The Ultimate Guide to the UK CV Format: What Actually Lands Interviews in 2026

January 9, 2026 Uk Living Guide

If you’re applying for jobs in the UK, you’ve probably realized that the “one-size-fits-all” resume doesn’t really exist. The British job market has its own set of unwritten rules, etiquette, and structural quirks. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional moving to London, Manchester, or anywhere in between, getting your CV format right is the difference between an interview invite and the dreaded “silent rejection.”

In this guide, we’re moving past the generic advice. We’re going to look at why certain sections matter, how to beat the modern Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), and how to write a CV that feels like a conversation with your future boss.

1. The Basics: Layout and Presentation

In the UK, we call it a CV (Curriculum Vitae), not a resume. While in the US a resume is often strictly one page, the standard UK format is two pages.

Three pages is usually too long unless you’re in academia or a very senior executive role; one page can look a bit “thin” for someone with experience.

Key Formatting Rules:

Font: Use something clean and professional. Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica at 10–12pt for body text.
Margins: Keep them standard (2.5cm). Don’t try to cram more text in by making the margins tiny—white space is your friend. It makes the document readable.
File Type: Always save and send as a PDF, unless the job description specifically asks for a Word doc. This ensures your formatting stays exactly as you intended.

2. What to Include (And What to Leave Out)

The UK has strict anti-discrimination laws (The Equality Act 2010). Because of this, UK CVs are quite “blind” compared to some other countries.

The “Do Not Include” List:

Photos: Do not include a headshot. It’s not standard practice in the UK and can actually lead to your CV being rejected immediately to avoid bias.
Age/Date of Birth: Irrelevant to your ability to do the job.
Marital Status/Religion: None of their business.
Full Address: In 2026, for privacy reasons, just your city and county (e.g., “Reading, Berkshire”) is enough.

The “Must Include” List:

Contact Details: Name, phone number, professional email, and your LinkedIn profile URL.
Personal Profile: A 3–4 sentence “elevator pitch.”
Core Skills: A quick-scan bulleted list of your top strengths.
Professional Experience: Your career history in reverse chronological order.
Education: Degrees, diplomas, and relevant certifications.

3. Nailing the Personal Profile

The personal profile (or personal statement) is the most wasted space on most CVs. People fill it with “motivated, hardworking team player seeking a new challenge.”

Stop doing that. Recruiters read that 100 times a day. It means nothing.

Instead, use this formula: [Who you are] + [What you’ve achieved] + [What you bring to the table].

Bad Example: “I am a motivated marketing professional looking to grow my skills in a fast-paced environment.”

Good Example: “Dynamic Digital Marketing Manager with 6+ years of experience in the UK tech sector. Proven track record of increasing organic traffic by 40% for SaaS startups. Specialist in SEO and data-driven content strategy, looking to leverage performance marketing expertise for [Company Name].”

4. Reverse Chronological: The Gold Standard

In the UK, employers want to see what you did last first. This is called the reverse-chronological format. It’s the most popular because it shows your current career level immediately.

How to structure your Experience:

For each role, include:

Job Title
Company Name & Location
Dates of Employment (Month and Year)
The “So What?” Bullets: Don’t just list your responsibilities. List your achievements.

The “Action-Result” Framework: Instead of saying “Responsible for managing a budget,” say “Managed a annual marketing budget of £50,000, reducing overspend by 15% through more efficient vendor negotiations.”

5. Education and Qualifications

If you’ve been working for more than 3 years, your education should go after your experience. If you’re a graduate, it can go before.

University: Mention your degree subject, the university, and your grade (e.g., 2:1 or First Class).
A-Levels / GCSEs: You don’t need to list every single subject. You can simply write “A-Levels: 3 Subjects (A-B)” or “9 GCSEs including English and Maths.”
Professional Certifications: If you have a Prince2, a CIM diploma, or a coding certification, create a separate “Certifications” section to make them pop.

6. Dealing with the “ATS” (The Robot Filter)

Most medium-to-large UK companies use Applicant Tracking Systems. These are algorithms that scan your CV for keywords before a human ever sees it.

How to optimize for ATS:

Keyword Matching: Look at the job description. If they mention “Project Management” five times, make sure that exact phrase is in your CV.
Avoid Graphics: Don’t use tables, columns, or complex graphics. They often “confuse” the scanner, and your data might come out scrambled on the other end.
Standard Headings: Use simple headers like “Work Experience” rather than “Where I’ve Been.”

7. The “Interests” Section: Is it worth it?

In the UK, a small interests section at the bottom can actually be a great conversation starter. However, only include it if it adds value or shows personality.

“Reading and socializing” is boring. “Marathon running,” “Volunteering at a local animal shelter,” or “Restoring vintage motorcycles” gives the interviewer a hook to get to know the human behind the paper.

8. References

You do not need to list your references’ names and phone numbers on your CV. It takes up valuable space.
Simply write:
References available upon request.

In the UK, employers usually only check references after they’ve made a conditional offer anyway.