Things To Do To Improve Your CV

A CV is still one of the most important tools in your job-hunting arsenal.

No matter how developed you are in your career, it's often your first and sometimes your last chance to make an impression. But with recruiters reviewing hundreds of applications, how do you make yours stand out?

In this guide, we explore how to write a CV that actually gets noticed by the right people, why it can be so difficult to write one in the first place, and what tools and advice can help you present yourself at your very best.

Why a Strong CV Still Matters

Even with all the digital tools available to jobseekers today, the humble CV still matters. It's your best chance to give a structured, professional summary of who you are and what you can offer. Think of it as your personal brochure – and it needs to impress quickly.

Recruiters typically skim CVs in under two minutes, often using applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter candidates before a human ever sees the application. If you want to get through, your CV needs to be keyword-optimised, visually clear, and full of relevant experience.

How to Structure a Great CV

📧 Contact information

🧠 Personal profile or summary

📁 Work history (most recent first)

🛠️ Key skills

🎓 Education and qualifications

🏅 Relevant training or achievements

Keep it relevant, clear and concise. Two pages are usually enough.

Tailoring is key

I know you've heard it all before, but it's genuinely true: one CV doesn't fit all. Tailor yours for each job you apply to. If you take one thing away from this, you should try to show off your relevant experience and skills that match the job advert.

Why am I struggling to write a cv?

 

 

❓ Don't know where to start

🤔 Are unsure what to include

😳 Feel uncomfortable highlighting achievements

🔄 Aren't sure how to explain gaps or career changes

Break your CV into sections. Start with the easy parts – your employment and education – then work on your personal statement last. Doing it this way can help you remember all relevant information about yourself.

What to avoid in a CV?

Even strong candidates can sabotage their applications with avoidable mistakes.

The top red flags

Ok, this depends on who you ask, but if you go off research by Barclays in the 12 most common CV mistakes, some of the biggest mistakes to avoid are:

❌ Typos and grammar mistakes

🧾 Poor formatting

📉 Irrelevant experience

🗯️ Cliché phrases

📜 Overly long paragraphs

🚫 No quantifiable results

Recruiters say that 77% will reject a CV with spelling errors, and 46% are put off by excessive length.

Things you should never include

We're pretty clued up about this at Rhino Recruitment; we've even written a blog about it, which you can find here - 3 things to leave off your CV.

But if you want a quick breakdown, you should avoid:

💍 Marital status or age

📛 Informal or joke email addresses

🎭 Gimmicks like photos or coloured backgrounds

Can I make my CV better with AI?

There's a growing trend of using AI tools to help write or refine CVs. However, recruiters are starting to notice the downsides.

The risks of AI-generated content

Once again, we're also pretty clued up on this topic because we've also already written a blog on the topic which you can find here - AI-Written CVs Could Cost You the Job.

But if you want a little quick summary, overly polished, robotic-sounding CVs may seem inauthentic. Recruiters are good at spotting text that lacks personal input.

Use AI wisely

You can still use AI tools effectively by:

🛠️ Asking for help structuring or proofreading

🧷 Using it to identify relevant keywords

🖋️ Rewriting outputs in your own tone

But never copy and paste an entire CV generated by a chatbot. It should always reflect you.

Tips to Take Away

Here are the key points to remember:

🎯 Tailor your CV to each job

✅ Use bullet points and active language

🏆 Highlight achievements, not duties

🔍 Proofread carefully

🚿 Avoid jargon and unnecessary details

A great CV is clear, relevant and personal. Use tools, feedback, and trusted resources to keep improving it.

Need more support? Visit the National Careers Service or ask your recruiter at Rhino Recruitment for a second opinion. The right CV could be your next opportunity waiting to happen.