A free, ATS-optimised UK CV builder following British conventions — 2 pages, no photo, personal statement at the top, and the spelling, dates, and tone UK recruiters actually expect.
A UK CV (curriculum vitae) sits between the very strict German Lebenslauf and the looser US resume. It's typically 2 pages, written in British English, contains a personal statement at the top, and explicitly leaves out photos, age, marital status, and other personal data — both as cultural norm and to comply with UK equality law.
British recruiters scan for clarity, achievements quantified with numbers, and tight, professional language. "Spearheaded" is fine; "results-oriented synergy ninja" is not. Keep it confident but understated — that's the UK tone.
Use our free builder to generate a UK-style CV with the exact section order, British spelling, and ATS-clean formatting top employers screen for.
Six rules every UK cv must follow.
Standard for UK CVs across all industries. Academic CVs are the only exception.
"Organisation" not "organization", "specialise" not "specialize". Spellcheck set to en-GB.
No photo, age, DOB, marital status, nationality, or religion. UK equality law discourages it.
"March 2020 – June 2023" or "03/2020 – 06/2023". Avoid year-only ranges.
3–4 line summary right after your contact details — your elevator pitch.
Quantify wins: "reduced churn 18%", "delivered £2.4M revenue", "managed team of 12".
The exact structure recruiters in UK expect.
Name, location (city + country, no full address), phone, email, LinkedIn URL — at the top.
3–4 sentence summary: your role, years of experience, key strengths, and what you're looking for.
Bulleted list of 8–12 hard skills relevant to the target job — keyword-rich for ATS.
Reverse chronological. Company, role, dates, then 4–6 achievement-focused bullets.
Reverse chronological. University, degree, grade (2:1, First, Distinction), dates.
Industry certifications: ACCA, CIPD, PRINCE2, AWS, Google, etc.
Optional. 2–3 lines max — only if genuinely relevant or distinctive.
Just write "References available on request." — never list referees on the CV.
Quick reference of country-specific rules.
| Length | 2 pages — standard |
| Photo | Never included |
| Personal Statement | Mandatory — top of page 1 |
| Spelling | British English (en-GB) |
| Personal Data | No DOB, age, marital status, or nationality |
| Education Grades | Always include — 2:1, First, Distinction, Merit |
| Professional Qualifications | Listed as separate section after work experience |
| References | On request — never on the CV |
| Cover Letter | Always included — 1 page, addressed by name where possible |
Copy-ready opening lines and impact statements.
No. Photos are not standard on UK CVs and can actually hurt you — they introduce bias and many ATS systems can't parse them. Omit unless you're in modelling, acting, or hospitality.
Two A4 pages is the standard. Junior candidates can use one page; only academics and consultants regularly exceed two.
In the UK, the document is called a CV regardless of length. "Résumé" is mostly a US term. Use "CV" in your file name and references.
British English. "Organisation", "specialise", "realise", "colour", "favour", "licence" (noun), "advise" (verb). Spellcheck set to en-GB.
Yes — almost always. UK employers expect a 1-page cover letter addressed to the hiring manager (use LinkedIn to find their name).
No. UK equality law strongly discourages disclosing age, DOB, marital status, religion, or nationality. Most recruiters will mark such CVs as outdated.
Use UK classification: First (1st), Upper Second (2:1), Lower Second (2:2), Third, Pass. For Master's, use Distinction, Merit, Pass.
No. Just write "References available on request." Provide them only when the employer asks — usually after the offer stage.
Applying internationally? Each country has unique resume conventions — pick the right format for your destination.
ATS-friendly format for Aussie recruiters
Bilingual-ready, no photo, achievement-focused
Tabellarisch format with photo & signature
Kiwi-friendly, concise, results-driven
Photo, nationality, visa status included
1-page, no photo, achievement bullets
Pick a UK-friendly template, fill in your details, download a polished PDF in minutes — completely free.
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