In the UK this document is called a CV, not a resume. UK recruiters expect it to be short, factual and free of personal details unrelated to the job. These are strong conventions rather than rules, and a few details vary by source.
A convention, not an official rule
There is no single official CV format for the United Kingdom. This page describes what employers commonly expect. Some public-sector and government applications, such as US federal jobs or EU institutions, do set a required format. If a job post gives one, follow it.
At a glance
| Length | Two A4 pages is standard. One page is fine early in a career. |
|---|---|
| Opening | A short personal statement of three to six lines, written for each application. |
| Photo | Leave it out. |
| Personal details | Leave out date of birth, age, marital status and nationality. Name, phone, email and city are enough. |
| Address and IDs | No full street address and no National Insurance number. |
| Right to work | If you need sponsorship, one plain line about your visa position is acceptable. |
| References | Usually left off. "References available on request" is optional. Give referees when asked. |
| Style | British spelling, dates as Month YYYY, and A4 paper. |
What to include
- Header. Name, phone, email, city and a LinkedIn link.
- Personal statement. Three to six lines: who you are, your speciality and one strong result.
- Key skills. A short list of tools and strengths.
- Work experience. Most recent first, with title, employer, location, dates and achievement bullets.
- Education. Degree, classification if you have one, institution and dates.
- Additional. Certifications, languages, volunteering.
What to leave out
- Photo, date of birth, age, marital status and nationality.
- A full home address and any National Insurance number.
- "References available on request" is optional, and takes a line you could use for an achievement.
- American spelling, and the word "resume" as a heading.
If your resume was written for India
- Remove the photo, date of birth, nationality, marital status, father's name and the declaration paragraph.
- Replace a career objective with a short personal statement.
- Use British spelling, A4 paper and dates such as March 2023.
- Cut it to two pages and turn duties into achievements.
- If you need sponsorship, add one plain line about your right to work.
Template for the United Kingdom
A plain single-column template that follows these conventions. Replace the bracketed parts with your own details, and delete any optional line you do not need.
[Your Full Name] [City] | [Phone with country code] | [Email] | [LinkedIn URL] PERSONAL STATEMENT [Three to six lines: your job title, years of experience, your speciality and one strong, quantified result.] KEY SKILLS [Skill category]: [tool], [tool], [tool] [Skill category]: [tool], [tool], [tool] WORK EXPERIENCE [Job title], [Employer], [City, Country] [Month Year] to [Month Year or Present] - [Action verb] [what you did] [result, with a number if you have one]. - [Action verb] [what you did] [result, with a number if you have one]. - [Action verb] [what you did] [result, with a number if you have one]. [Job title], [Employer], [City, Country] [Month Year] to [Month Year] - [Action verb] [what you did] [result, with a number if you have one]. - [Action verb] [what you did] [result, with a number if you have one]. EDUCATION [Degree], [Classification if you have one], [Institution], [City, Country] [Month Year] to [Month Year] ADDITIONAL (optional) Languages: [Language] ([level]) Certifications: [Name], [Issuer], [Year] Right to work: [Only if you need sponsorship. Delete this line otherwise.]
Check your resume against these rules
The checker has a setting for the United Kingdom that flags the items on this page in your pasted or uploaded resume.
Common questions
Is it a CV or a resume in the UK?
A CV. A resume is the US term, and a UK employer may find it unfamiliar.
Should I include a photo?
No. A photo is not expected in the UK and some agencies remove it.
Do I need to list referees?
Usually not. Most guides say to omit them or add one line saying they are available on request. Have two ready for when you are asked.
How long should a UK CV be?
Two A4 pages for most people. One page is fine for students and early-career applicants.