5 easy steps to writing your CV
23 January 2017
CV stands for “Curriculum Vitae”, meaning “course of life”. It should summarise your work experience, skills and education for potential employers.
How do you write a good CV though? This can be difficult to answer, considering each employers taste is different.
In this, part one of our “How to get a job” series, we'll show you how in five easy steps.
Before you begin, consider the following:
- Your CV should be roughly two A4 pages in length. If you have a lot of work experience, then make sure to pick and choose that which will be most valuable to your prospective employer.
- Make it easy to read – don’t use multiple fonts or font sizes or long rambling sentences to illustrate points that can be made using simple short sentences or bullet points.
- Use Microsoft Word (or similar) that can be opened easily.
- Label the file simply, including your name in the file-name, to make it easily identifiable when received.
- Adding a photograph of yourself on the CV is rarely necessary
- Be careful not to saturate your CV with graphics and decorative formatting as this can make reading, understanding and digesting it difficult at times.
- If you have work experiences similar to each other, try not to write detailed descriptions on each one which will become repetitive. Instead, only touch upon the aspects that made them different from your other roles.
Step 1: Personal Information
Start your CV with some personal information: your name, contact info etc. But avoid unnecessary details - information such as age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, race and marital status are superfluous and clutter what should be a concise document.
Treat the opening lines of your CV as a miniature cover letter; a short sales pitch of yourself contained within a couple of lines.
Step 2: Key Skills
List all of your skills which you believe are relevant to the job.
Top tip: Take a look at the job description of the role you’re applying for, and tailor your skills to what the employer is searching for.
Step 3: Education and Qualifications
- Depending on the amount of work experience you have, your education should either go near the beginning or at the end of your CV. If you’re a more senior skilled professional, then you’ll want to highlight your work experience first, as it is more relevant to what the employer wants.
- Dates you attended school are not necessary as they could elude to your age.
- You should always focus on your highest level of education. If you’re recently out of University, then place emphasis on your degree.
- Unless you’re applying for a role that it is relevant for, it’s often unnecessary to list every module your degree covered.
Step 4: Experience (Company name, Job Title, Employment Dates)
- Start this section by listing work experience that you feel is most relevant for the job.
- Don’t forget to explain your results and key achievements in each role.
- While references aren't normally necessary at this stage, a willingness to openly provide these without having to go through you first is sometimes viewed favourably as a sign of confidence.
- You could expand on your achievements by including direct quotes from your referees. In order to make them as effective as possible, make sure they support the skills you've referred to above. But remember, whilst this may impress your prospective employer, they may require them to be confirmed. So make sure you can always back them up!
Step 5: Hobbies and Interests
- It can either be beneficial or detrimental to include quirky hobbies on your CV. Similarly, hobbies such as watching TV could make you appear as lazy, which we don’t want them thinking!
- Link a hobby to a skill. For example, if previously you would have mentioned playing competitive sport as a hobby, you can link this to having a competitive nature, an often favourable trait.
- Try to avoid obvious and clichéd hobbies and interests such a ‘socializing with friends’ or ‘watching films’ as employers will see this on most CV’s.
At the end of the day, your CV may be up against dozens, if not hundreds. So it’s important to follow these clear guidelines to be in with the best chance of getting an interview!
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We're back! We're thrilled to announce the return of our interview series, Women in Law, where we shine a spotlight on the extraordinary women making waves in the legal world. Join us as we delve into their journeys, explore their challenges and triumphs and celebrate their remarkable achievements. Anna is a partner in the Herbert Smith Freehills LLP corporate practice in Dubai specializing in mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures and investments with particular focus on the Middle East. Anna is regularly involved in award winning and other high-profile transactions in the region that span a number of sectors. In addition to executing transactions in the energy and infrastructure sectors, Anna advises on digital infrastructure and TMT transactions. Anna studied law and obtained her master's in law from the University of Warsaw in 2005 and subsequently moved to the UK to pursue her career in law in London. She re-qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2013. She spent over 13 years working for two US law firms in the City of London before moving to Dubai and joining Herbert Smith Freehills in 2018 as a senior associate. Anna was first promoted to of Counsel in 2023 and elevated to partner in May 2024. Anna is frequently commanded by her clients for her exceptionally pragmatic approach to transactions, enabling them to navigate complex legal challenges with ease. Why did you decide to pursue a career in law? I didn’t always know I wanted to be a lawyer. In fact, I considered other paths. At one point at a very young age, I even thought about joining the army – I admired the discipline and resilience it required, and honestly, some of those skills would be helpful in law, too! While I had considered pursuing an MBA immediately after completing my master's degree, I ultimately chose to move countries and requalify in the UK, believing that this path would provide me with the most meaningful opportunities to advance my career. Looking back on your career, what are some key moments that have helped or hindered you in getting to where you are? There have been many key moments, both positive and challenging, that have shaped where I am today. Early on, studying law in two different languages and legal systems and requalifying in a very competitive market in London was a significant hurdle and achievement, that taught me the value of determination, hard work and persistence. Ultimately, moving firms to prove myself further and eventually relocating to Dubai to accelerate my career were key decisions that allowed me to challenge myself in new ways and grow. On the flip side, there were times when I faced doubts about whether I belonged in certain rooms, especially being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry. But each obstacle has made me more determined and shaped my leadership style. Each of these steps has been part of my evolution, and over the years I have learned that resilience and adaptability are key to navigating any obstacle. My promotion to of Counsel and then Partner earlier this year were major milestones, and currently, I am the only female partner in the office, which is something I am incredibly proud of. Having said all that, I know I wouldn't have been able to achieve all this without the support of amazing colleagues and mentors along the way. Do you believe there’s a glass ceiling for women in the workplace, and has it changed? I do believe the glass ceiling still exists in many industries, including law, though progress is being made. I have experienced certain challenges in my career, but I have not faced prejudice based on my gender; I’ve always thought of myself simply as a lawyer, focusing on being the best I can be. Today, we’re seeing more women in leadership roles, and I am proud to be among them. Yet, women still encounter less visible challenges, whether in the form of bias, societal expectations, or balancing family life with a demanding career. While strides have been made, there’s more to be done. Through evolving recruitment practices, mentorship, diversity initiatives, and challenging outdated norms, we can create further change. I’m encouraged by the support women offer each other, and that keeps me hopeful that the glass ceiling will continue to crack. What do you think the legal industry can do to improve diversity & inclusion? The legal industry has made progress, but there’s still room for improvement. First and foremost, we need more than just diversity in numbers—we need inclusion at every level, where everyone’s voice is heard and valued. This can be achieved through better representation in leadership positions and by ensuring that recruitment practices are truly inclusive. Broaden recruitment criteria to include candidates with diverse life and career experiences will create a more inclusive environment and enrich teams with new perspectives. Mentorship and sponsorship programs for underrepresented groups can make a huge difference in retaining diverse talent. The industry also needs to focus on creating a supportive environment where people can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of judgment. As part of my new role, I make it a priority to champion diversity and inclusion, and I encourage others to do the same. What advice do you have for young women looking to make a career in your industry now? My advice to those starting their legal careers is that hard work is essential, but in today’s world, it’s also crucial to be resilient, proactive and open-minded. The legal world is evolving, so it’s crucial to stay alert to change and seek out opportunities, even if they’re outside your comfort zone. Your career may not be a straight line, it may have twists and turns, but each step, whether a success or a setback, adds to your growth. The most successful lawyers are often the ones who are authentic and have taken unique paths to get where they are. Success is as much about resilience and adaptability as it is about effort. Focus on building core skills and surround yourself with a network that supports and challenges you. And, most importantly, stay true to your values and who you are.