# UK CV Format: How to Write a CV for British Employers

Source: https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/uk
Last updated: 2026-09-29

A UK CV is usually two sides of A4, opens with a short personal statement and lists experience in reverse chronological order. British employers do not expect a photo, date of birth or marital status, and most prefer that you leave them out. Use British spelling throughout, mention your right to work if it is not obvious, and send the file as a PDF or Word document unless the advert asks otherwise.

## At a glance

| Item | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Length | Two sides of A4 is the norm; one page suits graduates and school leavers. |
| Photo | No photo, except for acting, modelling or presenting roles. |
| Personal details | Name, phone, email, town or city and LinkedIn; no date of birth or marital status. |
| Dates | Month and year for each role, most recent first. |
| Paper size | A4 paper size with sensible margins, not US Letter. |
| Spelling | British English: organise, colour, programme, licence (noun), CV rather than résumé. |
| File type | PDF or Word document, named with your full name and “CV”. |

## Usual section order

1. Contact details
2. Personal statement (profile)
3. Key skills
4. Employment history
5. Education and qualifications
6. Training and certifications
7. Additional information (languages, driving licence, right to work)
8. Interests (optional)

## Contact details and what to leave off

Put your full name at the top as the heading; there is no need to write “Curriculum Vitae” above it. Underneath, give one mobile number, a professional email address, your town or city and a LinkedIn or portfolio link. A full street address is no longer expected, and many candidates simply write the town and county or the London borough. Leave out your date of birth, age, nationality, marital status, dependants and National Insurance number. Employers do not need these details to shortlist, and removing them keeps the focus on your skills while reducing the risk of unconscious bias.

## Writing a personal statement

The personal statement, also called a profile, is a short paragraph of three to five lines directly below your contact details. It tells the reader who you are professionally, what you are good at and what kind of role you are after. Many UK candidates write it in the first person without the word “I”, for example “Operations coordinator with six years’ experience in logistics”. Tailor it to each application by echoing the job title and two or three requirements from the advert. Avoid clichés such as “team player” or “excellent communication skills” unless you back them up with evidence further down the page.

## Employment history in reverse order

List your jobs starting with the current or most recent one. For each role give the job title, employer, town or city and the start and end dates as month and year. Follow with four to six bullet points that describe achievements rather than duties, and quantify them where you honestly can: budgets managed, targets met, time saved or teams led. Roles from more than ten to fifteen years ago can be summarised in a single line each. If you have gaps for caring, travel, study or illness, a brief, neutral note is enough; British recruiters generally prefer honesty to an unexplained break.

## Education and qualifications

Graduates and school leavers usually place education above employment; experienced candidates move it below. Give the institution, qualification, subject and the year range or month and year of completion. Include your degree classification, such as a 2:1 or First, if it helps you. GCSEs and A levels can be summarised in one line, for example “9 GCSEs including Maths and English”, once you have a degree or several years of work. Candidates from Scotland may list Highers and Advanced Highers instead. Overseas qualifications are best followed by a short UK equivalent where you know it, so the reader can compare easily.

## Right to work, languages and licences

An “Additional information” section is a common place for practical details that affect hiring. If your name or career history suggests you may need sponsorship, state your status clearly, for example “Full right to work in the UK” or “Graduate visa, valid until [month and year]”. Employers must check right to work before you start, so saying it early removes doubt. Add languages with an honest level, a full UK driving licence if the role involves travel, and any security clearance you hold. Keep this section short and factual, with one line per item.

## References and interests

The line “References available on request” is optional and increasingly seen as unnecessary, because employers assume you will provide referees when asked. Most UK firms take up references only after making a conditional offer, so there is no need to list names on the CV itself. Use the space for evidence of skills instead. An interests section is optional too. Include it only if the activities say something relevant, such as volunteering, coaching a youth team or running a technical blog, and leave out generic entries like “reading” or “socialising with friends”.

## What to include

- A tailored personal statement that mirrors the job title and key requirements from the advert.
- Measurable achievements for each role, such as budgets managed, savings made or targets exceeded.
- Your right to work status whenever sponsorship could be a question for the employer.
- Relevant professional qualifications and memberships, for example chartered status or industry certifications, with the awarding body.
- A LinkedIn profile or portfolio link that matches the dates and job titles on your CV.

## What to leave out

- A photograph, since UK employers rarely want one and it can invite bias under the Equality Act 2010.
- Date of birth, age, marital status and religion, as none of these are relevant to shortlisting.
- Your National Insurance number and full home address, which are only needed after an offer.
- Salary history and current pay, unless the application form specifically asks for it.
- Referee names and contact details, because employers usually request these later in the process.

## Sample professional summary

> Marketing executive with five years’ experience planning and delivering multichannel campaigns for B2B software and professional services clients. Skilled in content strategy, email automation and analytics, with a record of improving lead quality and cutting cost per enquiry. Professionally qualified in marketing and comfortable managing agencies and budgets. Now seeking a senior marketing role in a growing organisation.

## Adding a personal website link

Most UK recruiters look at LinkedIn before inviting someone to interview, and a personal website or online portfolio is a useful addition for design, marketing, writing, technology and creative roles. Put the link in your CV header next to your email address and, where relevant, in the cover letter. Recruiters usually check that dates and job titles match your CV, look at a few recent samples and judge how clear and professional it looks.

## How UK compares

| Country | Length | Photo | Paper size |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [India](https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/in) | One page for freshers; two pages for most experienced candidates; senior profiles occasionally longer. | Optional; a plain professional headshot is acceptable but rarely required by private employers. | A4 size, with margins of roughly 2 cm on each side. |
| [US](https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/us) | One page under about ten years of experience; two pages for senior roles. | No photo. Most US employers prefer not to see one. | US Letter size (8.5 × 11 inches), not A4. |
| **UK** | Two sides of A4 is the norm; one page suits graduates and school leavers. | No photo, except for acting, modelling or presenting roles. | A4 paper size with sensible margins, not US Letter. |
| [UAE](https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/ae) | Two pages is typical; three can suit senior or highly technical profiles. | Common and often expected: a plain, professional head-and-shoulders photo. | A4 size when printed. |
| [Canada](https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/ca) | One page for early-career applicants; two pages is common for experienced professionals. | Leave it out. Most Canadian employers prefer resumes without a photo. | North American Letter size, 8.5 by 11 inches, not A4. |
| [Australia](https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/au) | Two to three pages is usual; graduates and school leavers can keep to one or two. | Leave it out; most employers prefer no photo, except for acting or modelling roles. | A4 paper size, the standard for printed documents in Australia. |
| [Singapore](https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/sg) | One to two A4 pages; senior specialists sometimes stretch to three. | Optional and less common than before; leave it out unless requested. | A4 with modest margins, the standard size in Singapore offices. |
| [Ireland](https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/ie) | Two A4 pages for most candidates; one page can work for school leavers. | Leave the photo off unless the job is in acting, modelling or presenting. | A4 page size with even margins, never US Letter. |
| [Germany](https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/de) | One to two pages of A4; experienced specialists occasionally use three. | Optional; still common, but many employers no longer expect one. | A4 with a tidy, consistent grid and generous margins. |
| [Spain](https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/es) | One A4 page early in your career; two pages once you have several roles. | Commonly included as a small headshot, but optional and never required. | A4, with a simple layout that survives printing and portal uploads. |
| [France](https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/fr) | One page for most early-career applicants; two pages for senior profiles. | Optional; still seen, but many candidates and employers now leave it out. | A4 with compact margins and a clear visual hierarchy. |
| [Italy](https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/it) | One or two A4 pages; graduates usually fit everything on one. | Commonly included as a small headshot; optional, not required by law. | A4 with a sober layout; muted colours suit most sectors. |
| [Portugal](https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/pt) | One or two A4 pages; one page is common for graduates. | Often included as a small headshot, but not required. | A4, with a clean layout and readable font size. |
| [Brazil](https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/br) | One page for most candidates; two pages for senior professionals. | Not expected; leave it off unless the advert asks for one. | A4, with a simple layout that reads well on a phone screen. |

## Applying to United Kingdom from India?

- [UK Nurse CV for Indian Nurses: Format and NMC Steps](https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/uk/nurses)
- [UK Software Engineer CV for Indian Developers](https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/uk/software-engineers)
- [UK Teacher CV for Indian Teachers: QTS and Format](https://digitalcvmaker.com/resume-format/uk/teachers)

## Questions about the UK CV format

### How long should a CV be in the UK?

Two sides of A4 is the standard expectation for most professional roles. Graduates, school leavers and people with limited experience can often fit everything on one page. Senior executives, academics and some technical specialists may run to three pages, but anything longer usually needs cutting. Recruiters skim quickly, so it is better to trim older roles than shrink the font to squeeze more in.

### Should I put a photo on my CV in the UK?

No, in most cases. British employers do not expect a photo, and many recruiters remove it or prefer not to see it because it can lead to unconscious bias. The common exceptions are acting, modelling and some presenting roles, where appearance is part of the job. Your LinkedIn profile can carry a professional headshot if you want one visible.

### Is a CV the same as a résumé in the UK?

In everyday British usage, yes. The word “CV” covers what Americans call a résumé, and job adverts almost always ask for a CV. The main differences from a US résumé are the usual two-page length, the personal statement at the top, A4 paper and British spelling. Academic CVs are longer and list publications, grants and teaching in more detail.

### Do I need to say I have the right to work in the UK?

It is not required, but it often helps. Employers must check right to work before someone starts, and if your background suggests you might need a visa, a recruiter may hesitate. A short line such as “Full right to work in the UK” or a description of your current visa removes that uncertainty. If you need sponsorship, say so honestly rather than leaving it unclear.

## Sources

- [CV sections](https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/cv-sections) — National Careers Service
- [Check a job applicant’s right to work](https://www.gov.uk/check-job-applicant-right-to-work) — GOV.UK
- [Discrimination: your rights](https://www.gov.uk/discrimination-your-rights) — GOV.UK