Your Ultimate Guide to the UK CV Format (With Examples)

What Is a UK CV?

In the UK, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) is practically the same term as the US "resume." It's the main document you submit when applying for jobs, containing your contact details, professional experience, education, skills, and other relevant qualifications and achievements.

Your CV creates your first impression with potential employers and often decides whether you'll receive an interview invitation.

Although both terms describe the same document, there are important distinctions between UK CVs and US resumes:

If you've been creating American-style resumes, you'll need to keep these differences in mind when targeting UK employers.

Also, pay attention to your spelling. UK applications should use British English spelling (organisation, colour, realise), while American applications stick to US English (organization, color, realize).

Finally, remember that British recruiters may not understand the term "resume," so consistently use "CV" throughout your UK job applications. For example, name the final version you’ll use to apply with as “John_Doe_CV” instead of “John_Doe_Resume.” 

What Is a CV Format?

A CV format is the structure and arrangement of your CV sections. 

A standard format always contains the following sections: contact details, personal statement, education, work experience, and skills. You can also include optional sections that are relevant to your application.

CV formatting refers to how you organize and structure the sections of your resume—such as your personal profile, work experience, education, and skills—to present your qualifications clearly and logically.

Proper formatting enhances readability and helps your CV stand out positively. It ensures your application gets noticed by UK employers.

Below, we’ll walk you through the two main CV formats that UK hiring managers typically recognize and expect.

Two Main Types of CV Format in the UK

UK employers recognize two primary CV formats that serve different career situations. Understanding which format suits your background helps you present your qualifications most effectively to British recruiters.

Reverse-Chronological CV

The reverse-chronological CV is the gold standard for UK job applications. This format lists your work experience starting with your most recent position and working backward through your career history.

These are the key features of reverse-chronological CVs:

• Contact information and a personal statement are at the top.
• The work experience section is prominently displayed, with your most recent job first.
• Education and qualifications are listed in reverse order.
• Skills section highlighting relevant competencies.
• Optional sections for certifications, interests, or professional memberships.

This approach works best for professionals with steady career progression and relevant work history. UK recruiters prefer this format because it's easy to scan and shows clear career development.

It's best to opt for this CV format if you're:

• An experienced professional with a consistent employment history.
• An entry-level candidate with internships or part-time work experience.
• A career changer who can highlight transferable skills from previous roles.
• Applying through Applicant Tracking Systems (most UK companies use these).

Functional CV (Skills-Based)

The functional CV format emphasizes your abilities and strengths rather than focusing heavily on employment dates and job titles. This approach highlights what you can do rather than where you've worked.

The key features of a functional CV include:

• Skills sections grouped by category (e.g., "Communication," "Project Management").
• Brief work history section with basic job details.
• Emphasis on achievements within skill categories.
• Personal statement explaining career direction.
• Prominently featured education and certifications.

You should choose this format when your work history doesn't follow a traditional path, if you have gaps in your work experience, or when your skills matter more than your employment timeline.

However, remember that while functional CVs can be effective in specific situations, most UK recruiters still prefer the reverse-chronological format. 

6 Sections to Include in a UK CV

Creating a successful UK CV means including the right sections in the proper order. British employers have specific expectations about what information they want to see and how you should present it.

#1. Contact Details

Your contact information should appear at the top of your CV and include essential information for UK employers:

• Full name. Write your name exactly as it appears on official documents.
• Phone number. Include a UK mobile number if possible for easy contact, or add your country’s prefix for easy contact.
• Email address. Keep it professional using a variation of the firstname.lastname@email.com format.
• Full address. Include your complete address with postcode - UK employers expect this.
• LinkedIn profile. Optional but recommended for professional networking.
• Professional website or portfolio. Only include if relevant to your field.

Unlike some countries, including your photo is optional in the UK and generally not recommended unless you're applying for roles where appearance matters (acting, modeling, etc.).

#2. Personal Statement

Your personal statement appears at the top of your CV and serves as your opportunity to capture hiring managers' interest. This concise 3-4 sentence overview can determine your application's success before recruiters even review your work history.

These are the components of an effective personal statement:

• A concise summary of your professional background and sector knowledge.
• Significant accomplishments that showcase your worth.
• One or two applicable skills that align with the position requirements.
• Your professional aspirations or desired next step.

Remember that vague statements provide employers with no valuable information:

Now, let's take a look at a well-written statement:

The distinction is obvious – effective statements deliver specific outcomes while weak examples use meaningless phrases and buzzwords that reveal nothing about your true qualifications.

Keep in mind that how you approach writing your personal statement may differ depending on your experience. Seasoned professionals typically write a resume summary focused on achievements and expertise, whereas recent graduates use a resume objective that highlights their motivation and career goals.

#3. Work Experience

Your work experience forms the backbone of your UK CV. Ideally, list positions in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role.

For each position, include:

• Job title and company name.
• Employment dates (in mm/yyyy format).
• Location (city, country if outside UK).
• Key achievements and responsibilities (3-5 bullet points).
• Quantified results wherever possible.

The key here is to focus on accomplishments rather than just listing duties. UK employers want to see the impact you made in previous roles. So, instead of generic responsibilities, highlight the tangible impact you made in each role.

Use bullet points with a slightly more narrative style to explain the context of your achievements, the actions you took, and the outcomes. This approach helps convey not only what you did, but also how and why it mattered.

Here’s an example of a UK-style work experience section:

#4. Skills

The skills section is a vital component of your CV. But how you present those skills depends largely on the CV format.

While you should include a dedicated Skills section on your CV, it’s equally important to weave those skills throughout other sections. This helps create a more cohesive narrative and shows employers how you’ve applied your abilities in real-world situations, making them more convincing and impactful.

For example, instead of simply listing "Problem-solving" in a bullet list, you could weave it into your personal statement:

Or you might highlight it through a key achievement in your work experience section:

However, for technical roles (such as software development, finance, or architecture), including a brief Skills section is perfectly acceptable –  and often recommended – to emphasize key technical skills (e.g., SQL, AutoCAD, Salesforce) for better readability and ATS optimization.

Remember to include only those skills that are relevant to the position you're applying for. A cluttered list filled with unrelated skills can backfire — making it harder for employers to see your fit.

Not sure which skills to feature? Here’s a quick way to decide:

• Mirror the skills found in the job ad.
• Include tools and platforms commonly used in your field.
• Highlight unique abilities that give you a competitive edge.
• Stick to skills you can back up with examples or achievements.

#5. Education

UK employers expect a thorough education section that covers more than just degree credentials. British hiring managers often look for specific qualifications that their US counterparts don’t expect on a resume.

Specifically, UK CVs should also mention your secondary school achievements and any relevant education certifications.

Your education section should provide a clear, well-rounded view of your academic background and ongoing development.

Here’s what British employers typically look for:

• University degrees. Mention the type of degree, course name, university, graduation year, and your final grade or classification.
• A-levels. List subjects and achieved grades, especially if they align with the job.
• GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education). Include English, Maths, and other relevant subjects with grades.
• Professional qualifications. Such as CIPD, ACA, PRINCE2, or other sector-specific credentials.
• Additional training. Include short courses, webinars, or recent online certifications that enhance your skill set.

If you’re a recent graduate and don’t have much work experience yet, list your education section before your work history. On the other hand, if you’re an experienced professional, position your education section after your work experience.

#6. Optional Sections

Depending on your background and the role you're targeting, you might consider adding these sections:

• Languages. This section is particularly valuable when applying to international companies or roles requiring multilingual communication.
• Volunteer work. Demonstrates your character and can showcase additional skills relevant to your target role.
• Professional memberships. Shows active engagement with your industry and commitment to professional development.
• Publications or presentations. Especially relevant for academic positions or senior-level roles where thought leadership matters.
• Hobbies and interests. Only include if they directly relate to the job or demonstrate desirable personality traits.
• References. Simply state "References available upon request" rather than listing specific contacts.
• Awards and achievements. Include professional recognition or significant accomplishments that are relevant to the role.
• Projects. Particularly useful for students or career changers who need to demonstrate relevant skills through practical work.

Choose optional sections strategically based on available space and relevance to your target position. Quality over quantity applies – only include sections that strengthen your application.

Here are the key changes you need to make:

• Change terminology. Call your document a "CV" instead of "resume" throughout all communications with UK employers.
• Extend the length. Expand your one-page US resume to 1-2 pages to meet UK expectations for more detailed information.
• Add comprehensive contact details. Include your full address with postcode,
• Switch to British English spelling. Use "organisation" instead of "organization," "colour" instead of "color," and "programme" instead of "program".
• Convert educational credentials. Use UK NARIC (National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom) to find British equivalents for your US qualifications.
• Include secondary education. Add your high school information, as UK employers expect to see a complete educational background.
• Change date formatting. Switch from mm/dd/yyy to dd/mm/yyy format throughout your CV.
• Adapt measurements and currency. Use metric units and British pounds instead of imperial measurements and US dollars.
• Localize industry terminology. Research and use business terms and professional language specific to the UK market.
• Add "References available upon request." Include this standard phrase that UK employers expect to see.
• Tailor content for each application. Customize your CV for specific UK job requirements using keywords from British job descriptions.

12 UK CV Formatting Tips

Follow these essential UK CV writing tips to create a professional document that impresses employers and passes through applicant tracking systems:

• Choose the right CV format. Use reverse-chronological format for most applications, or functional format if you're changing careers or have limited experience.
• Apply proper margins. Set 1-inch margins on all sides to create a clean, well-spaced layout that's easy to read.
• Select a professional font. UK employers expect a CV that’s easy to read at a glance, so it’s important to choose a clean, professional font. We recommend modern, highly legible options like Ubuntu, Roboto, or Overpass – they offer a polished look while helping your CV stand out from the overused defaults like Calibri or Times New Roman.
• Use appropriate font sizes. Keep body text between 10-12 points and headings at 13-14 points for optimal readability.
• Maintain consistent spacing. Use line spacing between 1.0 and 1.15 throughout your document to ensure comfortable reading.
• Align text properly. Left-align all text content for a professional appearance that's easy for recruiters to scan.
• Organize with bullet points. Use bullet points to break up information clearly, especially in work experience and skills sections.
• Keep to 2 pages maximum. Limit your CV length to two pages unless you have extensive senior-level experience.
• Customize for each application. Tailor your CV content and keywords for every specific job you apply to.
• Save as a PDF format. Export your final CV as a PDF to preserve formatting and ensure compatibility across different systems.
• Include a cover letter. Always complement your CV with a tailored cover letter that explains your interest in the specific role.
• Proofread thoroughly. Use spell-checkers, grammar tools, and ask trusted colleagues to review your CV before submitting.

Key Takeaways

Ready to create a winning UK CV that gets you noticed by British employers?

Here are the essential points to remember when formatting your application for the UK job market:

• Use "CV" instead of "resume" when applying for UK positions to show you’re aware of the country’s hiring requirements.
• Include more personal and educational details than other international job markets require.
• Choose a reverse-chronological format for most applications – it's what the majority of UK recruiters prefer.
• List detailed educational background, including A-levels and GCSEs - UK employers expect a complete academic history.
• Focus on measurable accomplishments rather than basic job responsibilities in work experience sections.
• Use British English spelling throughout (organisation, colour, realise) instead of the US versions.
• Customize your CV for each specific job application using keywords from the job description.
• Always pair your CV with a tailored cover letter explaining your interest in the specific role.