UK CV format: structure, length and personal statement guide

How long should a UK CV be

Two pages is the standard length for most UK roles. One page is acceptable if you have fewer than two years of experience. Three pages is occasionally appropriate for senior academic, medical or research positions, but for the vast majority of jobs, anything beyond two pages will be trimmed or ignored.

Unlike a US resume, a UK CV is not expected to fit on a single page. Recruiters here are comfortable reading two full pages, so do not shrink your font or cut relevant detail just to hit one page.

• Graduate or entry-level: one to two pages
• Mid-level professional: two pages
• Senior or specialist roles: two pages, occasionally three
• Academic or medical CVs: three or more pages is normal

Standard UK CV section order

The order of sections signals professionalism to a UK recruiter. Follow this sequence and you will match what hiring managers expect to see.

1. Contact details: name, phone, email, LinkedIn URL, city and postcode (no full street address needed)
2. Personal statement: three to five sentences summarising who you are and what you offer
3. Work experience: most recent role first, going back ten to fifteen years
4. Education: most recent qualification first
5. Skills: a short list of relevant technical or professional skills
6. Optional sections: certifications, languages, volunteering, publications

How to write a UK personal statement

The personal statement sits directly below your contact details. It is sometimes called a professional profile or career summary. It should be three to five sentences, written in the third person or first person consistently, and tailored to the specific role.

A strong personal statement answers three questions: who you are professionally, what you bring to the employer, and what you are looking for. Keep it factual and specific. Avoid phrases like 'hardworking team player' or 'passionate about excellence' because they carry no information.

Example for a marketing manager role: 'Marketing manager with eight years of experience in B2B SaaS, specialising in demand generation and content strategy. Proven track record of growing organic traffic and reducing cost per lead across UK and European markets. Seeking a senior role where data-led campaigns can drive measurable pipeline growth.'

• Length: 50 to 100 words
• Tense: present tense for current skills, past tense for achievements
• Tailoring: change at least one sentence for each application to reflect the job description
• Avoid: 'I am a passionate', 'results-driven', 'dynamic professional'

Work experience section

List each role with the job title, employer name, location (city is enough), and dates in month-year format, for example 'March 2022 to present'. Under each role, write three to six bullet points describing your responsibilities and achievements.

Lead with impact where possible. Instead of 'Responsible for managing social media accounts', write 'Managed social media accounts across four platforms, growing combined following from 12,000 to 34,000 in 18 months'. Numbers make your contribution concrete.

If you have gaps in employment, you do not need to explain them on the CV itself. A cover letter or interview is the right place for that context.

• Use past tense for previous roles, present tense for your current one
• Start each bullet with a strong verb: led, built, reduced, delivered, negotiated
• Quantify where you can: percentages, headcount, budgets, timelines
• Go back no further than 15 years unless earlier experience is directly relevant

Education and skills sections

List your highest qualification first. Include the institution name, qualification title, subject, and year of completion. For degrees, you can include your grade if it is a 2:1 or above. A-levels and GCSEs are worth listing if you are a graduate with limited work experience; otherwise, a single line noting your GCSE results is enough.

The skills section should be a concise list, not a paragraph. Group related skills if the list is long. For technical roles, separate software and tools from softer competencies. Avoid rating your own skills with stars or percentages as these are subjective and recruiters tend to disregard them.

Formatting and design for a UK CV

UK CVs are typically clean and conservative in design. A single column layout with clear headings, consistent font sizes and generous white space is the safest choice. Use a readable font such as Calibri, Arial or Georgia at 10 to 12 points for body text and 14 to 16 points for your name.

Save and send your CV as a PDF unless the job posting specifically asks for a Word document. PDF preserves your formatting across devices and applicant tracking systems. Name the file clearly, for example 'Jane-Smith-CV.pdf', not 'CV-final-v3.pdf'.

If you are using Break-In Bad to build or enhance your CV, Omar will ask you up to 20 questions about your experience and tailor the output to each job you apply for, including writing a version aligned to the UK format and the specific job description. This is useful if you are applying to multiple roles and want each CV to reflect the language of that posting without starting from scratch each time.

• Margins: 1.5 to 2.5 cm on all sides
• Font size: 10 to 12 pt for body, 14 to 16 pt for name
• Colour: black text on white background; one subtle accent colour is acceptable
• File format: PDF unless otherwise specified
• File name: FirstName-LastName-CV.pdf