How to Format a CV: UK Formats, Tips & Examples

A well-formatted CV is a recruiter’s best friend. It makes their job easier and lets them see your value at a glance. Get the format wrong, and your CV may never make it past a quick skim or an ATS scan. In the next few minutes, you’ll learn exactly how to format a CV for UK jobs, which format fits different career situations, and how to make it both recruiter- and ATS-friendly.

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[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
• UK CV formats
• How to choose the correct CV format
• CV formatting tips
• How to format a CV (by work experience)
• What to include when formatting a CV
• How to format a CV
• Best CV format templates
• Frequently asked questions about CV format

What is a CV format?

A CV format defines the structure of your academic or work history. A well-formatted CV organises information into sections such as contact details, a personal statement, education, work experience, skills, and additional relevant information. Those sections are arranged in a clear and visually appealing way.

Think of the CV format as the frame around your achievements. Get the frame right and the content ✨shines✨.

💡 Visit our guide: How to write a CV

UK CV format: 3 main choices

Depending on your circumstances, there are three standard UK CV formats:

• 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.

Which one should you choose? Generally speaking, the best CV format is the chronological CV. 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, say who can benefit from them, and outline their pros and cons:

1. Chronological CV format 

The chronological CV, also known as the reverse-chronologicalformat, is the top choice for most job seekers. 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 such as language skills.

📝 CV format template: chronological CV

This candidate has highlighted their achievements using the PAR formula (Problem-Action-Result), creating strong accomplishment statements. A well-crafted personal statement helps to make a good impression, as recruiters typically scan your CV in an F-shaped pattern.

2. Skills-based CV format

Skills-based or functional CV highlights your core skills and abilities instead of 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 CV format starts with a personal statement followed by a key skills section, where both soft and hard skills are detailed. Below this, you briefly outline your work experience, education, and other relevant sections such as language skills.

📝 CV format template: skills-based CV

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

3. Combination CV format

The combination CV format, also known as a hybridCV, combines the strengths of both approaches. It integrates elements from the chronologicaland skills-based formats, giving equalfocus to your key skills and work experience. The combination CV is perfect when you have solid knowledge and notable skills that should be highlighted equally. It’s advantageous if you’re applying for a senior role, changing industries, or want to customise your CV for a specific job.

This CV format begins with a personal statement, followed by a summary of key skills. Then it details your work experience in reverse chronological order. Additional sections, such as education and languages, complete the document. 

📝 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.

3How to choose the correct CV format: short quiz

Still not sure which layout suits you best? Use this quick guide to pinpoint the safest starting point based on your career history and goals. Answer each question honestly to pick the format that shows your strongest side.

1️⃣ Is your most recent experience directly relevant to the job, with a clear progression in your roles?

• Mostly Yes → Go reverse-chronological (let recruiters see your growth straight away).
• Mostly No → Go to Question 2.

2️⃣ Are you changing careers, re-entering the workforce, or does your work history have large gaps or a non-linear path?

• Mostly Yes → Go skills-based (to emphasise transferable skills first) or combination (if you still want to show a timeline).
• Mostly No → Go to Question 3.

3️⃣ Do you have both a solid track record and standout, job-specific skills you want to highlight equally?

• Mostly Yes → Go combination (balances skills up front with a clear work history).
• Mostly No → Stick with reverse-chronological for simplicity and recruiter-friendliness.

💡 Pro tip: If you’re still torn between two formats, draft both and see which one better matches the tone and priorities of the job description.

CV formatting tips

Strong formatting makes your CV easy to skim in 7 seconds. The goal is to make every section instantly recognisable and every line easy on the eyes, without sacrificing a modern, professional feel.

📌 Use the following guidelines to format your CV perfectly:

• Set margins to 2–2.5 cm on all sides for a clean, breathable layout.
• Choose clear, professional fonts in 11–12 pt for body text and 14–18 pt for headings.
• Maintain line spacing between 1.0–1.15 to keep content compact yet readable.
• Align text to the left and avoid full justification to prevent awkward spacing.
• Limit length to one or two A4 pages for most UK roles (academic CVs can be longer).
• Start bullet points with strong action verbs, focus on outcomes, and quantify results.
• Ensure consistency in font family, date format (e.g., MM/YYYY or Month YYYY), and bullet style.
• Save your CV as a PDF unless the advert specifically requests DOCX.
• Make it ATS-friendly.

💡 ATS systems parse text to match you to requirements, but humans still make the call. Design for both: clean structure, standard headings, and keywords used naturally. Avoid elements that confuse parsers, like tables and text boxes. 

CV format examples by experience level

Your stage of career matters as much as your sector. Graduates must surface potential; career changers must translate relevance; experienced pros must compress depth. Each path has a slightly different order and emphasis. Use the examples below to tune your CV format and its content.

School leavers & graduates

When work history is short, your projects, placements, and transferable skills do the heavy lifting. Lead with education and evidence: results from coursework, society roles, or internships. Keep the profile focused on what you can offer right now. One outstanding page beats a thin two.

Entry-level candidates

Demonstrate you’re job-ready, even if your experience is mainly from internships, part-time work, coursework, or volunteering. Start with a personal statement that states the role you want and your value. Present projects as mini-jobs with outcomes, quantifying results like views, change, or time saved. Keep it to one page, in one column, and tailor skills and keywords to the job ad.

Career changers

Your mission is to translate past wins into future value. A skills-based or combination layout lets you put relevant strengths first and compress older, less-relevant roles. Be explicit about your pivot and back it with training and real examples. Jargon-translate from your old field to your new one.

Experienced professionals

With a long track record, the challenge is focus. Recruiters need the highlights, fast, with just enough context to trust the numbers. Prioritise recent impact, compress the earlier years, and use metrics and scale to show seniority. Edit ruthlessly to protect readability.

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

What to include when formatting a CV

Every CV section has a purpose. Refine each part with clear inclusions and exclusions so nothing distracts from your suitability. Use the lists below as quick-start guides, then customise them to the advert. When unsure, keep it neat and relevant.

Contact information 

Your contact block should make it easy to contact you and verify your professional presence. Keep it brief and privacy-conscious while adhering to UK standards. Anything that doesn’t assist with contact or fit belongs elsewhere, or nowhere at all.

📌 Here's how to do it correctly: 

• Include: Full name; phone; professional email; City/Town & broad location; LinkedIn/portfolio
• Exclude: Date of birth; marital status; nationality; headshot; full street address

Personal statement (profile) 

This is your top-of-page hook: a compact summary showing who you are, what you bring, and what you’re aiming for. Aim for 3–4 tight lines that mirror the role’s priorities and include a tangible outcome or two.

📌 Structure your CV profile by answering the following questions:

• Who you are: role/level + years or key credential
• What you offer: 2–3 strengths matched to the job
• Your goal: the value you’ll deliver to the specific company (mention its name)

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.

Work experience 

This is the section most recruiters jump to first, so make every bullet earn its place. Lead with outcomes, add scale for credibility, and weave in tools or constraints to make the achievement feel real.

📌 Here’s how to add work experience to your CV:

• List roles in reverse-chronological order (latest first).
• Show job title, employer, and dates for each role.
• Keep 4–6 impact-focused bullet points per role.
• Lead bullets with strong action verbs (e.g., “delivered,” “orchestrated”).
• Quantify results with numbers, percentages, or timeframes.
• Use the PAR method to add context.
• Highlight promotions or role progression under one employer.
• Prioritise relevant experience to match the job ad.
• Group or summarise older/less relevant roles.

Education

Your education section shows academic credentials, specialised training, or certifications that add credibility to your application. The depth of detail depends on your career stage: graduates should expand this section, while experienced professionals can keep it concise.

📌 Here's how to do it correctly:

• Include: Degree(s), diploma(s), or certificates; institution name; dates; key modules, projects, dissertations, or honours if relevant to the role.
• Optional: Academic achievements such as awards, scholarships, or positions of responsibility (e.g., society roles).
• Exclude: Irrelevant qualifications or outdated school grades once you have higher education credentials.

Skills 

Treat the skills list as a quick relevance scan for both humans and ATS. Prioritise what’s in the advert and separate technical skills from soft, transferable strengths for instant clarity.

📌 Here’s how to add skills to your CV:

• Create two mini-lists tailored to the advert:
• Hard/technical: Python, Power BI, Xero, Revit, HubSpot, IFRS, EMR, GMP, CAD, GDPR
• Soft/transferable: Stakeholder management, presentation, leadership, problem-solving, negotiation, time management, communication
• Mirror the advert’s exact wording where accurate. Always prioritise skills they’ve asked for. Everything else can live in projects or bullets.

Optional sections

Optional sections add colour and credibility, but only when they’re relevant. Use them strategically to prove domain knowledge, initiative, or leadership that doesn’t fit elsewhere.

📌 Here’s what you can also include on a CV:

• Hobbies and interests
• Volunteering
• Languages
• Professional certifications
• Extracurricular activities
• Projects
• Publications
• Awards
• Conferences

💡 Discover the essential elements of a well-crafted CV. Read our guide: What to Put on a CV

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 our users’ favourite Zety UK CV templates. 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

Create my CV now

Create your CV now

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

Create my CV now

Create your CV now

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

Create my CV now

Create your CV now

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 excellent for all UK CV formats.

4. Enfold

Create my CV now

Create your CV now

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

Create my CV now

Create your CV now

The unique string of round icons shines on this modern CV template. Using a timeline on the left-hand side of your document makes it easier to track your experience and education dates. The sidebar on the right allows you to include a wealth 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.

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 takeaways

✅ Here’s how to create a job-winning CV format:

• Divide your CV format into sections: contact information, personal statement, work experience, educational background, and skills.
• 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.
• Always ensure that your document is tailored to the job description for each application you submit.
• 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!

About Zety’s Editorial Process

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)
• HR Review, "Make your CV count – recruiters decide in 7 seconds"

Frequently asked questions about CV format

Do I include a photo in my UK CV format?

Generally, no, unless you are applying for a very niche role where it is explicitly requested (such as acting or modelling). In the UK, including a photo can raise concerns about bias and isn’t standard practice for most professional applications. Omitting a photo keeps the focus on your skills, experience, and achievements rather than your appearance.

Should I put my full address on a CV?

No, you only need to list your town/city and general area, which is enough for employers to know your location. This approach helps protect your privacy and keeps your CV cleaner and more concise. Full addresses are unnecessary at the application stage and can be shared later if you accept an offer.

Is it better to use a CV or a résumé in the UK?

In the UK, a CV is the standard application document, usually one to two pages long, summarising your experience, education, and skills. The term “résumé” is more common in North America and typically refers to a one-page career summary. If a UK employer says “résumé,” they almost always mean a CV in the UK format.

Should I list references on a CV?

Not usually—most employers will ask for references only at the final hiring stage. Including “References available upon request” at the bottom of your CV is perfectly acceptable and keeps the document focused on your qualifications. This also allows you to choose the most relevant referees for each role.

Is a date of birth required on a CV?

No, there is no legal requirement to include your date of birth on a UK CV, and doing so may inadvertently invite age discrimination. Employers are more interested in your qualifications, skills, and experience. Removing personal details like date of birth, marital status, and nationality keeps your CV professional and bias-free.