When a recruiter opens your CV, it should feel enticing and attention grabbing, like a great restaurant menu.

And I believe one of the biggest secret ingredients for a great CV is.. RELEVANCE.

Think about it: when you’re hungry, you don’t want to be handed a list of every single ingredient in the kitchen. You want a clear, well-designed menu that shows you the signature dishes—the things that make you say “yes, that’s exactly what I’m after.”

Your CV works the same way. Too many jobseekers try to include everything they’ve ever done. The result? A cluttered menu list that forces the reader to dig around for what matters. And honestly—most potential employers and recruiters won’t bother. They’ll just “walk out of the restaurant.”

Here’s how to make your CV more enticing.

Lead with relevance – Put your most important “dishes” (skills and achievements) upfront. Don’t make people flip through the whole menu to find the specials.

Balance flavour and substance – Duties are the ingredients, achievements are the taste. You need both, but they should work together to tell the story.

Serve the dish they’re hungry for – Every job exists to solve a problem—more sales, smoother processes, better customer experiences. Read the job description carefully and make sure your CV serves up the “dish” that satisfies that hunger. Don’t just list what’s in your pantry—show them you’ve cooked (and delivered) exactly what they’re ordering.

Pair it with context – A great menu doesn’t just list “beef”; it tells you it’s slow-cooked for 12 hours in red wine. Likewise, don’t just say “managed projects”—explain how, and what impact it had.

Edit ruthlessly – No restaurant puts every recipe they’ve ever cooked onto the menu. Cut the clutter so your best work shines.

At the end of the day, your CV should be those carefully chosen dishes that will make the hiring manager say: “This is exactly what we’ve been looking for.”

So before you apply, ask yourself:

Am I serving up a menu that makes my skills irresistible?

Or am I just handing over an ingredient list and hoping they figure it out?