Crafting Your CV

Peaches James
May 8
3 min read

Start Where You Are

Let’s be real.

Writing a CV can feel like staring at a blank screen, wondering how to “sell yourself” when life’s been lifing.

But you don’t need to be flashy or formal.

You just need to be clear, true and confident in your own voice.

This chapter is about helping you write a CV that reflects where you’ve been, what you can do and where you’re heading. Whether you’ve had a gap, changed paths or never had a traditional job at all—you still have a story worth telling.

Included at the end of the article is a downloadable CV template.

What a CV Actually Needs

A CV is your introduction—it tells someone what you can offer, where you’ve been and what you’re looking for.

That’s it.

You don’t need to write an autobiography.

Just give them enough to say, “I’d like to know more.”

Here’s a simple CV structure that works:

Your Name & Contact Details
No need for your full address—just your city, phone number, email and (if you have it) LinkedIn.
Personal Profile
A short paragraph at the top that sums up your strengths, values, and what you’re looking for.

Example: Friendly and reliable individual with a strong background in caring roles, looking to re-enter the workforce in a team-focused environment. Passionate about supporting others and staying organised under pressure.
Key Skills
Think about what you’re good at—communication, problem-solving, attention to detail, people skills, timekeeping.
Use bullet points. Don’t be shy.
Work Experience
Start with your most recent job and work backward.
- Job title
- Where you worked
- Dates
- 2–4 bullet points of what you did and achieved
Tip: If you’ve had a break, label the gap with honesty and strength:

Career Break (2019–2022): Focused on family commitments and personal development, while maintaining skills in budgeting, multitasking and emotional support.
Education & Training
List your qualifications, even if they feel old or incomplete.
You can also include short courses, online learning or anything you’ve done recently.
Additional Info (optional)
Volunteering, community work, languages, tech skills—include anything that shows who you are and what you’ve picked up along the way.

Highlight What’s Real (Not Just What’s Polished)

You don’t need a fancy job title to have skills.

Have you:

Looked after family or children?
That’s logistics, emotional intelligence, crisis management.
Volunteered at a community group, school, or church?
That’s teamwork, communication, reliability.
Run your household?
That’s budgeting, organisation, time management.

If you’ve made it through life, you’ve built skills.

Let’s name them.

Tailoring Your CV (Without the Stress)

You don’t need a new CV for every job.

But you should adjust your profile and key skills depending on the role.

Look at the job description.

What are they asking for?

Pick out 3–5 words or phrases they repeat.

Weave those into your CV—if they genuinely fit you.

Example: If a job mentions “team player,” highlight the times you’ve worked well with others—even outside of paid work.

What About Employment Gaps?

Gaps are human.

Own them.

Whether you were dealing with health, raising kids, caring for someone, healing from burnout or just surviving—that’s life.

You don’t have to explain everything in detail.

Just show what you gained.

Sample phrasing:

Personal Break (2020–2023): Focused on mental health recovery and skill-building through community projects and online courses. Now ready to return to work with clarity and purpose.

CV Golden Rules (From Us to You)

Keep it to 1–2 pages
Use simple, readable fonts (no cursive, no Comic Sans!)
Use strong, active words like “supported,” “created,” “managed,” “led,” “organised”
Save as a PDF to protect formatting
If you’re unsure—ask a trusted friend to read it