a significant step in the right direction. These agencies can provide valuable support and guidance, matching you with roles that align with your career goals. Recruiters can help you to write a great CV in 2025. They can advocate on your behalf, helping to ensure that your skills and experiences are highlighted effectively. Collaborating with professionals in the recruitment field can enhance your job search experience and increase your chances of success.

By following these tips and staying up-to-date with the latest trends in CV writing, you can increase your chances of landing your dream job in 2025.

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