15 CV Optimisation Tips That Improve Your Interview Rate

Optimisation vs tailoring

CV optimisation is about the structural and quality improvements you make to your base CV — the things that remain true across all applications. Tailoring is the application-specific layer on top.

Both matter. A well-optimised, well-tailored CV significantly outperforms a poorly optimised, well-tailored one.

Here are 15 specific optimisation changes that improve performance.

1. Switch to single-column layout

If your CV has columns, sidebars, or multi-column sections, every ATS submission is at risk of parsing failure. Convert to single-column immediately.

2. Replace "Responsible for" with action verbs

Go through every bullet point that starts with "Responsible for" or "Duties included" and replace with: Led, Built, Managed, Delivered, Increased, Reduced, Designed, Implemented.

3. Add numbers to the top 3 bullet points per role

Your most recent role's top 3 bullet points should each contain a specific metric. Team size, budget, percentage improvement, volume, revenue. Anything quantifiable.

4. Write a specific personal profile

Three sentences. Job title, specialism, target. No generic phrases. Rewrite this entirely if it currently contains "motivated professional" or "excellent communication skills".

5. Build a proper skills section

Specific tools and technologies, comma-separated. 8–20 items. No soft skills, no vague categories. Every item should be a specific thing you can discuss in an interview.

6. Remove "References available on request"

Takes up space. Everyone knows. Remove it.

7. Use consistent date formatting

Pick one format — "Month YYYY – Month YYYY" — and apply it identically to every role. Inconsistent dates cause parsing confusion and look disorganised.

8. Remove photos and personal information

No photo, no date of birth, no nationality, no marital status. These open you to discrimination risk and aren't expected in UK applications.

9. Compress old roles to 1–3 bullet points

Roles from more than 8–10 years ago don't need the same depth as recent roles. Compress to your most impressive 1–3 achievements and move on.

10. Fix your file name

If you're sending "CV.pdf" or "My CV Final.docx", change it. "FirstName_LastName_CV.docx" is professional and findable in a recruiter's inbox.

11. Put your strongest content first within each section

Within your most recent role, your most impressive bullet should be first. Within your skills section, your most relevant skills (for your target roles) should be first. Recruiter eyes scan top-to-bottom.

12. Cut bullet points that describe generic duties

If a bullet point describes something that every person with that job title would do — and doesn't add any specific information about what you achieved — cut it. Replace with nothing if needed.

13. Verify your contact details

Check your email and phone number are correct. Check your LinkedIn URL is current and shortened. Check your location is accurate.

14. Remove the hobbies section (unless relevant)

"Enjoys cooking and travelling" adds nothing to most applications. Remove unless your interests are genuinely relevant to the role or unusually impressive.

15. Run an ATS check before any application

Before submitting your base CV anywhere, run it through an ATS checker. Identify formatting issues, missing keywords (compared to typical roles in your field), and structural problems. Fix them before they affect real applications.

The compound effect

Individually, each of these changes provides a small improvement. Together, they produce a document that performs significantly better across ATS screening, recruiter reading, and interview preparation.

CVCircuit builds your CV with most of these optimisations applied by default — single-column, ATS-compliant format; structured guidance for bullet points; proper skills section; standard headings.

Build your CV free and start with an optimised foundation, then tailor from there.