CV Writing by Industry — What Changes Across Finance, Tech, Marketing, and More
The universal rules
Before covering what changes by industry, confirm what doesn't:
- Single-column layout for ATS compatibility
- Reverse chronological order
- Achievement-led bullet points
- Standard section headings
- No photos (UK convention)
- 2 pages for most professionals
These apply across every industry. The differences are in tone, technical depth, what skills are listed, and what qualifications matter.
Finance (investment banking, corporate finance, accounting)
What matters most: Academic credentials (especially for early career), technical precision, numerical evidence of impact.
Profile tone: Formal. No casual language. "Chartered Accountant (ACA) with 7 years of experience in corporate finance..."
Skills to list explicitly: Excel (advanced/VBA), financial modelling, DCF, LBO, Bloomberg Terminal, PowerPoint, specific accounting standards (IFRS, FRS 102), relevant qualifications (ACA, ACCA, CFA, CIMA).
Bullet point style: Every bullet should contain a number. "Analysed £X acquisition targets", "Managed £X portfolio", "Reduced reporting time by X%".
Education: Heavily weighted. University and degree classification should be prominently listed. Any finance-specific professional qualification is essential.
Technology (software engineering, data, product)
What matters most: Technical skills stack, scale of systems worked on, delivery track record.
Profile tone: Direct and specific. Name your stack immediately. "Full-stack engineer with 5 years of experience in Node.js, React, and PostgreSQL..."
Skills to list explicitly: Programming languages (with proficiency), frameworks, cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP), databases, DevOps tools, methodologies.
Bullet point style: Describe what you built, the technology used, the scale, and the outcome. "Built a microservices API in Node.js handling 10M monthly requests, reducing latency by 60%."
Projects section: Relevant and often expected — especially for developers. GitHub links if applicable.
Marketing and communications
What matters most: Channels and tools worked in, measurable campaign outcomes, content quality (cover letter is assessed as writing sample).
Profile tone: Engaging but professional. Demonstrates you can write.
Skills to list explicitly: Specific platforms (HubSpot, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Google Analytics 4, Meta Ads, Mailchimp), disciplines (SEO, PPC, CRO, email marketing, content strategy).
Bullet point style: Lead with results. "Grew organic traffic from 15K to 42K monthly sessions through technical SEO and content programme, driving 28% more inbound leads."
Channels matter: Name the channels you've worked in. "Email marketing" is not sufficient — say which platform, what volume, what open rate.
Law
What matters most: Training contract history, practice area experience, legal technical knowledge.
Profile tone: Conservative and precise. Formal language throughout.
Skills to list explicitly: Practice areas, jurisdictions, legal research tools (Lexis+, Westlaw), specific transaction types, regulatory frameworks.
Bullet point style: Transactions and matters are key. "Advised on a £120M acquisition of [type of target], managing due diligence across 5 workstreams."
Qualification: Law degree, LPC, SQE, training contract history — these must be clear and prominent.
Healthcare and clinical
What matters most: Registration status, clinical experience, specific clinical skills.
Registration: GMC, NMC, HCPC, GPhC registration number and status should appear clearly.
Skills: Clinical procedures, specialisms, systems (clinical IT, electronic patient records), any prescribing authority.
Tone: Factual and precise. Clinical experience documented carefully.
Education
What matters most: QTS status (if applicable), phase and subject specialism, school types, inspection outcomes.
Profile: "Secondary school English teacher with QTS and 6 years of experience in high-needs urban schools. Specialism in KS4 and KS5, with consistent above-average exam outcomes..."
Tone: Slightly warmer than corporate CVs — schools hire for character as well as competence.
The consistent thread
Across every industry, the fundamentals of a strong CV remain: specific, evidence-based, properly formatted. What changes is the vocabulary, the depth of technical detail, and which credentials matter most.
CVCircuit builds your CV with the right structure for any industry — and helps you tailor the language and skills section to match the specific job descriptions you're applying for.
Build your CV free and adapt it correctly for your industry and role.