CV and Application Reviews
The pain of writing a CV
A client once told me, not entirely tongue-in-cheek, that she would rather have a root canal treatment than rewrite her CV. I get it.
It’s even more frustrating when you’ve put hours into tailoring your CV and writing applications, only to find yourself weeks or months down the line still not getting interviews.
Many of my clients:
Are unsure how to handle career breaks or caring responsibilities, or explain a change of direction.
Wonder whether they are “bigging themselves up” too much or not enough.
Feel like something on their CV must not be landing right with recruiters but they're not sure what.
Struggle to make sense of conflicting advice from Google or AI.
Have tried templates and tools that make their CV look generic and don’t really convey their skills and experience effectively.
How can a CV review help?
When you’ve spent many hours working on your own CV, it can be difficult to stand back and see it as an employer will. You know the context behind your experience, whereas the person reading your application only knows what you’ve managed to communicate on the page.
A CV review gives you detailed, independent, professional feedback on how your CV comes across, what’s working well, what may be getting lost or overlooked, and specific recommendations for improving it so it has the best possible chance of getting you shortlisted.
In 25 years as a careers professional, I have reviewed hundreds of CVs and applications. I know what employers are looking for, what makes a CV stand out (for the right reasons), and how to make sure you’re articulating your skills, experience and strengths as powerfully as possible.
How does it work?
STEP 1
Book your review
Click on the link below to book and pay for your CV review securely online.
STEP 2
Send me your CV and key info
Check your email and complete the simple form with your CV and other key details.
STEP 3
Receive your review
Receive your detailed, personalised CV review in 3-5 working days.
CV review - £40
What you'll receive
You’ll receive detailed, personalised written feedback on your CV, with comments on the document itself and a separate written review summarising my overall feedback and recommendations for improvement.
I will look at:
How clearly your CV communicates your skills, experience and strengths.
The content, structure and overall flow of your CV.
Whether your strongest and most relevant experience is coming through clearly.
Your profile, employment history and other key sections.
Anything that could be cut, clarified, reordered or given greater emphasis.
The language, readability and presentation of your CV, including anything that feels vague, generic or over-reliant on templates or AI.
ATS-friendly formatting and relevant keywords, where appropriate.
How you present career breaks, caring responsibilities or changes of direction, if relevant.
How effectively your CV is targeted to the kind of roles you’re looking for, if appropriate.
Who could benefit from a CV review?
A CV review could be particularly useful if any of the following apply:
You haven’t written a CV for years and aren’t sure what employers expect from a CV now.
You're returning after a long career break and aren’t sure how to present the gap or bring your earlier experience up to date.
You've been in the same job or sector for a long time and need to turn years of experience into a CV for the first time in ages.
You're changing career or moving into a different sector and aren’t sure how to translate your existing experience for a different audience.
You have a complicated or non-linear career history and are struggling to make it coherent in two pages.
You've created a CV using a template or AI and want an experienced human eye on whether it actually represents you effectively.
You've been applying for a while without getting interviews and wonder whether your CV may be the problem.
You've found a job you really want and want to make sure your CV gives you the strongest possible chance of being shortlisted.
About Helen
I’m a Level 7 qualified careers adviser and Registered Career Development Professional with 25 years’ experience supporting people with career decisions, job search, returning to work, applications and interview preparation in education and private practice. I now specialise in supporting parent-carers, neurodivergent and disabled adults and people navigating complex career decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Can you review my CV for a specific job?
Yes. If you have a particular vacancy you’re applying for, I recommend sending it with your CV. CVs are most effective when they’re targeted, so I’ll review yours against what that employer is looking for and identify where it could be tailored more effectively.
You can also send me a previous vacancy you applied for but weren’t shortlisted for, so I can look at how well your CV matched the requirements and what you might do differently in future applications.
If you don’t have a specific vacancy, that’s fine too. You can tell me about the type of roles you’re interested in if you know, or I can review your CV more generally if you’re still working out what you want to do next.
Can you review other application documents?
Yes. I can also review cover letters, supporting statements or application forms.
The £40 review covers one document. If you’d like me to review more than one document for the same application, please contact me first.
Will you rewrite my CV for me?
This service is a detailed review rather than a full CV rewrite. I’ll explain what I recommend changing and why, and may suggest alternative wording or examples where helpful.
If you’d prefer me to rewrite your existing CV or create a new one from scratch, I also offer a done-for-you CV service. Please contact me for a personalised quote.
How will I send you my CV?
After you’ve placed your order, you’ll receive an email with a link to a simple form where you can upload your document and give me the information I need to complete your review.
How long will my review take?
You’ll receive your completed review by email within 3–5 working days of sending me your document and the information I need. If you are applying for a live vacancy and need a quick turnaround, I can often accommodate this. Just email me to check.
