Don’t have time for a complete CV overhaul? You’re not alone. Here are 5 quick updates you can make to your CV in under an hour that could dramatically improve your chances of landing that interview.

 

1. Replace tired phrases with real examples

Are you a “results-driven team player” with “excellent communication skills”? So is everyone else – at least according to their CVs. These overused phrases have become so common that recruiters skip right past them. Instead of telling employers you have these qualities, show them with specific examples:

 

Instead of: “Great communication skills”

Try: “Presented monthly project updates to 50+ stakeholders, resulting in 95% on-time project delivery”

 

Instead of: “Team player”

Try: “Collaborated with design and development teams to launch new customer portal, serving 10,000+ users”

 

This simple switch from telling to showing makes your CV instantly more credible and memorable.

 

2. Give your CV a visual refresh

If your CV looks like a wall of text, you’re making recruiters work too hard. A clean, modern layout helps key information jump off the page.

 

Quick design wins:

• Use clear headings and plenty of white space
• Choose a readable font like Arial or Aptos (save the fancy fonts for creative roles)
• Put your most impressive achievements in the top third of the page
• Use bullet points rather than paragraphs
• Keep it to 2 pages maximum

 

If you’re not design-savvy, use a simple two-column layout. List your contact details and skills on the left, experience and education on the right.

 

3. Optimise for applicant tracking systems

Most CVs get filtered through software before a human sees them. If yours isn’t optimised, you could be automatically rejected despite being perfect for the role.

 

Help to beat the bots by:

• Matching the exact job title from the posting somewhere in your CV
• Including keywords from the job description naturally throughout
• Using standard section headings like “Experience” and “Education”
• Saving your CV as a simple .docx or .pdf file
• Avoiding images, graphics, or unusual formatting that confuses the software

 

4. Add numbers that prove your impact

Here’s the fastest way to make your achievements more impressive: add numbers. Recruiters love concrete evidence of your impact, so transform vague claims into powerful proof:

• “Managed social media” becomes “Grew Instagram followers by 150% in 6 months”
• “Helped increase sales” becomes “Contributed to £50K revenue increase through new customer outreach”
• “Trained new staff” becomes “Onboarded 12 new team members, reducing training time by 25%”

 

Can’t remember exact figures? Use reasonable estimates or ranges. Even approximate numbers are better than no numbers at all.

 

5. Refresh your skills section for today’s market

When did you last update your skills section? The workplace has likely changed dramatically, and your CV should reflect current demands.

 

Quick updates:

• Add any AI tools you’ve used (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude)
• Include collaboration platforms (Teams, Slack, Miro)
• Highlight any data analysis skills, even basic Excel
• Remove outdated software versions
• Group skills logically: Technical Skills, Software, Languages

 

Remember: only list skills you’d be comfortable using on day one of a new job.

 

The bottom line

These five updates take less than an hour but could be the difference between the rejection pile and the interview shortlist. Start with whichever feels easiest – even one improvement is better than none.