CV Format UK: Tips, Examples, & Templates for 2025
Create your CV nowA 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.
Want to save time and have your CV ready in 5 minutes? Try our CV builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ CV templates and create your CV here.
Sample CV made with our builder—See more templates and create your CV here.
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
- 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
Jennifer Hopkins
Office Manager
0734 934 8374
jennyhopkinszety@gmail.com
linkedin.com/jenniferhopkinszety
Personal Statement
Office Manager with 8+ years of experience looking to take on new challenges at Techtron Solutions. Proven wins, including achieving a 40% reduction in annual office supply costs through targeted procurement re-negotiation and contract management skills. Also skilled in working in partnership with HR, and negotiated an outsourced payroll system, which saved 10 man-hours per month. Seeking to leverage my professional skills to achieve similar efficiencies and savings at Techtron as it continues to provide class-leading CRM solutions.
Work Experience
Office Manager
Semaphore Accounting, London
August 2017–Present
- Oversaw office operations in a large accounting firm. Line managed 3 office assistants to ensure maximum operational efficiency.
- Responsible for cost savings for office supplies of 40% per annum over a two-year period, achieved through efficient contract negotiation and procurement skills.
- Led negotiations for an outsourced payroll system that replaced two in-house systems, saving 15 man-hours monthly.
- Introduced a 360-degree appraisal and feedback system for office assistants, helping to decrease turnover by 30%.
- Led the procurement of a new travel booking contractor and created a simplified approval process, leading to a cost saving of 20% on business travel expenses.
Office Assistant
Patel & Smythe, London
July 2012–August 2017
- Organised and recorded appointments for the executive team.
- Created reports for the Office Manager to present to senior management. Made changes to report templates that received positive feedback and reduced the size of reports by 30%.
- Answered phones and dealt with email inquiries. Efficient working led to a 20% reduction in call waiting times.
- Took minutes of meetings and distributed summaries to attendees.
Education
A levels: English, Maths, German
Forest Hill Comprehensive, London, UK
September 2010–June 2012
9 GCSEs, including Maths and English
Forest Hill Comprehensive, London, UK
September 2008–June 2010
Key Skills
- Written communication skills: Prepared monthly company newsletter based on briefings from senior managers.
- Adaptability: Maintained a high standard of service delivery during the emergency office move and the unexpected long-term absence of team members.
- Contract management: Kept supply and service costs within budget through effective negotiation with contractors.
- Analytical skills: Researched blockages in team processes to improve efficiency.
- Performance management: Maintained a regular schedule of 1:1 meetings and introduced a new annual performance review process.
Languages
- German—Advanced
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
Jay Thompson
UX Designer
0348 628 9283
jayt_zety@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/jayt_zety
Personal statement
UX designer with 5+ years of experience with complex web application design. Specialise in improving user satisfaction and sales conversions through the creation of interactively tested, data-driven, and user-centred design. Looking to leverage my skills to bring monetised improvements to Eastonic as UX Team Lead.
Skills Summary
UX DESIGN
- Created simple and intuitive user interfaces that contributed to annual profit growth of up to 100%.
- Created iterative improvements by leveraging user data with analytics reporting, task analysis, and participatory design techniques.
- Carried out UX research by interactively testing designs using high and low-fidelity prototypes.
GRAPHIC DESIGN
- Worked regularly on the overall graphical themes and app and website visual content production.
- Created unique infographics for pieces produced by the content team.
- Contributed graphic design to a customer website that won a 2017 Design Week Award.
IT SKILLS
- Used Pidoco to create page/user flow diagrams, site maps, and interactive wireframes.
- Facilitated design implementation via CSS and HTML coding.
- Using JavaScript to prototype directly and better facilitate communication with UI team.
Work Experience
Freelance UX Designer
London & Amsterdam
September 2015—present
Education
BA (Hons) User Experience Design
London College of Communication
September 2012–June 2015
Languages
- Dutch: Advanced
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
Aisha Khan
Marketing Consultant
0732 984 0193
aisha.khan.zety@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/aishakhanzety
Personal Statement
Marketing Consultant with over 10 years of experience delivering data-driven campaigns and brand strategies across B2B and B2C sectors. Skilled in stakeholder engagement, cross-functional team leadership, and campaign analytics. Developed and launched a lead generation strategy that increased qualified leads by 120% within six months. Now seeking to bring a results-oriented approach to help Bluemoon Tech expand into new markets.
Key Skills
Strategic Marketing
- Created and implemented a multichannel strategy that boosted customer retention by 35% year-on-year.
- Led a rebranding campaign that resulted in a 25% increase in brand recognition, confirmed by customer surveys.
Project Management
- Coordinated cross-functional teams of up to 12 people to deliver integrated campaigns on time and within budget.
- Delivered a time-sensitive product launch campaign within 6 weeks, leading to a 15% increase in quarterly sales.
Digital Marketing & Analytics
- Ran A/B tests and analysed campaign data using Google Analytics and Tableau to optimise performance.
- Managed a paid social media strategy that generated a 200% return on ad spend in Q3 2023.
Work Experience
Marketing Consultant
Freelance – London, UK
January 2020–Present
- Developed tailored marketing strategies for 5 SMEs and 10+ start-ups across fintech, retail, and SaaS sectors.
- Delivered comprehensive brand audits and provided data-driven recommendations.
- Provided hands-on campaign support, including SEO content creation and paid ad management.
Senior Marketing Manager
Greensmith Solutions, Manchester, UK
August 2015–December 2019
- Managed a team of five in the delivery of annual marketing strategies.
- Oversaw the redesign of the company’s website, improving bounce rate by 40%.
- Led CRM integration and improved email open rates by 28%.
Education
BA (Hons) Marketing and Communications
University of Leeds
September 2010–June 2013
Languages
- French—Intermediate
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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:
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!
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.