How to write a storytelling CV that captivates employers

The ultimate aim of every job search is the fairytale happy ending ‒ a dream job. In today’s competitive job market, it's important than ever to tell a compelling career story. No longer can one simply list their previous experience and hope for the best. Today's job search calls you to leverage one of the most effective marketing strategies available: a storytelling CV.

What is a storytelling CV?

A storytelling CV is one that guides the reader clearly through your career, presenting a clear and compelling narrative. Career storytelling is a useful technique that positions you as the ideal candidate for a vacancy by showing exactly how your previous experience sets you up to succeed in the new role.

5 tips for telling a great career story on your CV  

Here are key pointers for using storytelling to capture your CV reader’s attention: 

1. Be your own main character

Employers are looking for more than just skills and education on your CV ‒ they also want to get an idea of who you are as a professional. When curating your storytelling CV, remember that you are the central character of this narrative and it's important to show that you're more than just a laundry list of responsibilities and skills.

Ensure every element on your CV works together to build a complete picture of your character. Use your work experience to illustrate your career history, and then support this information in your skills section and professional profile.

When an employer reads your CV, they should be able to clearly identify who you are, what you're looking for, and how your experience qualifies you for the job at hand. 

2. Centre the story around your job goals

"Think of your storytelling CV as a strategically positioned marketing document," says Amanda Augustine, career advice expert for TopCV. The key is to not only showcase the qualifications and experience that you've developed throughout your career, but to do so in a way that directly addresses the needs of the position you're currently pursuing. 

This means that when you're tailoring your CV, it's perfectly acceptable to minimise the space dedicated to positions which don't support your current career goals, in order to free up space to focus on those positions that do. Select the information you share based on what will best support the career story you're trying to tell.

3. Open with a great introduction: your professional summary

A strong opening is fundamental to any great story, and your CV should be no different. Start your CV with a professional summary, positioned in the top third of the first page of your CV, to introduce your professional career. Begin with a job title or headline that clarifies the  role you're targeting, followed by your elevator pitch.

This personal statement should be no more than five lines and should demonstrate how you can leverage your skills and experience and be an asset to your intended employer. "Within this section, aim to communicate your record of achievement, experience level, value, and industry (assuming this is relevant to your current goals)," adds Augustine.

A great CV summary will set the tone for your storytelling CV, so it's important to get it right.

4. Format and structure your storytelling CV

A good story needs to be presented well. Make the most of your CV by presenting it in a clean and easily readable structure. Use subheadings for each section and clearly separate your different roles, so that a reader can comprehend your timeline.

When listing professional experience on your CV, separate each role into two segments: a short blurb which summarises your remit and then a bulleted list which highlights your most relevant accomplishments. This will ensure that your CV is easy to read and that your key selling points don’t get lost in heavy blocks of text.

5. Show, don't tell

Employers want to see evidence of your skills. Therefore, everything that you list in your skills section should be supported or demonstrated in your work experience. "Don't assume readers will connect the dots on their own," says Augustine. "Make it obvious how you've used a skill to solve a problem, complete a project, or create a positive result.” 

Ask yourself, how can I demonstrate that I not only possess the skills and experience the company is looking for, but that I've been successful in leveraging these in my prior work? Building this picture through words is key in CV storytelling.

Examples for a storytelling CV

Let’s look at some CV storytelling examples, to see how this works in practice: 

Summary

An approachable Customer Success Team Lead, specialising in driving retention, renewals and growth. Builds positive relationships with customers and is confident presenting at Board level. Recognised as a supportive leader, providing training and direction to ensure best practice and strong results across the team.

Why this works: This summary makes it clear that the candidate has the people skills necessary to thrive in a customer success role – it tells the story of a character who’s approachable, builds positive relationships, and has a track record in client wins. They tie this in with key business skills including presenting, leadership, and training. 

Professional experience 

Groom at Canterbury Stud

Dec 2021 - date

Caring for high-end competition and livery horses. Grooming, washing, feeding and watering horses, and changing rugs and boots. Lunging horses in the school and positioning jumps and poles during lessons. Mucking out stables, putting down new bedding, sweeping the yard, and cleaning tack.

Achievements

• Regularly ran the yard independently in the absence of the owner

• Supported the owner during away days at show-jumping events, lessons, and competitions

• Progressed into a regular paid role, having initially started as a volunteer 

Pet Sitter at Pink Nose Pet Care

Jun 2018 – Dec 2022 (ad hoc)

Set up and ran an animal care business, working with cats and other pets. Fed pets at agreed times and ensured they had clean water. Offered treats, played with pets and gave them attention. Washed used bowls and left the house tidy and secure. Responded to text and WhatsApp enquiries from customers. Calculated and collected fees.

Achievements

• Secured an article in a local newspaper, promoting the business to hundreds of potential customers

• Received repeat business and recommendations from satisfied clients

• Established a successful business at the age of just 13 

Why this works: This storytelling CV example gives a strong narrative of an early career candidate who has demonstrated an interest in working with animals from a young age and has progressed from working with pets to specialising in horses.

Interests

Rugby: Captain of a local team, coming second in the league in 2024

Fundraising: Raised £5,000 for a children’s charity by running the London Marathon 

Why this works: This information provides insight into the person behind the career, as well as showing off additional skills such as teamwork, leadership, and tenacity. 

Find your happy ever after

We grow up surrounded by the magic of stories and your career deserves the same treatment. With a storytelling CV, you’ll soon be preparing for interviews! 

Let a professional career storyteller tell the best version of your career story. Our CV writing experts will be able to sprinkle magic on your CV – get started by requesting a free CV review!

This article was originally written by Rikki Wimmer and has been updated by Jen David.

Recommended reading:

• How to find your dream job in 10 steps

• Create a winning personal statement for your CV

• 6 CV-writing tips that will turn your good CV into a great one