UK CV format: layout and what to include

A useful UK CV is easy to scan and easy to understand. Layout cannot guarantee an interview, but a simple structure helps the reader find your relevant evidence. Always follow the vacancy's application instructions.

Use a clear page structure

Put your name and contact details at the top. Follow with a brief profile, recent work history, skills and relevant education or training. For a first job, relevant education or volunteering can come before paid employment.

Use descriptive headings such as ‘Work experience’ rather than decorative labels. A single-column layout with consistent spacing is a sensible option where you do not know how the employer processes files. Avoid putting essential information only inside an image.

Name, phone, email and town or city.
Profile: a few focused lines.
Experience: latest role first, with employer and dates.
Skills, education, training and confirmed licences.

Keep dates and wording consistent

Use a consistent month-and-year style, for example ‘March 2023 – August 2025’ and ‘September 2025 – present’. If you only know the year, do not manufacture a month. Review overlapping dates to make sure part-time or concurrent jobs are clear.

Use present tense for current responsibilities and past tense for previous work. Keep bullet points short enough to scan, while giving the reader a task and a context. Do not use large blocks of generic adjectives.

Leave unnecessary private details out

UK employers do not normally need a photo, date of birth, marital status or National Insurance number on a CV. A full street address is usually unnecessary at the first application stage; town or city is generally sufficient.

References can be provided when requested. Do not publish a referee's phone number or email without permission. An employer may request identity or right-to-work evidence through a separate process; that is not a reason to include document numbers in a public CV.

Check length and the exported file

One or two A4 pages is a useful guide for many everyday roles, not a universal limit. Academic, technical or employer-specific applications may require something different. Remove repetitive duties before reducing the font to an uncomfortable size.

Use a readable font, strong contrast and enough space between sections. Send the requested format: a PDF preserves layout, but some employers ask for a Word document or online form. Check the export for clipped lines, blank pages and missing contact details. No template can truthfully promise to pass every recruitment system.