How to Write a CV in the UK: Tips, Template & Example

Are you ready to embark on a new adventure? What’s more exciting than finding a new job—one that offers an opportunity to develop and provides satisfaction? The pursuit of your dream career starts right now, with a CV that will serve as your vehicle.

And I'm here to guide you on how to write a CV that not only highlights your strengths but also captures the attention of potential employers, paving the way for your next big opportunity.

Read on and learn how to write a CV to take you where you want to be in 10 years.

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Looking to improve your CV? These guides on how to write a CV for the UK job market might help:

• 10 Job Skills Employers Are Looking For
• CV Meaning, Definition & Example
• How to Upload Your CV to LinkedIn?
• How to Utilize ChatGPT to Create a Good CV?
• Including Achievements on a CV: Instructions
• Modern CV Templates & How to Use Them
• Simple & Basic CV Templates (List of Examples)
• The Right CV Length (And What Not to Exceed)
• Which Free AI CV Makers Are Recommended in the UK?
• Writing a Perfect CV: a Step-by-Step Instruction

What is a CV?

A CV, derived from the Latin term “curriculum vitae,” meaning “course of life,” is a document utilised during job applications. It usually spans 1–2 pages and lets you summarise your work experience, education, and skills to attract potential employers. A CV is often sent along with a cover letter.

Why do you need a good CV?

While various countries use different application documents, a curriculum vitae is a standard format in the UK. Knowing how to create a good CV is essential for making a positive first impression on potential employers and presenting your strongest points. It also allows recruiters to assess your suitability for a job quickly.

In a competitive job market, creating a strong CV can help you stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of being shortlisted for interviews. It’s a powerful tool in your job search, opening doors to new possibilities and enabling you to pursue your career goals confidently.

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

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How to make a good CV for a job?

1. Research the company and the role

Before you get down to CV writing, I advise you to carefully read the job advertisement and make notes about the job requirements, position, and company. You’ll use this information to determine what to write in each section of your CV for work.

Make notes about the following things:

• Why your desired position is important to the company.
• What qualifications do you need for the role.
• What relevant experience, including academic and volunteer work, you possess.

To compile such detailed information, look into:

• Information about your previous employers
• Details about your education, such as years of study
• Certificates and diplomas confirming the completion of additional training

Now, it’s a good idea to research the company’s website and social media to learn more about its objectives and culture. Your research should provide a first-light answer to the question: “What problem could the company be facing and trying to solve?”.

2. Choose a UK-standard CV style that suits you best

The above question is just a preface to how you’ll make a CV for job application. Because you need then to decide how you’ll solve the problems you’ve identified in the job posting. And you can do that by determining if either experience or skills speak in your favour. Once you have the answer, see which of the three most common CV formats you should be aiming at:

1. Chronological CV: It focuses on your experience and shows the most recent positions first.
2. Functional (skill-based) CV: It highlights your skills and limits the information about work experience to a list of positions.
3. Combination CV: It merges the reverse-chronological and functional formats to highlight your skills and work experience.

Let me show you a quick comparison of all the differences between these three UK CV formats:

If you don’t prefer any of these styles, go with the chronological CV. Recruiters prefer this format, and it’s suitable for candidates of all experience levels. It’s also best suited for applicant tracking software used to scan job applications.

3. Include the right contact details in a CV

Start creating your CV by creating a header at the top of the document. The placement will depend on the template you’re using. Use the header space for your name, job title, and personal details.

How to make a UK CV header:

1. Put your first and last name first. Use a bigger font size, such as 16–26 pt.
2. Add your professional title in the next line. If you’re a student, specify your field of study.
3. List your contact information, including a phone number and email address.
4. Mention professional social media accounts such as LinkedIn. You can also add your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram profiles if you use them for business purposes and if they’re relevant to the role you’re after.
5. Provide additional information, such as a portfolio or personal website link.

Here’s an example of how to make a UK CV header:

UK CV header: Example

Be careful when typing your email and phone number; always re-read them. A typo can make it impossible to reach you.

4. Create the personal statement for your UK CV

The next section of your curriculum vitae should summarise your qualifications for the desired position. Writing a personal statement is the best way to introduce yourself on a CV. But only when you tailor it to the role you want.

How to write a UK CV personal statement:

1. Mention your job title and years of experience. 
2. Add information about your professional skills and knowledge, and specify how they can benefit the employer. 
3. Mention a relevant achievement from your employment history or other activities. 
4. Keep the personal statement 3–4 sentences long.

See an example:

UK CV personal statement: Example

That might sound overwhelming if you’re writing a CV without work experience, but chin up! Instead of employment history, I recommend that you mention your academic background, volunteer work, or transferable skills. Show your understanding of the job and that you can handle it. Just like the applicant in the example below:

UK CV with no experience: Sample CV profile

If you want to make your job easier, leave this part of your UK CV blank, and move on to other sections. Fill it out after you complete the rest of your CV. You can later combine bits and pieces of information from different parts of your application.

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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5. Describe employment history on a UK CV

In the chronological format, your work experience section is vital. But it’s far from the truth that you need a simple listing of your previous jobs and responsibilities. To make the most out of this section, you should include specific details about your experience, such as the accomplishments you achieved and the skills you developed. Additionally, you should emphasise the impact of your work and how it helped to improve the company's bottom line.

Knowing how to do a CV work history well is priceless. Here, I explain what to do step by step:

1. Start with the most recent position and continue with older ones in the reverse-chronological order.
2. Include your professional title, the employer's name, the city where the company is, and dates of employment.
3. Write up to six bullet points about your accomplishments and duties, starting each one with an action verb, such as “developed” or “coordinated.”
4. Describe measurable achievements for each position. I recommend using a PAR formula and accomplishment statements for the best impact.
5. Tailor your job description by including keywords from the job advertisement and referring to key skills.
6. Keep the work history limited to the last 10 years, unless you have relevant experience beyond that. 

Here’s a sample UK CV job description:

UK CV employment history: Example

So, what makes this example work so well? Several factors: it includes measurable achievements that prove the applicant’s expertise, names awards they received, and uses action words to highlight the candidate’s initiative.

6. Present your education

The next step to creating a great UK CV is the education section. No job application is complete without it. However, adding information about your educational background is more than a formality. If you know how to make the CV education section well, this part of your UK CV can become a real asset.

The amount of information you should provide depends on your professional experience: 

• Suppose you’ve got a few years of work history up your sleeve. In that case, you can stick to the basics, which are the highest level of education you’ve obtained (such as a university degree), the name of the school or university, and the years attended.

• However, if you’ve just graduated or left school, you might add more information about your academic record. Mention A-levels, scholarships, extracurricular activities, relevant coursework, extra projects, research, publications, or your thesis. Those can be important factors in proving you’ve developed valuable skills and gained the knowledge needed for the job.

Here’s how to make a CV’s education section:

UK CV education section: Example

7. Add the right mix of skills

Employers want skilled workers, and that’s a fact. But the skills they expect depend on the job—a university professor needs different abilities than a financial advisor. Do you know what skills are expected of you? You can verify that using your job posting.

Here’s how to make a UK CV’s skills section:

1. Return to the job advert and look for keywords referring to duties, skills, qualifications, and qualities. 
2. Jot down all the skills required for this position. 
3. Make a list of the skills you’ve mastered. 
4. Compare the two lists and pick 6–10 that match. (Your skill section needs a combination of soft skills, hard skills, and computer knowledge or technical skills.)

Let me share an example:

UK CV skills section: Example

What if the job posting doesn’t mention the required skills? Here’s a tip: Check the National Career Service job profiles. They include detailed descriptions of various professions and list the most common skills for the role.

8. Pick additional CV sections

What else should you write in a CV? You’ve completed the essential sections, so now it’s time for the extras. Bonus sections help make your CV more personal and allow you to provide more details about relevant skills and experience.

The most common CV's additional sections are: 

• Certifications
• Conferences
• Professional associations
• Language skills
• Volunteer work 
• Publications
• Personal interests

Choose 2–3 sections from the list above that you believe will bring you benefits. Describe relevant accomplishments just like you would mention in the work history part. And use action verbs to highlight your initiatives. 

UK CV's additional sections: Example

9. Make an appealing UK CV layout

In business, first impressions matter. Make the most of it by creating a curriculum vitae that looks perfect. 

If you want a quick and simple solution, try an online CV builder or find free CV templates that are already pre-formatted. But you can also design your curriculum vitae yourself using Word, Google Docs, or a similar app. They make CV writing much easier.

If you opt for the second solution, here’s how to create a CV layout:

• Apply 1-inch margins on all sides of your UK CV.
• Consider if you prefer one column or two columns on the page.
• Select one of the top CV fonts, such as Times New Roman, Calibri, or Helvetica.
• Set the font size to 10–12 for paragraphs and 13–14 for headings.
• Use 1–1.5 line spacing and add empty spaces between sections.
• Put your name at the top of the document and make it large and easy to spot.
• Make your CV one page long if you have less than ten years of experience.

Are you thinking of adding colour to your CV to stand out from the crowd? Be careful. Resources such as the London School of Economics Careers CV manual advise against it. If you wish to use colour, be subtle: use it to highlight your name, headings, or bullet points, and stick to one colour only.

Extra tips for writing a good CV

It looks like your CV is almost ready to win you the job you want. But before you send it, consider these extra tips to make your UK-standard CV even better:

1. Ensure to include relevant keywords from the job description in your CV to pass through applicant tracking systems successfully.
2. Read your CV for a job application a couple of times. Check for typos and misspelled words, and make sure you include all the information that matters.
3. Save the work version of your CV in a doc format and the final version in a PDF file to prevent unwanted formatting issues.
4. Keep your CV for work updated by adding your latest achievements, skills, and experiences, even if you’re not actively searching for a job.
5. Consider writing a cover letter to accompany your UK CV document. If written well, it increases your chances of being considered for the role.

A bit overwhelmed with the amount of information to remember? Don’t worry. Here’s a short checklist for you to go through once you’re done writing your CV:

How to write a CV: Example

A cover letter alone simply won’t be enough—you need an impactful CV, too. Create your CV in minutes. Just follow our wizard and fill in every CV section with ready-made content. Get started by choosing a professional CV template.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this guide that explains how to do a CV. Now that you know how to write one, maybe you’d like to share tips for other applicants? Or do you need some more help? Let me know in the comments below.

How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with Livecareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.

Frequently asked questions about how to write a CV

What is a good CV format?

Reverse-chronological CV format is the best one, according to career experts. It focuses on work experience and lists jobs from the most recent to the oldest, highlighting professional accomplishments. The chronological CV is best for experienced candidates, but it’s easy to adapt for all candidates.

What does a good CV look like in 2024?

A good CV is easy to follow, concise, and visually appealing. It has the necessary CV sections, such as a header with contact information, personal statement, work experience, education and skills, and a few additional sections—all packed in a good CV layout.

Here’s how to ensure your CV looks professional in 2024:

• Use standard CV fonts such as Calibri, Verdana, or Times New Roman.
• Set the font size to 10–12 for paragraphs and 13–14 for headings.
• Apply 1-inch wide margins on all sides.
• Arrange information in distinct sections and separate them with white space.
• Use bullet points to list out information.
• Limit the length of the CV to one or two pages maximum.

What are the five main parts of a CV?

The five main parts of a CV include the header with your name and contact details, personal statement, work experience, education, and skills. In the reverse-chronological format, the work experience section is the most extensive part of a CV.

How to write a CV for a job application?

You can make your CV using a free CV builder where hiring professionals will guide you or create a document in a word-processing application. If you want to create a perfect CV from scratch, follow the steps below:

1. Make a professional CV layout.
2. Choose the CV format that works best for you.
3. Fill in the CV header with your name and contact details.
4. Write an impressive personal statement.
5. Describe your employment history.
6. Mention your educational background.
7. List your skills in a separate section.
8. Pick additional CV sections to provide more information.
9. Proofread your CV before sending it out.

How can a 16-year-old make a CV?

To make an effective teenager CV, consider your achievements at school and from other extracurricular activities relevant to the job you want. Use them to demonstrate your skills and knowledge that you can translate to success at work.

Here’s how you can write a CV for a 16-year-old:

1. Choose a professional CV template or create a good CV layout from scratch.
2. Make a CV header with your name and contact information.
3. Write a personal statement saying what you want to achieve for the employer.
4. Add information about your education, including extracurricular activities, scholarships, awards, and the coursework you excel at.
5. Give examples of educational accomplishments that show you’ve got the skills needed for the job.
6. Make a CV skill section matching the job ad's skills.
7. Select additional sections such as volunteer work, language skills, and personal projects to provide more relevant information.
8. Proofread your CV to make sure everything is correct.