How to Build a Resume That Works in the UK (2025 Guide)

Looking for a job, internship, or placement in the UK? Whether you're a student, recent graduate, or skilled worker, the UK CV format is quite different from what you may be used to in your home country.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know to create a UK-style resume (CV) that helps you stand out and land interviews — whether it’s for part-time work, graduate schemes, or skilled jobs.

📌 1. UK CV vs. Resume – What’s the Difference?

In the UK, the word CV (Curriculum Vitae) is used instead of “resume.” It’s a short, focused summary of your qualifications, skills, and work

experience.

Here’s what a UK CV looks like:

• 1–2 pages (A4)
• No photo
• No personal details like date of birth or nationality
• Reverse chronological format
• Clear, professional, and concise

🎯 Tip: Your CV should be tailored for each job application, not one-size-fits-all.

🧱 2. Standard Structure of a UK CV (2025)

Here’s what to include in a well-formatted UK CV:

✅ 1. Contact Information

At the top of the CV:

• Full name
• Professional email address
• UK phone number (if available)
• LinkedIn profile (optional)
• Home address (optional)

📷 Note: Don’t include your photo, date of birth, marital status, or nationality — UK employers don’t need it and may ignore CVs that include them.

✅ 2. Personal Statement (Profile Summary)

A short paragraph (3–5 lines) summarising who you are, your career goals, and what value you bring.

Example:

“Motivated marketing graduate with strong analytical skills and internship experience in social media strategy. Seeking an entry-level

marketing role where I can apply creative thinking and data-driven insights.”

✅ 3. Work Experience

List your work/internship history in reverse chronological order:

• Job title
• Company name + location
• Dates of employment
• Bullet points of duties, achievements, and skills used

🛠️ Tip: Use action words (e.g., "managed", "coordinated", "increased", "led", "achieved").

✅ 4. Education

Again, list in reverse order:

• Degree title (e.g., BSc in Computer Science)
• University name
• Graduation year (or expected year)
• Relevant modules, projects, or dissertation topic (optional)

📘 Note: If your degree is from outside the UK, you can mention the UK equivalent (e.g., “equivalent to a UK 2:1 Honours degree”).

✅ 5. Skills

Tailor this section to the role. Divide into:

• Technical Skills: e.g., Excel, Python, Photoshop
• Languages: Include CEFR levels if known (B2, C1, etc.)
• Soft Skills: e.g., communication, teamwork, problem-solving (keep brief)

✅ 6. Certifications & Training (Optional)

Include any relevant courses, certifications, or training — e.g., Google Analytics, First Aid, TEFL, etc.

✅ 7. Volunteering / Extracurricular (Optional)

Especially helpful for students and recent grads. Show your personality and initiative.

✅ 8. References

It’s fine to simply write:

“References available upon request.”

(Actual referees are typically not needed until later in the hiring process.)

🧠 3. UK CV Writing Best Practices

✅ Keep it short (1–2 pages max)

✅ Use a simple, clean layout — avoid colourful designs

✅ Tailor each CV to the specific job description

✅ Use British English spelling (e.g., "organisation", not "organization")

✅ Save and send your CV as a PDF, unless told otherwise

❌ What NOT to Include in a UK CV

🚫 Date of birth

🚫 Nationality or passport

🚫 Marital status

🚫 Religion

🚫 Photo

🚫 Salary expectations

🚫 Unprofessional email (e.g., [email protected])

🛠️ Helpful Tools & Templates

• Canva – Free CV templates
• Zety – Customizable online CV builder
• Novoresume – Sleek templates for UK jobs
• Grammarly – Improve your grammar and tone
• Prospects.ac.uk – CV tips and sector-specific examples

✍️ Final Tips for Success

The UK job market is competitive, and your CV is your first impression. A strong UK-style CV can open doors — especially if you:

✔ Match the keywords from the job ad

✔ Show clear, measurable achievements

✔ Focus on relevance, not quantity

✔ Keep formatting consistent and readable