What Recruiters Actually Look at on Your CV

We spoke to recruitment professionals across the UK about how they actually review CVs. The consensus was remarkably consistent — and it might change how you approach yours.

The first scan takes about six seconds. In that time, recruiters look at your current job title, current company, and how long you have been there. If these align with what they are hiring for, they read on. If not, they move to the next CV.

Job titles matter more than company names. Unless you worked at a household name, recruiters care more about what you did than where you did it.

Gaps are noticed but not always penalised. A year out for travel, health, or caring responsibilities is understood. What matters is how you explain it — a brief note is better than leaving it unexplained.

Achievements beat responsibilities every time. Recruiters skim past generic duty descriptions. Numbers, percentages, and outcomes make them stop and read.

Formatting signals professionalism. A cluttered, poorly formatted CV suggests poor attention to detail. Clean, consistent formatting with clear sections makes a recruiter's job easier — and they appreciate it.

Cover letters are read about half the time. If the CV is strong, many recruiters skip the cover letter entirely. But a bad cover letter can hurt you.

The bottom line: make the first six seconds count. Put your most relevant and impressive information at the top.