How to Write a Good CV in 2024 to Land Interviews

With the advancement in technology, you would think that young job professionals and fresh graduates should be more adept in writing a good CV in 2024. However, based on surveys conducted by industry experts, about 75% of resumes never make it past an ATS screening. That means a human hiring manager may never even see your Curriculum Vitae (CV) if it’s not optimized for the application tracking system.

In today’s fast-paced and highly competitive job market, having a well-crafted CV is crucial to standing out from the crowd and landing your dream job. With recruiters and hiring managers constantly receiving hundreds of applications for a single role, your CV needs to be a compelling sales pitch that showcases your skills, achievements, and unique value proposition.

The job market is becoming increasingly digitized- everything is getting digitalized now actually– and the way we present ourselves to potential employers is evolving. To stay ahead of the curve, your CV should not only be visually appealing but should also be optimized for an applicant tracking systems (ATS) and tailored to the specific needs of each job application.

How do you write a good CV in 2024 then, you might ask. Well, not to worry Champ, that’s what I’m here to show you. Stick around.

Table of Content

Important Features of a Good CV in 2024

Every well-written CV has some key attributes that make them stand out. Let’s run through them now, shall we? Don’t trip.

Clear and Concise Format

First thing to focus on is the arrangement of your CV. It should be well aligned and easy to read. You can achieve this by using a very detailed and nice layout, proper paragraphing, accurate headers, bullet points to list, and having enough white space. This will enhance the overall visual appeal of your CV, making a positive impression on the reader as they easily navigate through the document, quickly picking up the relevant details they seek.

Fun to note, you can customize the layout of your CV depending on your role. For certain roles, such as those in creative industries like graphic design or marketing, you have more freedom to incorporate aesthetic elements into your CV design. In these cases, you can use colors, unique fonts, and creative layouts to showcase your creativity and stand out from other applicants.

However, for more traditional or technical roles, it is advisable to keep the design simple and focused more on the content of your CV.

---

---

Professional Summary

Champ! This right here can make or mar your application. It’s usually the first thing recruiters look at when reviewing CVs or resumes. A well-put-together profile summary should immediately capture the attention of recruiters and allow them to quickly assess your suitability for the position and decide whether or not to dig deeper into your CV. This section should capture an overview of your career goals, experience and sellable qualities.

Quantifiable Experience

Another important feature that your CV should have is your past and present job qualifications. The only time you can overlook this section of the CV is if you are a fresh graduate or undergraduate without any valuable work experience. Then you can focus on your volunteer projects or transferable skills.

Education & Certifications

Here is where you should list out your educational background and any relevant certifications you’ve obtained. This helps to demonstrate how your education and training align with your career goals, showcasing your expertise and qualifications in the field. Details such as degrees earned, academic achievements, and professional certifications can further strengthen your CV and make you a more competitive candidate. To create a good CV in 2024, it is advisable not to include elementary school information; start with your high school background. But, if you have an extensive list of graduate or post-graduate educational background suited to the role, you can equally exclude that.

You don’t have to wait till you enroll in a school, you can advance your education profile by taking free or paid certification courses. It shows that you have taken the initiative to further your education and expand your knowledge in your field of interest which can be highly valued by employers, especially for fresh graduates. You’ll find lots of amazing free courses on sites like Google and Microsoft. You can also take up tailored courses by advanced professionals on Unify to boost your employment prospects.  

Transferable Skills

Transferable skills are those abilities and qualities that can be applied across different industries and job roles. In your field, these skills can be valuable assets that set you apart from other candidates. For example, strong communication skills can help you effectively convey complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, while problem-solving skills can help you to find innovative solutions to problems that are specific to your industry.

So, by showcasing transferable skills in your CV, you demonstrate your adaptability and versatility in applying your expertise to new contexts.

Error-Free Writing

Writing an error-free CV is highly important. A single grammatical error, or punctuation mistake can raise doubts about your attention to detail, and credibility. Here are some tips to ensure error-free writing in your CV:

• Proofread multiple times; and each time, focus on a specific aspect, such as spelling, grammar, or punctuation. You can send it to a second pair of eyes to review further.
• Try using grammar and spell check tools like Grammarly, Wordtune, Quillbot, etc to review your work. These tools can be added as extensions in your writing software, but don’t rely solely on them.
• Ensure your writing format, font, and styling stays consistent throughout the CV.
• Be mindful of homophones. Words like “their,” “there,” and “they’re” gets easily confused; make sure to use the correct ones.
• Double-check numbers and dates: Verify the accuracy of dates, numbers, and statistics to avoid errors.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Good CV in 2024

Listing Responsibilities Instead of Results

When discussing your job experience, the focus should be on the impact you made in that role not just the duties carried out. Use numbers and data to quantify the results of your output and the value of your achievements. This will help you stand out amongst applicants because recruiters can see your value straight up.

Improper Arrangement of Experience by Dates

When listing your work experience on your CV, it is best to arrange your roles in reverse chronological order. You want your most recent and relevant experience prioritized, not your oldest experiences. Also, always add start and end dates for each role highlighting the month and years. This format allows recruiters and hiring managers to quickly see your career progression and relevance to the job opening. Improper arrangement of experience dates can lead to confusion and raise concerns.

Not Tailoring Your CV to the Job You’re Applying for

Sending out generic CVs to multiple job openings reduces your chances of standing out. As you grow in your career, your vision and roles become more specific and less generalized. This should be reflected in your CV, especially when applying for specific jobs. For instance, you shouldn’t apply for the role of Data Scientist with a CV that only share your work experience as a Sales Personnel.

Giving out Unnecessary Information

Sadly, many people are still stuck in the old ways of writing CVs. No one needs to pick up your actual age or blood group or your gender from your CV. Such health parameters can be required of you later on in the hiring process but you do not need to it on your CV. So in the contact section, just put down your email address, LinkedIn profile, portfolio page (if you have one), phone number and home address. Putting out your full address can be risky, so, it’s advisable to only include your state and country of residence (e.g. Lagos, Nigeria).

For cases where you have limited professional experience, you should craft it in such a way that you emphasize only relevant achievements that align with the job role you wish to apply for. This way, recruiters see how your experience can impact their business goals, making you a more attractive candidate and increasing your chances of scaling through the applicant tracking system (ATS).  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Ideal Length of a good CV in 2024?

A CV should ideally be no longer than 2 pages, with a minimum font size of 10 points.

What Format Should I use for my CV?

Use a clear and concise format with bullet points, white space, and a clean layout.

Should I Include a Photo on my CV?

A photo adds a nice aesthetic appeal to a CV, however, some HR departments frown upon upon it. To be on the safe side, only include a photo if you’re applying for a job in the entertainment, digital or creative industry.

Should I Include Hobbies and Interests in my CV?

To achieve a good CV in 2024, include only hobbies and interests if they’re relevant to the job or demonstrate transferable skills.

How do I Choose the Right Keywords for my CV?

The trick is to pick your keyword from the job posting. Use the industry-specific terms, and action verbs like “managed,” “created,” and “executed.”

Is it Okay to Exaggerate my Experience on my CV?

Simple answer is No. Do not start what you cannot finish. Honesty is the best policy. Exaggerating or overemphasizing your work accomplishments can lead to your application being rejected or even terminated if discovered after a deeper background check.

Start Crafting Your CV Now 

If you are ready to put your CV writing skills to the test, you can download our free graduate CV template to test drive your CV writing skills to be up to scratch.

Click the button below to download our free template for creating a CV that delivers results in no time.

The first step to landing that dream job starts with a high-quality CV. By applying these tips and steps I have outlined in this post, you can take charge of your career prospect by creating a good CV in 2024 that showcases your skills, experience, and achievements in a clear and compelling manner.

Remember to tailor your CV to each job application, use keywords to boost visibility, and proofread carefully to ensure error-free writing. With a strong CV in hand, you’ll increase your chances of landing interviews and ultimately achieving your career goals.

Good luck Champ!