How to Write a CV That Shows Skills, Not Just Duties

A strong CV makes it easy for an employer to connect your experience to their need. Instead of repeating duties, show the skill you used and the result it created.

Lead with a focused professional summary

In three or four lines, state the kind of role you are pursuing, your most relevant strengths, and the experience or training that supports them. Adapt this section for each genuine target role.

Rewrite duties as evidence

Replace “responsible for customer service” with a specific example such as “responded to customer enquiries, resolved routine issues, and maintained accurate service records.” Add truthful numbers when they clarify scale or improvement.

Match the language of the role

Use words from the job description when they accurately describe your background. This helps recruiters and applicant-tracking systems recognise relevant experience without keyword stuffing.

Frequently asked question: How long should a CV be?

For most early-career and mid-career applicants, one or two well-organised pages are enough. Relevance and readability matter more than length.

Next step: Bring your existing CV to a career consultation and identify the strongest evidence to foreground.