
What Should a Good CV Look Like in 2023?
What should a CV look like? Its contents are as individual as you are but there are some rules everyone needs to follow for professional results. Here they are.
Show you can strike a pose and own a catwalk with the best of them. Learn how to write a model CV that looks as good as you do.
Modelling is an incredibly varied career sector. From haute couture to high street, people of all ages, shapes and sizes are needed to provide a human context to fashion, consumer goods and services.
And despite all the Zoolander style ambiturner and blue steel jokes, it’s a highly competitive and challenging job to succeed in. To get the best modelling gigs you’re going to need a well-written model CV. And in less time than it takes to say Irina Valeryevna Shaykhlislamova (aka Irina Shayk), you’re going to learn how to write one.
Read this guide and you’ll see a professional model CV example that you can edit and make your own. You’ll also get a simple guide to writing a CV for modelling jobs that’ll get you noticed by more agencies than ever before.
We’ll begin with a model CV sample made with our builder.
Want to save time and have your CV ready in 5 minutes? Try our CV builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ CV templates and create your CV here.
Model CV made with our builder—See more CV examples here.
And we’ve got CV writing guides for other careers too.
James Sherman
Ph: 0777 777 7777
Email: j_shermanzety@gmail.com
Striking male model with dark hair and brilliant green eyes. Slim build, waist—78cm, chest—100cm, height—180cm, weight—75kg. Experienced in photoshoots and film productions for clients including Longines, Seiko & Adidas. Seeking to be the face of successful client campaigns with The Horus Agency.
Work Experience
Model
Pennington’s Model Agency, London.
July 2015–Present
Education
A-levels: Design & Textiles, French, Media Studies. September 2013–June 2015
Forest Road College, London, UK
9 GCSEs including Mathematics and English, September 2011–June 2013
Finchley North Academy, London, UK
Skills
Languages
Now, your step-by-step guide to writing a model CV.
I can’t emphasise this enough. A good CV is important but as a model, you need a portfolio too. So make sure you include an easy to find link to your online portfolio in your CV header.
That’s the very first part of your CV, right at the top of the page that includes your name and contact details. Here’s how to make your portfolio link pop.
Read more: How to Include Personal Details on Your CV
A model helps to promote, display and advertise commercial products with their personal appearance. They also pose and act as subjects for artists and photographers. So the purpose of your modelling CV is to show you know how to market yourself effectively and deliver what the client wants.
And writing a CV is surprisingly similar to modelling, appearance is everything. Here’s how to make sure you’ve got the look and stay on-trend in your model CV template.
Pro Tip. You’ll often see advice not to include a photo of yourself on your CV. That’s true for most professions in the UK, but for a modelling CV a good quality headshot is an essential addition. Incorporate it into your CV header.
Read more: How to Layout a Professional CV
This is the first section of your CV, a 3–4 line paragraph that’s also known as a personal profile or CV summary. It serves as the introduction to your CV, introducing you as a candidate. And it has to catch the attention of the hiring manager and convince them that you’re one for the yes pile. Here’s how to write it.
Essentially, you’ll be answering these questions.
The way you answer these questions is the key to writing a good CV summary. It’ll change depending upon how experienced you are. If you’ve got plenty of modelling experience under your belt then do this.
And if you’re a new talent just getting started in modelling use this strategy.
And it’s always best to leave writing your personal profile until last. You’ll find it much easier to summarise when the rest of your CV is already finished and laid out in front of you.
Pro Tip: A modelling CV personal statement should always contain a brief description of your physical attributes too.
Read more: How to Write a CV Summary [Examples for 10+ Professions]
Looks are important as a model, but real hands-on experience is still essential to doing your job effectively. Hiring managers want candidates who are familiar with the ins and outs of working with clients and managing the challenges of modelling gigs. Here’s how to show you’ve got the X factor.
The key to writing a successful work experience section is to target it to the job requirements. Compare it with the job advert and make sure you’ve matched the requirements as closely as possible.
Read more: How to Write Your CV Work Experience Section
Successful modelling isn’t dependent on your educational attainments. But an education section is part of your model CV that agencies expect to see. Here’s what to do to make sure you’ve written it correctly.
Your model CV needs to include a list combining soft skills and hard skills that prove you’ve got the abilities to do the job effectively. However, space is at a premium because the best CV length is just 1–2 pages. So how do you create a shortlist of skills that are still convincing enough to land you the job?
Here are some skills that would make a great addition to your model CV.
When making a CV in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your CV here.
When you’re done, Zety’s CV builder will score your CV and tell you exactly how to make it better.
Read More: Best List of CV Skills [Job-Winning Examples]
The best models have a certain indefinable quality that makes them stand out from their peers. The best CV examples stand out too, but luckily the thing that does it is easy to define. Additional sections.
You could just stop with your skills section, but then your CV is going to look just like everyone else’s. And that won’t cut it when it comes to getting the best modelling jobs. You need to add some extra sections to elevate your CV from the ordinary. Here are a few ideas.
Read more: Hobbies and Interests on a CV: Best List of Examples
They’re often overlooked these days, but cover letters are still an important weapon in your fight for a new job. More than half of employers still consider them to be essential, so don’t cripple your chances of success by forgetting one.
Here’s how to write a cover letter for modelling jobs.
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your CV will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
And my last tip for you, follow up every job application. If you haven’t had a reply in within a week of applying make contact with the employer and check up on the status of your application. Many employers expect it of you and it can give one final boost to your chances of success.
Thanks for reading. If you’ve got any other questions about writing a model CV for the UK, please ask in the comments section and I’ll be happy to help.
What should a CV look like? Its contents are as individual as you are but there are some rules everyone needs to follow for professional results. Here they are.
Don’t settle for a good cover letter, learn to write a great one. Here are 14 cover letter tips to help you craft a covering letter that impresses from start to finish.
What is a cover letter? Unnecessary? A waste of time? Answer, neither. It’s a job-hunting must-have. Discover what a cover letter is and what it can do for you.