Use your CV to make a great impression

The Career Academy16/10/2017
Career toolkit

Your CV: make a great first impression

A great CV tells employers who you are, the value you create and why you match the role. Use this streamlined guide to tighten content, pass ATS checks and showcase results.

ATS-friendly Results-focused Easy to scan

Make it short and purposeful

Two pages is ideal. Three pages is fine for senior roles when the content is relevant.

Lead with what matters: recent roles, measurable impact, key skills and certifications.

Remove outdated roles or courses that do not support the job you want.

Quick win: keep each bullet to one line where possible. Start with a strong verb such as delivered, improved, reduced, created, led.

Contact details that work

  • Use a professional email such as firstname.lastname@. Avoid nicknames.
  • Include a mobile number and your city or region.
  • Add a link to LinkedIn or a portfolio if it strengthens your case.
Email Phone Location LinkedIn are enough at the top of the page.

Write a sharp summary

30–40 words that say your role, strengths and a result.

Assistant Accountant with Xero and payroll experience. Supports month-end,
bank reconciliations and AP/AR. Improved debtor days by 18% through
tighter follow-ups and reporting.

Show impact in your experience

  • Start each bullet with a verb and follow with an outcome.
  • Add a number where you can: time saved, revenue added, accuracy improved.
  • Group similar tasks and keep the focus on achievements rather than duties.
• Reduced month-end close from 7 to 5 days by streamlining reconciliations.
• Created dashboard that lifted forecast accuracy from 82% to 93%.

Skills and certifications

  • List core skills first, then tools and systems you use well.
  • Add current certificates, licences and short courses.
  • If space is tight, include only skills that match the role.

References

  • Two referees are standard and should be recent.
  • Ask for permission and confirm their contact details.
  • You can write “References available on request” if you prefer to share later.
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The Career Academy
We are the team behind The Career Academy, a collective of industry experts and career coaches dedicated to your professional growth. Our blog shares practical insights on everything from online education trends and accredited course pathways to essential career tools like resume building and LinkedIn optimisation. We provide the strategies and resources you need to upskill, get hired, and succeed in the modern Australian workforce.
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