A CV should be a focused, well-structured document that clearly answers "why should I interview this person?". Here's a breakdown of what to include:

Essential Sections (Always Include)
These core sections appear on virtually every CV, in this order:

Contact Information — Full name, phone number, professional email, city/country (no full address needed), and optionally LinkedIn or a portfolio link

Professional Summary — 3–4 sentences at the top highlighting your strengths, key skills, and the value you bring to the role

Work Experience — Listed in reverse chronological order; include job title, company, dates, and bullet points starting with action verbs that show outcomes, not just duties

Education — Degree, institution, and graduation year; recent graduates should place this above work experience

Skills — A mix of hard skills (tools, software, languages) and soft skills (communication, leadership); only list skills not already obvious from your experience

High-Value Optional Sections
Include these only if they genuinely add signal:

Certifications & Courses — Especially relevant if recent or industry-specific

Projects / Portfolio — Very valuable for entry-level candidates or career changers; include links (GitHub, Behance, etc.)

Languages — List with clear proficiency levels (Native, Fluent, Conversational)

Volunteering / Awards / Publications — Add only if directly relevant to the role

Hobbies & Interests — Generally the lowest priority; include only if they reflect relevant traits

Key Principles to Keep in Mind
Principle	Why It Matters
Quantify achievements	Numbers make claims credible ("increased traffic by 30%")
Tailor to each role	Generic CVs are easily filtered out by ATS and recruiters
Use action verbs	Starts bullets with impact ("Managed", "Delivered", "Increased")
Keep it to 5–7 sections	More than 8 sections usually adds noise, not signal
Avoid full home address	City + country is sufficient; employers prefer digital contact
Recruiters spend just 6–10 seconds on an initial CV scan, so clarity and relevance are far more important than length or completeness.