Differences in CVs at Various Career Levels: How to Stand Out in 2025?
CV across career levels in 2025 are of great importance in the eyes of recruiters and hiring managers—especially when it comes to specialist or managerial positions. Early 2025 seems like a perfect time to consider changing jobs or exploring a completely new career path. Many people make New Year’s resolutions that include thinking about the next step in their careers.
Recently, I had the chance to assist both C-level managers in improving their CVs and a complete novice on the job market—a young graduate applying for the position of Contracts Administrator at a medical company. Needless to say, these CVs were very different because they were written from different professional perspectives. As our careers progress, our experiences, skills, and expectations of the job market evolve. Similarly, our CVs must adapt to reflect our current career stage. While a universal approach may seem tempting, it isn’t enough to capture the attention of recruiters or hiring managers—especially for specialist and managerial roles. Why is personalizing your CV so important? What are the key differences in preparing CVs at various career stages? Let’s take a closer look.
CV for Beginners: Starting on the Job Market
When someone is just entering the job market, they often worry about the lack of impressive experience. In such cases, it’s essential to focus on skills and potential, while leveraging internships and projects they have participated in.
- Career Objective – Start your CV with a brief statement about your aspirations. This immediately highlights what you are looking for and what you can bring to the company.
Example: “I am a graduate in project management seeking my first opportunity to develop skills in contract lifecycle management and cross-cultural communication.”
- Education and Projects – These are foundational at the beginning of your career. Include details of your education and describe specific projects, particularly those that developed skills relevant to the desired position.
Example:
Education
Warsaw School of Economics
Field of Study: Management and Administration, 2020–2023
Thesis: “Analysis of Contract Management in the Biotech Sector Based on the Polish Market Example”
Projects
✓ Conducted a research project during studies on international practices in contract management, gaining knowledge about contract lifecycle and risk analysis.
✓ Co-organized a university event where I coordinated team activities, created schedules, and managed formal correspondence—enhancing coordination and documentation management skills.
- Internships and Placements – Even short professional experiences demonstrate commitment and first steps in the industry. Highlight small projects completed during internships and their outcomes.
Example:
Administrative Assistant
XYZ Solutions LLC, 2022 (3 months)
✓ Translated contractual content and prepared documentation in Polish and English, streamlining interdepartmental communication.
✓ Supported supplier onboarding processes by ensuring document compliance with internal procedures.
✓ Coordinated communication between departments and assisted in preparing task schedules.
- Soft and Technical Skills – It’s beneficial to list these, especially those sought after in job postings.
CV for Specialists: Focusing on Specifics
At this career stage, it’s crucial to highlight specific professional achievements and tailor your CV to the position.
- Professional Summary – Include a few sentences at the top of your CV summarizing your experience and key skills.
Example: “Logistics Specialist with 5 years of experience in supply chain optimization in the FMCG sector. Successfully reduced transportation costs by 15% through implementing a new planning system. Seeking new challenges in an international environment.”
- Achievements Description – When describing roles, use concrete examples, such as “Increased warehouse operational efficiency by 20% by implementing a WMS system” rather than vague statements like “Responsible for warehouse management.”
- Certifications and Training – Industry certifications (e.g., Six Sigma) can make your CV stand out.
Mid-Level Manager CV: Focus on Tangible Achievements
For managerial roles, it’s critical to emphasize the scale of projects and teams you’ve managed and to document results like productivity growth or cost reduction. Recruiters value concrete details, so real-life examples and figures are always welcomed.
- Professional Summary – Begin with a concise statement outlining your main competencies and what you are seeking in a new role. To increase visibility in recruiter databases, consider including keywords like “process optimization,” “team management,” or “automation.” While ATS systems are not yet as advanced in Poland as in Western countries, keyword searches still greatly aid recruiters in finding your profile.
- Specifics and Figures – Highlight successes that demonstrate your direct impact on company results, such as “increased sales by X%,” “reduced costs by X%,” or “improved employee satisfaction.” If you managed specific budgets (e.g., PLN 10 million), be sure to mention it to showcase the scale of your actions.
- Leadership Skills – If you’ve managed a team, show how you supported their development, set project priorities, and fostered relationships within the company.
Example: “Managed a team of 50 people, resulting in a 25% productivity increase. Implemented a KPI system that streamlined reporting for a company with PLN 50 million in revenue.”
C-Level Manager CV: Strategic Vision and International Context
At the executive level in global structures, key elements include managing distributed teams, conducting restructurings, and expanding into new markets. A candidate at this level is less likely to focus on individual projects, instead highlighting the long-term impact of strategies on entire organizations.
- Professional Summary – This should emphasize the ability to set the developmental direction for an entire organization. Mention restructuring, mergers, market expansions, or other strategic initiatives.
Example: “Experienced COO with 15 years in the tech industry. Managed teams in 10 countries, leading digital transformations and reducing operational costs by 30%. Seeking further development in an executive role within an international environment.”
- Global Experience – Managing teams across multiple countries, large transactions, or implementing key corporate changes are must-haves for a C-level CV.
- Board and Investor Relations – Collaboration with the board, investors, or supervisory committees requires analytical skills and effective strategic communication. Highlight your ability to prepare key reports, analyze performance metrics (EBITDA, ROI), or recommend restructuring or investment initiatives.
- Strategic Achievements – Provide examples of restructurings that increased profitability or expansions into new markets.
Example: “Led an operational restructuring that increased profitability by 40% and facilitated expansion into three new European markets.”
You can read more about how to write a good resume for a C-level manager in this article.
Personalization: The Key to Success in 2025
Whether you’re applying for a mid-level managerial position or a C-level role, personalizing your CV for a specific job posting can make all the difference in being invited for an interview. This doesn’t mean rewriting the entire document each time, but rather highlighting aspects of your experience that align with the job requirements.
Check the employer’s keywords and integrate them into your document (e.g., “digital transformation,” “leadership,” “change management”). In the digital recruitment age, the right keywords in your CV can help you rank higher in search results.
Additionally, personalization demonstrates genuine interest in the role. In every industry, competition is fierce, and a tailored CV is an excellent way to grab attention.
Conclusion
Differences in CVs at various career levels in 2025 matter, especially for managers at mid and top levels. To stand out in the recruitment process, focus on personalization, concrete details, and a strategic perspective. Remember, even small changes in how you present your achievements can capture the recruiter’s attention and open doors to interviews for your dream position.
Try applying these tips—they’ve proven successful in my practice. I hope they will also help you grow your career and achieve your managerial goals in 2025. Best of luck in the New Year, and may your CV lead to fantastic job interviews and securing your dream role!
Ewa Borek
Senior Search Consultant
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