How to Write a CV for a Job in the UK: Complete Guide

A CV is often your first opportunity to show an employer that you have the skills and experience they need. A clear, well-organised CV can make it easier for a recruiter or hiring manager to understand your background and decide whether to invite you for an interview.

This guide explains how to write a CV for a job in the UK, what to include in each section and how to tailor your application for different roles.

What Is a CV?

A CV, short for curriculum vitae, is a document that summarises your professional background. It usually includes your work experience, education, skills and other information relevant to the job you are applying for.

In the UK, employers commonly use the term CV when asking job seekers to provide a summary of their experience and qualifications. If you are unsure about the difference between a CV and a résumé, read our guide to CV vs resume: what is the difference?

What Should You Include in a CV?

The exact sections depend on your experience and the type of job, but most UK CVs include the following information.

Contact Information

Include the information an employer needs to contact you, such as your name, phone number, professional email address and location. You do not normally need to include unnecessary personal information.

Personal Profile

A personal profile is a short introduction near the top of the CV. It should summarise your professional background, relevant strengths and the type of role you are seeking.

Work Experience

List relevant jobs in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. Include the job title, employer and dates, followed by relevant responsibilities and achievements.

Education and Qualifications

Include qualifications that are relevant to your career stage and the job. Candidates with limited work experience may place education closer to the top of the CV.

Skills

Add skills that are genuinely relevant to the role. These may include technical skills, professional knowledge, languages or other abilities requested in the job description.

Achievements and Additional Information

You may also include relevant certifications, professional memberships, awards, volunteering or projects when they help demonstrate your suitability for the position.

How to Write a CV Step by Step

Read the Job Description Carefully

Start by matching your CV to the role’s duties and requirements. See our guide to what to look for in a job description.

Before writing or updating your CV, identify the main skills, responsibilities and qualifications mentioned in the job advert. This helps you decide which parts of your experience deserve the most attention.

Choose a Clear CV Structure

Use clear headings and a logical order. Most employers should be able to quickly find your contact details, professional background, experience, education and relevant skills.

Write a Focused Personal Profile

Keep your profile specific. Instead of relying on vague descriptions, briefly explain your background and strengths that relate to the type of work you want.

Example Approach

Start with your professional background, add two or three relevant strengths and connect them to the type of position you are seeking.

Describe Your Work Experience Clearly

For each relevant role, explain what you did and what responsibility you held. Prioritise information that helps demonstrate your suitability for the new position.

Show Achievements Where Possible

Responsibilities explain what your job involved. Achievements can show what you accomplished. Where appropriate, use specific results, improvements or outcomes that you can explain accurately.

Add Relevant Skills

Keep the skills section focused on abilities that genuinely match the role. If you are unsure which skills you can show, our transferable skills guide can help.

Use the job description as a guide, but only include skills you genuinely have. A long list of unrelated abilities is less useful than a focused list connected to the role.

Tailor Your CV for the Job

You do not always need to rewrite your entire CV, but you should review it for each application. Adjust the profile, skills and examples so the most relevant experience is easy to see.

How Long Should a CV Be?

There is no single length that suits every candidate. The goal is to include enough relevant information without adding unnecessary detail. For many job seekers, one or two pages can be sufficient, while experienced professionals may need more space for directly relevant experience.

How to Format a CV

A good CV should be easy to read. Complex designs can sometimes make information harder to find.

Use Readable Fonts

Choose a clear, professional font and use consistent sizing throughout the document.

Use Headings and Spacing

Clear section headings and sensible spacing make it easier for a reader to scan your CV.

Keep Colours Simple

If you use colour, keep it restrained. The information on the CV should remain the main focus.

Be Careful With Graphics and Complex Layouts

Charts, icons, text boxes and elaborate layouts can look attractive, but they are not necessary for most applications. Prioritise clarity and readability.

How to Make Your CV Easy to Read and ATS-Friendly

Many employers use digital recruitment systems to manage applications. Clear headings, standard section names and straightforward formatting can help keep your CV easy for both people and software to process.

Use Relevant Language From the Job Description

If a job advert repeatedly refers to a skill or qualification you genuinely possess, use accurate wording that clearly reflects your experience.

Avoid Keyword Stuffing

Repeating words simply to match a job advert can make a CV difficult to read. Focus on natural, accurate descriptions of your skills and experience.

How to Write a CV With No Experience

If you are applying for your first job, our CV with no experience guide gives more specific advice on education, projects, volunteering and transferable skills.

If you are writing your first CV, see our detailed guide to how to write a CV with no experience.

Having little or no formal work experience does not mean you have nothing to include. Education, coursework, volunteering, internships, projects and other responsibilities can provide useful evidence of skills.

Focus on Relevant Experience

Think broadly about where you developed skills such as communication, teamwork, organisation, problem solving or responsibility.

Place Education Appropriately

If your education is one of your strongest qualifications, it may deserve a more prominent position on your CV.

How to Explain Employment Gaps on Your CV

An employment gap does not automatically make a candidate unsuitable. The best approach depends on the circumstances, but honesty and a clear explanation of relevant activities are generally more useful than trying to hide information.

Read our detailed guide on how to explain employment gaps on your CV.

Can You Use AI to Write a CV?

AI can help with structure and wording, but check every claim yourself. Our guide to using AI responsibly when applying for jobs covers accuracy and responsible use.

AI tools can help you brainstorm, improve clarity and review the structure of a CV. However, your CV should remain accurate and reflect your genuine experience, skills and achievements.

Read how AI can help you write a CV without making it sound generic before relying on AI-generated wording.

Common CV Mistakes to Avoid

Small mistakes can make a CV harder to read or reduce the impact of your experience. Common problems include poor tailoring, vague descriptions, spelling errors, unnecessary information and exaggerated claims.

For more detailed guidance, read 10 CV mistakes that can stop you getting an interview.

Why Your CV May Not Be Getting Interviews

A CV can be well written and still fail to generate interviews if the experience is not closely matched to the jobs being targeted or the most relevant information is difficult to identify quickly.

See our guide to why your CV is not getting interviews and what to fix.

Be Honest About Your Experience

Do not invent qualifications, skills or achievements. Employers may check information during the recruitment process, and inaccurate claims can create problems even if you are offered the role.

Read about common lies people tell on their CV and why they can backfire.

Final CV Checklist Before You Apply

Before submitting, check your contact details, spelling, dates, formatting and job-specific keywords. The National Careers Service also recommends keeping a CV clear, easy to read and tailored to the vacancy.

• Does your CV clearly show the experience most relevant to the job?
• Have you tailored important sections for the position?
• Are your contact details correct?
• Have you checked spelling and grammar?
• Are your job dates accurate?
• Have you included genuine achievements where relevant?
• Is the formatting easy to read?
• Have you removed unnecessary information?
• Are all qualifications and skills accurate?

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I write a CV for the first time?

Start with your contact details, education, relevant skills and any experience that demonstrates your abilities. If you have limited employment history, include relevant projects, volunteering, internships or responsibilities.

Should I tailor my CV for every job?

It is a good idea to review your CV for each application and make sure the most relevant experience and skills are clearly presented.

Should I include a photo on my CV?

For most UK job applications, a photo is not necessary unless it is specifically requested or relevant to the role.

Can I use AI to help write my CV?

AI can help with ideas, structure and editing, but you should check every statement and ensure the final CV accurately represents your own background.

What should I leave off my CV?

Remove information that does not help demonstrate your suitability for the role, outdated details that no longer add value and unnecessary personal information.

Final Thoughts

A strong CV does not need to be complicated. The most important goal is to make your relevant skills, experience and achievements easy for an employer to understand. Keep the structure clear, tailor the content to the role and make sure every important claim is accurate.

Once your CV helps you secure an interview, continue your preparation with our complete job interview preparation guide.