2024 | Reading time: 11 Minutes

CV layout: How to find the perfect structure

When creating your CV for a job application, you may wonder: How do I lay out an entire life? Here are some tips to help you create the right format and design to impress recruiters.

CV layout

Your job application needs to be compelling at first glance. That's why your CV should make a good visual impression while allowing the details of your life to speak for themselves. But don't worry: all you need are the following guidelines and you'll be able to put together your personal information into a concise and appealing CV.

CV layout – the basic structure

The first thing you should do when writing your CV is to figure out which information about yourself is actually relevant to your job application. You may want to start by collecting every bit of information about your educational and professional history so you can get a good idea about the scope of your CV. You'll also be able to see which stages of your life require additional information and which stages you could keep more concise to save space. Your personal (contact) information should never be cut from your CV of course, as it serves as the foundation of your job application.

Make sure that your recruiter is able to identify the most important pieces of information at a glance, by following this overall structure:

The most useful layout for your CV is a two-column layout with dates and time frames on the left and details on the right. This allows recruiters to see all the stages of your career or education at a glance, while leaving plenty of room for adding details about what exactly you did at your previous place of employment. So, the layout should have the date on the left side, followed by the corresponding job title or a short description to the right, such as "training as a bank clerk" or "retail salesperson". You can also put additional information underneath that title or description, such as your final grades, projects you worked on, or the responsibilities your job entailed.

You can highlight important details, but be sure not to overdo it, as this may make your CV harder to read.

If you're looking for an alternative CV layout, you could eliminate the two columns, structuring all the stages of your life on the left side. Make sure you use your job title as a headline, followed by details about your job. If you're opting for this structure, you should use bullet points to make the information more easily digestible. And since you're not putting the dates in a separate column on the left, but on the right next to your job description, you should absolutely highlight the dates using a special colour or font. Otherwise, recruiters won't easily see them, which makes your entire CV seem unstructured.

Use CV templates for a straightforward layout

If you lack confidence in your ability to create your own layout, you can always use pre-made CV templates. They're easy to fill in, which saves you a lot of work and ensures your CV looks professional, even if your layouting experience is limited. Good templates have a cohesive appearance that fits well with your job application portfolio.

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Your CV layout should follow a common thread

In terms of visual design, your CV layout should follow a common thread, just as the content of your CV does. To create a consistent design that follows a common thread, you should consider the following elements:

Are there any hard rules for your CV layout?

While most recruiters will accept CVs made following the guidelines above, there are no strict rules for structuring your CV in the UK. In fact, some job seekers with little to no work experience may choose to list the skills they've acquired instead of following their employment timeline. However, be mindful that certain countries may have recognised norms. For example, companies in the German-speaking areas of Europe may expect your cover letter and CV to follow the German DIN 5008 standard. Though they may still consider your application if it doesn't comply, not following the norm may not always work in your favour.

For job applications in the UK, you can simply follow the rules outlined here. But when applying for a job abroad, you should always check whether there are any official rules or widely-accepted norms you're expected to follow. You can find a DIN 5008 template for use in the German-speaking parts of Europe here.

Make sure your CV is easy to read

Since there are no official norms to follow for CVs in the UK, it might seem as though you have a lot of freedom to choose a layout that suits you and the position for which you're applying. But always keep in mind: The structure of your CV is supposed to help recruiters find the information they're looking for. If your CV is structured in a highly unusual manner, they may not find crucial information quickly and may decide that your application is not worth their time. In short, clarity and readability are paramount factors in your CV layout.

You may still be able to attract a recruiter's attention with an unconventional CV structure, of course. However, your structure should follow a few general guidelines to ensure readability:

Some additional guidelines for professional-looking CVs

You don't need a graphics design degree to create your own CV layout and design. Just follow these tips to make your job application stand out:

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