CV advice by job family
Updated 4 November 2026
The structure of a good CV is the same everywhere, but what a recruiter looks for first changes a lot by job family. Use these notes alongside our general CV guide.
The example bullets show the shape of a strong bullet. The numbers in them are made up for illustration. Write your own, with real figures you can stand behind.
Software and engineering
What recruiters scan for
- Languages, frameworks and platforms matching the role
- What you built, its scale and its impact
- Evidence of quality: testing, reliability, code review, security
Key sections
- Technical skills grouped by type
- Experience with project-level bullets
- Projects or open-source work with links
- Education and relevant certifications
Example bullet structure
- Rebuilt [service] in [technology], cutting [latency/cost/errors] by [amount] for [number] users
- Introduced [testing or CI practice], reducing failed releases from [x] to [y] per quarter
Common mistakes
- Listing every technology you have ever touched
- Describing tasks without saying what changed
- Links to repositories that are empty or unfinished
Data and analytics
What recruiters scan for
- Tools (SQL, Python or R, BI tools)
- Business questions you answered and the decision that followed
- Data scale and complexity
Key sections
- Skills and tools
- Experience framed as question, analysis, outcome
- Portfolio or project links
Example bullet structure
- Built a [model or dashboard] in [tool] that [informed decision], contributing to [measurable result]
- Cleaned and joined [n] data sources, cutting weekly reporting time from [x] to [y] hours
Common mistakes
- Naming algorithms without any business outcome
- Only coursework projects using the same well-known public datasets
- No sense of data size or audience
Finance and accounting
What recruiters scan for
- Qualification status (for example ACCA, CIMA, CA or CPA, and exams passed)
- Accuracy and control
- Systems (ERP and Excel depth) and deadlines met
Key sections
- Profile with qualification status
- Experience with clear scope (entities, budgets, transaction volumes)
- Systems and technical skills
Example bullet structure
- Managed month-end close for [n] entities, bringing the close forward by [x] days
- Identified [issue] in [process], recovering [amount] and tightening [control]
Common mistakes
- Vague qualification status
- Duties lists with no sense of scale
- Typos and inconsistent number formats, which matter in a detail-focused field
Consulting
What recruiters scan for
- Problem solving with measurable impact
- Leadership and influence, at any level
- Academic results and analytical rigour
- Client or stakeholder exposure
Key sections
- Education near the top for graduates
- Experience written as situation, action, impact
- Leadership and extracurricular achievements
Example bullet structure
- Led a team of [n] to analyse [problem] for [stakeholder], recommending [change] that was adopted and [result]
- Built the [analysis] that [stakeholder] used to decide [decision]
Common mistakes
- Long paragraphs instead of crisp, scannable bullets
- Leadership claims without outcomes
- Going over one page as a graduate without good reason
Marketing
What recruiters scan for
- Channels and tools
- Campaign results tied to business metrics
- Creative and analytical balance
Key sections
- Profile naming your specialism
- Experience with campaign results
- Portfolio link
Example bullet structure
- Planned and ran a [channel] campaign for [product], reaching [audience] and driving [conversions or revenue]
- Tested [n] variants of [asset], improving [metric] by [amount]
Common mistakes
- Vanity metrics with no link to sales or sign-ups
- Calling yourself creative without showing work
- Not naming the channels you know
Sales
What recruiters scan for
- Targets and attainment
- Deal size, sales cycle and the type of customer
- Pipeline building and relationships
Key sections
- Profile with segment and sale type
- Experience with numbers in almost every bullet
- Awards and rankings
Example bullet structure
- Achieved [x]% of a [amount] annual target selling [product] to [customer type]
- Opened [n] new accounts in [territory], building [amount] of pipeline in [period]
Common mistakes
- No numbers at all
- Percentages without the base they relate to
- Overstating team results as personal results
Operations and supply chain
What recruiters scan for
- Cost, time, quality and safety improvements
- Scale (sites, suppliers, volumes)
- Process methods and systems
Key sections
- Profile with sector and scope
- Experience with before-and-after results
- Certifications and systems
Example bullet structure
- Redesigned [process] across [n] sites, cutting [lead time or cost] by [amount] while keeping [quality or safety] targets
- Renegotiated terms with [n] suppliers, saving [amount] a year
Common mistakes
- Process jargon without results
- No sense of scale
- Leaving out safety and compliance
Human resources
What recruiters scan for
- HR specialism (generalist, talent, reward, employee relations, L&D)
- Size of the population you supported
- Outcomes for people and the business
Key sections
- Profile with specialism and professional membership or qualification
- Experience with population and outcomes
- Systems
Example bullet structure
- Supported [n] employees across [functions or countries], [result such as reducing time to hire by x days]
- Designed and launched [programme], with [participation or outcome measure]
Common mistakes
- Policy lists without outcomes
- Sharing confidential details about cases
- Not naming the HR systems you know
Graduates with no work experience
What recruiters scan for
- Your degree and its relevance
- Evidence of skills from any setting: projects, societies, part-time work, volunteering
- Motivation for this field
Key sections
- Education first, with relevant modules and your dissertation or final project
- Experience broadly defined
- Skills and achievements
Example bullet structure
- Organised [event] for [n] attendees as [role] in [society], managing a budget of [amount]
- Served [n] customers per shift at [employer], handling [responsibility]
- Researched [topic] for my dissertation, analysing [data or sources] and finding [result]
Common mistakes
- Leaving out part-time jobs because they feel irrelevant; they show reliability and customer skills
- A generic profile that could fit anyone
- Listing modules without showing what you can do with them
