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

Choose the Right CV Format

There are three main CV formats: chronological, functional, and combination. The chronological format — listing your most recent experience first — is the most widely used and strongly preferred by UK employers and ATS systems alike. Use a functional (skills-based) format only if you have significant gaps in employment or are changing careers, but be aware that many ATS systems struggle to parse functional CVs correctly. The combination format works well for senior professionals who want to lead with a skills summary before their career history.

• Use reverse-chronological order for your work history — it is what 90% of UK recruiters expect
• Keep your CV to 2 pages maximum (1 page for graduates with limited experience)
• Use consistent fonts, spacing, and heading sizes throughout
• Stick to standard section headings ('Work Experience', 'Education', 'Skills') for ATS compatibility

Write a Compelling Personal Statement

Your personal statement (also called a CV profile or professional summary) sits at the top of your CV and is the first thing a recruiter reads. It should be 3 to 5 sentences — around 50 to 100 words — summarising who you are, your key skills, your experience level, and what you are looking for. Think of it as the answer to three questions: Who are you professionally? What can you offer? What are you seeking?

Avoid hollow phrases like 'hardworking team player' or 'results-driven professional'. These tell the recruiter nothing. Instead, lead with your job title and years of experience, include one or two measurable achievements, and close with what you are looking for.

• Tailor your personal statement to each job application — generic statements are the number one reason CVs get discarded
• Include your job title, years of experience, and two or three key achievements with numbers
• Keep it under 100 words — recruiters skim, they do not read
• Write in the third person ('Experienced marketing manager with...') for a professional tone

List Your Work Experience Effectively

Your work experience section is the most heavily weighted part of your CV. List each role in reverse chronological order, including your job title, company name, location, and dates. Under each role, write 4 to 6 bullet points — but here is the crucial difference between a good CV and a great one: focus on achievements, not duties.

'Responsible for managing social media accounts' is a duty. 'Grew Instagram following from 2,000 to 18,000 in 12 months, increasing website traffic by 34%' is an achievement. Wherever possible, use the formula: Action verb + what you did + measurable result. Recruiters consistently rank quantified achievements as the most compelling element of a CV.

• Start each bullet with a strong action verb: managed, led, delivered, increased, reduced, launched
• Include metrics wherever possible: '£', '%', time saved, revenue generated
• Apply the 'so what?' test — if a bullet point does not clearly demonstrate value, rewrite it or cut it
• Go back no more than 10 to 15 years unless earlier roles are directly relevant

Build an Effective Skills Section

A dedicated skills section serves two purposes: it helps your CV pass ATS keyword filters and it gives hiring managers an immediate snapshot of your capabilities. Divide your skills into hard skills (technical abilities, software, languages, certifications) and soft skills (leadership, communication, problem-solving). Hard skills should be listed explicitly. Soft skills are better demonstrated through your work experience achievements rather than just stated.

The most effective approach is to extract keywords directly from the job description and include them in your skills section — using the exact phrasing the employer uses. Research by Skills England shows a growing gap between skills employers need and skills the UK workforce holds, so demonstrating in-demand skills is more important than ever.

• List 8 to 12 skills — fewer looks sparse, more looks padded
• Mirror the exact language from the job description for ATS matching
• Include industry-specific certifications and methodologies (Agile, PRINCE2, Six Sigma)
• For 2026, highlight in-demand skills: AI literacy, data analysis, cloud computing, and digital tools

Education and Qualifications

List your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with your highest or most recent. Include the institution name, qualification title, grade (if it strengthens your candidacy), and dates. For recent graduates, the education section should appear near the top of the CV, above work experience. Once you have two or more years of professional experience, move it below your work history.

For graduate CVs, add relevant modules, dissertation topics, and academic projects — these can substitute for professional experience. Always include professional qualifications (ACCA, CIPD, AWS, PRINCE2) as they carry significant weight with UK employers.

• Include A-levels and degree classification if relevant (especially for graduate roles)
• Add relevant modules or dissertation topics that demonstrate expertise
• List professional qualifications and certifications with dates obtained
• Omit GCSEs unless you have no higher qualifications or specific grades are requested

Optimise for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Research suggests that up to 75% of CVs are rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems before a human ever reads them. ATS software scans for keywords, job titles, and structured data — and even well-qualified candidates can be filtered out if their CV is not formatted correctly.

To pass ATS screening: use standard section headings that the system recognises, include keywords from the job description verbatim, and avoid design elements that confuse parsers — tables, text boxes, headers and footers, multi-column layouts, and embedded images. Save your CV as a PDF (unless the job advert specifically requests Word format).

A simple test: copy the text from your PDF into a plain text editor. If the content appears garbled or out of order, an ATS will have the same problem.

• Use exact keywords from the job description — ATS matches on precise terms
• Spell out acronyms at least once: 'Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)'
• Use a clean, single-column layout with standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, or similar)
• Avoid images, charts, icons, and graphics — ATS cannot read them
• Test your CV by pasting it into a plain text editor to check for formatting issues

UK-Specific CV Conventions

CV conventions vary by country, and UK CVs have specific expectations that differ from American resumes or European CVs. Understanding these conventions signals professionalism to UK recruiters.

In the UK, do not include a photo on your CV (unless you work in acting or modelling). Do not include your date of birth, marital status, nationality, or National Insurance number. The heading 'Curriculum Vitae' at the top is unnecessary — your name and contact details are sufficient. 'References available upon request' is outdated and wastes space; employers will ask for references when they need them.

Use British English throughout: 'organise' not 'organize', 'colour' not 'color', 'programme' not 'program' (unless referring to computer programming).

• No photo, no date of birth, no marital status — these are not expected on UK CVs
• Use British English spelling consistently throughout
• Include your LinkedIn URL in your contact details
• Do not write 'References available upon request' — it is assumed