How Should I Format My CV? Best CV Formats for 2025

Every week, professionals come to us at CV Pilots asking the same question: “What’s the best way to format my CV so it actually gets noticed?”

With new CV design templates appearing online and AI-driven applicant tracking systems (ATS) becoming even more sophisticated, the rules of what works in 2025 have evolved. But one truth hasn’t changed:

👉 Your CV is a professional document — not a creative experiment.

At executive and senior level, recruiters and hiring managers are looking for credibility, clarity, and measurable results. An overly designed CV full of graphics, photos, or colours might stand out — but often for all the wrong reasons.

Here’s what works best in 2025 (and why).

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These tools pull back the curtain on the hiring process, cutting
through the smoke and mirrors so you understand exactly what
employers and ATS systems are really looking for

1) Show professionalism at first glance

Your CV is your first and often only chance to be taken seriously. Recruiters and executives don’t want to see photos, icons, or gimmicks. They want to see a sharp, polished, professional document that speaks to your expertise.

A cluttered or overdesigned CV signals insecurity. A clean, modern, and professional CV says you’re confident in your achievements.

2) Let your achievements do the talking

Hiring managers don’t care how “creative” your CV looks if they can’t immediately spot what you’ve delivered. A professional CV writer in the UK will always prioritise content and impact over design tricks.

Focus on powerful phrasing and evidence of measurable results:

✔ Increased revenue by £2m in 12 months
✔ Reduced staff turnover by 35% through cultural change initiatives
✔ Delivered £500k annual savings by renegotiating supplier contracts

Those are the lines that win interviews — not pastel graphics or profile pictures.

3) Make it ATS-friendly

By 2025, applicant tracking systems are even more widely used and more advanced. But they still struggle with complex formatting. Logos, tables, multi-column layouts, and graphics can all break your CV in ATS scans — meaning key details never reach the recruiter.

If your CV isn’t ATS-friendly, you could be rejected before a human even sees it. That’s why a clear, text-based, well-structured format remains essential.

4) Avoid negative reactions from recruiters

Recruiters are human. If your CV design makes them cringe or feels like style over substance, you’ve lost them before they even get to your achievements. With hundreds of applications to sift through, they won’t give you the benefit of the doubt.

5) Maximise limited space

You have, at most, two pages to tell your professional story. Every inch of space should be dedicated to the impact you’ve made. Colour blocks, graphics, or oversized icons eat up valuable space that could highlight your skills and achievements.

6) Minimise bias

Recruiters are increasingly aware of bias in hiring. Including photos, personal graphics, or unnecessary personal details introduces risks that have nothing to do with your ability to perform. Keep your CV stripped back and professional — let your experience speak, not your profile picture.

7) Showcase personality at the right stage

There’s a time and place to let your personality shine — but your CV isn’t it. Save that for the interview, networking, or even your LinkedIn profile.

As Katie Burke, Chief People Officer at HubSpot, put it:

“Photos belong on your personal social media accounts, not your CV. What you look like has zero impact on what you can do in a role.”

Final Word

In 2025, standing out isn’t about gimmicks — it’s about substance. A CV that’s clean, professional, and ATS-friendly will always outperform one that looks like a dating profile or Instagram post.

If you’ve been applying for roles without success, the problem may not be your experience but your CV format. A UK executive CV writing service like CV Pilots ensures your document is recruiter-approved, ATS-compliant, and designed to open doors to interviews.

To find out more, visit our website www.cvpilots.co.uk If you have any further questions, you can either book a consultation call with one of our team, or get in touch via email on team@cvpilots.co.uk