How to boost your CV

Start your career

If you’re not sure where to start when crafting your first CV, these tips can help you sell yourself to future employers

Your CV is your ‘shop window’ for a potential employer, so it pays to get it right. A clear and simple structure is essential, according to Lakshmi Thurairatnam, director at Platinum Travel Recruitment.

“Use headings like profile, key skills, experience and education,” she says. “List employment with month and year, and use bullet points for each role; 10-12 responsibilities are usually enough.”

Pull out skills

Travel is a people-focused industry, so highlight the skills that matter most: customer service, teamwork, IT experience (especially if you have any knowledge of travel-specific software such as global distribution systems) and personal travel experience. “If you’re applying for a specialist role, such as an Africa travel consultant, include a travel profile of the destinations you’ve visited,” Thurairatnam suggests.

Focus on results

When describing your experience, focus on results rather than just tasks. “Instead of simply writing ‘booked holidays for clients’, show the impact of your work. For example: ‘created and sold tailor-made travel itineraries, increasing repeat bookings by 30%’,” she says.

Don’t worry if your background isn’t in travel – transferable skills count. Depending on your chosen company and career path, examples of sales roles, complaints handling, problem solving and organisation are all highly valued in the sector.

Use tech sparingly

AI tools can also be helpful, but use them with care. “AI can polish language, improve formatting or suggest action verbs,” says Thurairatnam. “But a CV must still sound human and reflect your personality. Employers can spot overly generic AI text.”

As recruitment technology develops, keywords are becoming increasingly important. “Some travel companies use applicant tracking systems to filter CVs. Make sure terms such as ‘GDS’, ‘sales targets’, ‘tailor-made travel’ and ‘customer service’ feature in your CV,” she recommends.

Finally, keep the design of your CV clean and easy to read. Fancy graphics aren’t necessary – clarity is what matters. With the right structure, relevant skills and a focus on measurable achievements, your CV will stand out in a competitive industry.

Top tips

Highlight your achievements: You’ve probably got more skills and experience than you realise, whether through school projects or extracurricular activities.

Tailor your CV for each job: Do your homework and show the employer you’re not just a good candidate, but the ideal one for that specific role.

Keep it crisp and easy to read: Aim for a clean, professional layout that makes key points pop. Keep paragraphs short and use bullet points to break up text.

Don’t forget: Check your spelling and grammar. Get someone else to proofread your CV and cover letter for errors.

Picture credit: Shutterstock/Nasih Afidin, Shutterstock/goffkein.pro