UK CV Guide: How to Write a British CV That Gets Interviews

Moving to the UK or applying for British jobs remotely? Your American resume needs adjustments. While UK CVs share similarities with American resumes, there are key differences that British recruiters notice immediately.

This guide covers the UK CV format, from the personal profile to the references section.

UK CV vs American Resume: Key Differences

Before diving into the format, understand what makes a British CV different:

The good news: UK CVs are closer to American resumes than German or French CVs. No photo, no personal details like age or marital status.

The Standard UK CV Structure

A British CV follows this structure:

1. Contact Information
2. Personal Profile (2-4 sentences)
3. Key Skills (optional but recommended)
4. Work Experience
5. Education
6. Additional Sections (languages, certifications, interests)
7. References

Let's break down each section.

Contact Information

Keep it simple and professional:

JAMES WILSON
London, UK | +44 7700 900123 | james.wilson@email.co.uk
linkedin.com/in/jameswilson

Include:

• Full name (no titles like Mr/Ms)
• City and country (full address not needed)
• UK mobile number with country code
• Professional email address
• LinkedIn profile URL

Don't include:

• Photo
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Marital status
• National Insurance number

Personal Profile

This is where UK CVs differ most from American resumes. British employers expect a personal profile (also called a personal statement) at the top of your CV.

What it is: A 2-4 sentence summary of who you are professionally, your key strengths, and what you're looking for.

Good example:

Results-driven marketing manager with 6 years of experience in B2B SaaS companies. Proven track record of increasing lead generation by 150% through data-driven campaigns. Seeking a senior marketing role where I can lead a team and drive growth strategy.

Bad example:

I am a hardworking and enthusiastic person looking for a new opportunity. I have experience in marketing and am a team player who works well under pressure.

Tips for your personal profile:

• Write in third person or first person (both acceptable)
• Include years of experience and industry
• Mention one quantified achievement
• State what role you're seeking
• Keep it to 50-100 words

Key Skills Section

A dedicated skills section helps with ATS systems and quick scanning. List 6-10 relevant skills in a clean format:

KEY SKILLS

• Digital Marketing Strategy    • Google Analytics & SEO
• Team Leadership (5+ reports)  • Budget Management (£500k+)
• HubSpot & Salesforce         • Stakeholder Communication
• A/B Testing & CRO            • Agile Project Management

Tips:

• Tailor skills to the job description
• Mix technical and soft skills
• Include tools and platforms by name
• Add context where helpful (team size, budget)

Work Experience

List your employment history in reverse chronological order. UK CVs use a similar format to American resumes here.

Format:

WORK EXPERIENCE

Marketing Manager
TechCorp Ltd, London                               Jan 2021 - Present

• Led a team of 4 marketing executives, achieving 150% of annual
  lead generation targets
• Managed £500,000 annual marketing budget across digital channels
• Implemented marketing automation reducing manual work by 30 hours
  per week
• Collaborated with sales team to improve lead quality score by 40%

Marketing Executive
StartupXYZ, Manchester                             Jun 2018 - Dec 2020

• Created and executed email campaigns with 35% open rates
• Managed company social media achieving 200% follower growth
• Coordinated with external agencies for brand refresh project

UK-specific tips:

• Use British date format: Jan 2021, not 01/2021
• Spell out months (January or Jan, not 1)
• Use British spelling throughout
• Include city locations
• "Ltd" not "Inc" for UK companies

Education

List your qualifications in reverse chronological order. Include:

EDUCATION

MSc Digital Marketing (Distinction)
University of Manchester                                    2016 - 2018

BA (Hons) Business Studies, 2:1
University of Leeds                                         2013 - 2016

A-Levels: Business Studies (A), Economics (A), Mathematics (B)
Leeds Grammar School                                              2013

UK education tips:

• Include degree classification (First, 2:1, 2:2)
• "Hons" indicates an honours degree
• A-Levels are worth mentioning early in career
• GCSEs rarely needed unless you're a recent graduate
• Don't convert grades to percentages

Degree classifications explained:

• First Class (1st): 70%+ - Excellent
• Upper Second (2:1): 60-69% - Good
• Lower Second (2:2): 50-59% - Acceptable
• Third (3rd): 40-49% - Minimum pass

Additional Sections

Languages

LANGUAGES

English: Native
French: Professional working proficiency
Spanish: Conversational

Certifications

CERTIFICATIONS

Google Analytics Certified (2024)
HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification (2023)
PRINCE2 Foundation (2022)

Interests (Optional)

UK CVs sometimes include a brief interests section. Keep it relevant or interesting:

Good:

Marathon running (completed London Marathon 2023), chess club captain, volunteer coding instructor for Code First Girls.

Bad:

Socialising, watching TV, going to the gym.

Only include interests if they demonstrate relevant skills, leadership, or make you memorable.

References

UK CVs traditionally end with a references line:

REFERENCES

Available on request.

This is still common, though increasingly optional. Never list actual referee details on your CV - provide them separately when requested.

British English Spelling

Using American spelling is an immediate red flag to British recruiters. Key differences:

Tip: Set your spell checker to British English before writing your CV.

Formatting Guidelines

Length: 2 pages is standard. New graduates can use 1 page. Senior executives might use 3 pages.

Font: Arial, Calibri, or similar professional fonts. 10-12pt for body text.

Margins: 2-2.5cm on all sides.

File format: PDF unless Word is specifically requested.

File name: FirstName-LastName-CV.pdf

What NOT to Include

British CVs should never contain:

• Photo - Discrimination laws make this inappropriate
• Age or date of birth - Protected characteristic
• Marital status - Irrelevant and potentially discriminatory
• Nationality - Unless specifically relevant to the role
• National Insurance number - Never share this on a CV
• Salary information - Discuss in interviews
• Reasons for leaving jobs - Discuss if asked

Cover Letters in the UK

Most UK job applications expect a cover letter. Keep it:

• One page maximum
• Addressed to a named person if possible
• Focused on why this company and this role
• Different from your CV (don't repeat the same content)

Start with "Dear Mr/Ms [Name]" or "Dear Hiring Manager" and end with "Yours sincerely" (if named) or "Yours faithfully" (if not named).

ATS Considerations

UK companies use Applicant Tracking Systems just like American ones. Ensure your CV:

• Uses standard section headings
• Avoids tables and text boxes
• Includes keywords from the job description
• Uses a clean, single-column layout
• Saves as PDF with selectable text

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. American spelling - "Organized" instead of "organised"
2. Wrong date format - 01/15/2024 instead of 15/01/2024
3. Including a photo - Never appropriate in the UK
4. Too short - 1 page looks inexperienced for most roles
5. Too long - 3+ pages unless you're very senior
6. Missing personal profile - Expected by UK recruiters
7. Generic content - Tailor to each application

Final Checklist

Before sending your UK CV:

• British spelling throughout
• Personal profile at the top (2-4 sentences)
• Dates in DD/MM/YYYY or Month YYYY format
• No photo or personal details (age, marital status)
• 2 pages maximum for most roles
• "References available on request" at the end
• Saved as PDF with professional filename
• Cover letter prepared
• Tailored to the specific role

The UK job market values clarity and professionalism. A well-structured CV with a strong personal profile shows British employers you understand local expectations.

Ready to create your UK-format CV? ResumeFast's templates help you build a professional CV that works for British employers.