General Resume Tips
A well-crafted CV should present your skills, experience, and achievements clearly, professionally,
and in a way that is readable by both recruiters and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
File formats
Choose the right format for your CV
Options
- PDF — preferred for submitting to employers; preserves formatting
- DOCX/Word — useful for editing, but convert to PDF when submitting
- LaTeX — ideal for precise formatting and professional output; Overleaf is a popular online editor
Personal information
Include essential details only
Include
- Full name, email address, and phone number
- Location (city and country)
- Relevant professional URLs (LinkedIn, GitHub, portfolio)
Avoid
- Date of birth, marital status, or photographs
Work experience
Highlight your achievements effectively
Best Practices
- Focus on achievements and measurable impact rather than just responsibilities
- Highlight technical and analytical skills relevant to the role
- Quantify results wherever possible to demonstrate your contributions
ATS compliance
Ensure your CV passes automated screening
Avoid
- Tables or text boxes
- Icons, graphics, colours, or logos
- Images or photographs
Safe to use
- Simple bold text and bullet points
- Black-and-white PDFs
- Standard fonts and consistent font sizes
CV best practices
Tips for creating an effective CV
Guidelines
- Keep your CV concise; one page is ideal unless you have extensive experience
- Use strong action verbs: engineered, optimised, designed, improved
- Include metrics with outcomes (e.g. RMSE reduced by X%, profits increased by Y%)
- Highlight technical tools: Python, SQL, C++, NumPy, Pandas
- Include relevant industry or actuarial techniques: Machine Learning, GARCH, SABR, IFRS
- Avoid filler words: hardworking, team player, etc.
File naming and submission
Professional file handling
Requirements
- Submit CVs in PDF format wherever possible
- Use professional file names, e.g.
Firstname_Lastname_CV.pdf
Your CV should clearly demonstrate both technical capability and analytical thinking.
Present your achievements and skills concisely, professionally, and with a clear structure
to allow recruiters and automated systems to assess your suitability effectively.