How to Write a UK CV in 2026
In the United Kingdom, your application document is called a CV — curriculum vitae — not a resume. The distinction is more than terminology: the UK CV carries different structural conventions, different expectations about length and tone, and different sections than its North American counterpart. Understanding those conventions is the difference between looking locally fluent and looking like a foreign candidate who submitted the wrong document.
The Standard UK CV Format
Length: Two pages for most professionals. New graduates or those with limited experience may use one page, but two is the norm for anyone with over three years of work history. A three-page CV for very senior executives is acceptable; more than that is unusual in the private sector.
Photo: Not included. Unlike much of Europe and the Gulf, UK CVs do not include a photograph. Adding one can make you appear unfamiliar with UK conventions.
Personal information: Name, phone number, email, LinkedIn URL, and general location (city and postcode area, not full street address). You do not include date of birth, marital status, nationality, or National Insurance number.
Right to work: If you are not a British citizen or settled person, you can include a brief line — "Eligible to work in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa" — but full visa details are typically handled at interview.
Structure of a UK CV
Contact details at the top: name, phone, professional email, city and postcode area, LinkedIn (optional but recommended).
Personal profile: A short paragraph of 3–5 sentences immediately below your contact details. This is the single most important section for UK applications. Tailor it to the specific role and company — a generic profile is worse than no profile. Tell the reader your job title, years of experience, two or three key strengths, and what you are looking for. "Experienced financial analyst with eight years in investment banking, specialising in M&A due diligence and financial modelling. I have led transactions worth £600M+ and am seeking a senior role within a growth-stage asset manager."
Core Skills: A dedicated block immediately after your personal profile — this is a defining feature of the British CV format. List 8–12 technical and professional skills as a clean bulleted or two-column grid. Recruiters and ATS systems scan this section before reading your experience. Include role-specific tools (Excel/VBA, Bloomberg, Python), methodologies (Agile, PRINCE2), and soft competencies (stakeholder engagement, team leadership). Placing this before your work history ensures your key capabilities are visible immediately.
Work experience: Reverse chronological, following the Core Skills block. Each role gets a three-line header (company, job title, dates in MM/YYYY format) followed by 3–5 bullet points. Use specific UK spellings (organisation, programme, behaviour, recognised). Include the employer's location. British employers value demonstrated teamwork and stakeholder management alongside personal achievement.
Education: Reverse chronological. For UK candidates, list your university degree with classification (e.g., "BSc Economics — First Class Honours, University of Edinburgh, 2015"). A-Level results remain relevant for the first five years of your career. GCSEs are rarely listed once you have a degree, except in specific sectors (some finance and law firms still note Maths GCSE grade).
Languages: If relevant to the role or sector, list languages with honest proficiency levels.
Certifications: Professional certifications (CIMA, CFA, ACCA, PMP, PRINCE2) listed at the end after education.
References: Write "References available upon request." Do not list named referees on the document itself — bring details to interview. Some public sector and education roles require named references at application stage; always check the job posting.
UK-Specific Cultural Norms
British hiring culture tends toward understatement relative to the US. "I transformed the department" sounds boastful; "Restructured the team of 12, resulting in a 30% efficiency improvement" sounds credible. Lead with evidence rather than self-description. Avoid American-style superlatives.
Cover letters (sometimes called a "covering letter" in the UK) remain common. Many UK employers require a one-page covering letter and will not consider applications without one.
Key Mistakes to Avoid
- American spelling throughout (realize/realize, analyze/analyse)
- Including a photo — immediately reads as unfamiliar with UK norms
- Objective statement instead of a personal profile — objectives are American; profiles are British
- Listing GCSEs extensively once you have a degree
- Omitting UK-specific qualifications like CIMA, ACCA, CIPS — these are employer signals