One significant CV challenge you might encounter is effectively showcasing your diverse portfolio to potential agencies. Our comprehensive guide offers tailored strategies to structure your CV, ensuring your unique talents are highlighted and appreciated.
- Design and format your professional model CV;
- Curate your key contact information, skills, and achievements throughout your CV sections;
- Ensure your profile stays competitive by studying other industry-leading model CVs;
- Create a great CV even if you happen to have less professional experience, or switching fields.
When writing your model CV, you may need plenty of insights from hiring managers. We have prepared industry-leading advice in the form of our relevant CV guides.
Structuring your model CV layout: four factors to keep in mind
There are plenty of best practices out there for your CV layout and design. At the end of the day, a clear format and concise CV message should be your top priority. Use your CV design to enhance separate sections, bringing them to the forefront of recruiters' attention. At the same time, you can write content that:- Follows the reverse chronological order in the experience section by first listing your most recent jobs;
- Incorporates your contact information in the header, but do skip out on the CV photo for roles in the UK;
- Is spotlighted in the most important sections of your CV, e.g. the summary or objective, experience, education, etc. to show just how you meet the job requirements;
- Is no longer than two-pages. Often, the one-page format can be optimal for your model CV.
Before submitting your CV, you may wonder whether to export it in Doc or PDF. With the PDF format, your information and layout stay intact. This is quite useful when your CV is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS) . The ATS is a software that scans your profile for all relevant information and can easily understand latest study on the ATS , which looks at your CV columns, design, and so much more.
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For certain fields, consider including infographics or visual elements to represent skills or achievements, but ensure they are simple, professional, and enhance rather than clutter the information.
The top sections on a model CV
- Personal Statement highlights your career focus and unique value to the employer, explaining your suitability for the role.
- Work Experience details your relevant job history, illustrating skills and accomplishments pertinent to the job you're applying for.
- Educational Background showcases your academic qualifications, which can be especially relevant for those early in their careers.
- Skills Summary presents a concise list of your competencies directly related to the position's requirements.
- Professional Certifications or Memberships show additional qualifications and your commitment to professional development in your field.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Include professional high-quality photos that showcase your versatility and range as a model, such as headshots and full-body shots in various styles and settings.
- List your physical attributes such as height, weight, bust, waist, hips, hair colour, and eye colour prominently, as these are critical for casting agents to see if you fit the profile they are seeking.
- Highlight any notable modelling gigs, campaigns, brands or designers you've worked with, and include any publications or shows you've appeared in to demonstrate your experience and credibility.
- Emphasise your ability to collaborate by mentioning any successful partnerships with photographers, stylists, make-up artists, and other models, as teamwork is essential in this industry.
- Include a brief, engaging personal statement that captures your unique ethos as a model and your aspirations within the industry to create a personal connection with potential employers.
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Making a good first impression with your model CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for model:
- Financial Analyst | CFA Level II Candidate | Data Interpretation | 5+ Years in Finance & Investment
- Senior Project Manager | PMP Certified | Agile & Waterfall Expertise | International Team Leadership
- Digital Marketing Specialist | SEO & SEM | Content Strategy | Google Analytics Certified | 3 Years Experience
- Lead Software Developer | Full-Stack Expert | Java & Python | 10+ Years in Tech & Development
- HR Business Partner | CIPD Qualified | Talent Management | Employee Relations | Over 7 Years HR Experience
- Principle Architect | RIBA Chartered | Sustainable Design Focus | Client Consultation | 15+ Years Industry Practice
Catching recruiters' attention with your model CV summary or objective
Located closer to the top of your CV, both the summary and objective are no more than five sentences long and serve as an introduction to your experience. What is more, you could use either to entice recruiters to read on. Select the:
- Summary, if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience. Feature your most impressive accomplishments and up to three skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for;
- Objective, if you're just starting your career off. Provide your career goals and answer how you see the role you are applying for will match your professional growth.
Judging which one you need to add to your model CV may at times seem difficult. That’s why you need to check out how professionals, with similar to your experience, have written their summary or objective, in the examples below:
CV summaries for a model job:
- Seasoned Software Engineer with over a decade of experience creating robust code for SaaS applications in fast-paced environments. Extensive expertise in Java, Python, and cloud computing, notably orchestrating the migration of a legacy system to AWS which resulted in a 40% increase in efficiency.
- Dynamic Marketing Specialist with 8 years of experience driving brand growth through innovative multi-platform strategies. Leveraged in-depth knowledge of social media analytics and SEO to elevate a startup's online presence, tripling their web traffic within a year.
- Former Medical Practitioner pivoting to healthcare administration, bringing unparalleled insights from 15 years of frontline experience. Skilled in patient care management systems, eager to leverage my clinical background to improve operational efficiencies within hospital management structures.
- Accomplished educator transitioning to the field of educational technology, bringing forward a 12-year tenure nurturing higher education learning. Holds a deep understanding of curriculum development, keen to apply pedagogical expertise to develop engaging digital learning platforms.
- A passionate recent graduate with a First-Class Honours degree in Environmental Science, eager to contribute to sustainability projects. Dedicated to bringing the latest in ecological research to practical applications, aiming to make a tangible impact on conservation efforts.
- Aspiring Data Analyst with a robust academic foundation, including a Master’s degree in Statistics and a portfolio of data-driven projects. Committed to harnessing predictive modelling techniques to uncover actionable insights and eager to develop my abilities in a hands-on setting.
Narrating the details of your model CV experience section
Perhaps you've heard it time and time again, but, how you present your experience is what matters the most. Your CV experience section - that details your work history alongside your accomplishments - is the space to spotlight your unqiue expertise and talents. So, avoid solely listing your responsibilities, but instead:
- adverts' keywords and integrate those in your experience section;
- Use your CV to detail how you've been promoted in the past by including experience in the reverse chronological order.
Before you start writing your model CV experience section, dive into some industry-leading examples on how to structure your bullets.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Quantify achievements with metrics, for example, "Increased sales by 20% over a six-month period by implementing a new customer engagement strategy."
- Use action verbs to start each bullet point to make your experiences compelling and dynamic, such as "Managed a team of 10 marketing professionals to execute targeted ad campaigns."
- Tailor the experience to the job you're applying for by highlighting relevant skills, like "Developed and maintained complex databases using SQL, directly supporting business analytics."
- Include any awards or recognition received that are relevant to the job, such as "Recipient of the Innovative Design Award for pioneering a user-friendly interface that increased customer satisfaction scores by 15%."
- Mention successful projects or contributions, detailing your specific role: "Led a cross-functional team in developing a mobile application that resulted in a 30% increase in user engagement."
- Highlight problem-solving capabilities: "Identified and resolved a recurring issue in supply chain management, saving the company over £50,000 annually."
- Emphasise any leadership or management experience: "Oversaw the strategic planning and execution of a new product launch that penetrated the market within three months and captured a 5% market share."
- Discuss any experience with international or multicultural environments if applicable: "Collaborated with global teams across Europe and Asia to streamline communication processes, improving project turnaround time by 25%."
- Explain how your contributions improved processes or efficiency: "Redesigned workflow procedures to optimise resource allocation, resulting in a 20% reduction in operational costs without sacrificing quality."
- Collaborated with high-profile designers at Burberry to showcase seasonal collections during London Fashion Week, contributing to a 20% increase in media coverage
- Featured in multiple advertising campaigns, engaging with audiences on social platforms and boosting brand awareness by 300% through influencer collaborations
- Developed and led modelling workshops for aspiring talents, enhancing the brand's community outreach and fostering a 25% year-on-year growth in workshop attendance
- Served as a lead runway model for Versace, playing a pivotal role in the launch of their Spring/Summer collection and accruing global media exposure
- Fostered partnerships with industry photographers to create vibrant portfolio pieces, featured in Vogue, raising personal brand profile substantially
- Leveraged social media to attract and retain a loyal fan base, which translated to a direct increase in appearances at major fashion events
- Engaged as an editorial model with Chanel, captivating audiences and effectively portraying brand image through editorials in Elle and Harper's Bazaar
- Acted as a brand ambassador at international fashion conventions, aiding Chanel in establishing deeper market penetration in emerging markets
- Instrumental in launching an eco-friendly fashion line, successfully advocating for sustainability and positively impacting the brand's CSR initiatives
- Headlined Gucci's global marketing campaigns, significantly enhancing the campaign's ROI by bringing a fresh and diverse perspective to established marketing strategies
- Partnered with Gucci's digital team to create impactful online content, capturing the essence of luxury and sophistication for digital channels
- Spearheaded Gucci's charity fashion shows, raising funds for global health initiatives and amplifying the brand's commitment to social responsibilities
- Juggled multiple photoshoots per month with Dolce & Gabbana, maintaining a high standard of professionalism and consistency across internationally recognized campaigns
- Cultivated a versatile portfolioto embody the brand philosophy, leading to a prominent feature in the iconic Dolce & Gabbana 'The One' fragrance ad
- Piloted a new virtual reality modelling experience with Dolce & Gabbana, pioneering innovative ways to engage consumers in a rapidly evolving digital landscape
- Prominent promotional model at car shows for Jaguar, driving a substantial increase in consumer engagement with new vehicle releases through live presentations and Q&A sessions
- Played a critical role in Jaguar's experiential marketing campaigns, creating memorable brand experiences and significantly lifting brand sentiment analytics
- Successfully represented Jaguar at international auto shows, effectively communicating key selling points and contributing to a 15% uptick in sales inquiries
- As a key face for Saint Laurent's marketing initiatives, consistently delivered high-energy performances to capture the youthful spirit of the brand in advertisements
- Integral in the production of Saint Laurent's visual content, curating a distinctive image that resonated with the millennial demographic and increased customer engagement
- Directly contributed to a product-line sell-through rate increase of 40% following a high-profile marketing shoot that emphasised Saint Laurent's position in luxury fashion
- Regularly featured in digital and print media for Calvin Klein, showcasing their product lines across various platforms and generating significant online interactions and conversions
- Collaborated with Calvin Klein's design team in shaping the creative direction of season collections, influencing fashion trends observed by the industry
- Orchestrated Calvin Klein's customer engagement strategy at pop-up events across Europe, elevating brand presence and expanding the clientele base amidst competitive markets
How to ensure your model CV stands out when you have no experience
This part of our step-by-step guide will help you substitute your experience section by helping you spotlight your skill set. First off, your ability to land your first job will depend on the time you take to assess precisely how you match the job requirements. Whether that's via your relevant education and courses, skill set, or any potential extracurricular activities. Next:
- Systematise your CV so that it spotlights your most relevant experience (whether that's your education or volunteer work) towards the top;
- Focus recruiters' attention to your transferrable skill set and in particular how your personality would be the perfect fit for the role;
- Consider how your current background has helped you build your technological understanding - whether you've created projects in your free time or as part of your uni degree;
- Ensure you've expanded on your teamwork capabilities with any relevant internships, part-time roles, or projects you've participated in the past.
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Describe how each job helped you grow or learn something new, showing a continuous development path in your career.
Mix and match hard and soft skills across your model CV
Your skill set play an equally valid role as your experience to your application. That is because recruiters are looking for both:
- hard skills or your aptitude in applying particular technologies
- soft skills or your ability to work in a team using your personal skills, e.g. leadership, time management, etc.
Are you wondering how you should include both hard and soft skills across your model CV? Use the:
- skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies that are part of the job requirement (and that you're capable to use);
- strengths and achievements section to detail how you've used particular hard and soft skills that led to great results for you at work;
- summary or objective to spotlight up to three skills that are crucial for the role and how they've helped you optimise your work processes.
One final note - when writing about the skills you have, make sure to match them exactly as they are written in the job ad. Take this precautionary measure to ensure your CV passes the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment.
Top skills for your model CV:
Posing Techniques
Facial Expressions
Fashion Knowledge
Photographic Movement
Runway Walking
Makeup Application
Hair Styling
Fitness & Nutrition
Brand Promotion
Social Media Proficiency
Confidence
Adaptability
Persistence
Self-discipline
Communication
Time Management
Teamwork
Attention to Detail
Creativity
Professionalism
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Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
Further professional qualifications for your model CV: education and certificates
As you're nearing the end of your model CV, you may wonder what else will be relevant to the role. Recruiters are keen on understanding your academic background, as it teaches you an array of hard and soft skills. Create a dedicated education section that lists your:
- applicable higher education diplomas or ones that are at a postgraduate level;
- diploma, followed up with your higher education institution and start-graduation dates;
- extracurricular activities and honours, only if you deem that recruiters will find them impressive.
Follow a similar logic when presenting your certificates. Always select ones that will support your niche expertise and hint at what it's like to work with you. Balance both technical certification with soft skills courses to answer job requirements and company values. Wondering what the most sought out certificates are for the industry? Look no further:
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Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
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Key takeaways
What matters most in your model CV-writing process is for you to create a personalised application. One that matches the role and also showcases your unique qualities and talents.
- Use the format to supplement the actual content, to stand out, and to ensure your CV experience is easy to comprehend and follows a logic;
- Invest time in building a succinct CV top one third. One that includes a header (with your contact details and headline), a summary or an objective statement (select the one that best fits your experience), and - potentially - a dedicated skills section or achievements (to fit both hard skills and soft skills requirements);
- Prioritise your most relevant (and senior) experience closer to the top of your CV. Always ensure you're following the "power verb, skill, and achievement" format for your bullets;
- Integrate both your technical and communication background across different sections of your CV to meet the job requirements;
- List your relevant education and certificates to fill in gaps in your CV history and prove to recrutiers you have relevant technical know-how.
