CV Writing FAQs — Your Questions Answered

Simply fill in the enquiry form on the relevant service page and I'll come back to you with a personalised quote and any questions I have. Once you're happy to proceed, you'll receive an onboarding form to complete before we begin - this gives me the background information I need to make the most of your new CV and our consultation time together. For the CV Power Hour, you can book and pay directly online and I'll take it from there.

Yes - I'm happy to arrange a short ten-minute call to answer any specific questions you have before you decide to go ahead. It's a chance to get a feel for how I work and make sure we're a good fit. Just get in touch via the contact page and let me know you'd like a discovery call.

A CV, including writing, consultation(s) and any amendments, can usually be completed in 2 to 3 weeks from payment, depending on my current client commitments. In reality, it will often be quicker, but there will be exceptions, for example when I'm on holiday. I aim to give you an estimated turnaround time as part of your quote.

I maintain high quality by not outsourcing my client services to anyone else. High demand and the requirement for ‘brain space’ to enable me to do a great job (I’m not a ‘one size fits all’ CV production line), means that I do sometimes have a short waiting list.

If you need your CV within 7 days, I can sometimes accommodate this depending on my diary. You can choose this as an option on your enquiry form. There is a charge for this service as it often requires rescheduling of other commitments.

I work very successfully across the UK and beyond on a remote basis, gathering all the information I need through the forms you complete, and through our Zoom consultation(s). To keep my prices keen, and to ensure my clients receive the quality service they've paid for, I only offer the Zoom consultation(s) once your CV is in progress. All the information you need about what I do and how I work can be found here, and you can read a selection of my reviews here and on LinkedIn™. I’m happy to arrange individual 10 minute discovery calls to answer any further specific questions you may have; please contact me here.

Yes - I work with clients across the UK and internationally, conducting all consultations via Zoom. I have experience writing CVs for clients relocating to the UK from overseas, as well as professionals based abroad who are targeting UK or international roles. If you're unsure whether I can help with your specific situation, get in touch and I'll let you know.

Not as much as you might think - and I'll guide you through it. Once you decide to go ahead, I'll send you an onboarding form that asks for your current CV (if you have one), some background on your career history, and the types of roles you're targeting. You don't need to have everything perfectly organised before you get in touch - part of what I do is ask the right questions to draw out what's important. Many clients tell me they were delighted by how straightforward it all was, and that it took away the pain of what can be quite a stressful process.

I work collaboratively with you throughout the process, so by the time you receive your finished CV it should already reflect what we've discussed and agreed. That said, I include an amendment stage as standard - if there's anything you'd like to change or refine once you've reviewed the draft, I'll work through it with you. My goal is that you're genuinely proud of the finished document, not just satisfied with it.

My clients come from across the private and public sectors, throughout the UK and globally — from recent graduates taking their first steps, through mid-level and senior managers, right up to C-suite executives and board-level leaders.

Senior and executive leaders Global Technology Leader · Finance Director · CIO (Global Change & Transformation) · Global Chief Operating Officer · Global Head of Change (Investment Bank / Wealth Management) · Company Group Director · Senior Legal Counsel · Commercial Director · CTO / IT Architect · International Cyber Security Specialist

Mid-level and specialist professionals TV & Film Producer · Senior Radio Producer & Group Content Director · Head of Production · Project & Programme Manager · Project Engineer (Oil & Gas) · Logistics and Purchasing Manager · Marketing Specialist · QA Manager · Health & Safety Manager · Executive Head Chef · Investigator

Graduates and career starters I also work with recent graduates and university students, helping them to stand out against the competition as they begin their careers.

My clients have been successful in appointments to jobs in a wide range of large and small companies, including Google, the BBC, British Standards Institution (BSI), Fidelity International, Sky TV, Planet IT, Wunderman Thompson, Open University, SilverMile Capital, BAE Systems, OVO Energy, Kantar Group, DeltaNet International, The Adecco Group, Johnson & Johnson and Balfour Beatty.

Yes - and this is something I do regularly. Career changers often find it hardest to present themselves on paper, because the obvious connections between your past experience and your new direction aren't always visible to you. That's where my background helps. With 30 years of cross-sector experience spanning finance, IT, project management, health and safety, facilities and general management, I understand how skills transfer between industries and how to position your experience in a way that appeals to a new audience. Your CV will make the case for you clearly and confidently, without you having to start from scratch.

This is a common issue for many of my clients. To address this, I write each CV as a tailored balance of ‘generalist vs specialist’, depending on each client’s particular situation. It’s my aim that your CV will require only minimal update for each role you apply for over the next 12 months or so, and that it stands you in good stead for future career growth.

I also offer a CV refresh service for previous clients at an additional charge. This is a full review, update and refocus of the CV, where the client has since progressed in expertise, experience, career aspirations and direction. Many clients find this useful every 12-18 months.

Most definitely. A number of my clients have moved from the military to civilian life, and I've helped them to translate their experience into meaningful words that demonstrate their transferable skills in the corporate world.

As a proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant, I'm committed to supporting ex-forces personnel to develop their careers, and always offer a preferential rate to such clients.

Because I've worked across a wide range of industries and disciplines myself - including finance, IT, project and programme management, health and safety, facilities and general management - I'm rarely starting from scratch when a client describes their world. And where your specialism is genuinely niche, my process of asking the right questions and listening carefully means I take the time to understand what you do before I write a single word. I've written CVs for clients in fields as varied as global investment banking, oil and gas engineering, film and television production, cyber security and executive catering. If you're wondering whether I can handle your particular background, get in touch and I'll give you an honest answer.

A full CV rewrite is a comprehensive, end-to-end service. I start from scratch, rebuilding your CV through an in-depth consultation, rewriting every line, and delivering a finished document that's ready to use. For many clients, the consultation process itself is valuable - the right questions, asked by someone who has spent 30 years on the other side of the hiring table, often help you see your own experience and achievements in a new light. It's the right choice if your CV needs significant work, or if you want a completely fresh perspective on how you're presenting yourself.

The CV Power Hour is a focused one-hour Zoom session where we review your existing CV together and I give you clear, practical guidance on what to change and why. You then make the changes yourself. It's ideal if your CV is broadly in decent shape but needs sharpening, or if you'd prefer to invest at a lower level before committing to a full rewrite. It's also a good option if you simply want expert feedback and a clear action plan rather than a finished document.

Not sure which is right for you? Get in touch and I'll give you an honest steer.

Upon signing up, you get to choose from my current selection of CV layouts, all optimised for ATS (applicant tracking systems). These give you a general idea of your finished layout, as I tailor them to each client’s project. Unfortunately due to the bespoke nature of my work, I’m unable to change to a different layout once work has started.

It depends entirely on your experience and the roles you're targeting. I don't impose a fixed page limit - a two-page rule that works for a graduate doesn't serve a senior executive with 20+ years of achievements to show. Your CV will be exactly as long as it needs to be to represent you well, with every element adding impact.

ATS compatibility is something I build in from the start, not something I think about afterwards.

Many CVs are rejected before a human ever sees them, simply because they're not formatted in a way that ATS software can read. All of my CV layouts are optimised for ATS - clean structure, appropriate formatting, and none of the design elements that cause scanning software to stumble.

Keyword optimisation is also part of how I work. Drawing on my background in senior leadership and hiring, I understand what recruiters and systems are looking for at each level, and I make sure your CV speaks that language without feeling forced or generic.

That said, no CV writer can guarantee ATS success - every employer's system is different, and the role you're applying for matters too. What I can promise is that your CV will give you the best possible foundation.

You can book a LinkedIn™ profile rewrite as an add-on to a full CV rewrite. This includes: articulating your career story and achievements which reflect your CV, maximising keyword optimisation whilst adhering to LinkedIn™ word count limits, a new banner image tailored to you, and best use of LinkedIn™ functionality to improve your visibility. For more information, see here.

Yes - I provide mock interviews, tailored to the types of roles you're applying for. Here you can practice answering questions and gain confidence in talking about yourself, get feedback and advice, and feel more prepared for the real thing. You receive the questions I asked by e-mail afterwards, so you can practice at home, along with key tips and advice from our session. Find out more about interview coaching.

Yes - covering letters are available as an add-on to any CV writing service. A good covering letter isn't just a summary of your CV; it's a targeted, persuasive introduction tailored to a specific role or organisation. I write them with the same bespoke approach as the CV itself - so they sound like you, speak directly to the employer, and make a strong case for why you're worth interviewing.

Yes - and many clients come back every 18 to 24 months months as their career progresses. A CV refresh is a full review, update and refocus of your existing CV, taking into account new experience, achievements and any change in career direction. It's priced separately from a full rewrite and is available exclusively to previous clients. Get in touch if you'd like to discuss what's involved.

Because you'll be working directly with someone who has spent 30 years hiring, interviewing, leading and coaching at a senior level - not an outsourced writer who's never sat on the other side of the table. My prices reflect the time, expertise and genuine personal service you receive - a bespoke service tailored to you, not a template with a superfast turnaround. It's important to me that your CV sounds authentically like you, so I put significant effort into every project. Check out my reviews for evidence of how I work and the results my clients have achieved.

Absolutely. Everything you share with me - your career history, your achievements, your reasons for moving on - is treated with complete discretion. I work with many senior professionals who are conducting a confidential job search, and I understand the sensitivity involved. Your information is never shared with third parties, and I don't outsource any client work, so your details stay between us. Full details are set out in my Privacy Policy.

You will find a selection of my testimonials here, and on LinkedIn™.

No - the price you see is the price you pay.