Your CV is not your biography – it's your brochure

Here is the truth about CVs today: they matter, but probably not for the reasons you think.

Recruiters and hiring managers spend around six to eight seconds on an initial scan. They are not reading for pleasure. They are hunting for proof. They want evidence that you can solve the problems they have right now.

So, before you update your CV, pause. You are not writing your life story. You are writing a marketing document.

Here are some practical tips to get it right:

Lead with impact, not chronology. Your most recent role should be the most detailed, but go back in less depth as you progress. Once you reach roles older than 10-15 years, a simple line with the job title and company is usually sufficient.

Use the "so what?" test. Listing responsibilities is boring. "Managed a team of five" is a responsibility. "Grew the team from two to five and increased delivery by 30%" is an achievement. Ask yourself "so what?" after every line. If the answer is not obvious, rewrite it

Tailor it, don't spray it. Sending the same generic CV to fifty companies is tempting, but it rarely works. Pick out two or three key requirements from the job description and make sure those themes run through your CV. If they ask for leadership examples, your CV should shout leadership.

Keep formatting clean. Fancy graphics, tables, and columns might look nice, but they confuse the software that parses your CV. Stick to standard fonts, clear headings, and a PDF format unless instructed otherwise.

Do not hide the gaps, but do not dwell on them either. Career breaks happen. A simple, honest line is all it takes. "Career break for travel" or "time spent caring for family" is perfectly acceptable. Move on.

A tight, achievement-focused CV will not get you the job—your interview does that. But it will get you in the room.

That is all your CV needs to do. Get you in the room. The rest is up to you.