In a competitive market, your CV has one job: to earn a closer read. Recruiters and hiring managers scan quickly, so clarity and relevance beat length and decoration every time.
A few principles make the difference.
Lead with evidence
Replace duties with achievements. "Responsible for survey QC" says little; "Ran QC on 40+ days of multibeam acquisition with zero rejected deliverables" says a great deal.
Numbers, systems operated, certifications held and campaigns completed are what technical recruiters look for. Put them where they'll be seen.
Tailor and structure
Match the CV to the role. Mirror the language of the job description where it's honest to do so, and lead with the experience most relevant to that posting.
Keep the structure clean: a short summary, a clear skills and certifications block, then experience in reverse-chronological order. For offshore roles, list valid medicals and survival training prominently.
Polish the details
Proofread ruthlessly — a single typo undercuts a claim to precision. Keep formatting simple so it survives applicant-tracking systems and renders cleanly on any screen.
Two well-judged pages almost always beat four padded ones.