Writing a Standout CV in 2026: A Guide for Agricultural Professionals
A practical guide for UK agricultural professionals
Whether you’re actively job hunting or simply keeping your CV up to date, the standards for what makes a strong application continue to shift. In 2026, employers and recruiters are busier than ever and expectations around clarity, structure and relevance are higher than they have ever been.
At De Lacy Executive Recruitment, we review thousands of CVs every year across the full breadth of British agriculture. This guide pulls together our most practical, no nonsense advice, plus a full breakdown of how to structure your CV and what to include.
You can also download our CV template, designed specifically for agricultural roles.
What is the purpose of a CV?
A CV is essentially your personal brochure. It is the document you use to introduce yourself, explain your skills and experience, and give employers a reason to speak with you. More than anything, its job is to pique a hiring manager’s interest enough to secure a conversation.
Top 5 tips for writing a CV that actually gets read
1. Make it skim readable
According to Indeed, some recruiters spend as little as seven seconds reviewing a CV. At De Lacy Executive, we take far more care, but with the volume of CVs the industry deals with, most people skim first. Clear headings, short sections and logical structure help your CV survive the skim test.
2. Structure and layout matter
A well laid out CV is easier to navigate and feels more professional. Use headings, spacing, bullet points and formatting that guide the reader. Make the important information impossible to miss.
3. Stick to one or two pages
Even the most enthusiastic recruiter will not read eight pages of dense text. Keep it focused. One to two pages is ideal for most candidates, with the most relevant content prioritised.
4. Cut the fluff and back everything up with tangible examples
Avoid vague statements like “excellent communicator” or “works well under pressure.” These mean nothing without evidence. Instead, give real examples:
- Excellent communicator: Five years selling directly to farmers and building long term relationships.
- Works well under pressure: Frequently delivered same day proposals with tight turnaround times.
Concrete examples make your CV credible.
5. Use AI wisely
AI is great for proofreading, checking spelling and tightening phrasing. But do not use it to write your CV from scratch. You will end up with something generic, American sounding and nothing like you. Let AI polish your writing, not replace your voice.
What to include in your CV (full breakdown)
This section walks you step by step through the structure of a strong agricultural CV and mirrors the layout used in the downloadable template.
1. Contact details
Keep these clear and simple:
- Email address
- Phone number
- Location (town and county is enough; no need for a full address)
2. Personal statement
Your personal statement introduces the real person behind the experience. Think of it as your elevator pitch: who you are, what you offer and why you are worth considering.
A strong personal statement should include:
- Who you are
- Relevant background
- Experience related to the role
- Core skills
- Sectors you have worked in
- What you can bring to a business
Avoid generic buzzwords, especially ones that appear routinely on graduate CVs. Give specifics, not clichés.
Example personal statement:
I am an experienced agricultural sales professional with over 13 years’ experience, including several years in livestock genetics and a decade in feed sales. I’ve built strong relationships with dairy, beef and sheep farmers, as well as merchants and distributors, by offering practical, on‑farm advice that improves performance and animal health. I’m confident discussing ration formulation, genetics and herd performance, and I’m able to turn technical detail into straightforward commercial solutions. Known for being reliable, down to earth and results focused, I consistently hit sales targets while maintaining a consultative approach. I’m now looking to bring my industry knowledge and drive to a forward‑thinking agricultural business.
3. Work experience
This is the section employers look at first and it is usually the most important.
Look at it from their perspective. If they are hiring a Farm Manager, their first question will be:
“Has this person actually managed a farm before?”
If the answer is no, they will want to see relevant technical experience or qualifications that show you could step up.
Recruiters also want to see:
- How long you spent in each role
- Whether your responsibilities grew
- Whether your experience is stable and relevant
- What you actually did day to day
Include:
- Job title
- Employer
- Dates of employment (for example: January 2018 to June 2021)
- Bullet point overview of responsibilities and achievements
Voluntary work, work placements and farm experience can be included if relevant.
4. Education and qualifications
While experience often carries more weight in agriculture, qualifications still matter, particularly in technical, graduate or compliance heavy roles.
Remember that this section is not limited to academic qualifications.
Practical and industry recognised certifications are highly valued, including:
- PA1 and PA2
- Poultry Passport
- FACTS and BASIS
- AI certificates
- Foot trimming qualifications
- Machinery operation training
- NVQ Level 2 and above (essential under some Gangmasters regulations)
List qualifications clearly with dates and awarding bodies.
5. References
You can include them if you want to, but it is usually best to simply say:
References available on request.
This keeps control in your hands and protects the privacy of your referees. It is particularly important in agriculture, which is a small, well connected industry where people know each other and word travels quickly.
Optional sections
Achievements
If you have delivered results you are proud of, list them. They help you stand out and show employers what you have actually achieved, not just what your job title was.
Examples include:
- Increasing sales by 50%
- Improving herd performance by 20%
- Leading a project on farm (Be specific)
- Reducing costs or waste
- Implementing new systems or processes
Keep them concise and measurable where possible.
Hobbies and interests
This section is entirely optional. In many cases it doesn’t influence hiring decisions and, if used poorly, it can appear generic or even work against you. Only include it if it adds something positive and relevant to your application.
That said, when used well, it can give employers a sense of who you are beyond your work history and in agriculture it can occasionally add genuine value.
Include hobbies that genuinely reinforce your suitability for agricultural roles, such as:
- Hands on agricultural experience – for example, keeping a pedigree flock or herd, helping with lambing, or running a smallholding. These reflect real stockmanship, practical skill and day to day responsibility.
- Activities with clear relevance to the rural sector – such as involvement in Young Farmers, agricultural shows, breed societies or countryside groups.
- Interests that spark positive conversation – unique or industry related hobbies can help you stand out for the right reasons.
Be selective and think about how this section supports your application:
- Avoid generic fillers like reading or cooking. These appear on countless CVs and offer no insight.
- Be mindful of polarising hobbies such as shooting or hunting. While common in rural life, they may not align with every employer’s views.
- Leave out anything that doesn’t strengthen your overall impression. If it isn’t relevant or helpful, it’s best omitted.
In short, include hobbies only when they genuinely enhance your CV. If they don’t add meaningful value or risk distracting from your strengths, feel free to leave this section out entirely.
Download our free agricultural CV template
To make things easier, we have built a clear, sector specific CV template that follows the structure in this guide.
You can download it to get started quickly and professionally.
