What to Include in a CV in 2025

As we approach 2025, CV writing continues to evolve to meet modern recruitment demands. In a competitive job market, tailoring your CV to align with both technological advancements and employer expectations is essential.

With the rise of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), CVs must include relevant keywords to pass automated screenings. Employers are also prioritizing skills-based profiles, focusing on what candidates can do rather than where they’ve worked.

A modern CV should present concise, impactful information, emphasizing both technical and soft skills while showcasing results-driven achievements. This article will detail the key sections of a 2025 CV, including personal details, professional summaries, digital competencies, and references, to help you create a comprehensive and effective application.

Personal Details and Professional Summary

When perfecting your CV writing in 2025, it’s essential to include clear personal details to ensure recruiters can easily contact you. This typically includes your full name, professional email address, and LinkedIn profile link. These elements provide the necessary contact information while omitting unnecessary details, such as your full address or date of birth, which are outdated and irrelevant for most job applications today.

Equally important is your professional summary, which acts as the first impression for potential employers. This concise section should highlight your key skills, career achievements, and professional goals in relation to the position you’re applying for. A well-crafted professional summary serves as an elevator pitch, offering a snapshot of your qualifications and value proposition. It should be tailored to each job, demonstrating a clear understanding of the company’s needs and how your experience and skills align with their goals.

For instance, if you are applying for a software developer role, you might focus on technical expertise in programming languages, your experience in software development, and your ability to solve complex problems. Similarly, for a project management position, you could emphasize your leadership skills, your track record of delivering projects on time, and your expertise in team coordination. The professional summary should be brief – no more than three to five sentences – but powerful enough to capture the recruiter’s attention and compel them to read on.

Key Skills Section

In 2025, there is a growing emphasis on skills-based CVs, making it more important than ever to clearly showcase the skills that align with the specific job you’re applying for. Recruiters and applicant tracking systems (ATS) now prioritize skills over job titles, recognizing that technical and soft skills are crucial indicators of a candidate’s potential success. A well-organized key skills section ensures that both human recruiters and automated systems can easily identify your qualifications.

Start by listing a combination of technical skills and soft skills that are most relevant to the role. Technical skills can include expertise in programming languages (e.g., Python, Java), software (e.g., Microsoft Office, Salesforce), or specific tools and frameworks (e.g., AWS, Agile methodologies). Soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, should also be highlighted as they are increasingly valued across industries.

To ensure your CV passes ATS filters, tailor the key skills section to match the language used in the job description. Many job postings include specific keywords related to the skills required for the role. By integrating these keywords into your CV, you increase your chances of passing ATS scans and reaching human recruiters. For example, if the job description emphasizes “project management,” make sure to include this as a key skill, along with any relevant software like Microsoft Project or Trello.

Work Experience and Achievements

In 2025, employers expect candidates to not only list their work experience but also to demonstrate the impact they’ve had in their previous roles. Instead of simply listing job responsibilities, focus on measurable achievements that highlight your contributions. This approach helps you stand out by showing how you’ve added value to past employers, aligning with the results-oriented mindset many companies now prioritize.

Use bullet points to break down your accomplishments clearly and concisely. For example, instead of saying “Responsible for sales management,” specify the outcomes: “Increased sales by 25% through targeted marketing campaigns.” Another example could be: “Led a team of 10 to implement a new CRM system that improved workflow efficiency by 30%.” Quantifying your impact with numbers gives concrete evidence of your abilities and demonstrates that you are results-driven.

Incorporating both technical and soft skills into your achievements can further enhance this section. For instance, if you managed a project, mention not only the outcome but also the leadership and collaboration involved: “Managed a cross-functional team to deliver a project 20% under budget while maintaining a high client satisfaction score.”

Education and Certifications

In 2025, showcasing your academic qualifications and professional certifications is a key element of an impactful CV. Including your highest degree, along with the institution, graduation date, and any honors or notable achievements, helps demonstrate your foundational knowledge. For example, a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Business Administration, or any other relevant field should be listed clearly.

However, it’s equally important to highlight certifications that are directly relevant to the role you’re applying for. In today’s job market, certifications are often viewed as evidence of your up-to-date expertise and commitment to professional development. For example, certifications like PRINCE2 for project management or AWS Certified Solutions Architect for cloud computing not only showcase technical proficiency but also signal that you are proactive about staying current with industry trends.

Additionally, for IT and technical roles, certifications such as CompTIA A+, Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), or Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals can make a significant difference in your CV. These certifications prove that you have specialized knowledge in key areas and can immediately contribute to projects requiring those skills.

When listing certifications, include the name of the certification, the issuing organization, and the date of completion or expiration (if applicable). Tailoring your CV to match the job requirements means focusing on certifications that align with the role, ensuring you stand out as a qualified candidate ready to hit the ground running.

Include Digital Competencies

In 2025, digital competencies are essential to nearly every role, and showcasing these skills on your CV can greatly enhance your employability. Digital skills go beyond basic computer literacy; they now encompass a wide range of tools, technologies, and methodologies that are integral to modern workplaces. Whether you’re applying for a tech, marketing, or operations role, demonstrating proficiency in digital tools can make you stand out.

Common digital competencies include familiarity with collaboration tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom, which are critical for remote or hybrid work environments. For roles involving data-driven decision-making, data analytics tools like Microsoft Excel, Google Analytics, Tableau, or SQL can be invaluable. If your role requires technical expertise, proficiency in coding languages such as Python, Java, or JavaScript should be highlighted, as these are in high demand across industries.

Tailoring your digital skills to the specific job is crucial. For example, a marketing role might require knowledge of SEO tools (e.g., SEMrush) and social media management platforms (e.g., Hootsuite), while a project management position might benefit from experience with Asana or Trello. Including relevant digital competencies can also improve your CV’s performance with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which often scan for specific keywords related to technology and software proficiency.

Projects and Portfolio Links

Including notable projects or a portfolio link on your CV is a powerful way to showcase the practical application of your skills, especially in creative, tech, or freelance roles. In 2025, hiring managers want more than just a list of qualifications; they want to see tangible evidence of your abilities. A well-curated portfolio or project section can help you stand out in a competitive job market.

For creative roles such as graphic design, writing, or video production, a portfolio is essential. This can include links to your personal website or platforms like Behance or Dribbble, where you can display your work. Including a brief description of each project and the results you achieved, such as how your design increased engagement or helped clients achieve specific goals, demonstrates the real-world impact of your work.

In tech roles, such as software development or web design, it’s crucial to showcase your coding skills through GitHub repositories or other platforms where you can share code or finished projects. Detailing the technologies used, challenges faced, and how you overcame them gives potential employers a deeper insight into your problem-solving and technical abilities.

For freelancers, a portfolio offers proof of your versatility and capability in delivering results for diverse clients. It also provides context for your skills by showing how you can adapt to different industries or project types.

Volunteering and Extracurricular Activities

In 2025, hiring managers increasingly value well-rounded candidates who not only possess technical expertise but also demonstrate strong interpersonal and leadership qualities. Including a section for volunteering and extracurricular activities on your CV is a great way to highlight these transferable skills.

Volunteering can demonstrate a candidate’s commitment, empathy, and ability to work in diverse environments. Whether it’s managing a charity event, mentoring youth, or coordinating community outreach, volunteering showcases your leadership, communication, and organizational skills. For example, if you led a team of volunteers for a non-profit project, it demonstrates your ability to manage and inspire others, a key skill in any workplace.

Similarly, extracurricular activities – from sports teams to professional clubs – can reveal valuable teamwork and time management skills. Participation in group activities also highlights your ability to collaborate and engage with others outside of a professional context. Leadership roles in student organizations, for instance, can emphasize your initiative and ability to take responsibility in various situations.

This section not only provides additional insight into your character but also enriches your CV, showing that you possess a diverse skill set beyond the technical realm. Employers appreciate candidates who can balance work and community engagement, as it indicates strong time management, interpersonal abilities, and the drive to make a positive impact.

Include Languages and Global Experience

For roles that require international collaboration or work in multicultural environments, highlighting your language skills and global experience is a valuable addition to your CV in 2025. As companies continue to expand globally and diversify their teams, employers are increasingly seeking candidates who can navigate diverse cultures and communicate effectively with people from various backgrounds.

Language skills are an asset in such roles, and it’s important to specify your proficiency level (e.g., fluent, intermediate, or basic) for each language. Listing your language abilities not only demonstrates your communication skills but also showcases your adaptability and openness to different cultures. Whether you speak Spanish, Mandarin, or French, emphasizing these skills can make you stand out to employers looking for candidates who can engage with international clients or teams.

Additionally, global experience – whether gained through working abroad, participating in international projects, or engaging in cross-cultural collaborations – can greatly enhance your CV. Include details of how working in diverse environments has broadened your perspective, enhanced your problem-solving skills, and improved your ability to work under different business practices. This type of experience is particularly valuable in industries like tech, consulting, marketing, and sales, where cross-border collaboration is common.

References or Statement

When it comes to including references on your CV in 2025, it’s important to follow industry norms and use your judgment based on the specific job and sector you’re applying for. In most cases, it is no longer necessary to list references directly on your CV. Instead, you can use the simple statement: “References available upon request.” This saves valuable space and allows recruiters to request references when needed, rather than listing them upfront.

However, in some industries, such as academia, consulting, or government roles, employers may expect you to provide references at the outset. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to consult the job posting or industry-specific guidelines.

Regardless of whether you list references or include the statement, preparing your referees in advance is essential. Before listing someone as a reference, contact them to ensure they are comfortable with it and to brief them on the role you’re applying for. Provide context about the job and share details about the skills and experiences you’d like them to highlight. This ensures they are prepared to provide a strong and relevant endorsement.

In addition, timeliness is key. Your referees should be able to provide a prompt response when contacted by potential employers. This means staying in touch and keeping them updated on your job search progress.

Customize for ATS and Recruiters

In 2025, Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) play a crucial role in the recruitment process, and optimizing your CV for these systems is essential to increase your chances of getting noticed. ATS scans CVs for keywords, formatting, and relevant information, so it’s important to incorporate the right keywords from the job description. Look for technical skills, industry-specific terms, and action verbs that align with the role you’re applying for. These keywords are often what the ATS uses to filter candidates, so including them ensures your CV passes the initial scan.

However, it’s not just about the ATS – your CV also needs to appeal to human recruiters. While you want to optimize for the system, it’s essential to balance this with a clean and professional design that is easy for a recruiter to read. Stick to simple fonts, standard section headings, and clear formatting with bullet points, making sure the text is easy to digest. Avoid complex formatting, like tables or graphics, which can confuse ATS software.

Additionally, ensure your CV is structured logically with sections like Key Skills, Work Experience, and Education clearly labeled. Keep your CV concise, focusing on the most relevant experiences and skills for the position.

Proofread and Update Regularly

A polished CV is crucial in making a strong impression, and proofreading is the first step toward ensuring your CV is error-free. Typos, grammatical mistakes, and inconsistent formatting can quickly undermine your professionalism and make your CV appear careless. After you’ve written your CV, take time to review it multiple times. Read it aloud to catch awkward phrasing or errors you may have missed. It’s also helpful to ask a friend or colleague to review your CV for a fresh perspective.

Consistency is also key. Ensure uniform formatting, such as consistent font types, sizes, and spacing, across the entire document. This attention to detail enhances readability and shows that you’ve taken the time to present your information in a professional manner.

Another important aspect of maintaining an effective CV is to update it regularly. As you gain new experiences, skills, and certifications, incorporate them into your CV to keep it current. This is particularly important in fields where new technologies or methodologies emerge quickly. For example, if you’ve completed a certification like AWS or PRINCE2 or learned a new coding language, ensure these additions are reflected on your CV. Regular updates allow you to always be prepared for new opportunities, and it’s easier to add information gradually than to overhaul your CV when an opportunity arises.

Wrapping Up

A standout CV in 2025 should be clear, concise, and tailored to each role, highlighting key skills, measurable achievements, and certifications while aligning with job-specific requirements. By optimizing for ATS and maintaining a professional, updated format, you can effectively showcase your expertise and meet modern recruitment expectations.