UK CV vs US Resume — The Key Differences
In the UK, the document is called a CV (curriculum vitae) — not a resume. The formats differ in important ways:
- Length: UK CVs are typically 2 pages. US resumes are 1 page for most candidates.
- Photo: Never include a photo on a UK CV. It is considered unprofessional and opens employers to discrimination claims.
- Personal details: Do not include date of birth, nationality, or marital status on a UK CV.
- References: Do not list references on the CV. "References available on request" is also unnecessary — employers know to ask.
The Standard UK CV Structure (2026)
UK CVs follow a consistent structure. Stick to this order unless you have a strong reason not to:
1. Contact Information
Name, phone number, email address, LinkedIn URL, and city (you don't need your full address). Make sure your email address is professional — use your name, not a nickname from university.
2. Professional Summary (3–4 lines)
A concise statement at the top of your CV that summarises who you are, your experience level, and your key value. This is not an objective ("I am looking for...") — it is a positioning statement ("Senior marketing manager with 8 years experience in FMCG...").
3. Work Experience (reverse chronological)
Start with your most recent role and work backwards. For each role, include:
- Job title, company name, location, dates (month and year)
- 3–6 bullet points per role, focused on achievements — not just duties
- Numbers where possible: "Increased sales by 34%" beats "Responsible for increasing sales"
4. Education
List your qualifications in reverse chronological order. Include institution, qualification name, grade, and year. If you graduated more than 5 years ago, keep this section brief. If you are a recent graduate, this can go before work experience.
5. Skills
A concise list of relevant technical and professional skills. Do not pad this section with soft skills like "good communicator" — include only skills that are verifiable or industry-relevant (software, tools, languages, certifications).
6. Optional Sections
Depending on your background, you might also include: Certifications and courses, Professional memberships, Languages, Volunteering, Publications or projects.
CV Length — How Many Pages?
- Graduates and early-career: 1 page
- 3–10 years experience: 2 pages
- Senior/executive with 10+ years: 2–3 pages
Do not stretch a 1-page CV to 2 pages with large fonts and wide margins. Do not squeeze a 3-page CV onto 2 pages by making text unreadable. The number of pages should reflect your genuine experience — not a target.
Fonts and Formatting
- Font: Calibri, Arial, or Georgia. Size 10–12pt for body text, 14–16pt for your name.
- Margins: 1.5–2cm on all sides
- Line spacing: 1.15–1.5
- Colour: Black text with optional subtle colour for headings (dark navy, dark grey). Avoid red, yellow, or high-contrast colour blocks.
- Columns: Single-column layouts are more ATS-friendly. Multi-column formats look good visually but can cause ATS systems to scramble the content.
File Format — PDF or Word?
Send your CV as a PDF unless the application specifically asks for Word. PDF preserves your formatting across devices and operating systems. Word documents can look different depending on the version the recruiter opens.
Exception: Some older ATS systems parse Word documents more reliably than PDFs. If you are uploading through an online application portal, test both formats if possible.
What to Leave Out
Remove these from your CV immediately:
- Photo or headshot
- Date of birth, nationality, marital status
- "References available on request"
- The word "CV" as a heading at the top
- Irrelevant early career jobs (older than 15 years, unrelated to your target role)
- Generic soft skills with no evidence: "team player", "good communication skills"
- Outdated technology (e.g. Microsoft Office listed as a skill in 2026)
ATS Compatibility
Most large UK employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen CVs before a human reads them. The biggest ATS failures are:
- Tables and text boxes (content gets lost or scrambled)
- Headers and footers (often ignored by ATS parsers)
- Images, graphics, and icons
- Non-standard section headings (use "Work Experience" not "My Career Journey")
- Missing keywords from the job description
The 5-Second Test
A recruiter typically spends 5–10 seconds deciding whether to read a CV in full. Ask someone unfamiliar with your background to glance at your CV for 5 seconds and tell you:
- What do you do?
- How many years of experience do you have?
- What industry are you in?
If they cannot answer all three, your formatting or summary needs work.