Your CV has one job: to get you an interview. It does not need to tell your whole story or prove everything about you. That is worth remembering, because CV advice often contradicts itself and the blank page can be hard to start. These CV writing tips for neurodivergent jobseekers focus on what matters to the people reading it, and on presenting your strengths clearly.
Start with what you are good at
Before writing anything, list the things you do well and the evidence for each. Think about paid work, study, volunteering, caring responsibilities and personal projects. Many neurodivergent people have strengths such as noticing detail, solving problems in unusual ways, deep knowledge of a subject or creativity, but strengths are individual, so write down yours rather than a generic list. Ask someone who knows you well what they would add.
Tailor it for each role
A generic CV sent to fifty employers usually does worse than a targeted one sent to ten. Read the job advert, highlight the skills and experience it asks for, and make sure those appear clearly in your CV, using the same words where they are accurate. Our guide to tailoring your CV walks through it step by step.
To keep this manageable, write one master CV with everything in it, then copy and trim it for each application.
Use a clear, simple layout
Recruiters often skim, so make your CV easy to scan. The National Careers Service recommends a clear font at size 11 or above, consistent formatting, headings and bullet points. Most CVs work well with these sections:
- contact details
- a short profile of two or three sentences
- key skills
- work history, most recent first
- education and training
Leave out graphics, tables and columns unless you are applying for a design role, as they can confuse some online application systems. Two pages is plenty for most people.
Show results, not just duties
For each role, say what you achieved as well as what you were responsible for. Start bullet points with an action word such as “organised”, “built” or “reduced”, and include numbers where you have them: how many customers, how much time saved, how big the budget. If you cannot remember exact figures, a fair estimate is fine.
Handle gaps calmly
Gaps in employment are common and nothing to hide. A short, honest line is enough, whether that time was spent caring, studying, travelling, recovering from illness or looking for work. If you learned something or took a course during the gap, mention it. You do not need to give more detail than you are comfortable with.
Decide what to say about being neurodivergent
You do not have to mention being neurodivergent on your CV, and most people do not. Some choose to, often when applying to employers with a strong inclusion record or where it is relevant to the role. Others raise it later, for example when asking for adjustments at interview. It is entirely your decision, and our questions to help you decide about disclosure set out the options.
Check it, then get a second opinion
Spelling mistakes and inconsistent formatting can count against you, which is frustrating if you are dyslexic and the role has nothing to do with spelling. Run a spellcheck, use text-to-speech to hear your CV read aloud, then ask a friend, mentor or careers adviser to look it over. Fresh eyes catch things you will not.
Keep the rest of your application in step
Make sure your LinkedIn profile matches your CV and the dates line up. If an application asks for a cover letter, our cover letter tips will help, and once interview invitations arrive, our advice on reducing interview anxiety is worth a read. Rejection is part of every job search. It is not a verdict on you.
How Enna can help
Our CV help page has more detailed guidance to work through at your own pace. When your CV is ready, search the Enna jobs board for roles with employers committed to neuroinclusion, and register for job alerts to hear about new vacancies as soon as they go live.
