Standard UK CV structure
- Name and contact details — phone, email, town/city and optionally a LinkedIn URL. A full home address is not usually necessary.
- Personal statement — three to four lines tailored to the role.
- Employment history — most recent first, with job title, employer, dates and achievement bullets.
- Education — degrees, A-levels or equivalent; GCSEs briefly if early in your career.
- Key skills — relevant technical and transferable skills.
- Optional — certifications, volunteering, languages, interests if relevant.
- References — “available on request” is common.
How long should a UK CV be?
Two sides of A4 is the most common guideline for UK CVs, and one page can be enough for school leavers and graduates. Focus on recent and relevant experience; older roles can be summarised in a line or two.
What not to include
In the UK it is usual to leave out your date of birth, marital status, nationality (unless relevant to right to work) and a photo. Employers must not discriminate on protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, and leaving these details off keeps the focus on your skills.
Common CV mistakes
- Spelling and grammar errors — always proofread and ask someone else to check.
- Listing duties instead of achievements.
- Unexplained gaps — a brief line (study, caring, travel) is usually enough.
- Including unnecessary personal details such as date of birth, marital status or a photo (in the UK and US).
- An unprofessional email address.
- Using a fancy design that makes the text hard to read or parse.
- Making it too long — keep it focused on the last 10–15 years for most roles.
Example personal statements
Graduate: “Recent Business Management graduate with retail experience and a strong interest in marketing. Skilled in social media content and data analysis, seeking a graduate marketing role where I can grow my digital skills.”
Career changer: “Former teacher moving into learning and development, bringing eight years’ experience designing engaging training, presenting to groups and measuring outcomes.” Adapt these to your own real experience rather than copying them.
UK spelling and conventions
Use British spelling throughout — organise, analyse, colour, programme (for schemes) — and UK date formats such as “March 2024”. Write qualifications the UK way (for example A-levels, BTEC, BA (Hons), 2:1) and if you studied abroad, add a short UK equivalent where helpful. Our builder switches spelling-sensitive labels when you choose the UK CV format.
Sections in detail
Contact details: name, phone, professional email and town or city. Personal statement: a short paragraph summarising your experience and the kind of role you want. Employment history: job title, employer, dates and three to six bullets per recent role, focusing on results. Education: degree with classification if recent, A-levels or equivalent, and GCSEs summarised if relevant. Key skills: technical and transferable skills linked to the role.
Template downloads and formats
Our free CV templates pack contains a UK CV and a US resume, each as plain text, RTF (opens in Word and other word processors) and printable HTML. All templates use placeholder text in square brackets so you can see exactly what to replace. Alternatively, fill in our online builder and download a ready-formatted PDF.
Templates for different situations
- School leaver: one page, education first, include part-time work and volunteering.
- Graduate: education and projects near the top, then experience.
- Career changer: a skills-focused profile linking past experience to the new field.
- Experienced professional: two pages, recent roles in detail, older roles summarised.
Right to work and nationality
You do not need to state your nationality on a UK CV. Employers must check right to work in the UK before employment starts, and will ask for evidence at the appropriate stage. If you are applying from abroad or need sponsorship, it can help to state your visa status briefly in your personal statement or cover letter so there is no confusion.
Free UK CV template
Download our free CV templates pack (UK CV and US resume) using the form on the builder page, or simply fill in the builder and download a PDF — it already uses the UK structure above.
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Open the CV builderFrequently asked questions
What is the best CV format in the UK?
A reverse-chronological CV with a personal statement, employment history, education and skills suits most applicants.
Should a UK CV have a photo?
Generally no, unless you work in a field such as acting or modelling.
How many pages should a CV be in the UK?
Usually up to two A4 pages.
Do I need references on my CV?
“References available on request” is common; you do not usually need to list referees.
Should I use a CV template?
A clean template saves time and ensures a consistent, readable layout.
Last reviewed: October 2026. General information only — check providers' official sites for current features and pricing.