How to Write a CV That Gets More Interviews

Reading Time: 10 minutes

Over the last few months I have had a steady stream of people reaching out through word of mouth. The stories were almost identical. They had built successful careers, often over ten or fifteen years, and had recently been made redundant for the first time in a long while. It had been years since they last needed to update their CV, but they felt confident enough to give it a go. They applied for roles they were more than qualified for and expected at least a few replies. Yet after weeks of sending applications, nothing happened.

By the time they spoke with me, many of them felt completely thrown. These were people who had led teams, delivered results, and built strong reputations inside their companies. Yet the silence made them question themselves. It never took long for me to reassure them, because there is nothing wrong with their experience. The game has changed and the market has changed with it.

Huntr’s Q2 2025 Job Search Trends Report backed all of this up. Hiring cycles have slowed, people are sending more applications than before, and even experienced candidates are struggling to get any response. With hundreds of thousands of applications tracked and tens of thousands of CVs reviewed, the scale of the challenge became very clear. People are putting in more effort, yet only a small number are getting through to interview stage.

What does it take to land an interview today?

Huntr analysed hundreds of thousands of applications and nearly sixty thousand CVs to understand what is working in the market right now. What stood out to me was how ordinary the successful CVs looked. They were not using clever tricks or trendy designs. They were not packed with buzzwords or layouts that distract from the content. They simply made a few very specific improvements that helped the reader understand their experience faster. Those small changes gave them a better chance of moving forward.

The CVs that are getting more interviews

Once I dug into the data myself, it became clear that the biggest gains came from small changes. Adjustments that help hiring managers understand you quicker and trust what they are reading. I often say that a CV is not a history statement, but a positioning tool. It needs to show the reader where you fit today, not every detail of where you have been. When someone opens your CV, they make their first judgement in a few seconds, so the way you organise and present your experience matters just as much as the experience itself.

Huntr’s findings showed that the CVs which moved forward did this well. They made smart use of the space, especially in the areas that matter most. They wrote shorter summaries that got to the point. They added a little more detail to sections like education that most people ignore. They wrote achievements that actually explained what changed, not just what they were responsible for. They trimmed what did not help and expanded what did. These changes sound small, but when the market is slow, they carry weight.

Many of the people I work with expect that they need to start again from scratch, but the data pointed in a different direction. The CVs that moved forward were not rebuilt from the ground up. They improved because of small, careful edits that made each section clearer. Sometimes it was a shorter summary, sometimes a better way of explaining an achievement, sometimes a little more detail in the right place. These adjustments sound small, but they make the experience far easier for the person reading your CV.

Why short CV summaries get more interviews

Huntr found that the CVs which led to interviews almost always included a summary, but these summaries were shorter than the ones written by people who heard nothing back. The difference was only a few lines, yet it made a noticeable impact. A shorter summary gives the reader a quick sense of who you are and the type of work you do, without slowing them down. Most people try to squeeze too much into this section, especially when they feel under pressure. They end up giving the reader more information than they can process in the first few seconds, which works against them. The CVs that performed better kept this section tight and clear. Just enough to set the tone and help the reader understand where you fit today. If you have a summary that feels long or tries to cover every angle of your career, trimming it back is one of the easiest improvements you can make.

How to write strong achievements on your CV

Another clear finding was the difference in achievements. CVs that reached the interview stage included achievements that carried more substance. This reflects what I see every day. Most people feel they need long lists to prove their value, but long lists rarely help. Achievements work best when each one explains what changed because of your contribution. Huntr’s data showed that interviewed candidates wrote fewer achievements, but they used slightly more characters per point. This suggests they offered more context or clearer outcomes. When someone reads your CV, they want to understand your impact. You do not need to cover every responsibility you have ever had. A handful of meaningful points is far more effective and makes your experience easier to read.

How experience level affects your CV success

Huntr’s breakdown of experience years added another layer of insight. The CVs that reached the interview stage showed slightly more total experience and held more roles across their career. The difference was around one additional year of experience and a fraction more roles. This was not a dramatic jump, but it showed how much readers value depth. People with steady progression and a consistent record of contribution tended to stand out. This does not mean you need decades of experience to get noticed. It simply highlights that positioning your experience and giving each role enough context helps the reader understand your direction and level.

How long should your CV be to get interviews

Another useful insight from Huntr focused on page length. There has always been a lot of debate about how long a CV should be, but the data showed a very steady link between length and seniority. People earlier in their careers tended to have one or two pages. Mid-level professionals leaned strongly towards two. Senior professionals often reached two pages and sometimes moved into a third. The difference between CVs that received interviews and those that did not was small, but the trend was clear. People with more experience needed more space, and those who used that space appropriately performed better. This reinforces the idea that page count should reflect career stage rather than strict rules.

What skills and certifications should be included on a CV for interviews

Huntr also highlighted the difference between strong CVs and weaker ones in the skills and certification sections. People who did not receive interviews often listed more certifications. This seems counterintuitive, but it matches what I see. When people feel stuck, they tend to add more courses, hoping it shows commitment or breadth. But a long list of certificates can dilute your story rather than strengthen it. The CVs that performed better listed fewer certifications and kept the focus on the ones that still matter today. Skills followed a similar pattern. The difference in quantity was small, but it reinforced the idea that the skills section should support your current direction, not everything you have ever learned. When this section is tidy and relevant, the reader has a far easier time understanding your strengths.

How to write project experience on a CV

Huntr’s data showed a difference in how projects were written. The CVs that moved forward used much shorter descriptions. These were around forty to fifty characters, while the ones that received no interviews were more than double that length. This tells us that projects work best as brief reference points rather than detailed explanations. When someone reviews a CV, they look for quick indicators of relevant experience. Long project descriptions slow this down, while short entries help the reader pick out useful information without losing focus. A project section can add value, but only when each line is tight and easy to scan.

How to write an education section that supports your CV

One of the most interesting findings in Huntr’s report was the difference in the education section. The CVs that led to interviews included slightly more detail here. Not long paragraphs, just an extra line or two that helped give context. Most people treat education as a tick-box exercise. A degree title, a date, and nothing else. When I work with people who have not touched their CV for years, this is often one of the most underused sections. Huntr’s data showed that a little extra detail made a difference. It suggests that readers look to this section more than people realise, especially when trying to understand someone’s early foundation or subject focus. A short line about modules, research, or project work can help a reader see your grounding without taking up valuable space. It is a small change that adds more weight to this part of your story.

Why adding LinkedIn to your CV helps you get seen

Huntr also highlighted a stronger LinkedIn presence among people who received interviews. Nearly 70% included a LinkedIn link, compared with just over 60% among those who did not progress. This percentage gap suggests that hiring managers use LinkedIn to confirm what they see on the CV. They look for consistency in job titles, timelines, and overall direction. Including a link gives them a quick way to do this, and it helps them see you as someone actively engaged in your field. It does not require heavy activity or content posting. A complete and up-to-date profile is enough to support your CV.

Small CV Changes that improve your interview chances

What stood out to me when I spent time with Huntr’s findings was how these adjustments work together. None of them carry the whole load on their own, but each one removes a bit of friction for the person reading your CV. A shorter summary lets them get their bearings. Clearer achievements give them a better sense of the work you have done. Shorter project entries stop them getting pulled into details they do not need at this stage. A little more information in your education fills the small gaps that people often overlook. When these areas feel tighter, the whole CV reads with more direction.

This is exactly what I see when I work with people who have been applying for a while without hearing anything back. Their experience is solid, but the way it is presented makes the reader work harder than they have time for. We make a handful of these small edits, and the CV starts to feel more balanced. The experience sits in the right places. The story has a steadier flow. Nothing about their career has changed, but it becomes easier for someone to understand what they bring.

Huntr’s data highlighted this again and again. The CVs that moved forward did not rely on drastic changes or heavy rewriting. They simply made it easier for the hiring manager to work through the page. When everything sits where the reader expects it to be, the person reviewing your CV can understand you quicker. In a slower market, that small lift can make a difference.

These improvements help the CV do its job. They give your experience the room it needs without overwhelming the reader. When you put a few of them in place at the same time, the whole document feels steadier and more aligned with the roles you are applying for. It is not about transforming anything. It is about making the experience you already have easier to see.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter

The Career Optimiser

Moving forward with a CV that works for you

When people come to me after weeks of silence, they often think something major is missing. Most of the time, it is not. The experience is there. The results are there. The problem is that the CV makes the reader work too hard to see it. These small improvements backed by Huntr’s data give you a way to fix that without rebuilding everything from scratch. They help you present your experience in a way that feels steady and easy to understand, which is exactly what hiring managers need in a busy and slow market.

If you have been applying and hearing nothing back, try a few of these changes with your next applications. Focus on the areas that matter most. Keep things tight where they need to be tight. Add detail where it adds value. Give the reader a smoother line through your story. I see this work time and time again. People who have felt stuck begin to get movement again, not because their experience changed, but because the way it was presented allowed someone to see it properly.

Your CV does not need to be perfect. It just needs to give the reader enough to understand you without slowing them down. These improvements help you do that. Small changes that move you a little closer to hearing back, and a little closer to the interviews you should already be getting

Let's work together and optimise your career

I’ve spent the past seven years writing CVs for professionals across the UK and Europe, helping them present their experience in a way that gets noticed by employers.

If you are interested in learning more about the CV Writing Services we provide, get in touch.

Best of luck,

Dave Crumby

Your Career Optimiser | Certified CV Writer

More insights to optimiser your career

A data-led guide to why LinkedIn visibility matters in a slower job market, with insights from the latest Huntr report...

A data-led guide to improving your CV using insights from Huntr’s Q2 2025 report. Learn the small changes that help...

Discover how much a professional CV costs in 2025 across the UK and Europe, what affects the price, and how...

Discover why career progression in Switzerland’s life science sector has slowed and how to position your contribution for the next...

Tagged cv