The job search requires not only knowledge and skills, but also the ability to present yourself effectively to a potential employer. The CV is one of the most important documents in this process. Its structure plays a crucial role in how impressive the first impression of you will be. A well-structured CV helps the employer to quickly find the information they need and assess your professional qualities.

In this article, we will explain the main sections of a CV in detail so that you can create a clear and appealing document yourself. We also provide you with a free resume sample that you can use to create your perfect resume. Using ready-made templates saves time and effort and ensures that your application meets professional standards. If you want to stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of success, adhering to the correct structure of your resume and ensuring a professional layout is essential.

Why the structure of your CV is fundamental

The structure of the CV is essential for recruiters as it influences the employer's first impression of the candidate. A clear and logical structure helps to find the most important information quickly, makes the document easier to understand and enables your professional qualities to be assessed effectively.

A well-structured CV makes it maximally readable. When the information is presented in a logical order, the employer can easily find the sections they need, such as personal details, education, work experience and skills. This is especially important when going through dozens or even hundreds of resumes every day. A clear and organized application has a better chance of attracting attention and being read in its entirety.

In addition, the right resume structure helps to highlight the most important information. Therefore, place key information in visible places so that the reader can immediately see your best qualities and achievements. For example, the sections on work experience and education should be clearly visible, as they are often crucial for selection.

In addition, a clear structure shows your organizational skills and attention to detail. Employers value candidates who can structure information and present it in an easy-to-understand format. This shows your ability to work effectively with documents, which is an important skill in many professions.

Remember that the structure of your CV should reflect the cultural and professional standards of the country in which you are seeking employment. Different regions may have different requirements for layout. Adhering to these requirements shows your knowledge and professional approach, makes a positive impression on the employer and increases the chances of getting the desired job. The better the form of your CV presents your content, the better you position yourself as the ideal candidate for the vacancy.

1. Personal details
2. Professional specialization and training
3. Knowledge and skills
4. Further training
5. Interests and hobbies
6. No more than two pages

Main sections of the CV

Creating an effective CV starts with understanding its key components. Each section has its own important function and helps the employer gain a comprehensive picture of your professional qualities. Let's go through the main sections of a resume in detail. I will explain their importance and give you tips on how to complete each section. This will allow you to create a structured and understandable document that highlights your best qualities and sets you apart from other applicants who don't take this into account.

Personal details

The personal details section is the first part of your CV. This section is particularly important as it provides the employer with your key contact information. It should be clear and concise and contain all the necessary data so that you can be contacted quickly and easily in the event of a positive decision.

What should be included in the personal details section?

• Full name: Include your full name and surname. This is important so that the employer knows exactly how to address you and identify your documents.
• Address: Provide your current home address. This helps the employer to assess how easy it would be for you to get to work and is useful for sending official documents.
• Phone number: Provide a current cell phone number that the employer can use to reach you quickly. Make sure the number is correct to avoid any misunderstandings.
• E-mail address: Be sure to provide your e-mail address. This is one of the main methods of communication that employers use. It is recommended to use a professional email address that includes your name and surname. This will give your application a serious and professional impression.
• Date of birth: By stating your date of birth, you help the employer to recognize your age. This can be important in the context of certain job offers where there are age restrictions or requirements.
• Photo: German CVs often include a professional application photo. It should be of high quality and taken against a neutral background. A photo helps to gain a first impression of you. Although discrimination on the basis of visual characteristics is prohibited, many employers admit that the photo often plays a decisive role in the decision-making process.

What you should look out for:

• Timeliness of information: Make sure all contact information is current. If you have changed your phone number or address, be sure to update it in your resume.
• Professional appearance: Use professional and easy-to-understand email addresses. Avoid informal or childish variants.
• Photo quality: If you decide to add a photo, make sure it is professional. A photo in itself is not mandatory, but can increase your chances of making a positive impression.
• Correctness of the data: Double-check all data entered for errors. Even small errors can leave a negative impression or make it difficult to make contact.

The "Personal details" section forms the foundation of your CV. Pay attention to the details and make sure that the information provided is correct and complete.

Work experience

The "Work experience" section is the central part of your CV, as it provides the employer with detailed information about your previous activities, your tasks and your successes. It provides information about your practical skills, competencies and readiness to fulfill the requirements of the new position. This section should be clear, concise and contain all the necessary information.

What should be included in the work experience section?

• Company names and positions: Include the full names of all companies you have worked for and your respective positions. This shows where you gained your experience and the roles you held. For example: "Sales Manager at ABCZ Corporation".
• Periods of employment: Enter the start and end dates of your employment for each position. This provides an overview of how long you have worked in each position and helps to assess the stability of your career.
• Main tasks: Describe in detail your main duties in each position. It is important to emphasize those tasks that meet the requirements of the position you are applying for. These could be tasks such as project management, strategy development or customer interaction.
• Achievements: Highlight your achievements in each position. Use concrete facts and figures to emphasize your achievements. For example: "Increased sales by 20% in the first year" or "Successfully completed a $1 million budgeting project".

This information is an essential part of your resume for employers. It is used to assess your suitability for the advertised position. Employers want to see what practical experience you have, how you have managed your tasks and what results you have achieved. A well-described work history allows the employer to quickly understand whether you have the required skills and whether you are able to successfully fulfill the tasks of the new position.

What you should pay attention to:

• Chronological order: organize your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent position. This structure allows you to see your most recent achievements and skills.
• Detailed description: Be specific in describing your tasks and achievements. Avoid general phrases such as "Responsible for sales". Instead, you should give specific tasks and results achieved.
• Relevance to the position: When describing your professional experience, pay attention to the requirements of the position you are applying for. Emphasize the tasks and achievements that best match these requirements.
• Emphasize successes: It is particularly important to highlight your achievements. Concrete results, backed up by numbers, will help the employer recognize your effectiveness and value as an employee.

Remember that this section should be as informative and relevant as possible to the position you are applying for. A properly succinct description will help the employer quickly assess your professional qualities and make a positive decision on your application.

Education

The education section of the resume is equally important as it gives the employer an overview of your academic background and level of education. This section should include detailed information about all the educational institutions you have attended, as well as the degrees and specializations you have obtained. It helps the employer to assess your knowledge and skills in the relevant field.

What should be included in the "Education" section:

• Names of educational institutions: Include the full names of all educational institutions you have attended. This includes schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions. Full names help the employer understand the level and reputation of the institution.
• Periods of study: For each educational institution, you should indicate the start and end dates of your studies. This provides an overview of how long you have studied and how your academic career has developed.
• Degrees obtained: List all academic degrees earned (bachelor's, master's, doctorate, etc.). This is an important indicator of your qualifications and education. For example: "Bachelor of Science in Computer Science".
• Fields of study and degree programs: Describe your major fields of study and degree programs. This helps the employer to understand in which areas you have expertise. For example: "Business", "Engineering", "Psychology", etc.

This section gives the recruiter detailed information about your academic achievements and qualifications. A well-structured section makes it possible to quickly assess whether you meet the requirements of the position in terms of education. This also shows your organizational skills and attention to detail, which are important in any professional environment.

What you should pay attention to:

• Timeliness of information: Make sure all educational institution information, dates and degrees are current and accurate. It is important that the employer receives complete and truthful information about your academic background.
• Chronological order: Organize your educational qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. This allows the employer to see your most recent and important achievements immediately.
• Detailing: Don't forget to include the specific fields of study and degree programs. This helps to understand what specific knowledge and skills you have acquired.
• Additional information: Adding information about additional courses and certificates shows your willingness to continue education and your activity in professional development.

Education information on the resume gives a complete and clear picture of your academic achievements and contributes to a positive impression of you as a candidate.

Skills and competencies

The skills and competencies section of the resume is crucial to show your professional skills and personal qualities that make you a valuable candidate for a particular position. Here you should describe your capabilities and explain how you can use your skills in the new position. Be sure to include the most relevant information that highlights your strengths.

What belongs in the skills and competencies section

• Professional skills: Here you should list specific skills that you have acquired in your career that are relevant to the position you are seeking. These could be technical skills such as programming, software knowledge, project management or financial analysis. For example: "proficiency in programming languages such as Python, JavaScript" or "experience with CRM systems".
• Soft skills: List personal qualities that help you to work effectively in a team, resolve conflicts and achieve results. These could be communication skills, leadership qualities, learning ability or stress resistance. For example: 'Excellent communication skills' or 'problem solving ability'.
• Language skills: Indicate your level in foreign languages. This is particularly important for international companies or jobs where language skills are required. For example: "English - fluent, French - intermediate level".
• Technical skills: Mention knowledge and skills in using various tools and technologies that could be useful for the position you are applying for. This could be different software products, hardware or specialized technical skills. For example: "Experience using AutoCAD" or "Experience with lab equipment".

An employer should be able to quickly identify your capabilities and suitability for the position through this section. By stating specific skills, you show that you have the necessary knowledge and experience for the future tasks. This will help you stand out from other applicants and show that you are able to work effectively in the specific conditions of the company.

What you should look out for

• Relevance of skills: Only describe the skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for. This will help the employer to quickly understand whether you meet the requirements of the position.
• Be specific: Be specific in your wording. Instead of using general phrases like "team player", give specific examples that demonstrate your skills.
• Skill level: Indicate the level of your skills or competencies. This helps to understand how confident you are in your skills.
• Evidence: If possible, back up your skills with specific examples or achievements. This lends credibility to your statements.

Be specific and emphasize your strengths to make this section as effective as possible.

Continuing education

The "Continuing Education" section is crucial to show your willingness for continuous learning and development. Here you should include information about additional courses, trainings, certificates and other forms of professional development you have completed to improve your knowledge and skills. A well-structured presentation of this section emphasizes your active approach to professional development and your willingness to meet new challenges.

What belongs in the "Continuing education" section

• Course and program names: Include the full names of all courses, programs and trainings you have completed. These can be online courses, seminars, workshops, certification programs, etc. For example: "Course in Project Management from Project Management Institute" or "Certificate in Data Analysis in Excel from TutKit".
• Organizations and educational institutions: List the names of the organizations or educational institutions that have conducted these courses or programs. This helps the employer to assess the level and prestige of the training. For example: "Google", "Harvard University".
• Dates of attendance: For each course, indicate the learning periods, start and end dates. This provides information about the duration of the training and the topicality of the knowledge acquired. For example: "January 2021 - April 2021".
• Certificates received: If you have received certificates or diplomas after completing the course, indicate this. Certificates confirm your new skills and knowledge and add weight to your application. For example: "Certificate AWS Certified Solutions Architect".
• Description of the course content: Briefly describe the main topics and skills you acquired during the training. This will help the employer understand how this knowledge can be useful in the new position. For example: "Learning Kanban and Scrum methods, project management, leadership skills".

This section will demonstrate your motivation, desire to improve and awareness of the latest trends in your field. Employers value candidates who are willing to learn and adapt to new conditions, as this increases your value as an employee.

What you should look for

• Recency of courses: For your resume, select courses and programs that are relevant to the position you are seeking. This helps to emphasize your suitability for the requirements of the position.
• Prestige of organizers: Include the names of well-known and respected organizations or educational institutions. This adds weight to your achievements in the field of further education.
• Level of detail in the description: Describe the main topics of the courses briefly but clearly and precisely. The employer should be able to quickly understand what new skills you have acquired.
• Confirmation through certificates: The presence of certificates significantly increases your chances of making a positive impression, as they represent official confirmation of your knowledge and skills.

Interests and hobbies

The "Interests and hobbies" section in the CV is an additional part that can give a more comprehensive picture of your personality, values and skills. It shows that you are a well-rounded person with numerous interests, which can be important for cultural fit in the company and a positive impression.

What belongs in the "Interests and hobbies" section

• Sports activities: If you are actively involved in sports, it shows your discipline, ability to work in a team and a healthy lifestyle. For example: "Playing soccer", "Running marathons", "Yoga".
• Volunteering: Taking part in volunteer projects shows your social responsibility and your commitment to helping others. For example, this could be "volunteering at the local animal shelter" or "participating in environmental initiatives".
• Creative hobbies: Hobbies that involve creativity show your ability to think innovatively and be creative. For example: "Graphic design", "Playing musical instruments", "Painting".
• Intellectual interests: If you are interested in reading, chess or scientific research, it shows your curiosity and analytical thinking. For example: 'Reading scientific literature', 'Playing chess', 'Taking part in debates'.
• Traveling: Traveling broadens your horizons and shows your openness to new cultures and experiences. For example: "Traveling through Europe", "Hiking in the mountains".

The "Interests and hobbies" section gives additional context to your personality. It can highlight your soft skills such as leadership, teamwork, creativity and social responsibility. Also, this section can make a positive impression and lead to better interaction in the interview if you and the employer have common interests.

What you should pay attention to

• Relevance: List interests and hobbies that could be relevant to the position or company you are applying for. This helps to emphasize your fit with the company culture.
• Honesty: Only write about interests and hobbies that you really pursue. It is not advisable to make up or embellish information as this can have a negative impact in the interview.
• Uniqueness: Mention hobbies that can set you apart from other candidates. Avoid general phrases such as "reading" or "music" unless they are accompanied by specific details.
• Brevity and conciseness: Describe your interests briefly and succinctly. This section should not take up much space in your CV.

Free sample CV

You've dealt with the theory, now it's time to put it into practice. If you fill in everything correctly, you should have a first-class CV. Like the picture below.

So that you can practice, I'll leave a download link for Free CV sample below the picture.

Note on the downloaded templates

I would like to point out that the downloaded folder contains not only a sample CV, but also other application templates. Our free template package includes various useful samples that can help you prepare your application documents.

All our templates, including this free package, are available in the following formats:

• Microsoft Word and Google Docs
• Adobe InDesign
• Serif Affinity Publisher

These formats give you the flexibility to customize the templates according to your needs and create professional application documents. Good luck with your application!