1. Start with evidence, not formatting
Before opening a template, make a plain list of your recent roles, projects, education, languages, and relevant tools. Under each role, write down what changed because of your work. Numbers are useful when they are true, but a precise outcome is better than an invented percentage.
For each application, compare that evidence with the vacancy. Reuse the employer's language only when it accurately describes your experience. This makes the CV easier to understand and avoids stuffing it with unrelated keywords.
- Use a professional email address
- Put the most relevant experience first
- Explain outcomes, not only duties
- Remove claims you cannot support
2. Build a simple one- or two-page document
Europass is a practical starting point when an employer requests that format or when you need help organizing sections. LibreOffice is better when you want full control over a conventional document. In either tool, choose one readable typeface, consistent heading sizes, and enough white space.
Avoid progress bars for skills. They look precise but rarely explain what you can actually do. A short phrase such as “Excel: pivot tables, lookups, monthly reporting” gives the reader more useful evidence.
Tools mentioned
Europass CV Builder
Create, store, and export a structured CV using the European Union's official tool.
LibreOffice
A free open-source office suite for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
3. Proofread in separate passes
First check facts: dates, job titles, contact details, and links. Then check language and sentence length. A grammar checker can catch small errors, but it cannot know whether a claim is accurate. Read the final version aloud and ask whether every line earns its place.
Export to PDF unless the employer requests another format. Open the exported file and copy a few lines from it. If the text copies normally and headings remain readable, automated systems are more likely to parse it correctly.
Tools mentioned
LanguageTool
Check spelling, grammar, and style in multiple languages.
4. Name and store each version clearly
Use a filename such as Firstname-Lastname-CV-Role.pdf. Keep a master CV with all your experience, then save a separate version for each type of role. Record which version you sent and when. That small habit prevents confusion before interviews.
- Open the final PDF on a phone
- Test every link
- Check the filename
- Keep an editable master copy