What is a CV?
A curriculum vitae — Latin for “course of life” — is a document that outlines your professional and academic history, skills and achievements. In Zimbabwe, “CV” is the everyday term employers use when they ask for your application document.
A good CV does one job well: it shows a busy employer, quickly, that you can do the role. It is used for job applications, promotions, attachments and internships, and when networking with people in your field.
CV vs resume: what's the difference?
The two terms are often used interchangeably here, but strictly: a resume is a short (1–2 page) document tailored to a specific job, while a CV can be longer and cover your full history. For most Zimbabwean adverts that say “send your CV,” a focused 1–2 page document is what employers actually want. Read the full comparison →
Standard CV layout
A clear, logical structure helps employers find what they need fast. Order your CV like this:
- Header — name, professional title, phone, email, location
- Professional summary — 2–3 lines on who you are and what you offer
- Work experience — most recent first, with bullet points
- Education — qualifications, institutions and years
- Skills — relevant to the job
- Optional — certifications, languages, referees, volunteer work
How to write a CV for a job application
Gather your information
Collect your work history, dates, qualifications and skills. Scan the job advert for keywords and required qualifications, and note which ones you genuinely have — these belong in your CV so it passes ATS screening.
Choose a professional template
Pick a clean, ATS-friendly template with simple fonts and clear headings. Avoid heavy graphics that hiring software can't read. CV263 gives you recruiter-tested templates you can customise.
Add your contact information
Put your full name, phone number, a professional email address and your location (city is enough) at the top. Add a LinkedIn or portfolio link if you have one.
Write a professional summary
Two or three lines introducing yourself and your strongest selling points. Lead with your most relevant experience for the role.
Showcase relevant skills
List 5–10 skills that match the advert — both practical (e.g. Pastel, driving, Excel) and soft skills (communication, teamwork). Only list skills you actually have.
Add your work experience
List jobs in reverse-chronological order (most recent first). For each, add 3–5 bullet points starting with an action verb, and show results with numbers where you can — e.g. “Reduced stock losses by 15%.”
Create your education section
Include O-Levels, A-Levels, diplomas or degrees with the institution and year. New graduates can place education above work experience.
Add optional sections
Certifications, languages, volunteer experience, projects or referees (“available on request” is acceptable in Zimbabwe).
Proofread, save & download
Check spelling, dates and consistency, and ask someone to review it. Save with a clear file name (Your Name – Job Title – CV) and download as PDF.
Skip the blank page
The CV263 builder does all nine steps with you, with ready-made phrases for your sector.
Build my CV — freeHow to make a CV: formatting tips
- Keep it clean. Use a professional font (Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman) at 10–12pt.
- Use clear headings. Bold or slightly larger text for each section.
- Use bullet points. They make responsibilities and achievements easy to scan.
- Align left and keep spacing consistent between sections.
- Use 1-inch margins (down to 0.5 inch if you need space) and leave white space.
- Go easy on colour and graphics. A clean, professional look reads best and passes ATS.
How to choose an ATS-friendly CV format
Choosing an ATS-friendly format helps ensure your CV is easy to scan, accurately parsed, and more likely to reach a recruiter. Applicant tracking systems are designed to read structured content, so a clean, consistent format improves how your information is interpreted.
Use simple, structured layouts
Present your experience in a clear, logical order. A simple structure helps ATS software identify sections, extract key details and organise information correctly.
Avoid overloading with graphics
Graphics, images and complex design can stop an ATS reading your CV. Keep it clean and let a professionally designed template do the polish.
Avoid complex columns & tables
Multi-column layouts, text boxes and detailed tables can confuse ATS tools. A single-column, top-to-bottom flow is safest.
Use standard section headings
Stick to common headings like “Work experience”, “Education” and “Skills” so systems recognise and categorise each section.
Keep formatting clean & consistent
Use simple fonts, consistent spacing and minimal styling. Avoid excessive icons or decorative elements that interfere with parsing.
Every CV263 template is built this way by default — real text, standard headings and a clean single flow — so your CV stays ATS-friendly without you having to think about it.
CV writing dos & don'ts
Do
- Tailor your CV to each job
- Focus on achievements, not just duties
- Start bullets with action verbs
- Include keywords from the advert
- Keep the language professional
Don't
- Invent experience or skills you don't have
- Overlook spelling and grammar
- Add a photo or personal details unless asked
- Use one generic CV for every job
- Forget to update it regularly