What Key Points Should Be Included in a CV?

Every effective CV should include six core sections. Beyond those, several optional sections can strengthen your application depending on your background and target role.

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The 6 Essential CV Sections

1. Contact Information

At the top of every CV:

Full name (larger font — this is your headline)

Professional email address (firstname.lastname@gmail.com)

Phone number (UK: +44 or 07xxx format)

LinkedIn profile URL (optional but strongly recommended)

Location (city and country — you don't need your full address)

Portfolio or GitHub (for creative and technical roles)

What NOT to include: date of birth, nationality, photo (UK law discourages this to prevent discrimination), marital status.

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2. Professional Summary (2–3 sentences)

A concise introduction at the top of your CV that answers: Who are you? What do you do? What's your biggest selling point?

Example:

Marketing Manager with 8 years of experience in B2B SaaS, specialising in demand generation and ABM. Delivered 3× pipeline growth at two Series B startups. Adept at building high-performing teams and translating data into campaign strategy.

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3. Work Experience

The most important section. For each role include:

Job title (bold)

Company name and location

Dates (month and year)

3–6 bullet points focusing on achievements, not just duties

Format each bullet as: Action verb + what you did + result with number

Redesigned onboarding email sequence, increasing 14-day activation from 31% to 54%.

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4. Education

Degree, subject, and classification (e.g., BSc Computer Science, 2:1)

University name and location

Graduation year

For graduates: list relevant modules, dissertation title, or academic achievements.
For experienced professionals: keep this section brief — one or two lines per qualification.

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5. Skills

A concise list of your core technical and professional skills. Split into categories if relevant:

Technical skills: Python, SQL, Salesforce, Adobe Creative Suite

Languages: French (B2), Spanish (conversational)

Methodologies: Agile, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma

Tailor this section to mirror the language in the job description — this is critical for ATS optimisation.

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6. Certifications (if applicable)

List professional qualifications with:

Certification name and issuing body

Year obtained

Expiry date if relevant (e.g., for first aid, finance)

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Optional Sections (Use Where Relevant)

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What to Leave Off Your CV

"References available on request" — it's assumed

Photo (UK standard)

Date of birth

Full postal address

"Curriculum Vitae" as a heading — your name is the heading

Jobs from more than 15–20 years ago (unless critical)

Unexplained employment gaps (address in the cover letter instead)

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