What should a CV look like in 2026? 20 tips for writing a good CV

Whatever your industry, a good CV is built from a few standard sections. You can change their order slightly, but do not skip any of the essential ones.

If you are just starting your career, also read our guide on how to write a CV without work experience.

The ideal CV is one page if you have a few years of experience and two pages at most for a longer career. Anything that does not fit on two pages is usually not needed at this stage of recruitment.

• File format: PDF – it keeps the layout on every computer and phone. Send a Word file only if the employer explicitly asks for it.
• File name: “CV_Firstname_Lastname_Position.pdf” rather than “CV_final_v3.pdf”.
• Font: one or two simple fonts (e.g. Calibri, Arial, Lato) in 10–12 pt.
• Layout: clear section headings, margins, white space and no more than one accent colour.

Avoid text embedded in graphics, “skill level” bars and multi-column layouts. They look impressive, but ATS software often reads them incorrectly.

Put your contact details at the very top – a recruiter should not have to look for them. Your name, phone number, email address, city and a link to your LinkedIn profile are enough.

• Write your phone number in a readable format, including the country code if you apply abroad: “+48 666 888 999”.
• Use a professional email address, ideally firstname.lastname@… – nicknames and jokey logins weaken the first impression.
• Do not include your full home address, national ID number, marital status or ID card details. The employer does not need them at the recruitment stage.

Make sure your LinkedIn profile is consistent with your CV. You will find tips in our article on how to catch an employer’s attention with your LinkedIn profile.

A professional summary (or personal profile) is 2–4 sentences placed under your contact details. It has replaced the old “career objective”, which described what the candidate wanted. A summary says what the candidate offers the employer.

A good summary answers three questions: who you are professionally, what you are strong at and what you are looking for. An example for someone applying for a sales role:

“B2B sales professional with 4 years’ experience selling raw materials to Western European markets. I negotiate in English and German, and in 2025 I grew my client portfolio by 35%. Looking for a role where I can develop international sales.”

For more examples, see our guide to a CV summary that catches a recruiter’s eye.

This is the most important section of your CV. Simply listing job titles and dates is not enough – the recruiter wants to see what you achieved.

• Reverse chronological order: your latest role goes first. Employers are most interested in what you do now.
• Full dates: month and year of starting and leaving (e.g. 03/2022–present).
• Company context: if the company is not widely known, add its industry in brackets, e.g. “(food ingredients distribution)”.
• 3–5 bullet points per role: start with a verb and end with a result.

Use a simple formula: action + scale + result. Compare:

Everyone starting their career or changing industry faces a lack of work experience. In such a CV the focus shifts to whatever shows your potential:

• internships, placements and seasonal jobs – including ones outside your field (they teach responsibility and customer contact),
• volunteering, student societies and organisations,
• university projects, dissertations and competitions,
• modules or courses related to the role you are applying for.

Many companies deliberately hire people at the start of their careers and train them from scratch. You will find detailed advice in our article on writing a CV without work experience.

Split the skills section into two groups:

• Hard skills – measurable and easy to verify: software (Excel, CRM, SAP), analytical tools, a driving licence, sales techniques. For Excel, say what exactly you can do, e.g. “pivot tables, XLOOKUP”.
• Soft skills – communication, negotiation, teamwork, resilience, independence. Keywords alone say little, so back them up with examples in your experience section.

List 6–10 skills that match the requirements in the job advert. A list of competencies employers look for can be found in our article on soft skills valued by employers.

“English – good” is not enough. State your level using the European CEFR scale – from A1 (beginner) to C2 (proficient). It is a standard recruiters understand across Europe.

• English – C1 (daily negotiations and business correspondence),
• Spanish – B1 (fluent conversation),
• German – A2.

If you hold a certificate (e.g. Cambridge, TOEIC, DELE), add it. Do not overstate your level – in international companies part of the interview is often held in a foreign language.

Put certificates and training in a separate section after education or skills. Choose the ones relevant to the role and give the name, provider and year, e.g. “B2B Sales Negotiation – Sales Academy, 2025”.

If your work can be shown – graphic design, code, analyses, writing – add a link to an online portfolio (e.g. a website, GitHub, Behance). Two or three of your best projects will convince a recruiter more than a long description.

Yes, but only specific ones and briefly. Generic entries like “music, cinema, travel” say nothing. It is better to list 2–3 interests that reveal something about you.

For example, long-distance running on a sales CV shows perseverance and discipline – qualities needed in long client acquisition processes. Interests can also be a good icebreaker during a job interview.

It depends on the country. In the UK, Ireland and the USA a photo is not added to a CV. In Poland, Spain and much of continental Europe it is optional but still common.

If you add one, make sure it is good quality: a neutral background, good lighting, work-appropriate clothing, face and shoulders in the frame. Selfies, holiday photos and cropped group shots work against you. All the rules are in our article on choosing a photo for your CV.

One CV sent out to every job rarely works. Before each application spend 10 minutes tailoring it:

1. read the advert and note the recurring requirements and keywords,
2. use the same wording in your summary, experience and skills (where it is true for you),
3. move the achievements that best match the role to the top.

Many companies use ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software that pre-screens CVs for keywords. A simple layout and standard section headings such as “Work experience” make them easier to read. Learn more in our article on how algorithms read your CV.

In the UK such a clause is not used. In Poland, however, many employers still ask for one. Since 2019 a Polish employer may process a candidate’s basic data without consent (Article 22¹ of the Polish Labour Code), but a clause is still requested – especially when your CV contains additional data such as a photo, or when you want to be considered for future recruitment.

The most common wording:

“I hereby consent to the processing of my personal data by [company name] for the purposes of the recruitment process for the position I am applying for.”

If you want the company to contact you about future openings, add: “I also consent to the processing of my data for the purposes of future recruitment processes.” Always enter the correct company name – leaving “[company name]” or another employer’s name is one of the most common mistakes. If the advert provides its own clause, use that one.

References from previous employers confirm your professionalism, but you do not need to attach them straight away. A line at the end of your CV is enough: “References available on request”.

If you want to include them, prepare a separate appendix with the person’s name, job title, company and contact details. Always ask for their permission first.

If you are applying for a job in another city or country, say clearly that you are willing to relocate – this avoids being rejected purely because of where you live. The same applies to remote or hybrid work and readiness for business travel.

Put this information in an “Additional information” section or in one sentence of your summary, e.g. “Willing to relocate to Spain”.

These mistakes most often send a CV to the bin within seconds:

• typos and grammar errors – they suggest carelessness; use a spell checker and read the text out loud,
• information overload – long paragraphs, every training course from the last 15 years, duties without results,
• clichés – “communicative, hard-working, stress-resistant” without a single example,
• inconsistent layout – different fonts, date formats and loud colours,
• outdated details – an old phone number, a broken link, a missing latest role,
• unexplained gaps – a short note (e.g. “parental leave”, “professional course”) answers questions in advance,
• the wrong company name in the clause – a sign the CV was sent out in bulk.

Your CV gets you to the interview, and recruiters often follow it during the conversation. Be ready to expand on every point with an example:

• talk about 2–3 of your biggest achievements, using the figures from your CV,
• explain job changes and any gaps in employment,
• be ready to have your language level checked live.

Above all, your answers should be consistent with the document. Also check the most common interview questions and how to talk about your strengths and weaknesses.

In sales recruitment the CV itself is a test of your skills: if you can sell a product, you should be able to “sell” yourself too. Recruiters at trading companies pay particular attention to:

• figures – sales growth, the value of contracts handled, the number of clients won,
• foreign languages – in international trade they are a working tool,
• negotiation experience and work with B2B clients,
• independence and a goal-oriented attitude – backed up by examples.

Read more about what a salesperson’s CV should contain in why a trader’s CV is key to recruitment success, and see the questions you may hear in what questions will you hear in a sales job interview.

What are the 5 rules of a good CV?

A good CV is short (1–2 pages), clear, tailored to the specific job, based on measurable achievements and free of mistakes. Add up-to-date contact details and, where required, the correct data processing clause.

What should a CV include in 2026?

Contact details with a LinkedIn link, a short professional summary, experience in reverse chronological order, education, skills, languages with a CEFR level and – when applying in Poland – a data processing clause. Certificates, a portfolio and interests are optional.

What should you not put on a CV?

Your national ID number, ID card details, full home address, marital status, religion or political views, and outdated training unrelated to the role. Also leave out unprofessional email addresses and random photos.

How many pages should a CV be?

One page if your experience is short, and no more than two for a longer career.

What format should I send my CV in?

As a PDF, with a file name that includes your name and the position. Use another format only if the employer explicitly asks for it.

Your CV is the key to getting an interview. Before you click “Apply”, check that:

• your contact details are up to date and visible at the top,
• your professional summary is tailored to the role,
• each job has 3–5 bullet points, ideally with results,
• your skills and keywords match the job advert,
• your language levels are given on the A1–C2 scale,
• the document is 1–2 pages long and saved as a PDF,
• there are no typos,
• the clause (if required) contains the correct company name.

If replies do not come despite a good CV, read our advice on what to do when you can’t find a job.