How to write a CV that gets you shortlisted in 2026
Recruiters spend under a minute on a first read. Here is what they look for, and the five fixes that get more CVs to interview.
A strong CV is not a list of everything you have done. It is a short, targeted argument for why you are the right person for this role. Our recruiters read hundreds of CVs every week, and the ones that make the shortlist have a few things in common.
Five fixes that work
- Open with a three-line summary written for the job you want next.
- Turn duties into results: numbers, outcomes and scale.
- Mirror the key skills in the job ad, honestly.
- Keep it to two pages and cut anything older than fifteen years.
- Use a simple layout that screening software can read.
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