What person should a CV be written in?
A CV should be written in the first person — but omit the first-person pronoun.
The first-person point of view uses the pronouns ‘I’, ‘we’, ‘me’, and ‘us’, rather than ‘you’ (the second person) or ‘he’, ‘she’, and ‘they’ (the third person).
You should write in the first person because your CV is about you and the benefits you offer the employer.
However, remember to omit first-person pronouns wherever possible. Including first-person pronouns on a CV can make your writing repetitive and boring to read:
First-person pronouns on a CV
MILLS & PARKER, Oxford
Receptionist, May 2021–present
- I welcomed individuals upon arrival, identifying their purpose of visit and escorting them to the appropriate staff
- I maintained logbooks, including records of sign-ins, phone calls, and front-desk expenditures
- I revamped office scheduling and record management system, leading to a 27% decrease in wait times
- I achieved a 90% customer satisfaction rating by providing friendly and professional front-desk service
Instead, start sentences with action verbs to make your CV more engaging and emphasise your key skills and experience.
Omitting first-person pronouns from a CV
MILLS & PARKER, Oxford
Receptionist, May 2021–present
- Welcomed individuals upon arrival, identifying their purpose of visit and escorting them to the appropriate staff
- Maintained logbooks, including records of sign-ins, phone calls, and front-desk expenditures
- Revamped office scheduling and record management system, leading to a 27% decrease in wait times
- Achieved a 90% customer satisfaction rating by providing friendly and professional front-desk service