Complete CV Writing Guide | Scriberly
Dec 1, 2025
The Complete CV Writing Guide for 2025: Structure, Formatting & Best Practices
Writing a CV can feel more complicated than it should be, especially if you haven’t updated yours in a while. The good news is that a strong CV isn’t about fancy design or clever tricks, it’s simply about presenting your experience clearly and confidently. This guide breaks everything down in a straightforward way so you can build a CV that actually works in 2025.
At Scriberly, we’re big believers in keeping things simple. A CV isn’t meant to tell your life story. It’s a short, tidy overview of what you can do and what you’ve done so far.
What a CV Is (and How It Differs from a Résumé)
A CV is the standard document used for job applications in the UK. It covers your work history, strengths, skills, education and any training that adds value.
A résumé common in the US is usually much shorter and more focused on quick highlights.
If you’re applying for roles in the UK, stick with a CV. The structure below is the one most hiring managers expect to see.
A Simple CV Structure That Works in 2025
Most effective CVs follow a very similar outline. We've outlined how to structure a cv:
Contact Details
Personal Statement
Key Skills
Work Experience
Education
Training & Certificates
Hobbies or Interests (optional)
References (optional)
You don’t need anything unusual. This layout is clean, clear and familiar to recruiters.
Formatting: What Actually Matters
There’s a lot of noise online about ATS optimisation and “secret tricks”. In reality, it’s just about making your CV easy for a human and a system to read. We've outlined how to format a cv:
Keep it simple: no columns, graphics, text boxes or clever designs.
Fonts: Arial, Calibri, Helvetica or anything similarly clean works.
Sizes: 10–12pt for text, slightly bigger for section titles.
File type: Word (.docx) for uploads; PDF when sending directly to a person.
Length: One to two pages is perfectly fine. Don’t worry if you need the second page.
Recruiters appreciate clarity more than anything else.
How Recruiters Actually Read CVs
This part is rarely talked about, but it matters. Most recruiters skim rather than read. They jump to:
Job titles
Dates
Key skills
Noticeable achievements
If something looks messy or confusing, they’ll move on quickly. A clean structure gives you a far better chance of being noticed.
Common CV Mistakes to Avoid
These slip-ups are surprisingly common and easy to fix:
Typos (always proofread)
Long, heavy paragraphs
Missing dates or unclear timelines
Old or irrelevant jobs are taking up space
Clichés like “team player” with no examples
Adding a photo (not needed in the UK)
A tidy CV without clutter is far more effective than an over-designed one.
What to Include If You Have No Experience
A lot of people worry about this, but you have more to talk about than you think. Use:
Volunteering
School or college work
Part-time roles
Any situation where you’ve worked with people
Awards or projects
Courses, training or certificates
Transferable skills from hobbies or activities
Experience doesn’t have to come from a full-time job.
Build Your First CV: A Quick Step-by-Step
Add your name, email, phone and location.
Write a short personal statement about who you are and what you bring.
List eight to ten relevant skills.
Add your work history with clear bullet points.
Include your education.
Add certificates or training.
Include optional extras if they add value.
Read it back slowly to check for mistakes.
That’s really all it takes.
How Scriberly Helps
Everything in this guide becomes easier inside Scriberly’s CV builder. The layout, formatting and structure are handled for you, so you can focus on the content. Our templates are ATS-friendly, clean and simple, and you can make edits without worrying about spacing or design issues.