Top CV Writing Tips: Getting the Tone Right

Why getting the tone right in your CV is so crucial.

Getting the tone wrong is one of the fastest ways to undermine an otherwise strong CV. Too confident and you risk sounding arrogant. Too modest and your achievements disappear. Recruiters notice tone immediately – often within seconds – and it influences how they interpret everything that follows.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to strike the right balance so your CV sounds professional, credible and persuasive without overstatement.

How formal should a CV be?

CV Writers believe the tone should be professional yet personal. Exciting but not over-the-top. ‘Positively objective’ might be a good way of describing the ideal tone.

There’s a fine line to be drawn and it’s one of the main reasons people turn to professional CV services. It can be difficult to write in a ‘positively objective’ way about yourself.

Should a CV be in first or third person?

It is best to write a CV in third person. First person can sound a little ‘me, me, me’ (or ‘I, I, I’ as tends to be the case in CVs) and can come across as arrogant. It’s best to write in third person as this sounds more professional and means you can brag but not sound like your bragging. “I am a confident professional. I have demonstrable leadership capabilities” would sound better as “a confident professional with demonstrable leadership capabilities”.

The other side of the coin is people hiding their personality. It can read like a generic job description. CV Writers believe you simply must allow your personality to shine and find adjectives that best suit you. Try not to use cliches – but make your statements original and interesting.

What Tense Should You Use in a CV?

Use present tense for your current role and past tense for previous positions. Mixed tenses can distract recruiters and reduce clarity.

Overall remember: your CV needs to stand out from the crowd and look and sound professional. Consistency matters.

This article is written by Neville Rose, Director of CV Writers with over 30 years’ experience in supporting job seekers with their applications. Neville is also a qualified career counsellor and through his service career clarity provides help to people who feel stuck or uncertain about their future direction. He writes regular career advice articles for Guardian Jobs, ACCA Careers and other leading publishers.