CV Format for the UK (2026 Guide)
British CVs are skills-and-achievement focused and deliberately leave out personal characteristics that could invite bias. The format is clean, concise and built to be skimmed in under a minute.
At a glance
What to include
- A short personal profile — 3 to 4 lines summarising who you are and what you offer
- Work history in reverse-chronological order, with quantified achievements not just duties
- Education and professional qualifications
- Key skills, especially technical or language skills relevant to the role
- Right-to-work status where relevant (often confirmed later, not on the CV)
What to avoid
- A photo, date of birth, marital status or nationality — these invite bias and are unnecessary
- Writing 'Curriculum Vitae' as a page heading — your name is the header
- Graphics, coloured fonts or two-column layouts that break ATS parsing
- Duties listed as achievements; recruiters want outcomes and numbers
Lead with a punchy profile and quantify everything: 'grew retention 18%', 'cut onboarding from 6 weeks to 3'. UK recruiters skim in seconds and decide on the first half-page, so put your strongest evidence there.
Frequently asked questions
Should I put a photo on a UK CV?
No. Photos, date of birth and marital status are not expected and can trigger unconscious bias. Keep the CV text-only.
How long should a UK CV be?
One page for early career, two pages for most professionals. Academic or research CVs can be longer.
Do I need a personal profile?
It is not mandatory but strongly recommended. A tight 3–4 line profile at the top helps recruiters place you quickly.
Localize your CV for UK
Paste your current CV and our free preview shows exactly what changes for UK — photo, length, dates, wording and order.