Free CV Template: UK Format and What to Include
In the UK and Ireland, a CV (curriculum vitae) is the document you send for almost every job: usually two sides of A4, tailored to the role, with no photo. This page shows a UK-style layout you can fill in for free, explains each section, and covers the conventions that differ from an American resume.
- Layout: One column, dates in a left margin
- Photo: No photo area
- Look: Black and white, Playfair Display headings
- Suits: Consulting, finance, management, academia-adjacent roles
UK CV format at a glance
| Convention | UK and Ireland |
|---|---|
| Length | 2 pages of A4 (1 page for school leavers and many graduates) |
| Photo | No |
| Date of birth, marital status, nationality | No (state your right to work if relevant) |
| Opening paragraph | Personal statement, 3–4 sentences |
| Order | Reverse chronological: most recent job first |
| Spelling | British English (organised, programme, licence) |
| References | Not on the CV; provided when asked |
| File | PDF or Word, as the advert asks |
Sections to include, in order
1. Name and contact details
Full name as the heading (not "Curriculum Vitae"), then phone, email, town or city, and LinkedIn if it is current. A full postal address is no longer necessary.
2. Personal statement
Three or four sentences answering: who are you, what can you offer this employer, and what are you looking for? A dependable formula:
[Role or identity] with [X years / relevant background] in [area]. [One strong, specific achievement]. [Key skills that match the advert]. Looking for [type of role] where I can [contribution].
CIPD-qualified HR advisor with six years in retail and logistics. Rolled out a new absence policy across 14 sites that reduced short-term absence by a fifth in its first year. Experienced in employee relations casework, TUPE transfers and HR systems. Looking for a senior advisor role in a growing multi-site business.
Recent Geography graduate (2:1, University of Leeds) with strong data and mapping skills from a dissertation using QGIS and census data. Organised a 40-volunteer campus recycling scheme. Looking for a graduate role in environmental consultancy.
(Fictional examples.) More in our summary and personal statement examples.
3. Work experience
Job title, employer, location and dates (month and year), most recent first. Under each, two to five lines of achievements, not duties. Start with a verb, add numbers where honest. Explain gaps briefly if you want to ("Career break: caring responsibilities").
4. Education
Degree, institution and year; classification (2:1, First) if recent and helpful. A-levels or Leaving Certificate results matter mainly for school leavers and graduates; experienced candidates can summarise them in a line or leave them out.
5. Skills
Software, languages, licences (full UK driving licence, if the role involves driving) and job-specific skills. See how to choose skills.
6. Optional sections
Projects, certifications (CIPD, ACCA, PRINCE2, CSCS card…), volunteering and languages. Hobbies only if they say something relevant about you.
The UK government's National Careers Service has a good overview of CV sections if you want a second opinion.
Which MakeCV template for a UK CV?
- Minimalist (shown above): single column, no photo area. The best default.
- Classic: single column with blue accents; if you don't upload a photo, no photo area is shown.
- Compact: single column, no photo, fits a long career on one page.
- Executive: for senior roles; no photo unless you add one.
All templates export on A4, the UK standard. Use the ATS PDF button for online applications so the text can be read by recruitment software (why that matters).
Five things that make a UK CV look American (and how to fix them)
- A photo: remove it.
- US spelling: "organized", "program", "color". Switch to British English.
- "Resume" in the file name or heading: call it a CV.
- US Letter paper: use A4 (MakeCV already does).
- GPA: use your degree classification instead.