CV format for the UK (United Kingdom)
UK employers expect a short, factual CV that focuses on skills and achievements, not personal background. The standard is two sides of A4, no photo, no date of birth and no marital status. That surprises many people moving from South Asia or the Gulf, where those details are routine, but in the UK they can work against you.
This guide covers the British format in practical terms: what to put at the top, how to write a personal statement, how to state your right to work or visa sponsorship needs, and which job boards British employers use. It also explains why NHS and Civil Service roles often ask for an application form rather than a CV.
12 years in digital marketing and SEO; teaches tech and AI tools on YouTube. Built ATS CV Online for job seekers in the Gulf, Pakistan and abroad. See how we check CVs.
UK CV format at a glance
| Usual length | 2 sides of A4. 1 page is fine for school leavers and recent graduates |
|---|---|
| Photo | No. Leave it out unless the job (acting, modelling) specifically asks for one |
| Page size | A4 |
| Personal details | Name, town or city, phone, email, LinkedIn. No date of birth, nationality or marital status |
| Visa / work status | One line, e.g. 'Full right to work in the UK' or 'Will require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship' |
| Opening section | Personal statement (personal profile): 3 to 5 lines |
| Date format | Month and year (Sep 2022 – Present) |
| Spelling | British English: organise, programme, colour, licence (noun) |
| Name for document | CV |
Include
- Personal statement. A short paragraph at the top that says who you are, what you offer and what you are looking for. Recruiters read it first, so tailor it to each role.
- Right-to-work line. UK employers must check every new hire's right to work. Saying upfront whether you need sponsorship saves both sides time, and many employers cannot sponsor at all.
- Achievements with results. UK recruiters respond to evidence: 'reduced invoice backlog from 400 to 60 in three months' says more than 'responsible for invoices'.
- UK equivalents for overseas qualifications, where you have them. A recruiter may not know your university or grading system. If you have an Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) statement of comparability, mention it briefly.
- Relevant volunteering and part-time work. For graduates and career changers, volunteering, retail or hospitality jobs show UK work habits and transferable skills.
- Professional memberships and registrations. Nurses need NMC registration, engineers may hold chartered status, accountants ACCA or ACA. List them clearly because they are often essential criteria.
Leave out
- Photo. British employers generally avoid photos to reduce the risk of bias in shortlisting. Many will discard or ignore a CV with one, and it adds nothing for an applicant tracking system.
- Date of birth and age. Age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. Employers do not want this information at shortlisting stage, and listing it can look out of touch.
- Marital status, children, religion. These are personal and also relate to protected characteristics. They have no place on a UK CV.
- 'References available on request'. Employers assume you will provide references when asked. Use the space for skills or achievements.
- Full postal address. Town or city and postcode area (e.g. 'Manchester, M14') is enough to show you are local or relocating.
Why UK CVs leave out personal details
The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination based on characteristics including age, sex, race, religion or belief, disability, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation and gender reassignment. Including a photo or date of birth is not illegal, but employers prefer not to see information that could be used, even unconsciously, to judge you on those grounds.
As a result, a UK CV that includes a photo, age, nationality or marital status looks unfamiliar to recruiters. Many large employers anonymise applications themselves, and some actively remove CVs that contain such details. Leaving them out is the safer, more professional choice.
Diversity monitoring forms are separate. Employers may ask you to complete one when you apply, and it is normally kept apart from the shortlisting process.
Right to work and visa sponsorship
Every UK employer must check that new staff have the right to work. You do not need to explain your immigration history, but one clear line in your contact section helps. Examples: 'Full right to work in the UK (British citizen)', 'Settled status, no sponsorship needed', 'Graduate visa, valid until July 2027' or 'Will require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship'.
Only employers with a sponsor licence can hire people who need a Skilled Worker visa, and the role must meet the current salary and skill-level rules. Those rules were tightened in 2025 and continue to change, so check GOV.UK before you apply and target employers listed on the government's register of licensed sponsors.
Do not hide a sponsorship need. It will come up at the right-to-work check, and discovering it late wastes the recruiter's time and yours.
Writing a personal statement that recruiters read
A UK personal statement is three to five lines, usually written in a neutral style that drops the word 'I' rather than starting every sentence with it. It should name your profession, your level of experience, one or two strengths backed by facts, and the kind of role you want.
Avoid general claims such as 'hard-working team player with excellent communication skills'. Recruiters see these on almost every CV. Instead, for example: 'Accountant with six years in manufacturing, part-qualified ACCA, experienced in month-end close and Sage 200, now seeking a management accounts role in the North West.'
NHS, Civil Service and application forms
Many public-sector employers do not accept CVs as the main application. NHS Jobs uses an online form with a 'supporting information' section, where you show how you meet each point in the person specification. Civil Service Jobs uses its own form and often asks for behaviour-based statements.
Keep your CV up to date anyway: you will copy from it, and some NHS trusts and agencies still ask for one alongside the form. When writing supporting information, follow the order of the person specification so the shortlisting panel can tick off each criterion.
Where people apply in UK
- Indeed
- Reed
- Totaljobs
- CV-Library
- NHS Jobs
Templates that fit UK applications
UK CV questions
Should I put a photo on my CV in the UK?
No. UK employers generally avoid photos to keep shortlisting fair, and many will see one as a sign that you do not know local norms. The only exceptions are jobs where appearance is part of the role, such as acting or modelling.
How long should a UK CV be?
Two sides of A4 is the standard. Recent graduates and school leavers can use one page. Academic CVs, which list publications and research, are the main exception and can be longer.
Should I mention visa sponsorship on my CV?
Yes, briefly. A line such as 'Will require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship' or 'Full right to work in the UK' lets the recruiter know immediately whether they can consider you. Hiding it only delays the same answer.
Do I need to include my date of birth on a UK CV?
No, and you should not. Age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, and employers do not need it at application stage. Your date of birth will be collected after an offer for payroll and right-to-work checks.
CV examples by job
CV format in other countries
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