How to make your CV stand out to UK businesses: 8 tips and ideas.

Get inspired with CV tips and ideas to help you stand out to UK businesses.

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Experience? Check. Enthusiasm? Check. Willing to go the extra-mile? Check. You’ve got everything ready to apply for a new role – but how do you make your CV stand out to employers? When it comes to job hunting in the UK, these CV ideas can help you to cut the mustard.

Learn more with our handy guide to optimising your CV and impressing potential employers. Who knows – maybe your dream job is just a few CV tweaks away.

1. Keep it simple.

Seconds – that’s the time employers take to look at your CV. You need to get your information across succinctly and clearly – that starts with making it easy for employers to read. Here are some tips to help you focus your CV:

Remember – the content of your CV is key so ensure it’s easy to find and read.

2. Tailor it to the job.

One-size-fits-all doesn’t always work when it comes to job applications. Don’t use the same generic CV for every job application. Instead, you should personalise your CV to the job and industry you’re applying for.

But who’s got time for that, right? Don’t worry – it’s easier than you think:

Here are some examples to help you get started.

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resume
Topics
Q
manager

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Vertical

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sixcols

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(number of templates to load each pagination. Min. 5)

6
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Rare & Original

Newest to Oldest

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GB

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3. Personal statement ideas for your CV.

Don’t go straight into your skills and experience. Write a short personal summary at the top of your CV with your ideas, experience, and what you’re looking for. For example, something like, “I am a passionate creative with experience in both the B2B and B2C sectors, looking to further my career in marketing” can tell an employer a lot.

Get started on your personal statement with these tips to help you stand out:

4. Check for errors.

This sounds obvious, but always proof-read your CV. If employers see spelling errors, they might just bin it. Read, read, then read some more – and if you can’t, ask a friend to help. They may even come up with some useful suggestions.

Searching for errors is about more than proofreading, though:

5. Big up yourself.

There’s a time to be humble – but it’s not when you’re writing a CV.

You may be tempted to talk solely about your duties and responsibilities, but it’s essential to highlight your achievements, too. This applies to awards you’ve won, of course, but also the wording of your skills. For example:

Discussing how you’ve helped your previous workplaces, rather than just listing the things you’ve done, will help grab an employer’s attention. They’ll see you’re keen to make a positive contribution to their organisation, rather than just wanting the job for the sake of getting paid. Try to frame your CV to show how you could become an invaluable asset to your future employers.

6. Don’t re-invent the wheel.

Start with a template. They provide a basic structure and guideline to get the ball rolling, which is sometimes the hardest part. Begin filling in the template, then it’s one thing to another, and next thing you know – you’ve written the first draft of your CV.

Also, you might not be starting from scratch. Maybe you already have a CV. But there’s always ways to improve it. Change up the format and try a fresh approach by transferring your existing one into a new and engaging CV template.

7. Talk a bit about your hobbies.

Do you swim in your spare time? Are you a bookworm who loves getting lost in a novel? Whether it’s these or others – add your personal interests and hobbies to your CV at the bottom (after the education and work experience sections). It helps to show the employer the person behind the CV. After all, we’re human. We work and we play.

Try to include meaningful things you like to do in your spare time. But be careful. Don’t include things like “I like to socialise with friends on the weekend”. That may not be a bad thing, but an employer could misinterpret this. Take the safe approach – use a few simple hobbies. It doesn’t have to be extravagant, something like walking or cooking works just fine.

8. Add your LinkedIn.

Adding your LinkedIn credentials to your CV is an opportunity to connect with potential employers. It gives them a chance to see if you have any mutual connections. You may also have written recommendations from past colleagues on your profile. Maybe you’ve published articles on LinkedIn or shared some meaningful content. These can take your efforts beyond the standard CV. Ensure your LinkedIn matches your CV, any discrepancies between the two could raise suspicions – so make sure the core content aligns.

Tasks
resume
Topics

Template IDs

(To pull in manually curated templates if needed)

Orientation


(Horizontal/Vertical)

Vertical

Width


(Full, Std, sixcols)

sixcols

Limit


(number of templates to load each pagination. Min. 5)

6
Animated
All

Sort

Most Viewed

Rare & Original

Newest to Oldest

Oldest to Newest

Newest to Oldest
Locales
GB or EN

Premium


(true, false, all) true or false will limit to premium only or free only.

false

Using Adobe Express to create an eye-catching CV.

With Adobe Express, you can easily design your own CV. Open Adobe Express in your web browser and create a new project. The template library provides numerous designs to help your get started. Use the Generative AI function to write a prompt that creates a template based on your description. Whether you’re a student, teacher, marketer, or other professional, we have customisable templates tailored to different industries to give you profile ideas for your CV. Pick a template and start on yours for free. Design it however you like. Once you’re happy, download and use. Enjoy simple, free and easy CV design with Adobe Express.

Try Adobe Express for free

Good to know.

Why is my CV not getting noticed?

There are various reasons why your CV may not be getting pick up. It may have spelling errors. Or it may not be relevant to the job description. Does it show gaps in your employment? Perhaps lots of people have applied. Maybe you were late in the process. Focus on doing everything you can to give your CV the chance of getting noticed.

How do I make my CV more eye-catching?

To make your CV more eye-catching, you can check out these tips:

Sometimes, you can do everything right and still not get noticed. Don’t be disheartened. Focus on making your CV the best it can be.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes. The basic version of Adobe Express includes everything you need to start working creatively. It’s simple to use – you don’t need to be a design expert. Adobe Express offers thousands of design templates, images, videos and royalty-free photos, quick actions for processing images, as well as much more. The first step to landing your dream role starts with a good CV. Create a dazzling one for free with Adobe Express today.