What do you include in a resume?

A resume is what people in the US and Canada call a CV. So if you’re writing a resume, include the same sections you’d put on your CV, with some slight differences: A header with your name and contact information A resume summary (typically called a personal statement on a CV) Work experience Education Skills Another difference between a resume and a CV is their length. Your resume should be just one page, instead of the customary two pages required for a CV. So there’s typically not space for your CV’s hobbies and interests section.

What to Include in a CV: 6 Most Important Sections

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Don’t know how to write a CV or unclear what to include in a CV? You’re in the right place.

Here’s a visual breakdown of a CV template and what to include on your CV to impress your target employer:

An example of what to include in a CV with the CV section highlighted.

Download Example

The example above provides a basic outline, demonstrating what to include in a CV.

And if you’re after more information, here’s what you should put on a CV section-by-section:

1. Your contact information

A CV header is something essential to include in your CV

Here are some resources for writing your CV header and contact details:

2. A job-specific personal statement

A personal statement included on a CV.

Learn how to write your personal statement, also known as a:

Remember, your personal statement should be brief, so be selective about its contents.

3. Relevant experience

The work experience section of a CV, showing what to put on a CV.

Here are some key resources for writing your work experience section:

Adding achievements to a CV
Some job titles to add to a CV
A list of action verbs to start your work experience bullet points with
Filling a work experience section on a CV with no experience

4. Your education history

The education section of a CV showing what should be on a CV

Educate employers on your qualifications by writing an education section using these guides:

Examples of CVs by students
Creating a full academic CV
Adding T-Levels, A-Levels, and degree classifications to your CV
Explaining a gap year on your CV

5. A list of job-specific skills

What to include on a CV (Skills Section)

Putting a bulleted list of skills on your CV shouldn’t be an afterthought. Here’s some guidance on what to include in a CV skills section and a list of common hard skills:

And here are four common soft skills for your CV:

6. Hobbies and interests

A hobbies and interests section of a CV illustrating how to include on your CV your hobbies.

Adding hobbies and interests that show you’re a well-rounded person and extracurricular activities highlighting job-specific skills is an essential part of a CV in the UK. You should include this section in your CV to give employers an idea of your personality.

Other good things to put in your CV

In addition to placing the right sections on your CV, here’s what to include in a CV’s layout and language:

Keywords from the job advert — Include exact terms and phrases from the job description to emphasise your suitability for the specific role.
Unique CV words — Describe your work experience with powerful words like ‘data driven’ and ‘personable’.
Proper spacing — Use 1.27–2.5 cm margins and 1–1.5 line spacing to ensure your CV is easy to read.
Professional fonts — Your CV’s font should be easy to read too (Arial or Georgia are good options).

Now that you know exactly what to include in your CV, select a CV template and get started.

Frequently asked questions about what should go on a CV

Still unsure what to include in a CV for a job in the UK? We’ve answered these two common questions about CV content:

1. What do you include in a CV for a 16-year-old?

If you’re writing a CV as a teenager, you probably don’t have much experience to highlight. But that doesn’t mean you should only look for jobs that don’t require work experience. You can still write a job-winning CV by connecting the following information to the role you want:

Soft skills
School projects
Voluntary experience
Internships
Personal projects

2. What do you include in a video CV?

Here’s what you should include in a video CV:

An introduction with your name and job title
The reason you’re applying (mentioning the specific company and role, if possible)
Your relevant job history and education details
Job-specific skills
Examples of your work (either visuals or stated in your script)
A request for an interview
A thank you to the employer for taking time to watch your video

More answers to your CV-related questions

Below are expert answers to 6 more common questions about what to include in a CV:

Written by

Samuel Johns

Samuel Johns is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and senior career counsellor on the CV Genius team, with almost 5 years of experience in the career space. He has helped countless job hunters craft high-quality CVs and cover letters, exceed expectations at interviews, and obtain their dream jobs. Born and raised in County Durham in the beautiful North East of England, he graduated with a BA (Hons) in French Language and Literature from the University of Bristol in 2013 and has worked in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, London, Paris, and Taipei as a French–English translator. He’s determined to use his native English and fluent French skills to help UK and French candidates get the jobs they deserve. In addition to the British and French versions of CV Genius, Samuel’s job-hunt advice has been published on numerous websites, including Careers.org, the University of Warwick, the Enterprisers Project, and HR.com. If you’d like to collaborate, please reach out to Samuel through LinkedIn. Please note, we don’t accept guest posts and won’t reply to such requests.