Writing a CV

The advice on this webpage is aimed at CVs for the UK jobs market. For CVs for working abroad, see our webpage on international CVs.

This Careers Bitesize webinar covers the information on this page.

Types of CV

Before starting to write your CV, decide what type is most relevant to your situation. The information on this page is targeted at creating a traditional CV.

Structure and format

Your CV needs to be easy to read, with the key information standing out. A good structure and format are crucial, including:

• A sensible length, for most placement and graduate roles two sides of A4 is the norm. For most part-time jobs, a one-side CV is fine.
• A clear, common typeface, with good use of the space on the page - avoid dense, long sections of text and large empty spaces.
• Consistent format for headings, spacing, and typeface throughout.
• Dates and locations (town/city) for your education and work history.
• Use bullet-points to break your information into chunks.
• Correct spelling, punctuation, grammar - mistakes mean your CV will probably be rejected.

We don’t recommend using an online CV template; many are aimed at American resumes which are very different to a UK CV. Our example CVs can give you ideas for structuring your CV.

Writing style

Aim for concise statements to make it easy to read quickly:

• Instead of using "I", start sentences or bullet points with verbs that match the skills the recruiter is looking for, eg "Organised...", "Liaised with...".
• Use positive and active words, eg rather than “My duties included serving customers…” it’s better to say “Met customers’ needs by…”. 
• This list of Active words for applications contains ideas to help you describe your achievements and experiences with impact.

Where possible, include what you achieved in your activities, eg how you contributed to your employer’s business or group project for example, or what you did that led to improvements or helped achieve the desired result. Alternatively, comment on what you learnt from your experience, eg about effective teamwork or how businesses operate.

Sections

The information in this section is also covered in these short videos:

Your details and personal profile

Talking about your education in your CV

Talking about your hobbies and interests in your CV 

Arrange your sections so that the most important information for the employer you are applying to appears on the first side of your CV. Within each section, arrange information in reverse chronological order - most recent first.

Sections typically include:

• Personal details: Name at the top followed by contact details, email and phone are usually enough. You can include a link to your LinkedIn profile or personal website. Don’t include a photo of yourself for a UK CV.
• Education: Titles of your qualifications and any relevant degree content, eg key modules, projects and/or skills you've gained.
• Work experience/Employment: Include full/part-time, temporary and voluntary jobs. Summarise your duties, achievements and the skills involved.
• Positions of responsibility, if any.
• Additional skills, eg languages or relevant IT skills.
• Interests: Brief descriptions to give an insight into your personality and involvement.
• Referees: You don’t need to give referees at this stage. If you do want to give referees and their contact details and you have enough space, make sure you ask their permission first.
• Personal profile: This is an optional section. It can be useful to include a personal profile if you are sending your CV without a covering letter or supporting application. If you decide to write a personal profile, make it concise and to the point. Use it to highlight your most important skills, experience and attributes for the job you are applying for.

Note, the sections on your CV don’t have to appear in this order, and you may want some other sections such as “Relevant experience” and “Voluntary experience”. Create headings that highlight your strengths.

Tailoring your CV

To write an effective CV, you need to be clear about the skills and qualities required by a job. A general CV which isn’t targeted stands little chance of success, so you need to work out what an employer is looking for. You can  find this information in the job description.

Match your CV to the employer’s requirements by:

• making sure your most relevant experiences appear early in the CV
• referring to the skills and qualities they require
• using the same keywords the employer has used to help them find what they are looking for

Watch this for further ideas on talking about your skills:

Thinking of using generative AI?

Before using Generative AI (GenAI) in your applications, take a look at our Using AI for applications page with ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ and further guidance. It’s important to understand how to use AI effectively in your applications to avoid being rejected by an employer.

Next steps

Once you’ve read our advice, we suggest the following steps:

• Attend one of our CV/LinkedIn Booster drop-ins for quick CV feedback.
• Gain instant feedback on your CV using CareerSet.
• If you have tailored your CV for a specific job or placement, you can book an appointment for a CV review.
• Find out about writing a successful covering letter.