United Kingdom CV Template 2026 — Format, Examples & Free Download

UK CVs follow a compact, evidence-driven format with strict personal-data norms. This page covers what British recruiters expect and how to complete the template on this page.

How resumes are formatted in the United Kingdom

The document is a CV, written in British English (organisation, programme, prioritise). Two pages is the working ideal for most candidates — one for early career, three only for academic or clinical histories. Reverse chronological with month and year for every role. Personal data is deliberately excluded: no photo, no date of birth, no marital status, no nationality. Name, city, phone, email and LinkedIn are sufficient — your right to work is handled by a short profile line, not by attaching personal documents.

A personal statement of four to six lines opens the CV, which is where you summarise your field, your strongest evidence, and — for international candidates — your work-authorization or visa situation in one sentence. A covering letter is expected alongside the CV for most advertised roles. References

Sections to include, in order

1. Contact details — name, city and county, phone, email, LinkedIn URL.
2. Personal statement — four to six lines: field, key evidence, target role, work-rights status.
3. Work experience — reverse chronological, achievement bullets with results; month/year dates throughout.
4. Education — degree, institution, year; honours grade for recent graduates.
5. Key skills — tools, methods and certifications aligned to the job advert.
6. References — "available on request", or two referees with consent.

What gets a UK CV rejected (ATS + recruiter)

• Personal data in the header — a photo, age or nationality signals an imported template and invites discrimination concerns.
• More than two pages for a standard role — recruiters skim; length without relevance loses the reader.
• Duties instead of achievements — "managed social media" is not evidence; a follower or revenue movement is.
• No right-to-work signal — for sponsorship roles, state your position in the statement so employers can plan around it.
• US spelling and formatting — American spellings on a UK application mark it as untailored.
• Keyword mismatch — applicant tracking systems match the advert's wording; mirror its key terms honestly in skills and role bullets.
• Unexplained gaps — month/year dates plus a one-line note where time off was taken.

Free UK CV template: how to use ours

Replace every [bracketed placeholder]: name and contact line first, then the personal statement, where you should name your target role, your strongest result, and your work-rights status in one sentence. Rewrite the experience bullets with numbers, keep dates in month/year format, and pull key terms from the advert into the skills section. Set references to "available on request" unless you have referees' permission. Click Print / Save as PDF in the button row, pick "Save as PDF" as the destination — the page already defaults to A4 — and use the filename FirstName_LastName_CV.pdf so it sorts cleanly in an employer's inbox. A second, editable copy for tailoring lives in the resume builder.

Frequently asked questions

Should I mention my visa or right-to-work status?

Yes — one sentence in the personal statement. If you already hold the right to work, say so; if you need Skilled Worker sponsorship, state that you are seeking a sponsored role. UK employers check eligibility early for sponsorable vacancies, and clarity prevents strong applications being set aside.

Do UK CVs include a photo or date of birth?

No. British CVs exclude photo, age, marital status and nationality to avoid discrimination in screening. Contact details and city are all the personal information that belongs on the page.

How many pages should a UK CV be?

Two pages is the working ideal for most candidates — one if you are early career. Three pages is reserved for academic, research or clinical careers where the additional detail is expected.

Are references required on the CV?

Not necessarily — "references available on request" is standard. Some adverts ask for two referees; provide them only with permission, and have contact details ready for later stages.