How to write a good CV

What is a CV?

A CV (short for curriculum vitae) is a summary of your work history, skills and qualifications that you send to employers when you apply for a job. In the UK it is usually two sides of A4. Its job is to show an employer, quickly, that you are worth interviewing.

What to include

• Your name and contact details
• A short professional profile
• Key skills
• Employment history, newest first
• Education and qualifications
• Licences, tickets and training
• Volunteering, if it helps
• Interests, if they say something useful

What to leave out

UK employers do not need these to judge your application, and some could lead to unfair treatment.

• A photo
• Your date of birth or age
• Marital status or nationality
• Your full home address
• Your National Insurance number
• Reasons for leaving each job
• Your current or past salary
• Anything you cannot back up at interview

How to lay out your CV

1. 1

   Use a clear, plain font

   Arial, Calibri or similar, in size 10 to 12 for the main text. Use one font throughout.

2. 2

   Make the sections easy to find

   Give each section a clear heading in the same style, and leave a little space between them.

3. 3

   Put your jobs newest first

   For each one, give the job title, employer, town and dates, then your bullet points.

4. 4

   Use bullet points, not paragraphs

   Bullet points under each job are quicker to read. Keep the profile as a short paragraph.

5. 5

   Keep it to two pages

   Cut older or less relevant detail before you make the text smaller or the margins narrower.

6. 6

   Save it in the right format

   Send it in the format the advert asks for. If it does not say, a PDF keeps your layout exactly as you set it.

Want the layout done for you? Download our free UK CV template for Word or Google Docs.

How to write your profile

The profile is the three or four lines at the top. Lead with your strongest experience and the skills the jobs you want ask for. Write it without “I” or “my”, and leave out phrases anyone could claim, such as “hard-working team player”.

How to write your bullet points

Start each bullet point with an action word: in the present tense for your current job (“Lead”, “Manage”) and the past tense for jobs you have left (“Led”, “Managed”). Put the most important duty first, and add numbers where you have them.

If you have little or no experience

Everyone starts somewhere. Put your education and qualifications above your work history, and make the most of what you have done: part-time or seasonal work, volunteering, work experience, school or college projects, sport and clubs. Describe what you did in each, just as you would a job. Aim your profile at what you can offer, such as being reliable, quick to learn or good with customers, and back it up with an example. One page is fine.

Check it before you send it

• Spelling and grammar, including job titles and employer names
• Your phone number and email address
• Dates line up, with no unexplained gaps
• The same tense and style in every section
• It fits on two pages
• The file name is clear, such as “Firstname-Surname-CV”

Questions about writing a CV

How long should a CV be in the UK?

Two sides of A4 is the usual length. If you have little work history, one side is fine. Longer CVs are normally only expected for academic or medical roles.

How far back should my CV go?

Give full detail for roughly the last ten to fifteen years. Older jobs can be listed briefly, with just the job title, employer and dates, unless they are relevant to the job you want.

Do I need to include references?

No. Employers ask for referees' details when they need them, usually later in the process. You can add “References available on request” at the end if you have room, but it is not required.

What is the difference between a CV and a cover letter?

Your CV sets out your experience, skills and qualifications. A cover letter is a short letter for one job that explains why you are applying and how you meet what the employer is looking for.

Should I write a different CV for every job?

Keep one complete CV, then adjust a copy for each job so the most relevant experience stands out. Our guide on how to write a CV for a job explains how.