For most people with under 10 years of experience: 1 page. With more than 10 years: up to 2 pages. Shorter is better than longer — an HR employee spends an average of 7 seconds on an initial CV scan. Make sure the most important information stands out clearly at the top.
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How to Write a Strong CV in 2026 – Guide and Template
Learn how to write a CV that works. A complete guide covering structure, profile summary, and examples. Use the Arbejd.com CV builder and get started in minutes.
Step-by-step guide
- 1
Choose the right format
Most job seekers use a chronological CV that lists experience from newest to oldest. That is the format most Danish employers prefer. If you are a recent graduate with little work experience, a functional CV highlighting skills and projects may work better. Choose a clean, readable layout — avoid heavy graphic templates that can cause problems in ATS systems.
- 2
Write a strong profile summary
The profile summary is the first 2–4 lines at the top of your CV. It should answer: who are you professionally, what is your core competency, and what are you looking for? Keep it concrete and avoid clichés like "results-oriented" and "team player". Example: "Experienced project manager with 6 years in the construction industry. Specialist in managing complex renovation projects from specification to handover. Seeking a role with technical responsibility in Greater Copenhagen."
- 3
Describe your work experience with results
For each job, include job title, company, employment period, and 3–5 bullet points. Focus on results rather than tasks. Instead of "responsible for sales", write "increased revenue by 18% over 12 months by expanding the customer portfolio with 23 new accounts". Numbers and concrete examples give employers a quick picture of your value. Go back 10–15 years — older experience can be limited to job title and period.
- 4
Education, courses, and certifications
List your most recent and most relevant education first. Include institution, degree, and year. Add relevant courses, certifications, or continuing education — especially if they are more recent than your formal education. For recent graduates with little experience, the education section can come before work experience. Student jobs and internships count.
- 5
Skills, languages, and IT proficiency
Create a concise list of your most important professional skills, software you master (Excel, SAP, Figma, etc.), and language levels. Be precise about language level: "English — fluent in writing and speech" is better than just "English". Only list skills you actually have — they will be tested in the interview. Tailor the list to the specific job posting and move the most relevant items to the top.
- 6
Tailor your CV to each job posting
A generic CV is rarely enough. Read the job posting carefully and identify 3–5 keywords and requirements. Make sure the most important terms from the posting appear naturally in your CV — this helps both human readers and automated ATS systems. Finally, check that the CV is max 2 pages, free of spelling errors, and that contact details are up to date.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2–4 lines, the profile summary should answer: who are you professionally (job title/role), what is your primary competency or strength, and what are you looking for (type of role or industry). Avoid generic phrases. Write in first person and be concrete.
The CV is a structured overview of your background: experience, education, and skills — it is backward-looking. The cover letter is a personal letter explaining your motivation and fit for this specific job — it is forward-looking. Both are typically sent together, but each serves its own purpose.
In Denmark, a photo is not required, but it is common and accepted. A professional headshot can give your CV a personal touch. Avoid holiday photos or pictures with poor lighting. If you have concerns about bias, it is perfectly legitimate to omit a photo — the choice is yours.
A good CV in 2026 includes: (1) Contact details with LinkedIn profile. (2) A concise profile summary of 2–4 lines. (3) Work experience in reverse chronological order with concrete results and numbers. (4) Education with institution and year. (5) Relevant skills, languages, and certifications. The layout should be simple and ATS-friendly — avoid tables, text boxes, and graphics that can interfere with automatic scanning.
ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software many larger companies use to automatically scan and sort incoming CVs. An ATS-friendly CV uses a simple layout without tables, includes relevant keywords from the job posting, and is saved as a PDF. Use standard section headings such as "Experience", "Education", and "Skills" — and make sure keywords from the job posting appear naturally in the text.
Yes. The Arbejd.com CV builder uses AI to structure your existing CV, suggest improvements to wording, and ensure the layout is ATS-compatible. Upload your CV or start from scratch — the system guides you and suggests concrete improvements. Download a professional CV with one click.
A strong profile summary answers three things: who are you professionally, what is your core competency, and what are you looking for? Example: "Experienced project manager with 8 years in the construction industry. Specialised in complex renovation projects from specification to handover with a documented track record on projects up to DKK 45 million. Seeking a role with technical responsibility in Greater Copenhagen." Concrete, specific, and free of clichés.