How to Write a Professional CV in 2026
The definitive guide to writing a compelling CV that passes ATS filters and gets you interviews. Updated June 2026.
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Create my CV →The 6 essential sections of a CV in 2026
Follow this structure in order to maximise your impact with both ATS systems and human recruiters.
Header — Your professional identity
Include: full name, professional title (aligned with the role you are targeting), professional email, phone number, LinkedIn URL, city (not your full address). No photo if applying in the UK, USA, or Netherlands.
Professional summary — The hook
2-3 sentences only. Formula: [who you are] + [your key skill or specialism] + [your goal]. Example: "React Developer with 4 years of experience in SaaS. Specialist in performance and developer experience. Looking for a lead role in a product-driven team." This is the first thing read — make it count.
Work experience — The core
Reverse chronological order (most recent first). For each role: company name, job title, dates (month/year), and 3-5 bullet points. Each bullet point follows the formula: strong action verb + quantified result + context. Example: "Reduced API response time by 40% by migrating to Redis caching."
Education — Your qualifications
Degree, institution, year of graduation. Include your average grade if above 14/20 (in France) or First/Upper Second (in the UK). List relevant modules or your dissertation for recent graduates. Senior profiles can keep this section brief.
Skills — Precise and grouped
Avoid simple lists and skill bars (they are meaningless and waste space). Group skills by category: "Languages: Python, JavaScript, SQL" / "Tools: Figma, Jira, Docker" / "Soft skills: leadership, stakeholder management". Include AI tools in 2026.
Languages & certifications
Languages with level: Native, C1, B2, B1, A2. For certifications: name + issuing body + year. Relevant examples: Google Analytics, AWS, HubSpot, TOEIC/TOEFL. Remove certifications more than 5 years old unless directly relevant.
The 5 fatal mistakes to avoid
These errors cause CVs to be rejected immediately — by ATS or by recruiters.
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Adding a photo (outside France) In the UK, USA, Netherlands, and Germany, a photo can lead to automatic rejection to avoid discrimination. Check the conventions of the target country.
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Going beyond 2 pages A 3-page CV signals poor editorial judgment. Unless you are an academic or very senior executive (15+ years), stay within 2 pages. Cut ruthlessly.
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Writing missions without results "Managed social media" is not a result. "Grew the Instagram community from 2k to 18k followers in 12 months" is. Every bullet point should answer: what was the impact?
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Using an ATS-incompatible format Tables, text boxes, columns, background images — all disrupt ATS parsing. Stick to clean, single-column layouts. ForgCV generates ATS-safe CVs by design.
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Sending the same CV to every listing A generic CV has a very low response rate. Adjust the summary, reorder skills, and tweak 2-3 bullet points to match each role. With ForgCV, editing takes under 2 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal length for a CV?
1 page for less than 5 years of experience, 2 pages maximum for senior profiles. Recruiters spend an average of 6 to 7 seconds on a CV — be concise and impactful.
Is a professional summary necessary?
In 2026, the professional summary is strongly recommended. It is the first thing read and should summarise in 2-3 sentences who you are, your main skill, and your goal.
Is ForgCV free to use?
Yes, 100% free. No credit card, no subscription, no watermark on the PDF.
Do I need to create an account?
No. No sign-up, no email required. Go directly to the generator and create your CV in 2 minutes.
Can I download my CV as a PDF?
Yes. The PDF is high resolution, A4 format, watermark-free, ready to send to recruiters or print.
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