A CV is read in seconds, and small number mistakes stand out. Writing numbers in words, in the right places, makes a CV look careful and professional. It also avoids confusion when a recruiter reads figures aloud or scans a printed copy.
Start with a simple rule. Use figures for most measurements, dates, and statistics, and use words when a number begins a sentence or when you want it to carry emphasis. "Led a team of twelve" reads more naturally than "Led a team of 12" at the start of a bullet point, while "Increased sales by 23%" is clearer as a figure. Consistency matters more than any single choice, so pick one style for each kind of number and keep it through the whole document.
Years of experience are a good place to spell numbers out. "Five years of customer service experience" sounds confident and is easy to read. The same applies to team sizes and small counts: "Managed three assistants" and "Trained eight new starters" both read well in words. Larger or exact figures work better as numerals, especially in results: "Cut processing time by 35%", "Handled 120 calls a day", and "Raised £4,500 at a charity event" are all clearer with figures.
Money needs extra care. On a CV you rarely state a salary, but you may mention budgets, targets, or money raised. Write the figure first, then the words if the amount must be unambiguous, for example "£2,500 (two thousand five hundred pounds)". Never write a money amount in words alone on a formal document, because a single misspelt word can change the meaning. Check every zero: the difference between 15,000 and 150,000 is one digit, and in words it is the difference between fifteen thousand and one hundred and fifty thousand.
Dates and times follow the same logic. Write "June 2021 to March 2024" rather than spelling the months and years out, and keep date formats identical across every role. For qualifications, spell out grades when they are part of a sentence — "Grade A in English" — and use figures for scores and percentages. A free numbers-to-words converter can help you check an awkward amount before you send the CV, so the written form matches the figure exactly.
Finally, read the CV aloud. If a sentence sounds strange when spoken, rewrite it. Numbers that are easy to say are usually easy to read, and a CV that reads smoothly gives the recruiter one less reason to stop. Keep figures for data, words for emphasis, and the same style throughout, and your numbers will support your experience instead of distracting from it.
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