British CV Templates

A British CV is the UK variant of what would be called a resume in the US. Typically, UK job seekers are allowed to present a little more detailed personal work history, so two full pages are totally fine. The rest is pretty much the same: you need a professional summary (sometimes called a personal statement), work experience, an education section, and a skills section. However, you should avoid inserting your photo or any personal details that could lead to discrimination because everyone has the equal right to work. When writing a UK CV for applying in the British job market, you should always keep in mind the spelling differences between American and British English (e.g., "organised" instead of "organized," "centre" rather than "center," and so on).

• You're targeting a job with a company located in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland and need a British CV.
• You need a CV in British English suitable for academic and research roles in the United Kingdom.
• You plan to relocate to the UK and need a curriculum vitae adapted to local standards and conventions.
• You're applying to a UK company that operates internationally, where hiring practices require a British CV (typically two pages, no photo or age, reverse-chronological).

• You're applying for a position with an American company, with US hiring and resume-writing practices.
• The job posting explicitly mentions using a Europass resume template, which can be the case when a company is in continental Europe.
• The academic/research role you're targeting requires a much longer, multi-page curriculum vitae that includes a detailed academic and research background.

Open With a Strong Personal Statement

A personal statement is a short paragraph at the top of your British CV describing your professional identity and the value you bring to the company you're targeting. You should tailor it for every UK employer to match their tone and identity.

Use British English in Your Writing

Adjust spelling in your UK CV template to follow the British English standards. The best way to achieve that is to set your spelling and grammar tools to British English so it avoids "program" instead of "programme," "analyze" instead of "analyse," and so on.

List Education Details According to the British System

If you have a strong academic background, in addition to the qualification title, list your degree classification using the system used in the United Kingdom, such as First-Class Honours (not “Honors”!) or 2:1.

Don’t List Unnecessary Personal Details

In addition to using A4 paper, not having a photo, or starting with a strong personal statement, you should also avoid listing personal details that can invite bias in your UK resume template. UK employers are legally bound to give equal chances to all job seekers.

Follow the Norms of Specific UK Sectors

Your British CV template should be adapted to a specific sector of the role you're applying for. The legal and finance sectors are more formal, and you need to be more concise than if you're applying for, e.g., a position in the civil service and public sector.

Two Pages are the Right Length

The British resume format allows spanning two A4 pages, which is considered the standard length of a UK CV. Making it longer is viewed as excessive by many UK employers, except for academic positions that require a comprehensive professional and educational background.