How to write a standout CV
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At Serco, we want every candidate to feel equipped to put their best foot forward. Your CV is often the first impression you make, and a well-structured, honest, and easy-to-read document can make a real difference.
Here’s a practical guide to help you present your experience clearly and confidently - with simple, practical ways to use AI to enhance your CV along the way.
Start with the essentials
A strong CV is:
Include:
- Clear and straightforward
- Focused on your strengths
- Easy for a recruiter to scan
- Honest about your experience
Include:
- Contact details
- A short personal summary
- Key skills
- Work experience
- Education and training
- Relevant achievements or certifications
Where AI can help: If you’re unsure how to phrase something, AI tools can help you refine your wording — start with your own draft so your voice comes through.
“Help me improve the clarity and professionalism of my CV using only the information I provide. Keep the tone concise, honest, and easy to read. Do not add any new experience, skills, or achievements.”
Free tools to help you create your CV
You don’t need specialist software to build a professional CV. These free platforms offer simple, accessible options.
Microsoft Word and Google Docs
- Clean, professional templates that are easy to edit
- Easy to export as PDF
Where AI can help: Built-in suggestions can help with clarity but keep the content true to your experience.
Canva (Free Version)
- Canva (Free Version)
- Modern, visually appealing templates
- Drag-and-drop design
- Good for creative roles
Important: Some designs contain a lot of different elements which can be too visually or graphically complex for recruitment systems. Choose clean, simple layouts for roles at Serco.
Indeed CV Builder
- Quick and easy to use
- Helpful for first-time CV writers
Where AI can help: AI helps provide the structure, simply update the auto-generated content to reflect your own experience and achievements.
Before you start: AI guidance
If you choose to use AI tools:
- Remove your address, phone number, and email before pasting text
- Don’t share sensitive information (e.g., ID numbers, security clearance details)
- Use reputable tools with clear privacy policies (e.g., ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot)
AI should support your writing, not replace it.
- Write your own bullet points
- Paste them into an AI tool (with personal details removed)
- Ask for clarity or conciseness
- Edit the output so it still sounds like you
- Tailor it to the job description
- Do a final human check — you can also ask a family member or friend to proof-read it to help make sure everything is clear
Prompts like these can help produce an accurate, high-quality CV:
- “Rewrite these bullet points to be clearer and more concise, without adding new responsibilities or achievements.”
- “Help me improve the clarity of this CV summary using only the information I’ve provided.”
- “Suggest stronger action verbs for these responsibilities.”
- “Check this CV for structure and readability, but do not invent or exaggerate any experience.”
CV Structure: What to Include
A clear structure helps recruiters quickly understand your background.
Don’t forget to tailor your CV for the job you’re applying for, so you can clearly illustrate how your skills and experience align with the role.
Don’t forget to tailor your CV for the job you’re applying for, so you can clearly illustrate how your skills and experience align with the role.
- Include: Name, email, phone number, location (town or city only), postcode
- Avoid: Full address, date of birth, photos
A short overview (3-4 sentences) of your professional background, your strengths, what motivates you, and the type of role you’re looking for.
List 6-10 skills relevant to the role. Use the job description of the role you’re applying for as a guide for what is relevant.
AI tip: AI can help identify relevant skills from a job description – but only include skills you genuinely have.
Suggested AI prompt:
“Based on this job description and my CV, identify the key skills and experience that match the role. Suggest which of my skills I should highlight more clearly, but only using information already included in my CV.”
AI tip: AI can help identify relevant skills from a job description – but only include skills you genuinely have.
Suggested AI prompt:
“Based on this job description and my CV, identify the key skills and experience that match the role. Suggest which of my skills I should highlight more clearly, but only using information already included in my CV.”
List your professional experience using bullet points, starting with the most recent and working back in time. Include:
- Job title, employer’s name and dates of employment
- Your main responsibilities, where relevant to the role you’re applying for
- Your key achievements in the role
It is strongly recommended to include numbers and measurable results where possible, for example:
- Numbers (e.g., “Supported a team of 12”)
- Outcomes (e.g., “Reduced response times by 18%”)
- Contributions (e.g., “Owned key project tasks and coordinated across three teams, contributing to the on-time delivery of a £250k project”)
Use action-focused language such as delivered, supported, improved, coordinated, implemented.
Where AI can help: You can ask AI to make your bullet points clearer or more concise.
Suggested AI prompt:
“Rewrite these CV bullet points to be clearer, more concise, and action-focused. Highlight measurable impact clearly. Keep the wording professional and easy to scan, but do not add or exaggerate responsibilities, achievements, or results.”
List your academic qualifications, starting with the most recent. Include degrees, apprenticeships, courses, certifications, and any professional memberships.
Depending on the role: Volunteering, languages, technical skills, awards
Final tips to make your CV stand out
Tailor your CV to the role
For roles at Serco, it’s beneficial to:
- Identify the key skills and experience required on the job advert, and make sure your CV clearly shows how you meet these
- Highlight teamwork, collaboration, problem-solving, resilience, experience in complex or regulated environments, customer or community impact, innovation
Where AI can help
Upload your CV (with personal details removed) to an AI tool and ask how well it aligns with the job advert. Ask for a bullet-point list of any skills or experience that aren’t clearly reflected in your CV. Use this to strengthen your application by adding detail where appropriate and relevant.
Suggested AI prompt:
“Compare my CV against this job description and identify any relevant skills, experience, or achievements that are not clearly highlighted. Only use information already included in my CV and do not invent new content.”
Suggested AI prompt:
“Compare my CV against this job description and identify any relevant skills, experience, or achievements that are not clearly highlighted. Only use information already included in my CV and do not invent new content.”
Formatting and layout
A clean, simple layout helps your CV stand out for the right reasons.
Keep it simple
Keep it simple
- Use a clear font (Calibri, Arial)
- Spell out acronyms (don’t assume readers will know what they stand for)
- Font size 10–12 for body text
- Bold for headings only
- Consistent spacing and margins
- Use bullet points - this makes your CV easier to scan and understand.
Pages and Design
- Aim for 1–2 pages
- Avoid over-designed templates, they can confuse applicant tracking systems, make your CV harder to read, and distract from your content
- Save and upload your CV as a PDF when you apply – this keeps your formatting consistent across devices.
Proof-read
Give your CV one final check before you submit it - it's helpful for a friend or family to check it too.
Strengthen your application - add a cover letter
A strong CV gets you noticed — a tailored cover letter helps tell your story. Learn how to write a clear, professional cover letter that highlights your experience, motivation, and fit for the role.