Your CV Is a Business Case. Make It Count.
When it comes to CVs, most people are asking the wrong question.
It’s not: How do I list everything I’ve ever done?
It’s: How do I show I’m worth the investment?
Hiring managers aren’t just reading your CV for fun. They’re making a calculation.
“If I pay this person £X, what return will I get?”
So if your CV is just a list of responsibilities? You’re leaving value on the table.
Let’s fix that.
Think Like a Hiring Manager
In sales, it’s straightforward — you can show the revenue you brought in.
But in finance, operations, or other support roles, you’ve got to work a little harder to show your impact.
That’s where achievements come in. Not generic ones — real, measurable wins that help someone see what you bring to the table.
The easiest way to think about it?
Time saved. Money saved. Mistakes avoided. Growth unlocked.
Here are a few examples:
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Reduced month-end close from 10 to 6 days
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Saved £250k annually by automating a manual reporting process
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Cut debtor days by 35% through improved credit control
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Identified £1.2m of cost leakage in supplier contracts
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Reduced error rates by 80% through process redesign
Whatever salary you’re asking for, your CV should show you’re capable of delivering multiple times that value.
So… How Do You Fit All That on Two Pages?
First things first:
The two-page rule isn’t about shrinking your font or fiddling with margins.
It’s about prioritising what matters — and cutting everything else.
Here’s how to keep your CV sharp, relevant, and worth reading:
1. Cut the waffle
If it doesn’t say something specific, scrap it.
“Results-driven professional with excellent communication skills”?
It’s fluff. Say something real.
2. Focus on the last 5–10 years
That’s what hiring managers care about most.
If it’s older than that, shorten it. Earlier roles should support your story — not dominate the space you need for what’s actually important.
3. Lead with achievements
Nobody needs a full list of responsibilities.
Instead, highlight outcomes. What changed because you were in the role?
4. Remove irrelevant content
You don’t need:
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A postal address
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A paragraph on your GCSEs
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Your first job you had when you were sixteen
Clear it out. Make space for what matters.
5. Make it easy to read
Use clean formatting, consistent spacing, and clear headings.
A cramped CV doesn’t make you look experienced — it just makes people stop reading.
Final tip: Track As You Go
If you’ve got a continuous improvement mindset, you’re making changes all the time. But remembering them all when it’s time to update your CV? That’s the tricky bit.
Keep a running note of the improvements you’ve made, wins you’ve delivered, and ideas you’ve pushed through.
Even if you’re not looking now — it’ll pay off when you are.
Remember: A tighter CV doesn’t mean a lesser career.
It means a clearer one — and one that makes your value obvious from the start.
