CV Format UK: Tips, Examples, & Templates for 2025

A properly formatted CV is a recruiter’s best friend. It makes their job easier and lets them see your expertise at a glance. But format your CV badly, and it won’t even get read. 

Don’t worry. In five minutes, you’re going to learn how to format a CV so that it suits your needs and best shows off your strengths as a candidate. You’ll be hired in a flash. 

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One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:

[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My CV is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.

This guide will show you:

• What is a CV format?
• How to format a CV?
• UK CV format: 3 main choices
• 1. Chronological CV format
• 2. Skills-based CV format
• 3. Combination CV format
• Best CV format templates
• Key takeaways

What is a CV format?

CV format is the structure and organisation on which your CV is built.

A standard CV format features sections that organise your information, including contact details, personal profile, work experience, education, skills, and additional qualifications. The most popular CV format in the UK is the reverse chronological format, which means that your work history is listed from the most recent position to the earliest. If you don’t have much work experience or you’re switching careers, the skills-based CV format can work better for you.

In the meantime, let’s figure out another important thing. Visit our guide: How to write a CV

How to format a CV?

A well-formatted CV not only looks more professional but also improves readability, increases your chances of passing ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) scans, and ensures recruiters can quickly spot the information they need.

Below are the essential CV formatting tips to help you make the best first impression:

1. Set clear and consistent margins

Use one-inch margins (about 2.5 cm) on all four sides of the page. This ensures your content isn’t crowded and there’s plenty of white space to help guide the reader’s eye across the page.

2. Choose the correct line spacing

Stick with a line spacing of 1.0 to 1.15. This keeps your CV compact while maintaining readability. Avoid anything too tight or too loose, as this can make your CV format appear too cramped or overly spaced out.

3. Use a professional font

Fonts like Calibri, Arial, Verdana, or Helvetica are excellent choices for CVs. These sans-serif fonts are modern, easy to read, and display well on all devices and systems. Avoid decorative or script fonts—they're hard to read and look unprofessional.

4. Size your text appropriately

Use 11–12 point font for the body text of your CV. For section headings, use a font size of 4–6 points larger to create a clear visual hierarchy; this means headings between 15 and 18 points work well.

5. Stick to left alignment 

Left-align all your text. Justified text (which aligns both left and right margins) can cause uneven spacing between words, especially on narrower screens or mobile devices. Left alignment ensures everything is neat and easy to scan.

6. Keep your CV length under control

For most UK jobs, a CV should be no longer than two A4 pages. Only academic or research-based CV formats are expected to go beyond this. Be concise, prioritise the most relevant information, and don’t pad out your content.

7. Use bullet points effectively

Present your work experience and skills using bullet points. Start each bullet point with a powerful verb and focus on accomplishments using the PAR method (Problem, Action, Result) where possible. This helps recruiters understand the impact you’ve made in previous roles.

8. Maintain consistent formatting throughout

Use the same font, text size, bullet style, date format and layout rules across every section. This makes your CV look polished and professionally put together.

9. Use headings and white space strategically

Divide your CV format into sections. Leave enough white space between them, so the page doesn’t appear too dense or overwhelming.

10. Save and send your CV in PDF format

Save your CV as a PDF file before sending it, unless the job ad specifies otherwise. PDFs lock in your formatting, preventing any layout issues when opened on different devices or software.

11. Avoid using tables, text boxes, page borders and graphics. 

These can confuse Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and cause content to be missed. A clean, minimal design is always more effective than a cluttered or overly stylised one.

12. Use bold text sparingly

Highlight job titles, company names, or section headers, but avoid overusing bold formatting. It will only worsen the readability of the entire document.

13. Include hyperlinks where relevant

You can hyperlink your LinkedIn profile, portfolio site, or email address—but make sure they’re active and easy to spot.

By following these CV formatting guidelines, you ensure your CV is not only visually appealing but also functional, scannable, and ATS-friendly. An excellent CV format supports your content, making it easier for recruiters to spot your value at a glance.

Having a perfectly formatted CV is great, but you must also remember about your second application document. Learn how to work on it to impress your recruiters: How to Format a Cover Letter

UK CV format: 3 main choices

Depending on your circumstances, there are three standard types of UK CV format.

• A chronological CV format focused on your work experience.
• A skills-based CV format focused on your skills.
• A combination CV format combining the two above.

But which one should you choose?

Generally speaking, the best CV format is a chronological CV format. This CV format is suitable for most individuals, and it’s the one that recruiters prefer. However, in some circumstances, the other two might work better. Below, I’ll show you three different CV formats, describe who can benefit from them, and outline their pros and cons.

Acing your CV format is great, but don’t forget about nailing its layout. Read more: Professional CV Layout

1. Chronological CV format 

The chronological CV, also called the reverse-chronologicalformat, is the most common choice for most candidates. It begins with your most recent role and then details your previous jobs in reverse chronological order.

Recruiters are most familiar with this format; they can quickly scan and find the information they need. Additionally, ATS software used to screen applications can easily read it. However, this simple CV format can reveal all possible gaps in your employment history.

To format this CV, start with a personal statement, followed by your work experience. These are the most crucial sections, as highlighted in the example below. Alongside these, include your education history (in reverse chronological order), key skills, and optional sections like language skills. You can see an example of the chronological CV format below:

📝 CV format template: chronological CV

This candidate has highlighted their achievements using the PAR formula (Problem—Action—Result), producing strong accomplishment statements. A well-crafted personal statement effectively summarises their qualifications. It’s crucial to get your introduction on a CV right, as recruiters typically scan your CV in an F-shaped pattern. To make a good impression, these sections should stand out.

✅ Chronological CV format pros

• It’s a format preferred by recruiters. 
• It’s most likely to pass an Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) CV test.
• It highlights the peak of your career and your accomplishments.

❌ Chronological CV format cons

• It requires some extra effort to catch the recruiter’s eye.
• It’s not great if you have some gaps in your employment history.
• It’s not a good CV format if you’re changing careers.

Now, let’s have a look at the second UK CV format type: a skill-based CV.

Learn how to create an impressive CV summary that will make your recruiter want to call you ASAP. Read our guide: CV Summary

2. Skills-based CV format

Skills-based or functional CV emphasises your core skills and abilities rather than your work history. Recruiters often dislike this format because it lacks the clear, organised work timeline they expect. Additionally, it may not be compatible with older ATS systems.

However, it’s a format that will work perfectly for you in some scenarios:

• Writing a career change CV
• Writing a freelance CV
• Transitioning from military work to civilian work

This format begins with a personal statement followed by a key skills section, where both soft and hard skills are elaborated upon. Below this, you briefly list your work experience, education, and other relevant sections such as language skills. Let’s have a look at how this CV format looks in practice:

📝 CV format template: skills-based CV

The candidate's skills are categorised into soft, hard, and technical skills, with their summary prominently placed at the centre of the CV for visibility. The subsequent sections, including work history, education, and other relevant details, provide all the key information the recruiter needs.

✅ Skill-based CV format pros

• It focuses on your skills rather than your work history.
• It’s a good CV format for freelancers, veterans, and career changers.
• It’s perfect for showing your skills, regardless of when or where you acquired them.

❌ Skill-based CV format cons

• It’s difficult to scan quickly. That’s why busy recruiters prefer the chronological format.
• It might not work if the job you’re after requires experience.
• It will probably fail the ATS CV scan.

Let’s see what happens when you combine these two into a combination CV format.

If you’d like a more detailed guide to CV writing, then read more here: How to Write a Professional CV

3. Combination CV format

The combination CV format, also known as a hybrid CV, brings together the best of both worlds. It blends elements from the chronological and skills-based formats, giving equal attention to both your key skills and work experience. The combination CV format is ideal when you have both strong experience and standout skills that deserve equal emphasis. It’s handy if you’re applying for a senior role, shifting within your industry, or want to tailor your CV to a particular job.

It starts with a personal statement, followed by a summary of key skills. Then it presents your work experience in reverse chronological order. Additional sections, such as education and languages, round out the document. Let’s see how this CV format looks in practice:

📝 CV format template: combination CV

This candidate has used the combination format to showcase both achievements and relevant expertise. The key skills section lets their strongest points stand out early on, while the chronological work experience provides valuable context. This balanced format works well for candidates with a solid employment history who also want to highlight specific strengths.

✅ Combination CV format pros

• It combines your strongest skills with a solid employment timeline.
• It can be tailored to show relevance for niche or senior-level roles.
• It highlights achievements and value early in the document.

❌ Combination CV format cons

• It’s slightly longer than other formats, which may not be suitable for early-career candidates.
• It requires careful layout to avoid looking cluttered.
• Some recruiters may prefer a simple CV format.

Okay, now that we know everything about different CV formats, it’s time to see some examples of CV templates.

When making a CV in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional CV template here for free.

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When you’re done, Zety’s CV builder will score your CV and tell you exactly how to make it better.

Best CV format templates 

There are some free CV templates online that help you win the job you’re after. However, I firmly believe it’s better to find a professional CV-building website with professional ATS-friendly templates that will pass every initial selection made by an algorithm. 

Below, you will see some templates from Zety. They are all good for the CV formats mentioned above. They are also editable CV templates, and you can adjust them as you go. Choose the best CV template and start working on your document.

1. Diamond

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This creative CV template highlights your key sections with diamonds—and that’s eye-catching! A big header allows you to add all your contact info, including your social media profiles, online portfolios, and websites, while keeping the CV format intact.

2. Muse

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A full-width header for your name, title, and CV profile makes Muse one of my favourite choices from our builder. Those spectacular icons help your recruiter quickly locate each section on this visual CV template.

3. Influx

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Elegance and professionalism—that’s our Influx template. With a bold CV header and a single-column CV format, your document will be impossible to miss on your recruiter’s desk. And there’s plenty of room to talk about your experience and skills, which is great for both UK CV format types.

4. Enfold

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Here’s a perfect CV design example. Two-column CV format with a right-hand sidebar to include all your relevant additional information. Enfold is a perfect, classic CV template with an elegant hint of modernity.

5. Primo

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The unique string of round icons is what I love about this modern CV template. The usage of a timeline on the left-hand side of your document makes it easier to track your experience and education dates. And the sidebar on the right allows you to include a lot of relevant information.

Consistency in formatting is key to creating a professional CV. Ensure uniformity in font style, size, and spacing throughout the document. This not only enhances readability but also reflects your attention to detail and organisational skills, which are highly valued by employers.

Anna Berkolec, Senior Talent Acquisition & Career Development Specialist

Now, you know all the standard CV formats in the UK and how to format each, and you’ve seen some great templates to choose from. Let’s head up to the summary of it all.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your CV will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

To create a job-winning CV format, remember the following:

• To format your CV correctly, divide it into sections.
• The standard CV sections include contact information, personal statement, work experience, educational background, and skills.
• Follow the basic rules of CV formatting: use one-inch margins, set spacing to 1 or 1.15, select a readable font in 11–12 points, avoid justification, and use bullet points.
• Regardless of the CV format you choose, always make sure your document is tailored to the job description for each application you make.
• Avoid using poorly formatted free CV templates. Use one from a professional CV builder to secure greater results.

Thanks for reading and good luck with your CV!

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Our editorial team has thoroughly reviewed this article to ensure it follows Zety’s editorial guidelines. Our dedication lies in sharing our expertise and providing you with actionable career advice that offers you real value. Every year, the quality of our content attracts 40 million readers to our site. But that’s not all – we conduct original research to gain a detailed understanding of the labour market. We take pride in being cited by top universities and leading media outlets in the UK and worldwide.

Sources

• Portland Community College, Samples of a PAR formula statements
• Nielsen J., (2006) F-Shaped Pattern for Reading Web Content (Original Study)