Practical, evidence-based guidance on getting shortlisted: no myths, no "beat the bot" nonsense. Written by the people who write the CVs.
Most CVs that go quiet share the same fixable problems. Here are seven common reasons your CV isn't getting interviews, and how to fix each one.
2 min readThe fundamentals: structure, content and the choices that actually get you shortlisted.
AI can help with a first draft, but it invents achievements and flattens your voice. What tools like ChatGPT get right, where they fail, and how to use them well.
5 min read CV TipsMost job searches fail on focus, not effort. A calm, weekly 30-day structure: set your focus, build a target list, apply with intent and track what works.
6 min read CV TipsThe CV mistakes that quietly cost interviews: from vague profiles to duty-listing and formatting that breaks ATS. What to fix, and how, in plain terms.
3 min read CV TipsRedundancy is common and not a mark against you. How to update your CV after redundancy, whether to mention it, and how to handle the gap with confidence.
3 min read CV TipsIn the UK you rarely need references on your CV. Why "references available on request" wastes space, when to include them, and how to handle referees well.
2 min read CV TipsUK CV writing ranges from about £50 to £400+. Here's what drives the price, what each tier gets you, and how to judge value rather than just cost.
2 min read CV TipsTailoring is the difference between a CV that gets read and one that gets filed. A simple, honest method for matching your CV to any job advert, with an example.
2 min read CV TipsTwo pages is the usual UK answer, but length should follow relevance. How to judge the right CV length for graduates, professionals and senior candidates.
2 min read CV TipsWhich skills belong on your CV, and which to cut. How to choose, prove and place the skills that actually help you get shortlisted in the UK.
4 min read CV TipsNo work history yet? How to write a strong UK CV using education, projects, volunteering and transferable skills — without padding or overclaiming.
4 min read CV TipsShould you put hobbies and interests on your CV? When they help, when to cut them, and how to write them so they actually add something in the UK.
3 min read CV TipsGoing from self-employed or freelance back to employment? How to structure a UK CV that frames client work as credible, relevant experience.
4 min read CV TipsA recruiter's first pass takes seconds. Here's what they actually look at in those first 10 seconds, and how to make sure your strongest points are in view.
2 min read CV TipsIf you've read US-focused advice, you may be optimising for the wrong document. The UK conventions for a CV differ in a few ways worth knowing.
2 min read CV TipsNever used a CV service? Here's what a good one actually gives you for the money: from intake to editable files and an honest revision policy.
2 min read CV TipsThe fastest way to lift a CV is to turn duty statements into outcomes. How to spot weak bullets and rewrite them, with a simple structure.
2 min read CV TipsNot every achievement comes with a tidy percentage, and that's fine. How to write strong, credible CV bullets without inventing metrics.
2 min read CV TipsCareer gaps are common and rarely the problem people fear. How to handle a gap on your CV honestly and briefly, and when you need to explain it at all.
2 min read CV TipsYour personal statement is the first thing read on your CV. How to write a short, specific profile that positions you for the role, with examples.
2 min read CV TipsFor almost all UK jobs, the answer is no. Why photos are best left off a UK CV, the rare exceptions, and what to include instead.
2 min readRole-specific guides — how to structure and evidence your CV for a particular job or sector.
An HR CV has to show judgement, discretion and business impact, not just processes. How to structure a UK HR CV and evidence work across the employee lifecycle.
4 min read CVs by Role & SectorA marketing CV should prove results, not just list campaigns. How to structure a UK marketing CV and evidence impact across digital, brand, content and demand.
4 min read CVs by Role & SectorA care worker CV has to show compassion, reliability and the right training. How to structure a UK care and support worker CV and evidence your experience honestly.
4 min read CVs by Role & SectorA customer service CV should prove you keep customers happy and problems solved. How to structure a UK customer service CV and evidence your impact.
3 min read CVs by Role & SectorWith little work history, a graduate CV has to show potential. How to turn education, projects and part-time work into a credible, interview-winning graduate CV.
2 min read CVs by Role & SectorTechnical CVs fail when they read like a tools list or bury impact under jargon. How to make technical work legible and relevant to the role.
2 min read CVs by Role & SectorA strong project manager CV proves what you delivered, at what scope, and how you handled people and risk. How to structure it, with an example.
2 min read CVs by Role & SectorOperations roles are about making things run better. How to show scale, process improvement and people leadership with evidence on your CV.
2 min read CVs by Role & SectorPublic sector and NHS applications follow different conventions to private-sector roles. How to match the person specification and evidence the criteria.
2 min read CVs by Role & SectorA teaching CV has to evidence impact in the classroom, not just list duties. How to structure a UK teacher CV, from your profile and QTS to pupil progress.
2 min read CVs by Role & SectorA teaching assistant CV should show impact on pupils, safeguarding and the right training. How to structure a UK teaching assistant CV and evidence it.
4 min read CVs by Role & SectorA nursing CV must show clinical competence, NMC registration and care. How to structure a UK registered nurse CV and evidence your skills honestly.
2 min read CVs by Role & SectorA finance CV should evidence accuracy, systems and the value you add. How to structure a UK accountant or finance CV around qualifications and impact.
2 min read CVs by Role & SectorA sales CV lives on numbers: targets, revenue and growth. How to structure a UK sales CV that proves performance without vague buzzwords.
2 min read CVs by Role & SectorA software developer CV should prove what you built and shipped, not just list languages. How to structure a UK developer CV that gets past ATS and engineers.
4 min read CVs by Role & SectorAn engineering CV must show technical competence, standards and delivered projects. How to structure a UK mechanical, civil or electrical engineering CV.
4 min read CVs by Role & SectorA business analyst CV should prove the outcomes you enabled, not just list requirements and tools. How to structure a UK BA CV and evidence real impact.
4 min read CVs by Role & SectorA data analyst CV should prove the decisions your analysis drove, not just list SQL and dashboards. How to structure a UK data analyst CV around impact.
4 min read CVs by Role & SectorA social worker CV must show registration, safeguarding and outcomes for people. How to structure a UK social worker CV and evidence your practice.
4 min read CVs by Role & SectorAn executive assistant CV should prove judgement, discretion and the load you take off a leader. How to structure a UK EA or PA CV and evidence it.
4 min read CVs by Role & SectorA recruitment consultant CV lives on billings, placements and targets. How to structure a UK recruiter CV that proves performance, not just activity.
4 min read CVs by Role & SectorA retail manager CV should prove sales, shrinkage, team and store standards — not just list duties. How to structure a UK retail manager CV with evidence.
4 min read CVs by Role & SectorA warehouse operative CV should show reliability, pace and safety — plus tickets like a forklift licence. How to structure a UK warehouse CV that lands interviews.
3 min read CVs by Role & SectorA marketing manager CV should prove results and team leadership, not just campaigns. How to structure a UK marketing manager CV around measurable impact.
4 min read CVs by Role & SectorA business development manager CV lives on pipeline, deals and revenue. How to structure a UK BDM CV that proves growth, not just activity.
4 min read CVs by Role & SectorA paralegal CV should show your practice area, case support and attention to detail. How to structure a UK paralegal CV and evidence your experience.
4 min read CVs by Role & SectorA receptionist CV should show front-of-house professionalism, organisation and systems. How to structure a UK receptionist CV and evidence your value.
3 min read CVs by Role & SectorAdmin CVs must show reliability, organisation and the value of smooth operations, often without obvious numbers. How to structure and evidence yours.
2 min readHow applicant tracking systems really work, and formatting that stays readable to software and people alike.
What actually happens to your CV after you apply: how an ATS parses it, where AI now fits in, and the honest choices that keep it readable to both.
5 min read ATS & FormattingPDF keeps your layout intact; some ATS and recruiters prefer Word. How to choose the right CV file format for each application, without overthinking it.
2 min read ATS & Formatting'ATS-friendly' is wrapped in a lot of fear and myth. Here's what an applicant tracking system actually does, and the simple formatting choices that keep your CV readable.
2 min read ATS & FormattingA lot of CV advice about applicant tracking systems is fear dressed up as expertise. Here are the ATS myths worth ignoring, and what actually helps.
2 min readPreparing for the conversation once your CV has done its job.
The interview questions UK employers ask most, and how to answer them well — with a simple structure for competency and 'tell me about yourself' answers.
5 min read Interviews'Tell me about yourself' is the most common interview opener. A simple, honest structure for answering it well, with a UK example to adapt.
4 min read InterviewsHow to prepare for a job interview in the UK: research, likely questions, your evidence, questions to ask, and the practical logistics. A calm checklist.
5 min readThe documents around your CV: a targeted cover letter and a LinkedIn profile that pulls its weight.
Most cover letters are skipped because they repeat the CV. How to write a short, targeted UK cover letter that answers one question: why you, for this role.
2 min read Cover Letters & LinkedInYour LinkedIn profile and CV do related but different jobs. Why copying one into the other wastes both, and how to get each right.
2 min readRepositioning your experience when you're moving into a new sector or role.
Changing career is a positioning problem, not an experience problem. How to reframe your skills into a focused career-change CV that makes your move make sense.
2 min read Career ChangeTransferable skills are the heart of a career change, but vague claims are easy to dismiss. How to evidence your skills honestly so they actually land.
2 min readSend it over for a free, human review. We'll tell you what's working, what isn't, and whether we can help.
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