Writing a CV for UK job applications follows conventions that differ from US resumes and from what many international candidates expect. The format is different, the sections are different, and the terminology matters.
This guide covers exactly what a UK employer expects to see, in the order they expect to see it, and how to structure each section so your CV passes ATS screening and gets read.
CV vs Resume: The UK Context
In the UK, the document is called a CV. When a job posting says "send your CV," it means the document described in this guide. A US-style resume (one page, dense, achievement-focused) is not standard in the UK and may be read as under-detailed by UK recruiters.
UK CVs are typically 2 pages, structured chronologically, and include a personal statement at the top. They follow a predictable structure that UK ATS systems are built to parse.
UK CV Format: The Rules
Before you write a word, get the format right. UK ATS systems scan CVs in a specific way.
Do:
- Use a single-column layout
- Use standard fonts: Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman at 10 to 12pt
- Save as PDF or .docx (check the job posting for preference)
- Use standard section headers in the order below
- Leave 1-inch margins
Do not:
- Use two-column layouts or columns of any kind
- Include tables, text boxes, or graphics
- Add a photo
- Use headers or footers with critical contact information (some ATS do not parse headers)
- Use creative section names ("What I Have Done" instead of "Work Experience")
UK CV Structure: Section by Section
1. Personal Details
At the top of the page:
- Full name (larger font, clearly visible)
- Phone number
- Professional email address
- Location (city and region is enough, not full address)
- LinkedIn URL (optional but increasingly standard)
Do not include: date of birth, nationality, marital status, National Insurance number.
2. Personal Statement
3 to 5 lines. This sits directly below your contact details.
What to include:
- Your professional level and area (e.g., "Senior Project Manager with 8 years experience in financial services")
- Your top 2 to 3 relevant skills or achievements
- What you are looking for (e.g., "Seeking a programme management role in a fast-scaling technology environment")
The critical rule: tailor this section to each job description. A generic personal statement ("hardworking professional with a passion for results") scores poorly on ATS and is ignored by recruiters.
Example:
Results-driven Digital Marketing Manager with 5 years experience leading
SEO and paid media strategy for B2B SaaS companies. Consistently delivered
20 to 40% organic traffic growth year-on-year. Seeking a senior marketing
role in a growth-stage technology company in London.
3. Work Experience
Reverse chronological order (most recent first). For each role:
- Job title
- Company name and location
- Dates (month and year: September 2021 to present)
- 3 to 6 bullet points per role
Write achievement-first bullets:
- Bad: "Responsible for managing social media accounts"
- Good: "Grew LinkedIn following from 2,000 to 18,000 over 18 months, increasing inbound lead enquiries by 35%"
Quantify wherever possible. Numbers, percentages, team sizes, budget figures. ATS systems and recruiters both respond to specifics.
Keywords: mirror the language of the job description exactly. If the posting says "stakeholder management," use "stakeholder management," not "managing relationships with stakeholders." ATS keyword matching is literal.
4. Education
Reverse chronological order. Include:
- Degree title and class (if 2:1 or above)
- Institution name
- Graduation year
- Relevant modules or dissertation title (optional, useful for recent graduates)
For experienced candidates: education section should be brief. If you have 5 years of work history, your work experience carries more weight.
5. Skills
A dedicated skills section helps ATS systems categorise your profile. Include:
- Technical skills relevant to the role (software, tools, platforms)
- Professional skills (project management methodologies, certifications)
- Languages (if relevant)
Keep this factual. Do not list soft skills like "good communicator" here. Demonstrate those in your bullet points.
6. Interests (Optional)
Brief and genuine. 2 to 3 lines. Only include interests that add something useful, a professional activity, evidence of commitment, or something that gives context to your profile. Generic entries ("reading, socialising, travel") add nothing.
ATS Optimisation for UK CVs
UK employers increasingly use ATS software before human review. Here is what this means for how you write:
Keyword matching is per role. The ATS compares your CV to the specific job description. A well-written general CV still scores poorly if it does not include the role's required terms. Tailor each application.
Use exact terminology. If the job description says "Python," write "Python," not "coding." If it says "stakeholder engagement," use that phrase.
Spell out acronyms on first use. "Agile (Scrum)" rather than just "Scrum." "Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)" rather than just "SEO."
Do not put important information in headers or footers. Some ATS systems do not parse these sections, so contact details or job titles placed there may be invisible to the system.
If you want to check how your CV scores against a specific job description before submitting, Pronto's ATS optimizer scores your CV and shows which keywords are missing.
Common UK CV Mistakes
Too long. More than two pages is a red flag for most corporate roles. Edit ruthlessly.
Generic personal statement. This is the most-read section after your most recent job title. A generic one loses your application in the first 6 seconds.
No metrics. "Managed a team" tells a recruiter nothing. "Managed a team of 8 across 3 offices, delivering a £2M product launch on schedule" is specific and credible.
Using US resume conventions. One-page format, objective statement at the top, no personal statement, American spelling. Each of these signals an international application that may not have been adapted for UK hiring.
Applying with the same CV to every role. The single highest-impact change you can make is tailoring the personal statement and 2 to 3 bullet points per role to match the job description you are applying to. This alone materially improves ATS scores.
Tailoring Your UK CV Efficiently
Manual tailoring for every application takes 30 to 60 minutes per role. At 20 applications, that is a week of time.
The faster approach: use a tool that reads the job description and rewrites the relevant sections for you. Pronto does this automatically, generating a tailored CV and cover letter for each role in under two minutes. You review and adjust, then submit.