UK CV guide

How to write a CV in the UK

A good UK CV is two sides of A4 that let an employer see, in under a minute, that you can do the job. This guide covers what goes in, in what order, and the mistakes that get CVs set aside.

The right order for a UK CV

Most UK CVs follow the same structure, and recruiters expect it. Stick to it unless you have a good reason not to:

Name and contact details: your name, mobile number, email, and town or city. A LinkedIn link is optional. You don’t need your full postal address.
Personal statement: a short paragraph about who you are and what you are looking for.
Work experience: your jobs in reverse-chronological order, with the most recent first.
Education and qualifications: degree with classification, then A-levels or equivalent. Add professional qualifications here or in their own section.
Skills: a short list of the skills and tools the job advert asks for.
Optional: certifications, volunteering, languages, or interests if they are genuinely relevant.

Career changers and graduates can move education above work experience if it is their strongest selling point.

How long should a CV be in the UK?

Two sides of A4 is the standard. If you are a school leaver or recent graduate with little experience, one side is fine and often better. Senior candidates, academics and medical professionals can go longer, but the first page still needs to stand on its own, because many readers stop there.

Writing your personal statement

Your personal statement sits under your name and contact details and is the first thing a recruiter reads. Keep it to three to five sentences. Say what you do, what you are good at (with evidence if you can), and what you want next. Tailor it to each job.

Example

Customer service team leader with six years in high-volume retail and contact-centre environments. I manage a team of 12, consistently hitting service-level targets and cutting complaint escalations by a third last year. Now looking for an operations or service manager role where I can improve processes and develop people.

See ten more CV personal statement examples, written for different careers and stages

Describing your work experience

For each job, give your job title, employer, location and dates (month and year). Underneath, write three to six bullet points. Lead with achievements, not duties: what did you improve, deliver, save or win? Use numbers wherever you can, because they are quick to read and easy to believe.

Instead of

Responsible for managing the team’s social media accounts.

Write

Grew the brand’s Instagram following from 4,000 to 22,000 in a year, with engagement up 60%, by planning a weekly content calendar.

Give full detail for the last ten years or so. Older roles can be a single line each, or grouped under “Earlier career”.

What to leave off a UK CV

Photo: not expected in the UK, and many employers would rather not see one.
Date of birth, age, marital status, children, religion or nationality: these aren’t relevant and can invite bias.
Referees’ names and contact details: provide them when asked.
Salary history or expectations: discuss these at interview or in the application form.
An unprofessional email address: create a simple one with your name.
The heading “Curriculum vitae”: your name is the heading.

Getting past applicant tracking systems (ATS)

Many UK employers, recruitment agencies and job boards read CVs with software before a person sees them. To make sure yours is read correctly, use a clear single-column layout, standard headings such as “Work experience” and “Education”, and the same words the job advert uses for skills and qualifications. Don’t put key information in images, headers or text boxes. Send a PDF unless the advert asks for Word.

Gaps in your CV

Gaps are common, and you don’t need to hide them. A short, honest line is enough: “Career break to care for a family member” or “Travelling in South-East Asia”. If you studied, volunteered or freelanced during the gap, say so.