August 2, 2026

The Ideal CV Formula: 5 Golden Rules That Get You to the Interview

2 min read · Discover the ideal CV formula: 5 simple but critical technical rules, from font size to correctly mirroring keywords from the job posting.

Amid a flood of complicated advice and colorful templates, we often forget a resume's core purpose — it needs to be as easy as possible to read, both for HR and for the ATS robot.

There's a specific, proven technical formula that dramatically improves your odds. Here are the 5 golden rules the ideal CV is built on:

1. A simple font

Forget ornate, calligraphic, or exotic fonts. Use standard, easy-to-read fonts (e.g. Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Georgia). A simple font ensures your text renders correctly on any device or software.

2. Body text at 10–12pt

Text size matters a lot: anything smaller than 10pt strains the eyes and is hard to read, while anything larger than 12pt makes your CV look like a children's book and wastes space pointlessly.

• Body text: 10–12pt
• Headers: 14–16pt (bold)

3. Skip unnecessary elements and graphics

Avoid progress bars, icons, tables, and decorative frames. They add nothing functional to your content, but they reliably confuse the ATS and distract HR's attention.

4. Tailor it individually to every posting

Sending one "universal" CV to 50 different companies is a losing strategy. For each new posting, slightly shift your emphasis: bring forward the experience and skills that this specific employer needs.

5. Mirror the posting's exact wording (keyword mirroring)

This is the single most powerful "hack" in the CV formula. Read the job posting's text and carry the exact keywords and phrases the employer uses over into your resume. If they ask for "Project Management," write exactly that phrase — don't swap in a synonym.

Conclusion

The ideal CV formula isn't complicated — it's built on simplicity and precision. Follow these 5 technical rules and your resume is guaranteed to pass the robot's filter, and catch the recruiter's attention!