Structure of the CV: This is important for content, structure and order

What content should definitely be included in the CV? In what order are they presented? Get information about the structure and individual areas.

Structure of the CV: what should be considered?

A convincing resume requires a clear and well-structured structure . Because the HR manager in charge wants to be able to quickly and easily get an overview of the facts of the application. In order for this to be guaranteed, the structure of the CV should put the central information in the foreground. Try to take the employer’s perspective: What arguments and information can convince him that you are the ideal candidate for the job? These details should be the focus. Therefore, there are basic things to consider when designing the individual sections:

In the first section ” Personal data ” you enter key personal information. Usually there is also space for the application photo. However, due to the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG), this section can now be somewhat shorter. Because the age, marital status or origin of an applicant should not actually play a role in the aptitude test of the applicant. However, some information of this type is provided voluntarily and therefore remains customary . This applies in particular to the application photo, which is also optional : With a likeable application photo you still collect important bonus points in Germany.

In the ” Professional experience ” section, you inform the reader about your professional positions. In addition to the job title and the name of the employer, you also state the most important activities carried out there and emphasize the areas in which you have assumed responsibility. Be as brief as possible and yet express yourself be precise . If you can underline your information with success numbers or milestones you have reached, it is particularly convincing. This section usually plays the central role in the structure of the CV.
In another category ” Educational Path ” you list your educational qualifications, for example school qualifications, training qualifications or university degrees. This gives the HR manager an overview of your most important qualifications. You can also emphasize training sections that match the desired job . However, this section usually becomes less important the more professional experience you gain.
The “ Knowledge and Skills ” section contains information on important professional advantages that you may have acquired independently of a professional position. As a rule, these are IT skills and language skills.

A column about your hobbies can underline your suitability if the leisure activities indicate desirable skills and character traits – such as team spirit, perseverance or creativity. Nevertheless, this section is usually the last one in the structure of the CV.

What is the correct order when structuring the CV?

In the CV, the order of the individual sections is not rigidly specified. As a rule, however, you start your CV with “Personal data” – after all, the HR manager wants to know who is applying here. Choosing the second rubric depends on what information is most important for the potential job. The CV must fit the situation. As a rule, this is your previous, relevant professional experience. Because that is usually the strongest argument in your application.

So if you already have several years of professional experience, it is advisable to enter the category “Professional experience” as a second category. However, if you are planning to start your career and have completed the relevant training, then it is usual to state “Education” as the second heading. There you underline your suitability for the job with suitable qualifications. In both cases, the next step is the “Knowledge and Skills” section.

CV structure: chronological or anti-chronological?

Not only can the sections be arranged in a different order in the CV, but also the individual information within a section. This applies above all to the information that is linked to specific periods of time or points in time. There are two different variants here:

In the chronological order , you start with the oldest CV entry in the respective category, so that the most recent CV entry, for example your current employment, is at the end of the list. You start at the very beginning, so to speak, and then work your way up to the present with the information. This chronological structure of the CV used to be standard.

In the anti-chronological arrangement (also called “reverse chronological arrangement”), on the other hand, you start with the most recent CV entry in the respective category, so that the most recent station is at the beginning of a category and the oldest at the end. Which alternative is better depends on the individual situation of the applicant. However, the anti-chronological way of writing is becoming more and more the standard because it puts the most recent and thus supposedly most relevant stations in the foreground.

Optimal design of the CV: Which formatting suits the structure?

When it comes to the design and structure of the CV, most applicants should not dare to experiment too much: the two-column, tabular CV is the established standard. The period or date is usually given in the left column and the associated details are listed in the right column. Emphasizing formatting and coloring should be used sparingly and, above all, uniformly. If you prepare the information optically and make it more accessible: good. If they tend to distract from the facts: bad. When in doubt, less is often more when it comes to creative urges when structuring your CV. Deviating from the norm can be a good idea in creative, design-related industries – clarity and legibility should still be the priority.

With professionally designed resume templates , you don’t have to worry: they’re designed from the ground up to meet all the requirements of the modern application process. On the other hand, if you want to create convincing and professional application documents with common word processing programs, you should have a certain amount of experience in using the software – otherwise the results will quickly look amateurish.

Can a CV be two pages long?

A CV can also be two pages long if you, as an applicant, already have a long professional career and can show a lot of knowledge, skills and educational qualifications. The CV should only be longer than two pages in well-justified exceptional cases. Especially with long CVs, it is important that you do not overload your career with too much information. When it comes to structuring a CV, quality comes before quantity . Therefore, try to reduce your information to the essentials. However, you should never squeeze a confusing mass of information onto a single page.