UK CV format
The standard sections, order, font and length for a 2026 UK CV. Plus what to skip (photo, DOB, marital status) and how it differs from the US résumé.
Reviewed by Anthony, founder · Updated
Standard section order
- 01
Header. Name, city, email, phone, LinkedIn (optional).
- 02
Personal statement / profile. 3-4 lines.
- 03
Work experience. Reverse chronological.
- 04
Education and qualifications.
- 05
Professional registration / credentials. NMC, GMC, HCPC, QTS, ACCA, CIMA, for regulated roles.
- 06
Skills. Short line, role-relevant.
- 07
References. "Available on request", or omit entirely (most UK employers ask separately).
What to include
Name and contact details (top of page 1).
Personal statement / profile (3-4 lines).
Work experience (reverse chronological).
Education and qualifications.
Skills (single line, separated by · or ,).
Certifications, professional registration (NMC, GMC, QTS).
References "available on request", or omit entirely.
What to skip
Photo (UK convention).
Date of birth.
Marital status.
Religion / nationality (unless right-to-work needs explaining).
Salary expectations (save for offer stage).
Hobbies, unless directly relevant.
Tables, columns, or sidebars (ATS-hostile).
Icons or emoji as bullets.
Skill bars / star ratings.
Length
UK CVs are two pages by default. See the CV length guide for the exceptions (graduate, academic, executive).
Font and visual rules
Body text 10-11pt, headings 12-14pt.
Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or Helvetica. Nothing decorative.
Single-column layout. No sidebars, no columns, no tables for layout.
Hyphen or dot bullets. No icons, no emoji.
Plain dates: "Mar 2022 to Present".
Black ink on white background for print. One subtle accent colour at most.
UK CV vs other formats
| Feature | UK CV | US résumé | EU (Europass) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 2 pages | 1 page | 3+ pages |
| Photo | No | Sometimes | Yes |
| Date of birth | No | No | Yes |
| Style | Specific, evidence-led | Summary-led, brief | Structured template |
| Salary expectations | No | Sometimes | No |
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Frequently asked
Is a UK CV different from a US résumé?+
Yes. UK CVs are typically 2 pages, no photo, no date of birth, no marital status, sections in reverse chronological order, and lean into specific accomplishments rather than corporate buzzwords. US résumés are usually 1 page, may include a photo, often summary-led.
Should I include a photo on a UK CV?+
No. UK convention is no photo. Including one can trigger unconscious-bias concerns at the shortlisting stage and many UK employers actively discourage it. The exception is some creative roles (acting, modelling).
Should I include date of birth?+
No. UK age-discrimination law makes this unnecessary and most employers would prefer you didn't. Same for nationality unless your right to work needs explaining.
What font and size?+
Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or Helvetica at 10-11pt body, 12-14pt headings. Avoid fancy fonts (Bebas, Garamond Italic). They parse badly and look gimmicky.
How do I format dates?+
Month plus year both for start and end: "Mar 2022 to Present" or "Jul 2019 to Feb 2022". Avoid "2022-Now" (some parsers struggle) and avoid "2022-23" without months.