How to write the perfect CV and land your dream job in 2026
No matter how many times you’ve updated or re-created your CV or Resumé, when you sit down to kick start your job search, there’s always that moment of “What on earth do I write on here?”
Summing up your experience and your potential in one document can be a daunting task, but there are a few simple tips you can take to create a compelling CV that clearly showcases your technical expertise, achievements and career progression.
Keep a “Brag Document”
If you haven’t got a brag document when you’re starting your job search, you’ll have to think back over your achievements first. But this is a good place to start as a reminder to keep one updated throughout your career.
A brag document is just where you keep notes on your achievements through the years. It doesn’t have to be detailed or fancy, this document is just for you. It’s where you can list positive feedback you’ve received from line managers or stakeholders, you can keep details of projects completed, qualifications achieved, KPIs hit and so on.
There are loads of free templates online to keep track of these, but it can also be as simple as a spreadsheet, a word document or the notes app on your phone.
A folder where you store commendations, awards and feedback is also helpful.
The purpose of this is to create a reference point you can look back on when it’s time to rewrite your CV or resume. That way, when you’re ready to make a move you can just look at that brag document and have your career highlights ready to go.
Keep the Format Clean and Professional
When you’re writing your CV, don’t worry too much about fancy graphics and layouts. Especially in technical roles and markets – unless you’re a graphic designer, no-one’s interested in the layout of your resume, they just want to see the skills you’re bringing to the table.
So keep it simple, clean and professional.
Use a standard, legible font. Include appropriate headings for experience, qualifications and skills. And maintain a consistent format throughout.
Bullet points are ideal for listing skills or achievements, making it much easier to scan through quickly.
And don’t forget the basics! You’d be surprised how many people forget to include their contact details, so make sure to prominently feature your phone number and a professional sounding email address near the top.
Tailor Your CV to Each Role
Take the time to review the job description for the role you want to apply to and highlight your relevant skills and experiences. Then customise your resume to showcase how your experiences align with those needs.
Use bullet points to highlight key accomplishments, responsibilities and achievements, focusing on quantifiable results as much as possible – for example, “I performed X that allowed my team to achieve Y, which had Z impact.”
If you can include numbers, data or cost-impact, include that as it makes your achievements more tangible.
Match the language in your CV to the terms they’ve used in the job description or advert. If they use technical terminology or acronyms, you can use the same. If not then avoid technical jargon.
Start with a Strong Summary
Consider beginning your resume with a short professional summary or objective statement that showcases your strengths and career goals. But remember: focus on what you can offer them, not what you hope they can give you.
So, a good career goal might be “I hope to use my skills in X to deliver a service that will accomplish Y”, and NOT “I want the chance to learn more about X because I’m interested in Y”.
Tailor the statement to the specific job you’re applying for and provide a quick overview of your qualifications, key technical strengths and any specialisms you’re bringing to the table, to give them a quick snapshot of your value.
For example:
“Embedded Software Engineer with 6+ years’ experience developing real-time systems in C/C++, specialising in automotive safety-critical applications.”
Proofread. Then proofread again.
Before you submit your resume, make sure to proofread and edit it thoroughly. Check for any grammatical errors, typos or inconsistencies.
This is where AI tools can be very helpful – ask an AI like ChatGPT, Copilot or Gemini to review your CV for clarity, grammar and consistency WITHOUT making any additions to the text. Tools like Grammarly are also useful to support your final checks.
It’s important to then read through it again and make sure you are confident that every accomplishment, statistic and description is accurate and reflective of the real work you’ve done – remember, you’re likely to be asked about these further in an interview.
It’s always worth asking someone else to review it, they’ll often spot things you’ve missed or question elements that require further detail.
Ready for Your Next Move?
By following these simple steps, you’ll create a resume that clearly communicates your expertise, achievements and value as a professional.
The next step is to ensure you’re working with a specialist recruitment team who can help you secure the right opportunity for your career goals, skills and requirements.
Amoria’s Bond’s teams focus exclusively on Technology, Advanced Engineering and Renewable Energy projects that make a positive global impact. Our consultants understand the technical landscape of each of these specialisms and can help match your skills to the right projects. They can also work with you on tailoring your CV to ensure you come across well to hiring managers.
Upload your CV to our AI job matching tool to see if you’re a match to any of our current vacancies. Or submit your details so our specialist recruitment teams can find a strong match for you in the future.