When employers issue a job vacancy they get hundreds of CVs in return. Processing each one of them manually is a very expensive task. Most employers scan the CVs to insert them into a database. This database is then scanned for the most suitable candidates. This is called the "short listing phase". If your CV is machine readable there is a better chance that your CV is inserted and reviewed correctly.

Some CV tips to make your CV more scannable:

Use A4 paper. Use white paper. Print on only one side of the paper. Avoid dot matrix printouts. Avoid low quality photocopies. Use laser printed originals where possible. Avoid staples and folding.

• Use common fonts such as Times, Helvicta etc.
• Font size should be between 10 and 14 points.
• Line spacing should be set at 1.5.
• Use capital letters for section headers.
• Avoid fancy styles such as any word art or italics.
• Graphics and other non standard text should be avoided.
• Write your CV in one column format (not in newspaper style).
• List phone numbers on different lines.