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Create CVThe UK CV format is not identical to US, EU, or international resume standards.
Recruiters in the UK screen for:
•Clarity and structure
• Concise presentation
• Role alignment
• Measurable impact
• Compliance awareness (where relevant)
Unlike some international formats, the UK CV prioritises:
•Professional summary over objective
• Reverse chronological structure
• Achievement-based bullet points
• 2-page standard length (in most professional roles)
Understanding the structural expectations of UK hiring pipelines directly impacts shortlisting outcomes.
A high-performing UK CV follows this order:
•Contact Details
• Professional Profile
• Key Skills
• Employment History
• Education
• Additional Information (optional)
Each section serves a screening function.
Include:
•Full name
• Phone number
• Professional email address
• LinkedIn profile (if relevant)
• General location (City, not full address)
Exclude:
•Date of birth
• Marital status
• Photo
• National Insurance number
In the UK, including personal demographic details can introduce bias concerns and is not standard practice.
The professional profile replaces the outdated “career objective.”
Example:
Results-driven Operations Manager with 8+ years of experience leading multi-site retail teams generating £12M+ annual revenue. Delivered 18% cost reduction through supply chain restructuring and improved regional sales growth by 11%.
Why this works:
•Concise (3–4 lines)
• Quantifies scale
• Focuses on outcomes
• No vague ambition statements
UK recruiters scan this section first to assess relevance.
In the UK CV format, skills should be presented clearly, not as graphical elements.
Example:
Core Competencies
•Budget Management
• KPI Development
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Risk Assessment
• Process Improvement
Avoid:
•Skill bars
• Star ratings
• Infographic layouts
Most UK employers use ATS systems that parse text linearly.
This is the most heavily weighted section.
Example:
Operations Manager
London Retail Group
2020–Present
•Managed 4 regional sites generating £12M annual revenue
• Reduced operational expenditure by 15% through vendor renegotiation
• Led 45-person team including 6 direct reports
• Improved staff retention by 19% through structured training programme
Why this works:
•Includes scale
• Quantifies financial impact
• Shows leadership responsibility
• Uses British spelling conventions
UK employers expect measurable evidence, not responsibility lists.
For graduates or early-career professionals:
Education can appear above employment history.
For experienced professionals:
Education typically appears after employment.
Example:
MBA, University of Manchester
BA (Hons) Business Management, 2:1
Degree classifications such as:
•First-Class Honours
• 2:1
• 2:2
are standard in UK CVs.
Include GCSEs only if:
•Early career
• Limited work experience
Otherwise, omit secondary school details.
Standard:
•2 pages for most professional roles
• 1 page for graduates
• 2–3 pages for senior leadership
Unlike US resumes, a 2-page CV is widely accepted in the UK.
Conciseness still matters.
Each bullet should demonstrate measurable contribution.
Preferred tone:
•Professional
• Direct
• Evidence-based
• Modest but confident
Avoid:
•Overly promotional language
• Excessive self-descriptors
• First-person pronouns
British spelling should be consistent:
•Organisation
• Optimisation
• Programme
• Behaviour
Spelling inconsistency can subtly affect perception.
Corporate & Finance
•Emphasise financial impact
• Include regulatory knowledge
• Mention FCA or compliance awareness where relevant
Healthcare
•Include GMC, NMC, or other registrations
• Highlight patient volume
• Demonstrate compliance adherence
Public Sector
•Emphasise policy implementation
• Stakeholder engagement
• Programme delivery
Creative
•Provide portfolio link
• Keep CV ATS-friendly
• Use minimal design enhancements
Industry alignment improves ATS ranking and recruiter confidence.
•Including a photograph
• Writing a career objective
• Listing responsibilities without outcomes
• Using decorative templates that break ATS
• Including excessive personal details
• Writing long paragraph blocks
Recruiters typically skim a CV within 8–12 seconds initially.
Clarity drives progression.
•Standard fonts (Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman)
• 10–12pt font size
• Clear section headings
• Bullet points only
• Consistent spacing
• No excessive colour
ATS compatibility should always be prioritised over aesthetics.
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