Crafting a Stand-Out CV – by Jordan McAdam, Career Coach.

During a job search, your CV is the most important document you have. It is your personal marketing tool — designed to showcase your experience, skills, and value, and to demonstrate why you are the right person for the role.

There is no shortage of advice online about how to write the “perfect” CV, much of it conflicting. What follows is my professional opinion, based on what I see working best during real recruitment and shortlisting processes.

My first tip: Think Like the Reader

Imagine you are part of an HR or recruitment team hiring a Director of Finance. You advertise the role and receive 100 applications. Your task is to reduce that list to a short, high-quality shortlist.

That is the reality your CV is competing in.

Your CV must read as you — not just another “Head of Finance” or “Finance Manager” who blends into the pile.

So, how do you stand out?

Most CVs are scanned for only a few seconds initially. If you don’t capture attention quickly, there’s a real risk your CV won’t make it past the first review.

One of the most effective ways to do this is by including an Achievements section.

The Achievements Section

Position this immediately after your Profile for maximum impact.

Include 4–6 bullet points that highlight key career achievements. These should be:

• Personal (your contribution)
• Measurable (where possible)
• Impactful (clear outcomes)

This section should immediately show the reader why they should keep reading.

Career History: Less Description, More Impact

Your Career History matters — and it needs to be done well.

Recruiters will typically jump straight to your current or most recent role, so this section must work hard for you.

Avoid listing responsibilities in detail — this often reads like a job description and adds little value. Instead:

• Provide a short synopsis of your time with the organisation, including any progression
• Follow this with bullet points highlighting key projects, achievements, or outcomes

As with your Achievements section, focus on results, impact, and your personal contribution. This gives your CV depth and distinction.

Quick-Fire CV Questions

1. How long should my CV be?
   Aim for two pages. You don’t need to include experience from 30 years ago unless it is directly relevant. Apply common sense and focus on what supports your current career direction.
2. Should I include a photo?
   You should also avoid including information that could be considered discriminatory, such as date of birth, full address, nationality, or marital status.
3. Do I need to include hobbies?
   Not necessarily. If you have interests that add colour or relevance, feel free to include them. However, leaving this section out will not weaken your CV.

A Final Thought

Crafting a CV can be challenging because it requires us to clearly recognise our own strengths, achievements, and ambitions — something many people find difficult.

When writing your CV, think about your future role. If earlier jobs no longer support that direction, they don’t always need to be included.

Focus forward.
Use your experience to demonstrate what makes you distinctive, credible, and the best fit for the role.

If you would like support in crafting your CV, or would like a professional review, please get in touch:

📞 073 9477 7582
📧 jmccareercoach@gmail.com
🌐 https://jmc.consulting

Good luck — and remember, your CV should open doors, not hold you back.