How to create your CV – a complete guide

A CV describes what you have done and achieved in previous jobs and through your education. A CV is retrospective and describes what you have done.

A cover letter, on the other hand, is forward-looking, as it describes how you could utilise your skills and experience in the new position. Also check out our guide toa great cover letter here..

Your CV should focus on the most important things you have achieved. And you can elaborate on this in the cover letter itself.

The easiest way to create a CV is to use a Word template. Or you can create a CV here on Jobindex and then print it out.

Create your CV here – for free..

Your CV should be in reverse chronological order, meaning you should start with your most recent achievements first. This applies to work experience and education.

However, no rule is without exception. If you are a recent graduate, you can start with your education and then work experience.

REMEMBER to include start and end dates for previous employment and education.

Also, make your CV easy to read by using headings, appropriately sized letters and not too much text. You can use bullet points, and remember that your CV should be a minimum of 2–3 pages.

A CV should be structured in reverse chronological order, and as a recent graduate you may have been working alongside your studies.

However, when you are a recent graduate looking for your first “real” job, it is your education that matters most. Therefore, you should start by outlining your education and then your work experience.

Of course, it depends on your experience. However, unlike a cover letter, a CV can be longer and is typically 1–4 pages.

It is important that your CV is easy to read. You can achieve this by using multiple headings, appropriately sized letters and by using bullet points.

The sections (and headings) that your CV should include are:

A brief introduction:

Start with an introduction, where you introduce yourself and your profile in 5–10 lines. Focus on what is relevant to the particular job you are applying for.

Work experience:

A strong CV includes only the professional experience relevant to the job you’re applying for. Therefore, you don’t need to include all your work experience when applying.

When writing the employment history section, consider carefully which roles and positions are relevant to highlight in your CV.

As you describe previous employment, ask yourself: “How does my time in this position demonstrate that I’m capable of handling the new job I’m applying for?”

When you tailor your professional experience to match the job, the company can easily see how you fit the role. You want to ensure your CV is completely aligned with the job requirements, clearly demonstrating your relevance as a candidate.

Once you’ve selected your relevant experience, list your key and most relevant tasks in bullet points. Expand on your achievements and responsibilities in relation to the position you’re applying for.

Education:

Write the most relevant things about your education. Here you can list the most important subjects and the results you have achieved. Describe what is relevant to the position.

Relevant courses:

Briefly mention the courses you have taken that may be relevant to the position.

IT skills:

Outline your IT skills if they are relevant to the job.

Your language skills

Describe your level of fluency in relevant languages.

References:

List any references who the company can contact.

Other relevant points:

Add anything else that might be relevant at the end.

Some managers and recruitment consultants only want to see a CV. If this is the case, you may want to create a motivational CV. Here you can elaborate on your CV and include some of the content you would otherwise include in your cover letter.

Do you need inspiration for your cover letter or motivational CV? Click here for our guide to writing a great cover letter.

It’s important to write an effective CV headline, as the headline is the first thing an employer sees when reading your CV. A headline in your CV acts as your first professional introduction.

You could also call it a compact presentation of your qualifications, experience, and skills.

In short, a CV headline has the following benefits:

• You demonstrate your value from the very first sentence.
• You capture the employer’s attention.
• You position yourself as a strong candidate for the role.

Examples of effective CV headlines

Here are some good examples of CV headlines. After each headline, we’ve highlighted the values the title represents:

• Young, ambitious, and service-oriented sales assistant: A headline that immediately gives a clear idea of your age, drive, and area of expertise.
• Experienced project manager with a focus on innovation: Highlights both the candidate’s leadership experience and passion for innovative solutions.
• Creative marketing professional with 5 years of experience: Emphasises both creativity and a solid amount of experience within marketing.
• Dedicated and efficient communications consultant with 10+ years of experience: Demonstrates over a decade of experience as well as commitment and efficiency in the role.
• Experienced pedagogue specialising in child well-being and development: Marks the candidate’s specialisation, making them attractive for specific roles within this niche.
• Experienced carpenter seeking role as project manager in construction: Indicates the candidate’s desire to advance and further specialise within the construction industry.
• Newly graduated nurse from University College Copenhagen: Highlights fresh knowledge and education, while also indicating geographic location.
• Caring and structured healthcare assistant: Shows a combination of soft and hard skills – ideal for roles requiring both technical knowledge and empathy.

It’s clear that a CV headline can make a strong impression by being clear, precise, and focused. A good headline triggers the employer’s imagination, helping them quickly picture what you’re like as an employee.

Tips for your CV headline

1. Focus on relevant skills: Choose keywords from the job advert that quickly and effectively communicate the match between your skills and the role.
2. Tailor it to the job description: Adjust your CV headline to the specific role you’re applying for.
3. Use clear and concise language: Avoid filler words and keep it simple.

Write a strong CV profile summary

The next thing the recruiter reads is your CV profile summary. Your profile text is a short description of 5–8 sentences, highlighting your personal and professional profile.

Your profile text should naturally extend your headline, motivating the company to read more about you.

You can describe your professional experience more effectively by using active, action-oriented verbs such as “support”, “coordinate”, “actively contribute to”, “ensure”, and similar terms.

When you describe your experience this way in your CV, you give the company a clearer impression of your experience and a broader understanding of your skills.

Your CV becomes much more compelling if you can demonstrate linguistically how you’ve performed your tasks, thus placing your competencies in context.

Other good verbs to use in a CV include:

• Assisted
• Optimised
• Identified
• Executed
• Analysed
• Facilitated

In a world where networking and personal connections play a crucial role in career development, it’s important to understand how to effectively use references, recommendations and referrals. They might seem similar, but each has a different purpose and application—especially when it comes to your CV and the job search process.

• References are individuals who can confirm your previous work experience and qualifications. They are often former managers or colleagues.
• Recommendations are more formal, written statements highlighting your current skills and competencies.
• Referrals are individuals who actively help you gain entry to a potential employer, going a step further than merely confirming your qualifications.

When applying for a new position, some employers might ask for references to verify statements made in your CV or during the interview. But what do you do if your current employer isn’t aware you’re looking for a new job?

Most people prefer not to inform their current employer that they’re job hunting. Many would rather wait until they have secured a new position before telling their manager and colleagues. But what should you do if your potential new employer requests a reference from your current job?

Here you need to be pragmatic, but also reasonable. Explain to your prospective employer that unfortunately, you cannot provide references from your current manager because you’re not yet ready to signal your intention to move on.

However, you might instead offer a reference from:

• A trusted colleague from your current workplace
• A manager or supervisor from a previous job who can vouch for your performance
• A collaborator from another company you’ve worked closely with

For some people, asking for a reference can feel complicated. But if you ask at the right moment and in a natural way, it doesn’t have to be awkward at all.

The best time to request a reference is typically when you have a recent success story. Ask right after you have successfully completed a project, assignment or work period. That way, your achievement is fresh in the mind of the person you’re asking.

Many people think that asking for a reference automatically signals to their employer that they’re planning to move on, but that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case.

Here’s a draft of how you can ask for a reference while you’re still employed:

Hi [name], I just wanted to thank you for your [input, assistance, leadership, support] during [the task, project, period]. It’s greatly appreciated, and it’s fantastic to be somewhere with such great colleagues. Given our excellent collaboration, would you mind if I used you as a reference on my CV if it ever becomes necessary? You’re one of the people who knows my work and skills best, which is why I thought of asking you specifically.

If your manager then asks whether you’re thinking of changing jobs, you can reply:

No, not at all. I’m very happy here. I’m just trying to make it a habit to gather references from great colleagues who know my work. You’re very welcome to use me as a reference too—I’d gladly recommend you as a manager anytime someone asks.

Notice how naturally you can ask for a reference while also complimenting your colleague. Asking for a reference doesn’t have to be uncomfortable.

Including references in your CV can be an excellent way to enable potential employers to verify your skills, experiences and work ethic. However, it’s important to do it correctly to maximise the impact.

Where should they appear?

References should generally be placed at the bottom of your CV. It’s a good idea to have a separate section dedicated to this, titled “References” or “Recommendations”.

How to present them?

When listing references, be sure to include the individual’s full name, their professional title, the organisation they work for, and their contact details. It might also be helpful to mention in what context you know the person. For example:

• John Sørensen, Department Manager, Møller & Søn, johnsorensen@email.com
• Jane Petersen, Senior Konsulent, XYZ Corp, jane.petersen@email.com

Always contact your references beforehand to ensure they are willing to endorse you. This also gives them the opportunity to prepare for any calls or emails from prospective employers.