Visual Hierarchy
Structure your CV so the most important information stands out. Use headings, spacing, and formatting to create clear sections that recruiters can scan quickly.
Your CV has approximately 6-7 seconds to make a first impression. In that brief window, recruiters scan for structure, clarity, and professionalism before reading a single word. A well-formatted CV guides the eye naturally, highlights your strongest qualifications, and signals attention to detail. Poor formatting, on the other hand, can bury your achievements and cost you opportunities—regardless of your experience.
Key Format & Layout Topics
Typography & Fonts
Choose professional, readable fonts. Stick to one or two font families, with clear size differentiation between headings and body text.
Margins & White Space
Adequate white space prevents your CV from feeling cramped. Standard margins (2-2.5cm) and consistent spacing between sections improve readability.
File Formats
Understanding when to use PDF versus Word format can affect how your CV displays. PDFs preserve formatting; Word documents are sometimes required by ATS systems.
The Geometry of a CV: Margins, Spacing, and Footers
The physical dimensions of your CV matter more than most candidates realise. Margins, line spacing, and footer content all affect readability, ATS compatibility, and the recruiter's first impression. Get the geometry right and your content has room to breathe.
Who Is This For?
- Job seekers whose CVs feel cluttered or difficult to read
- Professionals updating an outdated CV format
- Career changers needing to restructure their experience
- Anyone receiving feedback that their CV doesn't look right
Explore our format and layout insights below to transform your CV from a wall of text into a visually compelling document that commands attention.
The Geometry of a CV: Margins, Spacing, and Footers
The physical dimensions of your CV — margins, line spacing, and footer content — are among the most searched formatting questions in the UK. Getting these settings right affects both human readability and ATS compatibility. Too tight, and your CV feels cramped. Too loose, and you waste valuable space.
Footers deserve special attention: many ATS systems cannot read content placed in Word or PDF footer regions, so critical contact details should never be hidden there.
All Format & Layout Insights
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CV Margins and Line Spacing: The Golden Ratio for Readability
The ideal CV margins are 2cm to 2.5cm with line spacing of 1.15 to 1.3. These golden ratio settings balance content density with the white space recruiters need to scan your CV quickly.
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CV Footers: What to Include (And What to Leave Out)
Most ATS systems cannot read CV footers. Learn what belongs in a footer (name and page number only) and what should always stay in the main body of your CV.
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How to Fit Your CV on One Page
Struggling to fit your CV on one page? These formatting techniques create space without sacrificing readability or professionalism.
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How to Structure a Two-Page CV
Page one hooks. Page two proves. Learn how to split your content across two pages so recruiters read both—and remember you.
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Why White Space Makes Your CV Easier to Read
White space helps recruiters scan your CV in seconds. Learn why empty space isn't wasted space—and how it guides the reader's eye to what matters.
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CV Spacing Settings: Margins, Line Height & More
Get the exact margin, line spacing, and section break settings for a professional CV. Copy these numbers into Word or Google Docs.
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Should Your CV Have a Footer?
CV footers are optional but useful for multi-page documents. Learn what to include and what to avoid in your CV footer.
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What to Put in Your CV Header
Your CV header is your first impression. Learn exactly what to include, what to leave out, and how to format it for UK recruiters.
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Where to Put Hobbies on Your CV
Hobbies belong at the bottom. Learn how to format your interests section so it adds value without stealing focus from your experience.
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Front-Loading the 'R': Flipping the STAR Model
In a story, the ending comes last. In a CV, it must come first. Learn the "Result-First" formatting trick that hooks recruiters instantly.
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The "Paragraph-Then-Bullet" Rule
Should you use paragraphs or bullet points? The answer is both. Learn the visual hierarchy rule that makes your CV scannable for recruiters.
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Where to Put Testimonials? (Sidebar vs. Footer)
You have a great quote, but where does it fit? We explore the best visual placements for testimonials so they don't clutter your experience section.
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Hyperlinks on CVs: Blue, Black, or Text-Only?
Should your LinkedIn URL be blue and underlined? Or black text? We explain the modern design standard for CV hyperlinks in 2025.
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How to Name Your CV File: Professional Examples That Get Opened
Recruiters lose poorly named files. Learn the exact naming convention that ensures your CV is easily searchable by both humans and ATS software.