The five-block structure recruiters scan

A CV is not a life story, it is a decision document. Five blocks, in this order, let a reader confirm fit without searching.

• Header — full name, city and country, one phone number with country code, one professional email, and a LinkedIn or portfolio link if it is current.
• Profile — three lines naming the role you are applying for, your years of experience, your sector and one concrete result.
• Experience — reverse chronological. Employer, job title, city, month and year, then achievement bullets. Keep the last ten years in detail; compress anything older into a single line.
• Education and certifications — the qualification, the institution, the year. Add a professional body membership if the role requires one.
• Skills and languages — the tools, systems and languages you can actually use on day one, including the working languages of the advert.

What to leave out

• Date of birth, marital status, religion, national ID and a photograph — irrelevant in most markets and risky in several.
• Referee contact details. Write 'References available on request' and keep the list ready separately.
• Soft-skill lists such as 'hard-working, team player'. They consume space and prove nothing.