The key idea
Choose job-related details and put them in a clear, standard order.
What is it for?
Learn how to write a short CV and profile for a job application.
What you need to know
- Contact details at the top of the CV.
- A short profile with three sentences about your skills and goals.
- Work experience, starting with your newest job.
- Education, skills, and languages in separate sections.
- Short, honest phrases that show what you can do.
1. Understand the purpose of a CV
A CV gives an employer a quick picture of you. Employers often read many CVs, so make yours easy to scan. Include details that help with the job. Leave out information that does not help.
- Use clear headings for each section.
- Choose experience and skills related to the job.
- Give correct information about your background.
- Keep your CV to one page when possible.
Customer service experience in a busy shop.
This phrase shows useful experience.
I enjoy watching films and eating pizza.
These details usually do not help with a shop job.
2. Put the information in the right order
Start with your contact details, then add your profile. Next, list your work experience, education, skills, and languages. Put your newest job first. This helps employers find recent experience quickly.
- Write your name and contact details at the top.
- Place your short profile under your contact details.
- List jobs from newest to oldest.
- Use separate headings for education, skills, and languages.
2025–2026: Sales assistant, Green Street Shop
The newest job appears first.
2023–2024: Shop assistant, Central Market
Older experience comes next.
3. Write a short personal profile
A profile is a short introduction at the top of your CV. Use about three sentences. Describe your experience, your strongest skills, and the job you want. Choose details that match the job advert.
- Sentence 1: Say who you are or describe your experience.
- Sentence 2: Give your main skills.
- Sentence 3: Explain what job you want.
- Use clear words instead of general claims.
I am a reliable shop assistant with one year of experience.
The first sentence introduces the applicant.
I can serve customers and organise products efficiently.
The second sentence shows useful skills.
I am looking for a full-time retail position.
The third sentence explains the job goal.
4. Describe experience with short phrases
You do not need full sentences in every CV section. Short phrases save space and show your duties clearly. Start with a past-tense verb or a useful phrase. Include tasks that relate to the job.
- Use Worked as to name a previous role.
- Use Responsible for to list your duties.
- Use Able to to describe a skill.
- Keep each point short and specific.
Worked as a cashier for one year.
This gives the role and length of experience.
Responsible for stocking shelves and checking prices.
This lists two clear duties.
Able to handle customer questions politely.
This describes a useful workplace skill.
5. Check the layout and details
A clear layout makes your CV easier to read. Use the same style for headings and dates. Check spelling, job titles, and contact details. Keep only information that is true and useful.
- Use short headings such as Profile and Experience.
- Keep dates and job details in a consistent format.
- Use bullet points for duties.
- Check that your profile matches the job.
SKILLS: Cash handling, teamwork, customer service
A short list is easy to scan.
LANGUAGES: English (B1), Spanish (native)
This gives clear information about language ability.
How to do it, step by step
- Write your name, phone number, and email address.
- Add a profile of about three sentences.
- List your jobs, newest first, with dates and duties.
- Add your education, skills, and languages.
- Check the facts, spelling, order, and length.
Formulas and key language
| Use it for | Example | Another example |
|---|---|---|
| Worked as + job title | Worked as a shop assistant. | Worked as a receptionist for six months. |
| Responsible for + noun or -ing form | Responsible for checking prices. | Responsible for customer questions. |
| Able to + base verb | Able to use a cash register. | Able to organise stock. |
| Experienced in + noun or -ing form | Experienced in customer service. | Experienced in preparing orders. |
| Skilled at + noun or -ing form | Skilled at solving customer problems. | Skilled at organising products. |
| I am a/an + job title or description | I am a reliable shop assistant. | I am an organised and careful worker. |
| I can + base verb | I can help customers find products. | I can work well in a team. |
| I am looking for + job type | I am looking for a retail position. | I am looking for part-time work. |
UK / US: CV is common in British English. Resume is more common in American English. Both describe your work and skills.
Level up: Replace basic words (good, very, nice) with stronger ones. See our A2 to B1 upgrades page.
Model text
A Sample CV and Profile
Contact details
Maya Torres
Phone: 07123 456789
Email: maya.torres@example.com
Phone: 07123 456789
Email: maya.torres@example.com
These details help an employer contact Maya. The details are fictional.
Profile
I am a reliable shop assistant with two years of retail experience. I enjoy helping customers and finding practical solutions to their questions. I am also organised, so I can manage several tasks during busy periods. I am looking for a full-time sales position where I can develop my customer service skills.
The profile gives her experience, strengths, and job goal in four sentences.
Work experience
2025–2026: Sales Assistant, Green Street Shop
- Served customers and answered questions about products.
- Operated the cash register and checked payments.
- Restocked shelves and kept displays tidy.
2024–2025: Shop Assistant, City Market
- Organised stock and checked product labels.
- Helped customers find suitable items.
- Handled customer complaints politely and quickly.
- Trained two new colleagues to use the stock system.
- Served customers and answered questions about products.
- Operated the cash register and checked payments.
- Restocked shelves and kept displays tidy.
2024–2025: Shop Assistant, City Market
- Organised stock and checked product labels.
- Helped customers find suitable items.
- Handled customer complaints politely and quickly.
- Trained two new colleagues to use the stock system.
The newest job comes first. Each bullet point describes a clear duty.
Education
2021–2024: Secondary School Certificate, North School
Completed a short customer service course (2024), which taught me how to deal with difficult situations calmly.
Completed a short customer service course (2024), which taught me how to deal with difficult situations calmly.
This section names her qualification and school.
Skills and languages
Skills: Customer service, teamwork, cash handling, stock control.
Languages: Spanish (native), English (B1).
Languages: Spanish (native), English (B1).
Short lists make important skills and language levels easy to find.
Common mistakes
✗ Work experience: I worked in a shop where I helped customers and I also checked prices and I often organised the shelves every day.
✓ Responsible for helping customers, checking prices, and organising shelves.
Short phrases save space and make duties easier to scan.
✗ 2023–2024: Shop Assistant, Green Shop
✓ 2025–2026: Shop Assistant, Green Shop
Use the correct dates for each job.
✗ Able to handling customer questions.
✓ Able to handle customer questions.
Use the base verb after able to.
✗ Responsible to checking prices.
✓ Responsible for checking prices.
Use for after responsible.
✗ I am a worker and I have experience and I am organised and I want this job because I need work.
✓ I am an organised worker with retail experience, and I am seeking a shop position.
A focused profile gives useful details without repeating ideas.
✗ Skills: customer service, teamwork, customer service, teamwork
✓ Skills: customer service, teamwork, cash handling
Choose different skills that show what you can do.
Plan it, then check it
Plan
- Read the job advert and note its main needs.
- Choose experience and skills that match those needs.
- Write a three-sentence profile about experience, skills, and goals.
- Put your CV sections in the standard order.
- Use short bullet points for work duties.
Check
- Are my contact details correct?
- Does my profile explain my skills and job goal?
- Are my jobs listed from newest to oldest?
- Are my phrases short, clear, and honest?
- Can an employer find each section quickly?
Practice
Choose the best CV wording
Choose the clearest phrase or correct order for a CV.
1.Which phrase best describes a work duty?
The second option gives clear duties in a short phrase.
2.Which section should usually come after contact details?
The profile introduces the applicant near the top.
3.Which phrase uses the correct form?
Use the base verb after able to.
4.Which job should appear first?
Employers usually need to see your newest experience first.
5.Which profile sentence gives a clear job goal?
The first sentence names the type of job wanted.
6.Which skills section is clearest?
A short list lets employers find important skills quickly.
Match each CV section
Match each section with the correct example.
1.Contact details
2.Profile
3.Work experience
4.Education
5.Skills
Complete the CV phrases
Complete each sentence with the correct phrase or word.
1.I am looking a part-time shop position.
The expression is looking for a job or position.
2.Responsible checking prices and labels.
Use for after responsible.
3.Able to (use) a cash register.
Use the base verb after able to.
4. (Work) as a sales assistant from 2025 to 2026.
Use the past form to describe a finished job.
5.Put your most job first.
Recent means close to the present time.
6.Keep your CV short and .
Clear writing helps employers find information quickly.
Correct one small mistake
Correct the single mistake in each CV line.
1.Able to handling payments.
Use the base verb after able to.
2.Responsible to checking prices.
The correct expression uses for after responsible.
3.Experienced on customer service.
Use in to describe experience in a field.
4.Skills: teamwork, cash handling and customer service..
A sentence or list should not end with two full stops.
5.Worked as a shop assistant for two year.
Use the plural form years after two.
Now write
Your task
Write a short profile of 50–70 words and an experience section for a made-up person applying for a job in a shop. Use this job advert as your guide: A local shop needs a helpful sales assistant. The person will serve customers, check prices, restock shelves, and use a cash register. Previous shop experience is useful. The shop offers part-time hours and training. Create a fictional applicant with a name, one or two previous jobs, and useful skills. In the profile, describe the applicant, give two relevant strengths, and explain the job goal. In the experience section, list jobs from newest to oldest. Add dates and two or three short duties for each job.
Word bank
reliableorganisedcustomer servicecash handlingteamworkstock controlsales assistantshop assistantResponsible forWorked asAble topart-time positionanswer questionsrestock shelvescheck prices
Sentence starters
- I am a reliable...
- I have experience in...
- I can help customers by...
- I am also skilled at...
- I am looking for...
- Responsible for...