How to Write a UK CV in 2026 — The Complete Guide

What Makes a UK CV Different?

A UK CV is not a résumé. American résumés are typically one page and heavily achievement-focused. UK CVs are two pages, follow a strict reverse-chronological structure, and are expected to include a personal profile at the top. Knowing this distinction is the foundation of getting your application right.

Length and Format

Two pages. That's the standard for most UK roles. Graduates with limited experience can get away with one page, and senior professionals or academics may legitimately go to three — but two is the golden rule. Use A4 paper (210mm × 297mm), 20mm margins, and a readable font like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia at 10–11pt.

The CV Structure That Works in 2026

Here's the order UK recruiters expect:

1. Personal details — Name, phone, email, city, LinkedIn. No photo, no date of birth, no nationality. These are legally protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.
2. Personal profile (or professional summary) — Three to four sentences summarising who you are, what you specialise in, and what you're looking for. Tailor this to every role.
3. Work experience — Reverse chronological order. For each role: job title, company, dates (month/year), and four to six bullet points. Start bullets with action verbs. Quantify wherever possible.
4. Education — Degree first, then A-levels, then GCSEs. Include grade and institution. For graduates, this can go before work experience.
5. Skills — A concise list of technical skills, tools, and languages. Avoid soft skills ("good communicator") — these are empty without evidence.
6. Hobbies and interests (optional) — Only include if genuinely relevant or if you're a graduate with limited experience.
7. References — "Available on request." Do not list names unless asked.

Writing Compelling Bullet Points

The biggest mistake candidates make is describing their job duties rather than their accomplishments. Compare these two bullets:

• Weak: "Responsible for managing a team of sales executives."
• Strong: "Led a team of 8 sales executives, increasing quarterly revenue by 23% through structured coaching and a revised incentive model."

Every bullet should answer: what did you do, how did you do it, and what was the result? Metrics are your best friend. Revenue growth, cost savings, time saved, team size, NPS score, project budget — use whatever numbers are relevant.

Tailoring Your CV

One CV does not fit all roles. Before you send any application, review the job description, identify the top five requirements, and make sure your CV addresses each one explicitly. Mirror the language the employer uses — if they say "stakeholder management," use that phrase, not "working with clients."

The Personal Profile — Get It Right

Your profile sits at the top of the page and is the first thing read. It should be three to four sentences, written in the third person without using your own name (not "I"), and it should be completely tailored to the role. Here's a strong example for a project manager:

"Experienced project manager with 7 years' track record delivering digital transformation programmes across financial services. Certified in PRINCE2 and Agile, with expertise managing cross-functional teams and £5m+ budgets. Seeking a senior PM role in a data-led organisation where operational excellence is a core priority."

Common Formatting Mistakes

• Using tables — these break ATS parsers
• Headers and footers — ATS often can't read these
• Text boxes and columns in Word — avoid for ATS submissions
• Coloured text that prints as grey
• Mixing British and American spellings (organisation vs organization)

Saving and Sending Your CV

Save as PDF unless the employer specifically requests a Word document. PDF preserves your formatting across all devices. Name the file professionally: Jane-Smith-CV-2026.pdf — never CV_final_v3_UPDATED.pdf.

If the job board requires a plain-text upload (some older ATS systems do), paste a plain version without formatting into the text field, while still attaching the PDF.

Final Checklist

• Two pages, A4, sensible margins
• No photo, no DOB, no nationality
• UK date format (01/03/2026 or March 2026)
• Spellchecked with UK English (colour, not color)
• Personal profile tailored to this role
• Bullets led by action verbs with quantified results
• Saved as PDF, sensibly named