How to Create an Outstanding CV That Opens Doors

You’ve got the experience. You’ve got the skills. But is your CV telling the right story?

As a career coach working with expats, I often meet talented individuals who struggle to reflect their true potential on paper. Their experience is solid. Their ambition is clear. But their CV? Often, it doesn’t do them justice.

In this article, I’ll walk you through how to craft a powerful CV that not only passes the ATS test but also feels aligned with you – your value, your personality, and your story. These insights come from recruiter feedback and my own coaching experience, so you can feel confident you’re on the right track.

1. It Starts With the Story: What Do You Want to Be Known For?

Before you format or write a single bullet point, ask yourself:

• What are your long-term career aspirations?
• What kind of value do you bring that others might not?
• What role are you moving toward, not just the one you’re leaving?

Your CV is not a static list of jobs — it’s a narrative about your growth. A great CV has clarity and direction. It helps the hiring manager quickly see where you shine and why you’re relevant. This is exactly where career coaching starts: clarifying your story, your identity, and your next chapter.

2. Keep It Short — Even If You’ve Done A Lot

Yes, your experience is impressive. But less is often more. A CV that’s two pages (even with 20+ years of experience) is enough if every sentence is meaningful.

Remember: hiring managers take only seconds to scan a CV. If you’re too wordy, they won’t see your best parts.

3. Show, Don’t Tell: Use Strong, Active Language

Which sounds more impactful?

❌ “Assisted with event coordination.”

✅ “Organised 12+ international conferences and networking events, managing budgets, vendors, and guest lists of up to 300 attendees.”

The difference? The second tells a story of impact and clarity. It’s not about bragging — it’s about translating your work into impact.

4. Don’t Let Design Distract from Your Value

Fonts, colours, and formatting do matter. Inconsistent fonts, too many sizes, or bright colours can signal a lack of attention to detail.

What works best:

• One clean font (like Calibri or Helvetica)
• 2–3 font sizes max (for headers/body)
• 1–2 colours (e.g., dark grey + soft blue for highlights)

You don’t need a fancy design. You need clarity.

5. Your Summary Is Prime Real Estate — Use It Well

Your professional summary is the first thing people read. And in today’s job market, it’s your chance to say:

“Here’s who I am, what I do best, and how I can help.”

Refine this section together so that it reflects your strengths, goals, and voice in around 60–100 words.

6. Order and Structure Matter

Surprisingly common mistakes include:

• Education not listed in reverse chronological order
• Missing start/end years
• Skills not tailored to the job

Review every section — not to make it “perfect,” but to make it coherent and strategic. Your CV is your introduction. It should feel like you.

7. Meet the ATS – and Why Your CV Needs to Be Readable by a Robot

Most companies in Belgium (and across Europe) use something called an ATS — an Applicant Tracking System. This is a type of software that scans CVs before a human ever sees them.

Its job? To sort, filter, and rank applications based on keywords and structure.

And here’s a very important rule: If your CV can’t be read by the ATS, it might never be seen by a recruiter.

So, one thing you should never include: ❌ a photo – ATS systems can’t read it and sometimes reject CVs that include one. Save your personality for the interview — not your headshot.

Next Step: Coaching, Not Consulting

Unlike CV consulting, I don’t write your resume for you. Instead, I coach you through:

• Understanding your strengths,
• Defining your professional story,
• Writing with clarity, confidence, and alignment,
• Preparing for interviews with the same consistency and authenticity.

Because when your CV, motivation letter, and interview preparation all reflect the same confident message, you stand out.