What Makes a UK CV Different?
A UK CV (Curriculum Vitae) differs from a US résumé in several important ways. UK CVs are typically two pages long, include a personal profile at the top, and do not include a photo or date of birth. They follow a reverse-chronological format and are tailored to each role you apply for.
The Right Length
Keep your CV to two pages maximum. Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds scanning a CV before deciding whether to read further. A concise, well-structured document will always outperform a lengthy one.
Essential Sections
1. Personal Details
Include your full name, phone number, professional email address, and LinkedIn URL. You do not need to include your full address — a town and county is sufficient.
2. Personal Profile (Professional Summary)
A 3–4 sentence paragraph at the top of your CV summarising who you are, what you do, and what you're looking for. This is your elevator pitch. Make it specific to the role you're applying for.
3. Work Experience
List your roles in reverse-chronological order (most recent first). For each role, include:
4. Education
List your qualifications in reverse-chronological order. Include the institution, qualification, subject, and grade. For recent graduates, this section comes before work experience.
5. Skills
A brief section listing technical skills, software proficiencies, and languages. Avoid generic soft skills like "good communicator" — demonstrate these through your work experience instead.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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