by Olly RichardsSo you need to write a CV in English, huh? I can help you! In this post, I’ll show you how to write this important document so you can apply for the job of your dreams in the country of your dreams!
You may have heard that a CV is different from a résumé, so let’s start by clarifying the differences between the two.
Below you'll see all the aspects of CV writing you'll discover in this post.
Table of Contents
Differences Between A CV And A Résumé
Let’s keep things simple here.
A CV and a résumé refer to the same type of document i.e a 1-2 page summary of your word experience, education and skills. The word CV is used in the UK and Europe, while this document is called a résumé in the US and Canada.
I’ll use the term “CV in English” to describe a summary of your career history, skills, and education. You can use this summary to apply for a job in the UK.
If you need to work in the US or other countries, you’ll need to check what format they prefer there and adapt your CV accordingly.
If you're applying for a job in the US, the employer will ask to see your résumé i.e your CV. In the United States, a CV is a actually a much longer document, used for different purposes. So if you're in the US, you'll probably almost always need to show your résumé to apply for positions there.
Okay, let’s see what to include in your CV.
What To Include In A CV In English
Here are the essential contents for your CV.
Contact Details
- Full name
- Phone number
- Email address
- Home address (including only the name of the city where you live is enough)
- LinkedIn or professional website (if you have one)
Personal Statement (Or Personal Summary)
A personal statement is usually at the top of a CV. It’s a paragraph that summarises your skills and career goals.
Keep your statement short and sweet, and include only information that’s relevant to the specific role you’re applying for.
You can start with a few sentences that describe who you are professionally (your current role, years of experience, and your field of expertise), then mention the core skills and strengths that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Finally, talk a little bit about your career ambitions and what you’re looking for in your next role.
Here’s an example of a personal statement. Can you guess what job this candidate is applying for?
Results-oriented marketing professional with a rich experience spanning over five years in the management of digital campaigns. I have been effective in SEO marketing, creating content, and leading teams. I have a proven track record of lifting brand visibility and ensuring overall growth. By capitalizing on this experience, I seek an opportunity in a dynamically progressive company committed to innovative digital solutions.
Is this person applying for a position as a chef?! No! One as a Social Media Manager?
Yes, that’s more accurate.
Work Experience
In this section, you list the most relevant positions you’ve had in your career. Start with the most recent and include:
- Your job title
- The company
- Dates
- Key responsibilities and achievements
Here’s an example.
Digital Marketing Manager
Bright Future Marketing, Rome
June 2020 – Present
- Lead a team of five marketing professionals in the planning and running of digital campaigns.
- Increased online sales by 30% in one year.
- Developed SEO strategies that improved the company website ranking and increased organic traffic by 40%.
- Manage relationships with external clients and stakeholders.
- Ensure all projects are completed on time to the highest standard.
- Assessed and optimised campaigns through Google Analytics, increasing ROI by 20%.
Marketing Coordinator
GreenTech Innovations, Vienna
April 2017 – May 2020
- Assisted in the planning and launching of nationwide promotional campaigns targeted at increasing brand awareness by 15%.
- Created social media content and increased followers’ engagement by 25%.
- Conducted market research and competitor analysis to support product development initiatives.
- Organised and participated in industry events, representing the company and building a valuable professional network of 70+ clients.
Did you notice the tenses this candidate used? In his past job at GreenTech Innovation, he used the past tense (assisted, organised, etc.).
In his present job at Bright Future Marketing, he used a mix of present (lead, manage, ensure) and past tenses (increased, developed, assessed).
The present tense here indicates that he’s still leading and managing, while the past tense shows his achievements, which are completed past actions.
So, here’s a pro tip: when you talk about past responsibilities and achievements, use the past tense. For present roles and duties, use the present.
And here’s another pro tip: use action verbs in this section. For example, instead of saying “responsible for managing projects,” say “led and managed projects.” Can you feel how this is more direct and impactful?
Here’s a list of some action verbs you could use:
- Analysed
- Assessed
- Attained
- Built
- Co-ordinated
- Created
- Devised
- Delivered
- Enhanced
- Facilitated
- Formulated
- Generated
- Implemented
- Improved
- Initiated
- Inspired
- Led
- Managed
- Mentored
- Negotiated
- Optimised
- Organised
- Overhauled
- Planned
- Resolved
- Supervised
- Trained
- Transformed
Do you need more? Have a look at this website.
Education
Here you’ll include your qualifications: university degree, diplomas, certificates, and any other qualifications you feel are relevant to the job. Write this section in reverse chronological order (like you did for the work section). Also, don’t forget to include:
- The qualification title
- The name of the awarding institution
- The year of completion
Here’s a quick example of a concise education section on a typical CV in English.
- Certificate in Data Analytics
- Coursera (Online)
- Completed in June 2021
- Master of Science (MSc) in Digital Marketing
- University of Manchester, UK
- September 2018 – September 2019
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Business
- University of Leeds, UK
- September 2014 – June 2017
Skills
There are dozens of skills you could include. This career website lists 95! But they advise to include only 10-12 in your CV.
Which ones are you going to mention? Only the most relevant to the job you’re applying for. You could simply list them. I’ve recently read the CV of one of my friends, who works as a freelance English teacher, content creator, and writer.
Here’s what the skills section of her CV says.
CORE SKILLS
✓ Creative Content Creation
✓ Copywriting and Editing
✓ Blogging and Podcasting
✓ Video Making
✓ Storytelling
✓ Multi-Media Production
✓ SEO Knowledge
✓ Content Promotion
✓ Marketing
✓ Excellent Written and Verbal Communication Skills
✓ Educational Expertise
✓ Technical Acumen
She’s also got a separate section for technical skills where she lists all the computer programs she can use. Here’s what she put in it.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Social Media Platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc), WordPress, Spotify, Elementor, Canva, Filmora, Mailchimp, Google Suite, Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), ChatGPT, Audacity, ScreenPal
I’ve known this person for many years, and I can tell you she’s got several other skills. But she didn’t include them all in her CV because she included only the skills that are relevant. I know, I’ve already told you this, but I can’t stress this point enough.
Remember: RELEVANT!
Okay, let’s now see what not to include in your CV in English,
3 Things You Shouldn’t Include On A CV In English
1. Your photo
In the UK, it’s generally considered inappropriate to include a photo on your CV. You may be the most beautiful worker in the world, but your employer doesn’t need your photo at this stage. Sorry!
2. Personal Information
Details like your date of birth, marital status, nationality, or religion are unnecessary. So is the number of pets you have.
3. References
On her CV, my friend has a section titled “References.” How many did she include? Zero. She simply wrote “References available upon request.” I’d advise you to do the same.
What about hobbies and interests? Sure, you can include those. But I would include them only if they’re relevant to the job.
For example, if you’re applying for a position as a team leader, mentioning that you coach a football team twice a week could give you an advantage over other candidates. Remember the magic word: RELEVANT!
Let’s conclude with some final top tips on how to write your CV in English.
7 Top Tips On How To Write A CV In English
- Avoid filling the page with all the jobs you’ve done in your life. Include only the relevant ones. Did I tell you this before?
- It’s okay to make mistakes when you’re learning English, but it’s not okay to have language mistakes on your CV! They might make you look unprofessional, so double-check every single word and sentence you put in it. If you can, have someone with strong English skills review your CV for you. Don’t stop at just one review. The more people you can get to proofread your document, the better.
- Use bullet points as much as possible (not in your personal statement, though).
- Keep a consistent layout. All job titles, company names, and dates should be formatted in the same way (e.g., bold or italic). Keep it neat and clean.
- Keep it short – one page if you can!
- Choose a layout that you like. Use a template from well-known career websites. You can find some templates here.
- Use a formal writing style, so avoid contractions, slang, or expressions that are too informal.
FAQs About CV In English
Is A CV The Same As A Resume?
Yes, a CV and a résumé refer to the same type of document i.e a 1-2 page summary of your word experience, education and skills. The word CV is used in the UK and Europe, while this document is called a résumé in the US.
In the United States however, a CV (curriculum vitae) and a résumé are two different documents.
A CV is a more detailed document that provides a comprehensive overview of an individual's academic and professional background, including publications, awards, and other achievements.
A résumé, on the other hand, is a more concise summary of an individual's work experience, skills, and qualifications.
What Is CV In English Language?
CV stands for curriculum vitae which is a Latin expression meaning “course of life” or “story of your life”.
A CV is a 1-2 page document that summarises your work and education history and your skills that you send with a job application.
In the United States, a CV is called a résumé.
How To Write A CV In English?
– Include the following sections: Contact details, personal statement, work experience, education, skills
– Avoid filling the page with all the jobs you’ve done in your life. Include only the relevant ones for the job you're applying for.
– Present your work history and education in reverse chronological order (most recent jobs or qualifications first).
– If you can, have someone with strong English skills review your CV for you. Don’t stop at just one review.
– Use bullet points as much as possible (not in your personal statement, though).
– Keep a consistent layout.
– Keep it short – 1 page if possible.
– Use a formal writing style, so avoid contractions, slang, or expressions that are too informal.
– Don't include details like your date of birth, marital status, nationality, or religion.
– Don't include a photo.
– Only mention hobbies if they're relevant to the job you're applying for.
Get That Job Thanks to You CV!
And finally, prepare for the interview!
Do you need help with that, too? I wrote about interview questions and answers in English for you, so you have nothing to worry about.
And if you manage to get a job and need some extra tips on using English at work, check out my posts on professional English and business English vocabulary.
I hope you found this guide useful, and best of luck with your job hunting!
