UK CV Format (2026)
Short answer: A UK CV is typically two pages, reverse-chronological, with no photo, date of birth or marital status (Equality Act). Lead with a 3–4 line personal profile, then core skills, career history with quantified bullets, and education. Use 'CV' not 'resume' in UK job applications. Single-column layout for Workday, Taleo and Oleeo parsers.
UK recruiters expect more depth than a US one-pager but the same anti-discrimination rules: no photos, no age signals. Two pages is the norm — not a sign of padding.
UK CV length and structure
Length: two pages for most professionals; one page for graduates and career changers with limited history.
Order: Contact details → Personal profile (3–4 lines) → Key skills → Career history → Education → Optional: certifications, volunteering.
Spelling: British English (organise, colour, programme). Match the employer's dialect if they are US-headquartered.
Protected characteristics — never include
Under the Equality Act 2010, employers must not discriminate on age, gender, race, religion, disability or marital status. Do not include: photo, date of birth, nationality (unless work-authorisation relevant), gender, marital status, number of children. Recruiters will discard CVs that include photos — it signals you do not know UK norms.
Personal profile vs US summary
The UK personal profile sits at the top and reads like a short bio: who you are, years of experience, domain strength, and target role.
Example: "Chartered accountant with 6 years in Big Four audit and FP&A. Led three statutory audits for FTSE 250 clients. Seeking senior finance roles in London fintech."
References and GDPR
Do not write "references available on request" — it wastes space. Do not list referee contact details on the CV; provide them when asked. Keep the document GDPR-clean: no unnecessary personal data.