Introduction to 'Creating your CV'
CV is short for ‘curriculum vitae’. It’s a key part of getting a job. A good CV helps to show an employer that you’re the right person for the role. Create your CV in the right way and it can help you get to the next stage - an interview.
In this lesson, we’ll guide you step-by-step as you build a CV that can help you stand out.
What you'll learn
- What a CV is.
- The key sections.
- Keywords to use.
- Where to get help.
- Tips on how to create yours.
How long it takes
27 minutes
Why have a CV?
Chapter 1
How long it takes
6 minutes
What is a CV?
A CV is a short document that shows your skills, experience and qualifications. Most employers and recruiters ask for a CV when you apply for a job.
Why is a CV important?
Your CV shows employers the skills and experiences you can bring to their role. It’s your first chance to make a good impression and show why you’re right for the job. A great CV can help you get an interview.
The key sections of your CV
You need to include:
A personal statement
Work experience
Your skills and achievements
A summary of your education
We'll show you how to complete each part of your CV in the next few chapters.
Where to start
CV examples
Before you start to write your own CV, it’s a good idea to look at a few examples. There’s plenty available online – search for ‘CV examples’ to see what a CV can look like. You may have friends or family who are happy to show you theirs.
Be aware
Some people and companies offer to write your CV for you, but there’s likely to be a cost.
CV templates
Templates can also help. They can make it quicker and easier to build your CV by giving you a ready built document to use. There are different layout and style options to pick from, and they have all the sections already set up. So, all you need to do is fill in the different parts of the document.
Where to find CV templates:
Writing tools
Tools like Word and Google Docs have a range of templates.
Job sites
Check sites like Reed and Indeed for templates and tips.
Other websites
For example, the LinkedIn professional networking site.
Idea
Think you’ll need help with writing your CV? The National Careers Service has advisers who can support you.
Personal statements
Chapter 2
How long it takes
7 minutes
What is a personal statement?
Your personal statement is one to two paragraphs at the top of your CV. It’s a summary of who you are and what you can bring to the role. Employers often read this first. So, it’s good to take some time to think about what you want to say here, and how you want to say it.
Make sure you tailor it to each job you apply for. It can also help to get across why you care about the role.
Be aware
Using a template? Some call this section ‘Profile’ or ‘Objective’. Other templates may not have this section at all, so you may need to add it.
What to include
Your Personal statement gives an overview of your personal profile, experience and goals. It’s short – just three or four sentences is all you need. Think of it as an introduction to the rest of your CV.
Aim to include:
Who you are
What you can offer
What your goals are
Using keywords
The words you use in your CV are important. Especially in your personal statement. Using ‘keywords’ can help. They’re words or phrases that link directly to the job or role. You can often find them by reading the job advert and highlighting important words.
Many recruiters use software to scan CVs for specific skills and keywords that are relevant to the job. They do this to manage the many CVs they get. Instead of going through each one, they start by letting the software highlight the ones that include the words they are looking for. This gives them a shortlist to review.
Here are some example keywords:
- Motivated
- Creative
- Organised
- Resourceful
- Team player
- Confident
- Eye for detail
- Problem-solver
- Enthusiastic
- Flexible
Let's look at an example.
“Confident and resourceful retail assistant with two years of experience in the fashion industry. Highly skilled in customer service with a supportive, friendly and encouraging approach. Shows a positive, flexible approach and a willingness to learn. Looking to grow my career with a focus on giving excellent quality and service”.
Getting started
It can be quite hard to make a start on your personal statement.
Here are a few ideas to help you:
- Check the job description - Highlight any key words and phrases.
- Jot down a few words to describe yourself and your role.
- Write down the skills you have that match what the job needs.
- Now think about your goals and where they align with the role.
Activity
Take 5 minutes now. Write down keywords that say who you are and the types of roles that appeal to you. Read through these, then use them to build the first draft of your personal statement.
Remember, this personal statement is a generic one. As you start to apply for jobs, you can use it to create versions that are specific to each role.
Work experience
Chapter 3
How long it takes
4 minutes
What to include in this section
This part of your CV builds on your personal statement. It lists where you’ve worked and when. Importantly, it includes what you did in each role.
Start with your most recent work experience first. You may want to give more details to this one, as it shows your current skills and experience. Then work back in time, showing your earlier jobs. Here, focus on skills or experience that aren’t in your current or last role.
For each job, include:
Job title
Name of employer
Start and end dates
A short list of tasks and responsibilities
Keywords to use in work experience
In this part of your CV, different keywords can help make your CV stand out. These tend to be ‘action’ words.
For example:
- Achieved
- Managed
- Designed
- Led
- Created
- Improved
- Built
- Co-ordinated
- Fixed
- Developed
Work experience - an example
Customer Service Assistant – Drapers Stores (Jan 2020 – Jul 2023)
- Managed the sales desk, helping customers with any queries and sales.
- Achieved monthly sales targets, which increased income by 10%.
- Received four written customer letters of satisfaction in one calendar month.
Starting your work experience section
Before you start the next activity, it’s a good idea to gather notes on your work experience so far. Check job titles plus start and end dates for each role. Think of any high points or achievements. What were you proud of? What tasks did you do that fit with the job you’re applying for?
Activity
Start by listing your most recent job. Write down the job title and the name of your employer. Then add your start and end dates.
Next, think about what you did in that that role. Write bullet points using keywords to show what you achieved. Keep it short – no more than six bullet points.
Now repeat this for your earlier jobs, working from the latest to the oldest. Had lots of different jobs? You may want to stop after the first five.
Adding your skills
Chapter 4
How long it takes
3 minutes
What your skills show a recruiter
This part of your CV is a list of your skills. It can help to summarise some of the skills you have shown in your work experience. This is especially important if you don’t have much or any work experience. It can also help to highlight skills that are relevant that you haven’t mentioned elsewhere.
What to include
This is where you list your skills. These should relate to the job you are applying for. Think about skills you’ve gained through work, school, college, hobbies and elsewhere.
In-demand skills
So, which skills should you highlight? This will depend on the role itself, though there are some skills that employers often look for. Each year, the professional networking site LinkedIn researches the skills most employers want.
The top 10 skills from their 2024 survey are:
1. Communication
2. Customer service
3. Leadership
4. Project management
5. Management
6. Analytics
7. Teamwork
8. Sales
9. Problem-solving
10. Research
Activity
Start by writing down all the tasks that you can do. For example, using a spreadsheet, working with power tools, nursing, plumbing, handling cash. Now think of the skills you use when you do these tasks. Like attention to detail, communication skills, planning or working with others.
Do you have any of LinkedIn’s Top 10 skills? Make sure you list these, too.
Your education
Chapter 5
How long it takes
4 minutes
What your education shows a recruiter
Employers can use this section to see if you have the right level of education for the role. It’s less important than your skills and experience, but some jobs do ask for a certain level that you need to list if asked.
What to include
Use this section to list your achievements and qualifications from school, college and university. If you have professional qualifications, include these too.
You don’t need to write down every exam grade if you don’t want to. For instance, you can say that you studied specific subjects or ‘took GCSEs in English, Maths and ICT’. Think about what the job needs. If numeracy skills are key, make sure to include any maths certificates. Applying for a creative role? Mention any art and design courses you’ve taken.
Be aware
You don’t usually need to include where and when you studied, though some recruiters may ask for this information.
Let’s look at a few examples:
- A-levels: Maths, Statistics and Economics, all Grade C, Bristol Academy.
- Studied 10 GCSEs including English, Maths and French.
- National Certificates in eight subjects.
- Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care.
- Design Thinking Qualification, LinkedIn Learning, 2022.
- First Aid at Work certificate (current).
Activity
Write down your most recent qualification. Was there a grade that you want to include? Now work back in time. Don’t forget to include certificates you’ve gained through work or outside interests.
Your list of achievements
If you note down everything you’ve achieved, you may end up with quite a long list. Cut down this list by picking the most relevant ones for each job you apply for.
The job description or advert can guide you here. Some roles will ask only for the most recent qualifications. Others focus on certain skill areas. Don’t feel you need to list everything but do make sure you give them at least what they ask for.
Building your CV
Chapter 6
How long it takes
3 minutes
Getting started
It can be hard when you start to write your CV. You may not have much work experience and wonder how you’ll fill the page. Maybe you’ve had many jobs over the years and don’t know what to leave out.
In this section, we’ll answer some common questions and give you our top tips.
Common questions
-
Some people like to include a photo with their CV, but you don’t need to do this.
-
Most CVs start with name and contact details. This is usually a phone number and / or email address. Some recruiters will ask you to remove these details from the CV, and will store them separately.
You only need to give more information if the employer asks. Don’t feel that you need to add date of birth or gender, for example.
-
A good CV is one or two pages of A4. Try not to write more than two pages. If you find your CV is too long, look at what’s in it. You may want to remove that newspaper round from your employment history, or the ten-year old first aid certificate if it’s not still active.
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There are lots of reasons for gaps between jobs. For example, having time off to travel or taking on caring responsibilities. Both these examples can actually help a job application. They may show planning or language skills, or experience in managing or multi-tasking.
Employers will see these gaps and may be curious. Mention these if you have space and feel it can help your job application. If you don’t include them in your CV, be prepared for the employer to ask about them in an interview.
-
Some recruiters and employers ask for a ‘cover letter’. This letter accompanies your CV. It shows your interest in the role and explains why you think they should consider you for it.
More on this topic
Indeed has tips on how to write a cover letter, plus a template you can use.
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It’s a good idea to have a different version of your CV for each job you apply for. That’s not to say you need to create a brand new one every time you apply for a role. The aim is just to tweak the wording and adjust how it looks, to give the best possible fit for each job.
You may want to use different keywords that you take from the job description. Look at what’s important for the role, then highlight this in your personal statement.
Remember
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for writing your CV.
It needs to be short enough for someone to scan quickly. Make the most of the space you have to show how you are right for the role. You should tailor it to the role you're applying for.
CV tips
Here's our list of top tips:
- Avoid long paragraphs – try bullet points.
- Include keywords.
- Highlight your successes.
- Read through your CV, then ask someone else to read it.
- Treat it as a work in progress – You’ll add, change and remove items over time.
Once you’ve written your CV, don't assume it's finished. Every job application is different and tailoring your CV so will help it stand out. Adapt it to match the job description whenever you apply for a new role.
Save each version with a meaningful name. For example, ‘Receptionist at Skyline Hotel 24-03-2025’. That way, you’ll know what to refer to if you’re through to interview. Plus, you can use it for similar roles in the future.
Related learning links
Your future work skills
Applying for jobs
Prepare for an interview
Want to learn more?
There are many more lessons to help you find jobs and grow your skills for the workplace.
Lloyds Bank Academy is committed to providing information in a way that is accessible and useful for our users. This information, however, is not in any way intended to amount to authority or advice on which reliance should be placed. You should seek professional advice as appropriate and required. Any sites, products or services named in this module are just examples of what's available. Lloyds Bank does not endorse the services they provide. The information in this module was last updated on 18th March 2025.