How Do I Know If My CV Is Good? 5 Key Factors to Check

Understanding What Makes a Good CV

Well, let’s be honest—when it comes to applying for jobs, your CV (or résumé) is your first chance to impress a potential employer. If you're wondering, "How do I know if my CV is good?", you're not alone. I’ve been there too—tweaking my CV endlessly, second-guessing myself, and questioning whether it was good enough to grab the attention of a recruiter.

But here's the truth: a good CV doesn't need to be perfect, but it does need to be clear, concise, and relevant. In this article, I’ll guide you through the key elements to evaluate whether your CV is hitting the mark.

1. Does Your CV Have a Clear Structure?

Honestly, clarity is everything. If a recruiter looks at your CV and feels overwhelmed by a chaotic layout or hard-to-read formatting, you’ve already lost their attention. Think of it this way: you're competing with dozens of other applicants, and you have about 6 seconds to make a strong first impression.

a) Key Sections to Include

At the very least, your CV should include the following sections:

• Contact Information (name, phone number, email, LinkedIn)

• Professional Summary or Objective (1–2 sentences summarizing your career goals)

• Work Experience (with bullet points highlighting achievements)

• Education (degree, institutions, relevant certifications)

• Skills (technical and soft skills relevant to the job)

My own experience? I once spent hours reorganizing my CV into neat sections to make sure it was super clear. It was the best decision!

b) Keep It Neat and Simple

A clean design with ample white space helps the recruiter focus on the content. No fancy fonts or colorful backgrounds. Keep it simple, readable, and professional. Trust me, this is more effective than trying to be flashy.

2. Is Your CV Tailored for the Job?

Okay, I get it. It's easy to have a "one-size-fits-all" CV that you send to every job posting. But I can’t stress this enough—tailoring your CV for each specific role will make all the difference.

a) Focus on Relevance

Recruiters are looking for a match between your skills and their job description. Go through the job listing and highlight the keywords, then ensure those keywords are reflected in your CV.

For example, when I applied for a digital marketing role last year, I made sure to emphasize my SEO, PPC, and content management skills, even though I had a broader background in marketing. That subtle focus made my CV stand out.

b) Customize Your Professional Summary

Your professional summary should change slightly depending on the job you’re applying for. Mention how your skills align with the company’s mission or the specific role. I remember tweaking my summary for each application to match the company’s values. It wasn’t much, but it showed that I’d done my research and was genuinely interested.

3. Does Your CV Highlight Achievements, Not Just Tasks?

This is one I struggled with. In my early job applications, I simply listed my job duties like “managed projects” or “created content.” But that’s not enough. Recruiters want to see what you achieved.

a) Quantify Your Success

You need to show how well you did your job. If you boosted sales, improved efficiency, or gained customers, put those figures in your CV. For example:

• "Increased website traffic by 30% through SEO optimization."

• "Reduced operational costs by 15% by streamlining the process."

Adding numbers to your achievements makes a huge difference. And, honestly, I’ve found that it makes a job application feel more compelling.

4. Are Your Skills Up-to-Date?

Well, this is where I get excited because I’ve learned how important it is to showcase the right skills. Technology, tools, and trends change rapidly. So, make sure your skills are aligned with what’s relevant today.

a) Include Both Hard and Soft Skills

Sure, technical skills are essential, but don’t forget your soft skills. In today’s work environment, employers value communication, adaptability, and leadership skills just as much as technical expertise.

For example, in addition to listing tools like Excel, Google Analytics, or JavaScript, I added soft skills like collaboration and problem-solving. It helped show that I wasn’t just a techie but someone who could thrive in a team.

b) Certifications and Continued Education

If you’ve taken any recent courses or gained certifications in relevant fields, definitely include them. A lot of job markets value up-to-date knowledge, so showing you’re actively learning can only work in your favor.

5. Is Your CV Free of Errors?

Honestly, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sent out a CV and immediately regretted not double-checking it for errors. Spelling and grammar mistakes can make you appear careless or unprofessional. It’s a simple thing, but it matters.

a) Proofread, Proofread, Proofread

Go over your CV at least twice before sending it out. Even better: ask a friend or a mentor to review it. I remember my friend Marie pointing out a silly typo in one of my CVs. It was a simple fix, but it could’ve made a huge difference if I hadn’t caught it.

b) Get Feedback

If you’re unsure, ask someone you trust for feedback. Sometimes, it takes a fresh pair of eyes to see things you might have missed.

Final Thoughts: Is Your CV Ready?

Well, after going through these steps, you should have a pretty good idea of whether your CV is good or not. Remember: it’s not just about listing your jobs and qualifications. A good CV tells a story, highlights your achievements, and aligns your skills with what the employer is looking for.

Take the time to make sure your CV is tailored, error-free, and focused on your strengths and successes. Trust me, a little effort goes a long way.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.