CV and Cover Letter

3 out of 4 employers read the introductory profile summary in a CV.

The profile summary (also known as a résumé or personal statement) is a short section at the top of your CV that can be used in many different ways depending on how well you match the position.

This is where you use forward-looking language to describe what you want to contribute to the company in the role you’re applying for. That makes the profile section stand out from the rest of the CV, which is typically written in the past tense.

Many recruiters see the profile summary as a kind of “mini application” that helps them decide whether to continue reading your full application.

That’s why it’s a good idea to include a sentence about your motivation for applying for the specific job. Motivation and genuine interest in the role and its tasks are especially important to express – particularly if you don’t yet have much experience.

Highlight How You Match

In the profile summary, it’s beneficial to highlight the specific experience and skills you bring that match the role.

Depending on your background, this is also a space where you can briefly clarify something that might otherwise raise questions for the employer.

For example, if you’ve changed your field of study, you can briefly explain why – perhaps you developed and discovered your true interests or talents. This way, you can show the red thread that leads to the job you’re now applying for and why you’re qualified for it.

The profile summary can be a tricky one to write if you haven’t practiced.

That’s why CA has created a guide to writing a strong profile summary – including a few fill-in-the-blanks and examples for inspiration.

The guide also provides concrete suggestions and examples for both content and layout to help you write a compelling and well-structured profile summary.

MODEL: The EFU Model is a tool that helps you ‘translate’ your skills and qualities into statements that make it easy for the employer to see the value of what you bring to the table. Create three columns on a piece of paper and use this PDF for inspiration.

Download Model

Your CV should include the following:

Contact Information

Include your name, phone number, email address, postal code, and city. You don’t need to include your full street address – the employer will only need that after hiring. You also don’t need to state your age or date of birth.

Profile Photo

Almost 7 out of 10 employers notice a photo on a CV. However, a photo is not a requirement. Some larger companies even discourage including photos to avoid bias in recruitment. If you do choose to include one, make sure it has a light, neutral background (like a white wall) and that you're dressed as you would be for a job interview at that company.

Skills

Highlight the competencies you want to bring to the position in your profile summary, and support them with a dedicated section listing your “core skills” or “key strengths” relevant to the role. See how in CA’s CV templates.

Work Experience

If you don’t have much experience yet, we recommend calling this section “Experience” instead. That way, you can include relevant unpaid experience from volunteering, internships, company projects, thesis collaborations, etc. Just list your title and then the type of role in parentheses. For example: “Marketing Manager (volunteer)” or “HR Assistant (internship).”

Education

Remember to describe what your education qualifies you for and highlight relevant courses for the position. Don’t assume the employer is familiar with your degree. Describe the relevant knowledge, skills, or competencies you’ve gained. Use the FOPA model to decide which ones to mention.

Languages

Don’t assume it's obvious you speak Danish and English – always list the languages you know. You can read more in our article on how to describe your language skills.

IT Skills

Include relevant IT competencies in your CV – especially those mentioned in the job ad. We recommend describing your level with words rather than graphics. See how in the middle of our article.

Voluntary Work or Project Collaborations

As mentioned above, we suggest listing volunteer and unpaid work under the “Experience” section. However, if you already have plenty of relevant, paid, practical experience, you can use a separate section to show that you’re also active as a volunteer or to highlight project collaborations you’ve done with companies during your studies.

Optional Sections:

References

You don’t need to include reference contact information. Just write: “Available upon request or can be provided at an interview.” Employers usually only call references after the interview.

Leisure Activities

You’re not required to include a hobbies or interests section. If you do, use it to share fun or interesting facts – like your love for baking pancakes for coworkers, your passion for rock climbing/scouting/rowing, training for a long hike/bike/run, playing handball or football for 10 years, or relaxing with yoga or books (e.g., you’ve just read [insert example]).

Skip this section if your hobbies are the usual “friends, family, partner, Netflix, YouTube, and social media.”

Also be careful: If your hobbies or multiple current jobs make it look like you’re too busy to take on the role you're applying for (especially for internships or volunteer work), it’s better to leave it out – even if you can handle it all.

Courses

You may include a section for courses, but you don’t need to have taken a course in, for example, Excel to list it under IT skills. The rule of thumb is: if you can complete a relevant task with the skill, you can include it. For other courses that give you experience relevant to the job, feel free to list those in a separate “Courses” section in your CV.

Structure Makes It Easier to Write a Strong Application

There are many ways to write a great application. But if you find it difficult to get started – or to make your application interesting – CA recommends a structure that you can use as a starting point:

Recommended Structure

1. Start with a Catchy Headline
   Grab attention right away with a headline that reflects your motivation or value.

2. Describe Your Motivation for the Job/Tasks
   Explain why you’re interested in this specific role and what draws you to the company or the tasks involved.

3. Optional: Add the Sentence “I Especially Want to Contribute With:”
   Then list three bullet points highlighting what you can offer the employer.

4. Insert Two Short Paragraphs with Professional Arguments
   Use these to show how your background, skills, or experience match the job requirements.

5. Wrap Up with a Paragraph on How You Approach Tasks and Collaborate
   Describe how you work independently and how you contribute to a team.

6. Finish with a Call to Action + Your Name and Contact Info
   Encourage them to reach out and express your openness for a conversation.

Length Tip

Your application should be no longer than 1 page.

You’ll find examples of well-written applications at the back of the e-book Write Your Way to a Job Interview.

How to Avoid Starting Every Sentence with “I”

One of the most common mistakes in applications is starting (almost) every sentence with “I”. Use CA’s writing formula to shift the focus to what the company gets out of hiring you – not just what you want to say about yourself.