8 Top CV Design Tips To Succeed In Your Job Search

Standing out in your job application is important. Secure your dream job with these expert tips for designing a successful CV to land your dream job.

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8 Tips for Designing a CV

First impressions count. And that's why the visual impact of your CV is so significant. While a messy, poorly designed CV can immediately put employers off, a professional-looking CV with a great CV layout grabs their attention in the right way and makes your application stand out. As CV experts, we have all the tips you need to create a good CV.

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1.Consider the Industry When Choosing a Colour Scheme

Colour schemes are a great way to create a specific impression with your CV and attract a hiring manager’s attention. It will help if you keep your industry in mind when choosing a colour scheme. For example, a professional black or grey might be better suited to law or finance. In contrast, you will have more flexibility if you’re applying for a job in creative industries, allowing you to make a creative CV. There may also be specific colours that dominate your industry, and using those will help make your CV feel right and show that you fit in the industry.

2. Make Other Nods to Your Industry

Whether through the subtle use of graphics, fonts, or design elements, making a nod to your industry can add character to your CV and show you’re passionate about your chosen field. For example, a blueprint-style CV could be the perfect fit if you’re in engineering or property development.

3. Choose an Appropriate Font

As most of your CV consists of the written word, choosing the right font could be make-or-break. Avoid any fonts that are difficult to read, and steer clear of “kiddish” fonts like Comic Sans. Times New Roman or Arial are usually safe bets, but you could also play around with different fonts that fit your industry. For example, a CV for a graphic design job application usually works well using a clean, minimal Sans Serif font. In contrast, a more “bookish” traditional Serif font can work nicely for writing roles.

4. Make Your CV Easy To Skim

With a pile of CVs on their desk, recruiters often don’t spend much time reading the finer details of each CV, at least not on the first look-through. Therefore, following a CV format that is clear and well structured is vital. This ensures essential points are easy to pick up when skimming through, which you can achieve by having clearly divided sections, using bold or underlined headings, and utilising bullet points for key skills and abilities. So, for example, suppose you’ve got a lot of content to fit in. In that case, you could also lay out your CV in columns, with your personal profile and contact details down one side and your professional experience, skills section, and qualifications on the other.

5. Keep Everything Neat and Aligned

Whether you use a simple Word document or design software, ensuring that all your paragraphs, titles, and sections are aligned is critical. You should also follow an organised structure, keeping work experience and skills sections separate. This will make your CV look nice and neat, creating a great impression on potential employers.

6. Try Using Personal Branding

This tip isn’t for everyone, but if you want a personal brand, your CV is a great place to showcase it. Particularly for design roles, having a colour scheme and other design elements that convey who you are can be a brilliant way to make your CV stand out. If you have a website or online portfolio on sites such as LinkedIn, the design you use on your CV should correspond with that. But, usually, it is best to steer away from any other social media sites at this stage.

7. Make Your Contact Information Stand Out

When designing your CV, you should do everything you can to make a recruiter’s job easier and encourage them to contact you. A clearly defined contact section, also known as a header, at the top of your CV makes it easy for employers to see your details and get in touch. Whether you use a box, simple spacing, or other visual elements, making your contact details accessible is a must. Remember to include your full name, phone number, and email address!

8. Make Sure It Can Be Easily Viewed and Printed

The best CVs are easy to access and read. Don’t make your CV hard to view, as it will be your downfall! Bear in mind that hiring managers might view your CV on a computer or phone or print it off. Your document should be easily viewable through all media types, so there’s absolutely no possibility of your CV being cast aside because it’s too hard to read. You will need to use a minimalist approach without leaving too much white space on your CV either. The best way to do this is by using clear subheadings and saving your CV as a pdf.

Are you looking for more help?

There are many elements to creating a great job application, in addition to deciding about what to actually write in your cover letter and CV. But, fear not. CV Help is here for you. Whether it’s our CV writing guide, our CV templates, or our CV builder, our site is bursting with handy resources to help you bag your next job.

FAQ: CV Design Tips

Q: What makes a good CV design?

A good CV design should follow a clear structure that makes it easier for hiring managers to read whilst also reflecting your personality through design. Following professional CV templates will help you achieve the right look, and writing your work history section in reverse-chronological order will make your CV easier to follow.

Q: What should I include in a CV design?

A CV design should include different sections of relevant information for the job you’re applying for. These sections include work experience, skills, contact details, education, and a professional summary. You can also include links to your portfolio of work through sites such as your LinkedIn profile, but you shouldn’t include unprofessional social media profiles.

Q: Do I need a CV design template?

Using a CV template by CV Help will set your curriculum vitae apart from other job applicants, as a good professional template will provide a structure and layout for you to use that also includes all the relevant information you need to display when applying for jobs. Tailor your CV for each application, based on the requirements of the job description.

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