CV Workshop

As we move into 2026, Jonny and I had the pleasure of assisting dozens (if not hundreds!) of job seekers with amendments to their CV in 2025. Perhaps you’ve been out of the job market for a while, and you’re feeling a little rusty about how to bring the best of “you” to paper?

Take a look at our top tips and “best CV format” below, and feel free to craft your resume that best suits you and your style. At the end of the day, there is no correct way to do your resume - some recruiters will demand a one pager, others encourage more detail over multiple pages.

Top tips

  • Give some context on who your employer is.

    That might not be necessary if you work for say, Google, but most of us don’t work for world famous organisations, and the person reviewing your CV might have no idea who Example & Example Ltd is. For example:

    Management Accountant

    January 2022 - Present

    Example & Example Ltd

    Example & Example Ltd are a (insert ownership structure, i.e. family run or private equity backed business) based in (insert area) specialising in (insert industry). They employ approx. X staff with annual revenues of £Xm.

  • Include more detail.

    Short bullet point responsibilities like “management accounting”, “tax returns”, “payroll” or “month end” just don’t cut it.

    What exactly was your involvement in this process? What were the steps you took, and the timelines / volumes / systems involved?

  • Don’t be afraid to tell the truth.

    We understand how difficult it is to put yourself in a vulnerable position. There are many things that can happen outside of your control that can effect your employment status. But ultimately, you don’t your CV to be misleading.

    Firstly, if you’ve finished up your employment, make sure that’s the case on your CV. Include the month you finished your most recent role. Not only will it tell an accurate account of your employment status with that company, but it will also open up your CV to immediate-start opportunities (permanent or contract) that you’ll otherwise be overlooked for if the reader assumes you’re still employed.

    Secondly, if you’ve had time off work to care for a family member, to take time off to go travelling, or to avoid a burnout and recharge your mental health, please don’t worry! We are all human, and interviewers are human too. Feel free to add a small line on your CV detailing what you’ve been doing whilst out of the job market.

  • Tell us the outcomes of your work.

    This one’s crucial, especially if you’re looking for more senior / leadership roles, and especially if your role requires a specific output.

    Therefore, make sure you distinguish your “Achievements” from your “Responsibilities”.

[Your Full Name]

Location: [City, Region, Country]

Phone: [Your number]

Email: [your.email@example.com]

LinkedIn: [linkedin.com/in/…] (optional)

Personal Statement

A concise 3–5 sentence summary of who you are, your core expertise, what you bring to a role, and your career goals.
Example: Experienced (qualification) finance professional with 8+ years in commercial accounting and FP&A across technology and retail sectors. Employers have included private owned to FTSE listed organisations. Skilled at driving budgeting, forecasting, and strategic analysis to support business growth. Looking to leverage analytical strengths in a senior finance role.

Key Skills

  • Core skill or competency (e.g., Financial Reporting)

  • Another key skill (e.g., Budgeting & Forecasting)

  • Software / tools (e.g., Excel / SAP / Power BI)

  • Industry-specific skills

  • Soft skills (e.g., stakeholder management)

Career Achievements (Optional)

  • Big ticket, measurable outcome of your work (aligning to your target employment)

  • Big ticket, measurable outcome of your work (aligning to your target employment)

  • Big ticket, measurable outcome of your work (aligning to your target employment)

Professional Experience

(List in reverse chronological order — most recent first)

Job Title

Company

Month Year – Month Year

[Insert information about the business].

  • Key Achievements first (focus on impact/result)

  • Key Responsibilities second

Continue as necessary, including more information within your most recent role, and descending as required.

Education

Degree Title, University/College Name, Year
Key academic achievements, projects, or dissertation title (optional)

Other Qualifications

  • [Qualification], [Institution], [Year]

  • [Certification], [Issuing body], [Year]

Professional Certifications / Memberships

  • [e.g., ACA / ACCA / CIMA], [year attained]

  • [Any other relevant certification]

Technical Skills (Optional)

  • Software / systems (e.g., Excel, Power BI, SAP)

  • Tools (e.g., SQL, Python – only if applicable)

Additional Information

(e.g., languages, interests if relevant)

  • Languages: [Language] (Level)

  • Interests: [Interest] (keep minimal and relevant)

References

Available on request.

Please find our “Best CV format” below. You’re welcome to copy, chop or change as you see fit!