Job searching in 2026 still revolves around a professional CV. A CV often determines the first impression an employer has of a candidate and whether an interview will follow. Research in 2018 already showed that recruiters spent about 6 seconds on an initial glance at a CV. By 2026, this phase has become even faster due to ATS, automated filters, and high competition for job openings. Therefore, your CV must immediately show the most important information: who you are, what experience you have, and how well it matches the requirements of the position.
CV Rules: The 10 Best Tips
A standard CV based on a generic template quickly gets lost among dozens of similar applications. A strong CV requires a clear structure, consistent guidelines, and enough focus. Therefore, it’s wise to first calmly reflect on your experience, strengths, and the role you are applying for.
Sometimes, it also helps to clear your mind before you start writing. A short break prevents you from rushing and overlooking important details. For example, you could quickly read a brief review of the Hidden Jack casino bonus on Slotozilla and select a suitable promotion for your favorite slot, even with just 1€ to test it. You might even play a few rounds before continuing. Then, return to your CV and calmly continue working on the content.
Rule 1. Tailor Your CV to the Job
In 2026, employers often use automated systems to screen CVs. ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) are used by about 99% of Fortune 500 companies, 70% of large companies, and 75% of recruiters. These systems compare the job posting with the candidate’s document: they analyze keywords, skills, experience, the CV structure, and overall alignment with the job requirements. Therefore, a CV that is not tailored to a specific job may be filtered out in the initial screening phase, even before a recruiter sees it.
Pay attention to tasks, requirements, skills, and recurring terms. Find the keywords from the job posting and carefully align your CV with them. It is important not to describe your experience “in your own words,” but in terms that the ATS will recognize. For example, if the job posting emphasizes data analysis, this exact phrasing must also appear in your CV.
Rule 2. Put the Most Important Information at the Top of the Page
Immediately after your name, state your job title or professional specialization, for example “Digital Marketing Specialist” or “Frontend Developer.” Below that, add a brief personal summary. Keep it short — 3 to 4 lines is enough. Describe your experience, your main areas of expertise, and what your greatest added value is for the employer
Rule 3. Show Your Achievements Instead of Your Duties
Instead of “managed the client database,” something like “optimized client database management, reducing request processing time by 18%” is far more impactful. You don’t need to include numbers if you don’t have them, but you should mention a concrete result — such as faster processes, fewer errors, or higher revenue.
Rule 4. Keep It to One or Two Pages
Unnecessary details often reduce quality. Old, irrelevant positions can be left out. If you now work in IT, for example, there’s no need to explain in detail that you worked as a warehouse assistant as a side job 10 years ago. At most, you can list this briefly under “other experience” without further explanation.
Rule 5. Use Reverse Chronological Order
Your work experience should be ordered from your current or most recent position to earlier ones. For each position, include:
- job title
- company name
- city and country
- period of employment
- 2 to 4 bullet points on achievements and results
This order instantly shows your professional level at a glance. A clear structure makes your career easy to follow in one look.
Rule 6. Be Concrete and Measurable
Instead of “good communication skills,” write: “coordinated communication between three departments during the launch of a new project.” Instead of “analytical ability,” use: “prepared monthly reports and analyzed sales figures.” Concrete examples are always more convincing than general statements.
Rule 7. Add Relevant Skills
The “skills” section should match the job you are applying for. Do not include a generic list — instead, choose skills that fit the job requirements:
| Vaardigheidscategorie | Voorbeelden van passende vacatures | Wat je in je cv kunt vermelden |
| Analytisch en data | Junior data-analist, marketinganalist | Excel, Power BI, SQL, Google Analytics |
| Administratie en kantoor | Administratief medewerker, office assistant | Microsoft 365, CRM-systemen, documentbeheer, agendabeheer |
| Design en digital | Content creator, junior designer, social media medewerker | Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Canva, contentmanagement |
| Projectmanagement | Projectcoördinator, operations assistant | Jira, Trello, Asana, stakeholdercoördinatie |
| Ontwikkeling | Junior developer, front-end developer, software developer | JavaScript, Python, React, Git |
| Talen | Sales assistant, international office medewerker | Nederlands – C1, Engels – B2 |
If you are applying to an international company, it is especially useful to list your language skills separately. In that case, it is best to use the CEFR scale, such as B2, C1, or C2.
Rule 8. Check Your Contact Details
A mistake in your contact details is one of the most frustrating reasons a CV gets lost. According to professionals, it is best to include the following at the top of the document:
- first and last name
- phone number
- email address
- home address
- LinkedIn link
Do you have a relevant online portfolio, GitHub, or professional website? Then it is recommended to add these to the list above as well.
Rule 9. Use a Clear and Professional Design
An overly complex design reduces readability. It is best to stick to these rules:
- one easy-to-read font
- clear headings
- consistent line spacing
- a logical layout of sections
Use images only if they genuinely add something. The main goal of the design is to make reading easier.
Rule 10. Avoid Mistakes
Even a strong CV loses quality if it contains errors. Always check before sending:
- spelling;
- a consistent style for dates;
- punctuation;
- whether company names and job titles are written correctly.
A useful tip: re-read the document a few hours later. With fresh eyes, you’ll catch small errors much more quickly.