How to write the perfect CV

What a CV is and what it's for

Your CV is the document that sums up who you are professionally: your experience, skills and education. Its one and only job is to land you an interview. It shouldn't tell your whole life story; it should convince whoever reads it — often a piece of software first, then a person — that you're worth a call.

How to write a CV, step by step

1. The essential contact details: name, phone, professional email, city, LinkedIn link. No date of birth or marital status.
2. Professional title and summary: up top, the role you're after and 2-3 lines spelling out what you can do and the results you deliver.
3. Experience with measurable results: not "responsible for sales" but "grew revenue by 18% in 12 months". Numbers do the convincing.
4. Skills and languages: concrete hard skills and an honest level for each language.
5. Education: qualification, institution, year. Keep it brief if you already have experience.
6. An ATS-friendly format: a clean layout, no tables or images that screening software can't read.

You can put all of this together for free with the EuroCV CV builder, complete with AI suggestions section by section.

What to put on your CV (and what to cut)

Include whatever is relevant to the role: results, responsibilities, tools. Cut the clichés ("excellent interpersonal skills" with nothing to back it up), irrelevant experience and unnecessary personal details. Every line has to earn its place.

The Europass/European CV: when to use it (and when not to)

The Europass format works well for public-sector competitions, EU grant applications and some academic roles. For private companies, though, a modern, concise CV converts better: Europass is long, rigid and forgettable. If you need to impress a corporate recruiter, go for a leaner layout.

Free CV templates (and why the template matters)

A template isn't just about looks: it affects readability and how well an ATS can parse your CV. A good template surfaces the right information in the right order. On EuroCV the basic templates are free; the ones developed with recruiters at multinational companies are included in Pro.

How to tailor your CV to each job ad (ATS)

Most companies use an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) that filters CVs by keyword before a human ever sees them. Tailoring your CV to each ad — using the wording from the posting — is the difference between getting binned and reaching the interview. EuroCV Pro does it automatically: it analyses the job ad and optimises your CV in real time.

5 mistakes that get your CV rejected

• A CV that's too long or unfocused.
• An unprofessional email address.
• No concrete results, just job duties.
• The exact same CV for every application.
• A format the ATS can't read (tables, heavy graphics).

In short

A perfect CV is clear, results-driven, ATS-friendly and tailored to the job ad. Start for free with the builder, then, when you get serious about your search, let the AI tailor it to every posting.