Your cv is often the first point of contact between a candidate and a recruiter during the recruitment process. Before any interview, before any conversation, and before any chance to secure a role, hiring managers form a fast first view based on what they see on your cv.
Most employer decisions are made in seconds. Studies across recruitment teams in the UK show that a CV is often reviewed in under 10 seconds before a deeper read happens. That means the presentation, structure, and relevant content must work instantly.
What hiring managers want to see on a cv is simple: clarity, impact, and proof that you can deliver in the job.
This guide explains exactly what manager expectations look like, what strong candidate profiles include, and how to improve your job search results using practical advice that aligns with how recruitment consultants and recruiters assess applications.
What Hiring Managers Look For First
When a manager opens a cv, they are not reading every paragraph word for word. Instead, they are scanning quickly to find the information that matters most, such as:
- Can this candidate do the job
- Does the experience match the job description, or show something similar before
- Are the skills relevant to the sector and role
- Is there clear achievement that shows impact
- Is the layout easy to follow and clearly structured
- Does this person look ready for the recruitment process
- Is this worth a deeper read for hiring managers
An effective CV makes this decision easy. A weak CV forces extra effort, and that often leads to rejection during the early recruitment stage.
In the world of recruitment, ease of reading can matter just as much as capability. A candidate needs to quickly communicate what they can do so they appear in front of the right employer at the right stage of the application process.
What Comes Next
After the initial scan of a CV, recruiters and hiring managers will usually take a closer look to build a clearer picture of your background, experience, and overall suitability for the role.
At this stage, they want to understand what you have done previously, the skills you bring, and whether you have the capability to succeed in the job.
Let’s break down the key areas they will focus on in more detail.
A Clear profile
When a recruiter moves from scanning your CV to reading it in more detail, the impact is much stronger if you have a clear opening profile. This is your chance to avoid being vague and instead clearly position what you can offer, giving them an immediate understanding of your value and direction.
For example:
“I am a Microsoft 365 Consultant with 6 years’ experience with SharePoint and Power Platform projects across public sector and professional services.”
This works because it shows:
- Role identity
- Years of experience
- Tools and platforms
- Industry exposure
Avoid generic wording that could apply to any applicant. A recruiter needs clarity. Even writing in this way gets several points across in a precise way.
Skills That Match the Job Description
We all know that showcasing your skills on a CV is essential, but it is also one of the first filters used by both recruitment consultants and ATS systems, which are becoming increasingly common in the hiring process. Because of this, it is incredibly important to place your most relevant technical skills near the top of the page rather than hiding them halfway through page three.
Positioning them directly underneath your summary section is usually the best approach.
Some examples of technical ability you could include are:
- SQL
- Python
- JavaScript
- AWS
- Security tooling
- Data platforms
- Microsoft 365
- SharePoint Online
- Power Platform
- Azure
- Dynamics 365
Keep in mind that you do not need to include every tool or piece of software you have ever used. Focus on the skills that are current, commercially relevant, and aligned with the types of roles you want to be hired for.
A strong section helps hiring managers quickly tick off the core requirements before moving on to review your experience in more detail.
Certifications Strengthen Your Application
It is also important to make your relevant certifications visible and easy to find. Certifications help demonstrate your knowledge, commitment to learning, and experience with certain platforms or technologies. They also give hiring managers quick proof of your capability before they even reach the interview stage.
Like your skills, you could list your certifications near the top of of your application only if they are relevant to the role you are applying for. These are all part of an essential toolkit when writing your cv and applying for jobs.
A few examples of certifications in the it and tech space include:
- Scrum Master
- Google Analytics
- Cybersecurity certifications
- Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Functional Consultant
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect
- ITIL Foundation
You could also take this a step further by adding small certification logos within your CV header, if the layout still looks clean and professional. This can help your certifications stand out visually at first glance.
That said, always include the full certification names in text as well. Logos alone can sometimes be missed or ignored by ATS systems before a hiring manager even has the chance to review your CV.
Experience That Shows Impact
At the same time, employers do not just want to see what you were responsible for. They want to understand what you actually achieved and the impact your work had.
For example, a weak statement might look like this:
“Responsible for SharePoint support.”
A much stronger example would be:
“Delivered a SharePoint Online migration for 800 users, improving document access and collaboration across teams.”
This works far better because it clearly shows:
- What you did
- The scale of the work
- The outcome achieved
- The value created for the business
Employers across the IT and tech sector expect impact-driven experience. Presenting your achievements in this way helps your CV stand out and gives hiring managers a clearer understanding of your potential value.
It is also worth remembering that strong examples like these will often become key talking points during your interview if your application progresses to the next stage.
Use Bullet Points
Managers don’t want to read through huge blocks of text in paragraphs and can sometimes just get ignored. Hiring managers prefer:
- Short bullets
- Clear structure
- Easy scanning
Each bullet should show:
- Task
- Tool or skill used
- Outcome
- Value shown
This format supports faster decision-making in the recruitment process and improves chances of reaching interview stage.
A good format to follow could be:
- What you worked on
- What technology or skills you used
- Who you worked with
- What outcome you got to
- What value it added
For example:
“Delivered a SharePoint Online migration for 800 users, improving document access, permissions management and collaboration across multiple departments.”
That is much stronger than:
“Responsible for SharePoint tasks.”
Try to give enough detail to show impact, without turning each bullet into a full paragraph.
LinkedIn URL
A good LinkedIn profile is now an important part of the hiring process, and in most cases, a recruiter or hiring manager will check it before moving your application forward. Because of this, it is important to make it easy for them to find.
Include a clickable LinkedIn URL within your CV header alongside your email address and phone number. Before adding it, make sure your profile is fully up to date and aligned with your CV.
Your LinkedIn profile should reflect the same:
- Job titles
- Employment dates
- Key skills
- Career progression
Your CV and LinkedIn profile do not need to be identical, but they should tell the same career story. If the information does not match, it can create doubt and reduce confidence in your application.
Soft Skills
It is important to talk about your soft skills as they do matter but they need to be believable. just listing them making them long and generic doesn’t add much, if any, value to your application. instead try and keep this section short, relevant and focused. Around five or six is usually enough.
For example:
- Stakeholder management
- Communication
- Problem solving
- Leadership
- Mentoring
- Commercial awareness
Where possible, show these skills through your work experience too.
If you say you have good stakeholder management skills, include a bullet point that proves it.
For example:
“Worked closely with finance, HR and operations teams to gather requirements and deliver a Power Platform solution adopted across the business.”
That gives the soft skill some evidence.
Formatting
Your CV should be easy on the eye and clear for those reading it. Make sure you use headings to seperate sections clearly. Decent formating includes:
- Clear headings
- Consistent structure
- Logical order
- Simple design
- No clutter
Sections should include:
- Profile
- Key Skills
- Certifications
- Employment History
- Education
- Additional Information
Use bold formatting for job titles, company names, and section headings so the key information stands out clearly at a glance.
Adding a touch of colour can also work well, particularly for headings or subtle dividing lines, as long as the overall design remains professional and easy to read.
The aim is not to create a flashy CV. Instead, the focus should be on guiding the hiring manager’s attention quickly and smoothly to the most important information.
What Hiring Managers Don’t Want To See
You want to also be aware of some of the things you don’t want to include on within your resume which could weaken it.
Full Home Address
There is no need to include your full home address on your CV. In most cases, your town, city, or general location is more than enough.
For example:
- Manchester
- Bristol
- London
Including your street name and full postcode is unnecessary at the application stage and can take up valuable space.
Too Much Detail From Older Roles
Older positions can still add value to your CV, but they do not always need extensive detail.
If a role was 15 or 20 years ago, a short summary is usually enough unless it is highly relevant to the position you are applying for now.
Those hiring are generally more focused on your recent experience, current skills, and latest achievements.
Outdated School Qualifications
Early in your career, qualifications such as GCSEs, A Levels, or college courses can help strengthen your application.
Once you have built years of professional experience, they often become far less important.
If you have 15, 20, or 30 years of industry experience, you can normally remove older school qualifications unless they are directly relevant or specifically requested by the employer.
Large Blocks of Text
Long, heavy paragraphs can make a CV difficult to read quickly.
Even good content can be overlooked if the layout feels crowded or difficult to scan.
Instead:
- Use bullet points
- Break information into sections
- Add clear headings
- Leave enough white space on the page
This makes your CV far easier for recruiters to review efficiently.
Overused Buzzwords
Words like “hardworking,” “motivated,” and “team player” are commonly used on CVs, but they mean very little without proof behind them.
Rather than simply listing personal qualities, show evidence through your achievements and work experience.
A hiring manager is far more likely to trust examples of what you have done than a list of generic descriptions about yourself.
How Mexa Solutions Can Help
If you are considering your next move in IT or tech, Mexa Solutions can support you throughout your job search and career journey.
From salary guides and market insight to CV advice, blog content, and live vacancies across the UK tech sector, there are plenty of resources available to help you make stronger career decisions with confidence.
Final Thoughts
A strong CV should make life easier for the person hiring. It should quickly show who you are, what you do, the skills you bring, and the value you could add to the business.
The best CVs are clear, relevant, and easy to scan. They place the strongest information near the top, use bullet points effectively, and present experience, certifications, technical skills, and education in a format that is simple to follow.
Your goal is to help employers understand your suitability for the role as quickly as possible. If key information is difficult to find, overly detailed, or buried under large sections of text, there is a higher chance your application could be overlooked.
If your CV feels cluttered, outdated, or too long, it may be time for a refresh. Small changes to structure, formatting, and wording can make a major difference during the recruitment process and improve your chances of securing an interview.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a CV be?
For most professionals, a CV between two and three pages is ideal. Early-career candidates may only need one or two pages, while experienced professionals should focus on relevance rather than adding unnecessary detail.
How often should I update my CV?
You should update your CV regularly, ideally every few months or whenever you gain new experience, skills, achievements, or certifications, so it stays current and ready for any new job opportunities.
Can ATS systems reject a CV before a recruiter sees it?
Yes. Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter CVs before they reach a recruiter. Using relevant keywords and keeping formatting simple can help improve your chances of passing these checks.
This blog was written by Simon Bath, Director and Founder of Mexa Solutions.