Write a distinct and targeted CV

Most employers read your CV before they read your application. So, it is important that your CV is targeted at the job you are applying for. A good CV also serves to provide a clear overview of your experience, professional strengths, results, education and personal characteristics.

Get personal feedback on your application

Enhance your chances of being at the top of the pile of applications – get individual coaching and feedback on your application and CV via HK's career counsellors.

Divide your CV into categories

You can write your CV in a number of ways. The most common is a CV in reverse chronological order, where you start with your most recent experience and work backwards in time. Divide your CV into categories such as work experience and education:

Add a portrait photo of yourself to your CV. Select a lifelike picture where you are looking into the camera, look friendly and approachable. The background should be neutral. The picture must be clear, light and look like you as you would look when going to work. Have a friend take a photo of you instead of selecting a holiday or party picture from social media.
At the top of your CV – beside or just below your photo – you should write a profile text. Think of the text as a sort of mini application that brings together the most important elements from your application. The profile text will therefore most likely repeat elements from the rest of your CV and your application.

It is a good idea to write your profile text when you have completed your application. A profile text often takes up 5-7 lines.
Write about your work experience in reverse chronological order (most recent job experience first) with year, job title and place of work. For each job it is a good idea to briefly describe relevant job assignments, areas of responsibility, roles and functions. You can also describe your results – for instance that you have created a new working procedure that resulted in smoother and more efficient case handling, or that you have contributed to creating good social teamwork in your team.

If you have had a job in which your experience is not relevant to the job you apply for, you can choose to merely state year, title and place of work.

Remember the main theme– if for instance you apply for a job in which customer service is ranked high, then ensure that all the job assignments that you have had in which customer service is an element, are presented first, and be as specific as possible.
Add your relevant education. What have you learned that the company can benefit from? Give a brief and specific description of how you plan to apply your knowledge.
Only use space for mentioning relevant further education and courses. Also add the duration and the name of the place of education to give the employer an impression of the scope.
If you are a trainer of the local kids’ football team, a volunteer in social work or a member of the school board, you may add a section about your voluntary work or positions of trust in your CV. How much you should write depends on which job you are applying for, and which skills you wish to emphasize.
Which IT programs and systems do you know? And at which level? You may for example use the terms super-user, daily user or knowledge. If you apply for a job which requires strong IT skills, you can move the section up in your application.

Which languages do you know? And at which level? You can use the terms native tongue, fluency, routine or knowledge.
Say a little about yourself in a personal section so that the employer can get an impression of whether you will fit into the team as a person. You can always find something interesting to write, even if you did not climb Kilimanjaro or participated in "The Great Danish Bake Off". Focus on what emphasizes your strengths. Do you love being with friends because it gives you extra energy? Do you get inspired when you go for a walk in the woods?
If you have any references, you may e.g. write: "I have references that can be provided according to agreement." You need not add names and contact information of your references on your CV.
Remember your name and contact information. You can write it as a footer or just below your photo. You need not write age, gender or marital status.
As a rule of thumb, a CV should be no more than three pages long (shorter is also fine). But most importantly, everything in the CV must be of relevance to the job you are applying for. If your CV is of more than one page, it is a good idea to number the pages.

Short-term employments, temp jobs and project employments

Do you have a number of short-term jobs in the form of temp jobs and project employment? It is not a sign that you are an unstable employee, but a sign that this is another element of the labour market. At the same time, it shows initiative and a wish to work. It gives you knowledge of many different industries, it means that you can easily enter a new working environment, and that you are ready for change, which is also an important personal skill in relation to the labour market.
Even so, a CV with gaps may signal instability to some employers. You can accommodate the employer by describing the reason both in writing and graphically in your CV. That way you avoid not being considered for the job because of your short-term jobs.
In your CV, you can e.g. write:

2018-2022 Project employment and temp jobs
Over the past four years I have held various temp jobs and short-term jobs. It is important to me to keep going, developing and keeping professionally at the forefront while I look for my next permanent job.
  • Administrative employee, temp job, one year [short description of job assignments and results]
  • Service employee, [company], 1.5 years [short description of job assignments and results]
  • Office assistant, [company] maternity cover, one year [short description of job assignments and results]
  • Project assistant, [company], project employment, six months [short description of job assignments and results]

You should pay attention to:  

  • As a main rule, you should only include relevant experience in your CV. If you worked as a bartender at some point, only write so if it is of relevance to the job that you are applying for.
  • Your CV must always be targeted at the job that you are applying for. Therefore, you must write a new CV each time you apply for a job.
  • Your layout should be clear and easy to skim, giving the employer an immediate impression of experience, results etc.
  • The CV must be reviewed and checked for spelling and grammar errors. 

Find your next job

HK's job exchange database: Create your CV in HK's job exchange database and be matched with an employer who is seeking precisely what you have to offer.
HK's job portal: Create a job agent and receive emails with the most recent job postings that match precisely your wishes.

HK's job portal

Gross CV

Have you heard of the gross CV? A gross CV is a working tool for yourself in which you bring together all experience, jobs, education and other activities. Elaborate on which skills you have obtained and which results you have achieved. Be thorough and detail-oriented; perhaps you discover that you know a lot more than you think. You can pick from your gross CV every time that you are going to write a targeted CV.
The gross CV is also an excellent tool when you start a skills assessment process. Read more about skills assessment (in Danish).

Example: CV with job experience

See an example of how a CV can be when you are newly educated. You can also get a template based on which you can prepare your CV.

Example: CV for newly graduated

See an example of how a CV can be when you are newly educated. You can also get a template based on which you can prepare your CV.

Also read

Will you be invited to a job interview? Get good advice for both the first and second job interview.