CV format for the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, you apply with a CV. It runs to one or two pages, with no photo. Personal details stop at your contact information. Work experience comes before education.
At a glance
Format: British and Commonwealth CV
Shared with Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and 45 other countries.
- Photo
- No photo
- Length
- 1 to 2 pages
- Personal details
- Contact details only
- Section order
- Experience first
- References
- On request
- Local name
- CV
- Special fields
- Personal statement
- Paper
- A4
- 210 × 297 mm
These are each country’s usual conventions, not rules. Real practice varies by employer, industry and seniority, and it is changing with anti-discrimination law, screening software and remote hiring: photos are fading even where they were traditional, and multinationals usually expect none. Treat this as a starting point.
How it is written
A personal statement at the top, and no photo.
- Opens with a personal statement: two or three sentences that work like an executive summary.
- Factual and focused on competencies and achievements, with plain formatting.
What to leave out
A photo
A CV in the United Kingdom carries none.
Personal details
Your date of birth, age, marital status and nationality stay off. Give only your name and contact details.
Questions
Do I need a photo on a CV in the United Kingdom?
No. A CV in the United Kingdom carries no photo.
How long should a CV be in the United Kingdom?
One or two pages.
Which personal details go on a CV in the United Kingdom?
Only your contact details.
Does education or work experience come first in the United Kingdom?
Work experience comes first, then education.
Should I list references on a CV in the United Kingdom?
Not on the page itself: references are given on request.
Applying for a job in the United Kingdom?
CVMake detects the job’s country from the posting and formats the CV for it.
Start my CV