Until recently, a CV was a chance to showcase your talents in a rather minimalist way — black type on two sides of A4 paper, perhaps three, if you’d had a particularly long or varied career. Occasionally, people would include photos or get a bit funky with the fonts. But outside of creative industries that required portfolios or showreels, that was it. Now, however, enhanced CVs are creeping into many more fields, although they may not be appropriate everywhere. So, what should you be aware of — and how should you construct a compelling CV for the digital age?
Why the change?
You may still think of your CV as two pieces of paper, but the chances are pretty high that it will only ever be read on a screen. Moreover, that screen may well be a phone screen. It’s actually taken a surprisingly long time for this change to filter through to mainstream thinking around CVs — but the result is that any CV can now be a multimedia presentation.
Where do I start?
Particularly if you’re applying for a job that has a lot of candidates, there’s a good chance your CV will first be read by a machine. So, make sure it ticks every box it should — work out what skills and experience the organisation wants and make sure they’re on your CV using industry terminology. There are plenty of CV-building tools out there, many AI-enabled, that can help you. They will even turn your LinkedIn profile into a CV for you. But be careful: They should only be an aid, and the CV should feel like you have written it.
Think visually
With your CV likely to be seen on a screen — and probably a small one — black text on a white background is not the easiest to read. Consider less harsh combinations such as dark grey text on an off-white background. There are an enormous number of CV templates online, and people have long made CVs in PowerPoint. So, look at templates, thinking about both the message you want to convey and the industry you work in. You want something that stands out and looks innovative but still functions as a CV. Do not let the form obscure the message.
Consider other content
Next, you need to start thinking about other content. Video is the big one (see the next section) but you should also consider your best presentations, product launches you’ve been a part of, media reports that feature work you’ve done, and so on. Draw up a list.
Why is video so important?
The use of video in CVs reflects a number of trends. One is simply how easy it has become to create high-quality video with mobile phones. Another is the shift from the written word to video that the internet and smartphones have engendered. And a third is that businesses like people who can present well (especially on screen) because it’s a valuable skill in hybrid working and in an ever more visual world.
How do you make and share a video?
To create video, use your phone — it’s likely to be better than most webcams. But you should have the correct set-up. Mount your phone on a stand or a tripod. Use proper lighting — a ring light can be a good choice, as can natural daylight from a window, with bright but cloudy days especially effective. Ensure everything is at the right height and you have the right background — something tasteful and neutral (or blank). And be careful — the early days of Zoom were full of embarrassing objects and book titles on video. Dress properly, avoiding stripes and small checks, which can appear to ripple. Good sources for tips on set-up and lighting are YouTube, TikTok vlogs, and Twitch live streams. You will find endless videos and tutorials on how to create a mini studio at home.
You can send a separate video along with a text CV either as a file or a link. Some companies even ask candidates to make short presentations about themselves and upload them.
File transfer sites such as WeTransfer allow the sending of larger files. If you want to host your video on sites such as YouTube and Vimeo, consider private hosting options, which allow sharing with named email addresses. Services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive allow the sharing of links.
What should a video presentation include?
Unless you’re asked for something specific, you normally introduce yourself, give a run-down of your skills and experience, and say what you bring to the role. Obviously, tailor it to the company. The tone should be professional, calm, and measured. Avoid terrible business jargon and try to sound personable, relatable, and engaging. Smile where appropriate. Don’t make it too long. Introductory presentations are normally between 30 seconds and two minutes. This may not sound like much, but people who do presentations speak at about 120 words per minute. As the saying goes, you should leave them wanting more, not less.
Practise, practise, practise
The joke about sounding natural and spontaneous being the result of endless practice is actually true. Do not expect to get it right the first time. Write a script. Practise it until you don’t need it any longer. If you are not used to speaking in front of a camera (endless Teams calls have made this easier), practise in front of the mirror. Do test runs, play them back to yourself, and correct errors. Use friends, professional contacts, and family as sounding boards.
Think laterally
Video need not be limited to a personal presentation. Perhaps you have a video of your receiving an industry award or giving a presentation. Perhaps you’re in a corporate training video. Think laterally, too — people usually detail their outside interests as a bare list at the end of their CVs. But instead of saying you’re into sailing or rock climbing, why not add or link to a short dramatic video clip? This is a really good way of making yourself stand out. You go from being candidate number 4 to the woman who is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
Bring it all together
There’s no one right way to do this. But these are some basic guidelines. At the core, you probably still want a compelling and concise CV that reads well on phones and laptops. Links should be within the text (rather than long hyperlinks at the end of sections) and should be clearly signposted. Check that they work across multiple devices. You want multimedia content that compliments you and feels natural rather than overwhelming. Don’t throw everything in. Rather, pick the very best you have. Something between one and five links or pieces of non-text content is a good guide.
Rhymer Rigby is a business writer and columnist. To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Oliver Rowe at Oliver.Rowe@aicpa-cima.com.
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Articles
“How to Find a New Job After a Long Time at One Company”, FM magazine, 13 February 2025
“8 Ways to Create a Professional LinkedIn Narrative”, FM magazine, 24 July 2024
“Essential Tips for Presentations That Inspire and Engage”, FM magazine, 12 June 2023
“5 Strategies for Delivering a Memorable Presentation”, FM magazine, 30 March 2023