If you are reading this post, you probably fall into one of three groups:
1) You’re preparing for a new job
2) You’re looking for your first job
3) You’re polishing your professional profile
No matter what your reason is, creating a top-quality CV is essential. It’s your personal marketing tool.
But here is a challenge.
Both human recruiters & AI systems scan CVs very quickly now.
According to Indeed, employers typically look at a CV for less than 7 seconds before deciding if it’s worth reading more.
That means you have very little time to impress the recruiters. Your wording & layout must be chosen carefully. Every detail counts.
If you’re chasing your ideal job or just want to get noticed among other candidates, we are going to explain about how to make the best CV in 2025.
1. Understand the CV Trends of 2025
The way companies recruit now is different from before.
Yes, old CV styles might not get noticed anymore, so updating your approach is necessary.
Here’s a list of the new rules & trends for CVs this year:
ATS-Friendly Formats
These days, most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan CVs before a human sees them. So, you should stick to clean headings, matching fonts, & minimal graphics to avoid being rejected automatically.
AI Screening
Many employers now rely on AI to pre-select candidates. To pass, you should copy important keywords from the job description ad & include them in your CV. Make sure that your CV speaks their language.
Skills-First Approach
Companies care more about what you can do (your skills) than what your past job titles were. So, show your skills & results right away.
Bite-Sized Information
Make your CV easy to scan. How? Break down the information into short points.
Personal Branding
Give your CV a personal touch. A brief, 3-4 line summary of your career can make you stand out & feel more human to the reader.
If you are unsure where to start, use our CV Templates. They are designed with ATS in mind & look professional for different careers.
2. Choose the Right Format
There isn’t one perfect CV format for everyone.
The format you should use depends on your work experience & what you want to achieve in your career. Below are the CV formats that work best this year:
Reverse Chronological
This type of CV works well if your career path has been steady & consistent. It organizes your work history, starting from your latest job & going backward.
Functional (Skills-Based)
This CV style puts more focus on what you can do, not just where you’ve worked. It’s a good choice if you want a different kind of job or if you have breaks in your work history.
Hybrid
A hybrid CV mixes two styles (skills-focused & work-experience-focused) into one. This format tells employers what you can do & also shows your most recent achievements.
Whatever CV style you pick, make sure the text looks neat & uniform.
3. Write a Strong Personal Summary
Your personal summary is the first thing an employer will see, so it immediately affects their first impression of you.
Keep it short (no more than 3–4 lines). And don’t forget to talk about your main achievements & strongest skills in this section.
4. Highlight Key Skills
Employers now pay more attention to the skills section than they used to.
Both hiring managers & ATS look at your skills before they check anything else. Don’t just list vague skills like “Communication” or “Leadership.”
Be specific & show action, for example:
Project management & cross-team collaboration
Data analysis using Excel, Tableau, & Power BI
Social media campaign strategy & execution
5. Optimize for ATS & AI Recruiters
Even if your CV looks beautiful, it won’t help you if the ATS software can’t read it. Here are some ways to make sure the software can read it:
Use common, simple headings like “Work Experience,” “Education,” & “Skills” so the software knows where to put each part of your CV.
Avoid fancy designs, images, or unusual layouts because the software can’t understand them.
Use important keywords from the job ad in your CV so the software sees you as a good match.
Key Note: In order to make your application strong, you can also attach a cover letter that is written for that specific job. Even though AI tools are used, human recruiters often still read cover letters, especially when competition is high. So why skip the chance to stand out?
6. Focus on Measurable Achievements
Recruiters prefer specific statistics since they show clear evidence of what you accomplished.
Here’s a weak example that doesn’t show the scale of your work or results: “Responsible for managing a sales team.” ❌
Try a stronger line like this one: “Led a sales team of 8, increasing regional revenue by 33% in 7 months." ✔
Numbers & specific details make it clear how much you contributed to your past jobs.
7. Keep it Short & Relevant
If you’re new to your career, keep it to one page. And if you have over a decade (10 years) of experience, two pages is fine.
Remember, longer CVs might bore the hiring manager. After all, who wants to read extra stuff?
Here’s how to shorten your CV if it’s too long:
Remove very old work experience. It’s no longer relevant for most employers.
Don’t include hobbies or personal details that don’t connect to the job.
No need to share your entire address; just your city & country will do.
8. Use a Professional Layout and Design
Your CV should look clean & well-organized to make a good impression.
You don’t need advanced design skills to make a clear CV. The easiest way is to use our professional CV maker platform, CV Builder. It offers numerous templates that are also readable by ATS.
It would be best to add a unique element, like your signature, to make your application feel personal & professional.
9. Don’t Forget Supporting Documents
In 2025, companies usually want extra documents along with your CV. You should also get the following things ready:
Cover Letter
Create a cover letter that’s professional & clearly explains why you’re a great fit.
Digital Portfolio (if applicable)
If your work can be shown visually (like designs, writing samples, or projects), prepare an online portfolio & share the link.
Recommendation Letters or References
Have letters from past employers or people who can vouch for your skills & character.
Key Takeaways
Creating a strong CV isn’t about simply listing past jobs. That’s not enough. You must show why you’re a great match for the position in a way that appeals to both recruiters & ATS.
If you don’t want to waste time arranging the layout of your CV, you can use Cvbuilder.io, which makes the process easier so you can focus only on the interview.
Remember, your CV gets you into the interview room, but it’s your abilities that actually get you hired. Use your CV to make an amazing first impression.
