How to write a professional CV (2026)

Before you write: pick the job you are aiming at

The weakest CVs are written for "any job". When you read a job description, certain words repeat: tools, tasks, qualifications, fields. Copy them into a side note and ask of each one: do I have something that proves it? What you can prove goes into the CV; what has nothing to do with the role gets shortened or dropped.

That does not mean writing a new CV from zero for every application. Keep one complete master version, then copy it for each type of role you apply to and adjust the summary, the order of skills and which experience you bring forward.

The order of sections

The order readers already expect is the easiest for them to read. This one works for most people:

1. Name and target job title, then contact details (mobile, email, city, and a link to your professional profile or website if you have one).
2. A professional summary of two to four lines.
3. Work experience, newest first.
4. Skills, grouped by type.
5. Education, certificates and courses.
6. Optional sections: languages, projects, volunteering, publications.

If you are a new graduate or changing careers, you can put education and projects above experience. The rule: put your strongest material for this particular job at the top of the page.

What you can leave out

A photo, marital status, date of birth and a detailed national address are not required on most CVs, and whether to include them is your choice. Some employers ask for some of them on their own application form; if so, give them there. On the CV itself, focus on what helps someone judge you professionally.

The summary: two lines everyone reads

The summary is the first thing people read, and many stop after it. Write it after the rest of the CV is done and include three things: who you are professionally, the field or tools you work with, and what sets you apart or your best result. Avoid vague phrases like "ambitious professional seeking growth". They fit anyone, so they say nothing about you.

Experience: what you achieved, not what you were assigned

The usual mistake is writing "responsible for preparing reports". That describes the position, not the person. Describe the action, then the effect. A simple formula that works in any field: a strong verb, what you did, and the result if you know it.

Use numbers only when they are accurate and you can defend them in an interview. If you have none, do not invent them; describe the scale (number of clients, team size, type of project) or describe the improvement precisely. For every job give the employer, the title and the dates by month and year, and keep to five bullet points per job at most, fewer for older roles.

Start each bullet with a clear past-tense verb: prepared, managed, reduced, built, trained. Avoid repeating the same verb in every bullet, and avoid generic phrases like "team player" unless you say what the team did and what your part was. If two of your jobs were similar, merge the repeated points instead of saying the same thing twice.

Skills: a short list the rest of the CV backs up

Group skills by kind: tools and software, technical skills, languages. Avoid rating bars such as "Excel 80%", because the number means nothing to the reader. It is better to name the level in a clear word or let your experience prove the skill. And be ready to be asked about every skill you list.

Education, certificates and courses

Give the degree, the major, the institution and the graduation year. Add your GPA if it helps you, especially in your first years of work. List courses and certificates only if they relate to the job, with the issuing body and the year. A two-hour course from ten years ago in an unrelated field takes up space and does nothing for you.

Length and formatting

• One page if you have under five years of experience; two pages at most for longer careers.
• One clear font at 10 to 12 pt, comfortable margins and even spacing between sections.
• Standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills) rather than creative labels.
• One date style throughout, Gregorian or Hijri to suit the employer, and do not mix them.
• Save as a PDF with a clear name such as "Your name - CV".

The final check before sending