How to Write a CV in 2025: UK Standards & Best Practices

To write a CV that stands out and lands interviews is to make it relevant for the job you’re applying for. A generic document won’t get you far; it will likely fail the applicant tracking system (ATS) scan. Plus, recruiters aren’t interested in knowing your entire work history; they seek to quickly determine what makes you the perfect fit for the role.

The good news is that you don’t need literary talent to craft a stellar CV. With the right guidance, anyone can create one that helps them achieve interviews and secure job offers.

So, in this in-depth guide, we’ll teach you how to write a CV that meets ATS requirements and exceeds the hiring manager's expectations.

Let’s begin!

What Is a CV?

A CV (short for curriculum vitae, meaning “course of life” in Latin) is a document that summarises your professional background. Candidates submit it as part of their job applications, often alongside cover letters.

Your CV should concisely present your work history, educational background, and skills. Its purpose is to let recruiters see what makes you a viable, interview-worthy candidate right away.

However, in the United States, “CV” refers to an academic curriculum vitae. This is a much lengthier document detailing your scholarly background, including publications, academic accomplishments, etc. If you’re applying for a job outside of academia in the United States, you’ll be asked to submit a resume instead.

The contents of a resume and a standard CV are essentially the same. However, a resume should ideally fit within a single page, whereas the ideal CV length in the UK and most other countries is one or two pages.

So, how do you make a CV that sells you as a candidate? Let’s find out!

What Should I Include in My CV?

You should include your contact information, personal statement, work experience, education details, and skills in your CV. While there are some additional sections you can include, such as hobbies and interests, the chances of landing an interview without these five must-have elements are close to zero.

With this in mind, let’s analyse each section in more detail and learn how to create a CV that does your professional background justice. 

#1. Contact Information and Professional Header

First things first, you want to add a professional header that contains your contact information. This is, by far, the easiest part of writing a CV; all you have to do is ensure every piece of information you mention is correct.

Your professional header should include the following contact information:

You can also mention your location (city and country only, as you don’t need to include your full address) and links to relevant social media profiles, such as LinkedIn.

Here’s what this looks like in practice:

#2. Personal Statement

The next step in writing a CV is to add a compelling personal statement. Recruiters receive hundreds of applications per position and only spend 6–8 seconds reviewing each CV, so you want to secure their attention right away.

The best way to spark the hiring manager’s interest immediately is to craft a personal statement that highlights the value you can bring to their company in several sentences.

Now, you’re probably thinking, “How do I write a CV personal statement that communicates my value?”

It’s not that difficult; simply follow these three steps:

Here’s a great example of a CV personal statement that follows this simple yet effective structure:

You can write this in either first- or third-person, but make sure to be consistent. You need to be concise, too; your personal statement shouldn’t exceed 200 words.

#3. Work Experience

When it comes to writing a CV, you should treat your work experience section as a centrepiece; do it right, and a job interview is almost guaranteed.

Here’s how to write this CV section:

If you have recent employment gaps, you can address them by adding a sentence or two to explain what you were doing at that time. Also, consider using the combination CV format to bring more attention to your skills.

Your work experience section should look something like this:

#4. Education and Qualifications

Once you’re done detailing your work experience, it’s time to write the education section. Unless you have little to no work experience, keep this part short and sweet; simply list your degree, academic institution, and attendance years.

Following the reverse-chronological order, start with your most recent degree and finish with your oldest one. There’s no need to mention your high school if you’ve already graduated.

Here’s an example:

If you have limited work experience or still have some space left after filling out other CV sections, you can also mention other relevant information, such as:

#5. Skills and Competencies

The skills section is the most important part of your CV after work experience, so make sure to get it right.

There are two types of skills:

Regardless of the position you’re applying for, you should include both soft and hard skills, listing them separately for readability. If you know more than one language, you can add them separately as well. Since hard skills, including languages, can be measured, you should also detail your proficiency level.

Here’s an example of a well-written skills section:

However, you shouldn’t stuff all your skills into your CV; you should only add those relevant to the job. If any skills from the job description apply to you, make sure to include them.

Now that we’ve covered the basics of how to write a CV, let’s discuss how to format it for maximum impact.

How Do I Format a CV?

In most cases, the best CV format is reverse-chronological, which accentuates your most recent work experience by listing it first. From there, you should pick a professional font, ensure your CV layout and length are just right, and use visual elements strategically to maximise your chances of landing your dream job.

Let’s go over the key elements that can help you format your CV the right way:

Professional Font and Size

Something as simple as choosing the wrong font can get your application immediately discarded. Also, certain fonts, such as Comic Sans, don’t look professional and can be difficult for ATS to process.

So, when selecting a CV font, you can never go wrong with the classics: Times New Roman, Arial, and Cambria are all safe choices that look professional to recruiters and work with ATS.

To ensure your CV looks neat, use the same font throughout the document. 14–16 pts for headings and 10–12 pts for the body of your CV is the ideal font size for readability.

CV Length and Layout

The recommended CV length in the UK is:

Ultimately, it’s best to focus on quality rather than page quantity when writing a CV.

Now, it may be tempting to reduce white space to pack in more information. However, this can make your CV cluttered or even illegible.

So, how to write a good CV that looks well-structured and doesn’t cause eyestrain? It’s easy; set 2.5 cm margins all around your document and use single or 1.15 line spacing.

Using Visual Elements

It’s best to limit the use of visual elements in a CV to a minimum. Overly decorative elements are generally not recommended, either, because they can be distracting and reduce ATS compatibility.

Here are some CV tips for using visual elements effectively:

Now that you know how to compose a good CV, let’s see how to make it shine in a sea of job applications. 

3 Effective Strategies for Writing Impactful CV Content

The three effective strategies for writing impactful CV content are to use action verbs and power words, quantify your achievements, and tailor your CV to the job description.

Here’s how to incorporate them when writing a CV:

#1. Use Action Verbs and Power Words

Using action verbs and power words to describe your work experience is key to writing a CV that makes you stand out from your competitors.

For comparison, here’s how most candidates write CVs:

And here’s how action verbs and power words can transform your work experience section:

Besides grabbing the recruiter’s attention, these words cut the dryness out of your writing and make your CV more persuasive.

Here are some examples of action verbs and power words you can use to write a CV that will win the hiring manager’s attention:

#2. Quantify Achievements

Quantifying your achievements is the secret to writing a CV that maximises your chances of getting hired.

To do this, simply add numbers, percentages, and other metrics to illustrate your accomplishments. While recruiters are aware of your responsibilities, this shows them how well you performed your duties. Better yet, it lets them gauge how you can enrich their organisation.

Here are some examples:

#3. Tailor Content to the Job Description

The most effective way to write a CV that passes the ATS check is to tailor it to the job description.. Plus, this gives you a competitive edge by showing the hiring manager that you’re exactly who they’re looking for.

So, how do you make a CV that’s tailored to the job you’re applying for?

It’s no rocket science, simply read the job description and pick out the key skills and competencies the company expects candidates to have. If any of these apply to you, add them to your CV. Make sure to use the exact words mentioned in the job description, as paraphrasing can cause the ATS to filter out your application.

Furthermore, only include relevant skills and work experience. After all, if you’re writing an engineering CV, your copywriting skills won’t impress the hiring manager, but programming will.

3 Most Common CV Mistakes to Avoid

The three most common CV mistakes to avoid are leaving spelling and grammar errors, including irrelevant information, and sending out a generic application.

Let’s examine each of them:

CV Optimisation for ATS

CV optimisation for ATS is critical to your job hunt success, as increasingly more UK companies adopt this software to facilitate the hiring process. Between 2023 and 2029, the ATS market in the United Kingdom is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.55%.

The purpose of ATS is to help recruiters sift through candidates without having to read hundreds of irrelevant CVs.

So, here are some tips to help you write a CV that passes the ATS check and makes it into the hiring manager’s hands:

Industry-Specific CV Tips

Now that you have a good idea of how to write a CV, here are some tips on how to perfect it based on where you are in your professional journey:

CVs for Recent Graduates

As a recent graduate, you probably have little to no work experience, so keep your CV short; it shouldn’t be longer than a single page. The same applies to student CVs.

If you’re looking to land your first job, highlight your academic background and achievements by putting your education section at the top. You can mention relevant coursework, awards, thesis title, A-levels, etc., to make it stand out.

Also, consider including internships, volunteering, or part-time jobs to compensate for limited work experience.

CVs for Career Changers

Here’s what you can do to stand out from other candidates (including those who have more relevant experience than you!) if you’re making a career change CV:

CVs for Executive Positions

If you’re applying for an executive position, you don’t have to limit your CV to a single page. As long as you have relevant work experience, your CV can extend across three pages. More than that may be excessive, though.

Keep your education section concise, as it isn’t as important as your skills or work experience. Focus on your work experience, accentuating your key achievements and leadership acumen. Also, remove outdated job entries; limit your work experience to the last 15 years.

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You also won’t have to worry about formatting your document correctly; our builder is packed with ATS-friendly, expertly designed CV templates you can customise to your liking. Whether you’re applying for a job at an established company or a hip startup, rest assured you’ll find one that perfectly suits your needs; we have over 200 template variations available!

Final Thoughts

When it comes to job hunting, first impressions matter, which is precisely why knowing how to write a CV that presents you as a standout candidate is essential.

If you follow what we’ve discussed in this guide—from the sections you should include to the mistakes you should avoid—you’ll easily write a CV that leaves the hiring manager impressed.

But if there’s just one thing you should remember, it’s that you should never send out a generic application. Tailor your CV to each position, update it regularly, and you’ll land your dream job in no time!

How to Write a CV FAQ

#1. What’s the difference between a CV and a resume in the UK?

There’s no difference between a CV and a resume in the UK. Both refer to the same document you submit as part of a job application to present your professional background to the recruiter. However, the term “CV” is preferred in the UK, whereas “resume” is typically only used in the United States and Canada. 

#2. Can I create a CV with no experience?

You can create a CV with no experience. To compensate for a lack of work experience, highlight relevant skills and emphasise internships, volunteering, and other non-paid work. You can also describe your educational background in more detail if it’s relevant for the role.

#3. What should I avoid adding to my CV?

You should avoid adding your nationality, religion, date of birth, marital status, and other characteristics protected under the Equality Act 2010 in your CV. Similarly, you shouldn’t include a photo in most cases, as it can get your CV immediately rejected.