Most recruiters do not read a CV from top to bottom at first. They scan it. In a few seconds they look for the role you are in or want, where you have worked, how long you stayed and whether anything stands out. If those answers are hard to find, the CV goes to the "no" pile, however strong the person behind it.
The good news is that passing that first scan is mostly about structure and clarity, and both are within your control.
Start with what the recruiter is looking for
Before you write a word, read the job description carefully and note:
The job title and level.
The three to five skills or experiences mentioned most.
Any must-haves, such as a qualification, software or location.
Your CV should make it obvious, within seconds, that you match those points. That usually means adjusting your CV slightly for each application rather than sending the same version everywhere.
A structure that works
Keep it simple and in this order:
Name and contact details. Full name, phone number, professional email address, city and country, and a LinkedIn link if your profile is up to date. You do not need your full home address, date of birth or a photo unless the employer asks for them.
Professional summary. Three or four lines on who you are, what you do best and what you are looking for.
Work experience. Most recent first. Job title, company, location and dates, followed by your achievements.
Education and certifications. Most recent first.
Skills. Software, tools, languages and specialist skills that matter for the role.
For most people, one or two pages is enough. Senior professionals with long careers may need more, but every line should earn its place.
Write achievements, not duties
This is the single biggest improvement most CVs need. A duty describes the job. An achievement shows how well you did it.
Instead of "Responsible for customer calls", write "Handled a high volume of customer calls daily and kept satisfaction scores above target"
Instead of "Managed social media accounts", write "Grew engagement on the company's Instagram by planning and posting a weekly content calendar"
Instead of "Handled payroll", write "Processed monthly payroll for the whole company accurately and on time, with no missed payments"
Use numbers where you can, such as team size, targets met, time saved or volume handled. Start each point with a strong action word: led, built, reduced, improved, trained, delivered.
Applying for remote roles abroad
If you are applying to employers in the US, UK or elsewhere from another country, add a few details that answer their first questions:
Your time zone and availability, for example "Based in Lagos (WAT). Available for US Eastern business hours."
Remote work experience, including the tools you used, such as Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace or a CRM.
Your work set-up, briefly: reliable internet and back-up power if you have them.
These small lines remove doubts before the recruiter has to ask.
Mistakes that get CVs rejected on sight
Spelling and grammar errors. They suggest carelessness. Read your CV aloud and ask someone else to check it.
Unprofessional email addresses. Use a simple one based on your name.
Unexplained gaps. A short line such as "Career break: caring for a family member" or "Freelance projects" is better than silence.
Walls of text. Use short bullet points and clear headings.
Hard-to-read design. Fancy layouts, graphics and columns can confuse the software many employers use to scan CVs. A clean, simple layout is safer.
Too much personal information. Marital status, religion, state of origin and similar details are not needed.
Lying or exaggerating. References and background checks will find it.
Check it like a recruiter would
When you think you are finished, try this test. Give your CV to someone for ten seconds, then take it away and ask:
What job do I do, or want?
Where have I worked most recently?
What is one thing that stands out about me?
If they cannot answer all three, move the most important information higher up and make it clearer.
Save it the right way
Save your CV as a PDF unless the employer asks for a Word document. Name the file clearly, for example "Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf", so it is easy to find in a recruiter's downloads folder.
The bottom line
A strong CV is clear, tailored and focused on results. Make it easy for a busy recruiter to see why you fit the role, and you will pass the first scan far more often.
Put your CV to work. Submit your CV to join our talent network, see our open roles, or ask about our career services for a professional CV and LinkedIn rewrite.
