CV Templates

UK CVs are typically two pages, written in reverse chronological order. Include your contact details, personal statement, work experience, education, and skills. Keep the layout clean, avoid photos unless relevant, and use A4 formatting—clear, structured CVs are what UK recruiters expect.

PDF is the safest option because it keeps your formatting consistent on every device. Word CV templates are editable, but formatting can shift depending on the recruiter’s software. Enhancv lets you customise online and export as a polished PDF, ready to send.

For most UK roles, two pages is standard. Graduates and early-career applicants should stick to one page, while experienced professionals may need two. The key is relevance—include only roles and achievements that support your application.

A strong UK CV includes:

• Contact details (name, phone, email, location)
• Personal statement (short summary tailored to the role)
• Work experience (in reverse chronological order)
• Education and qualifications
• Skills relevant to the job

Optional extras: certifications, volunteering, or languages, if they add value.

Choose a simple, clear template that highlights education, transferable skills, and extracurriculars. Add part-time jobs, volunteering, or projects that demonstrate initiative. Single-column layouts work best for first-time applicants.

Students and graduates should choose concise, professional templates that highlight education and skills. A one-page CV with clear sections works best for internships, graduate schemes, and entry-level jobs in the UK. Enhancv’s top picks are Ivy League, Single Column, and Classic—all single-column templates that distribute content evenly, so you don’t have to worry about filling up extra space.

Yes. All Enhancv templates are built with simple formatting, clear headings, and standard fonts so applicant tracking systems (ATS) can scan them correctly. That means your CV is easy for both the software and recruiters to read, giving you a better chance of making it through the first screening.

You can keep the same design, but you should always tailor your content. Update your personal statement, skills, and key achievements to match each role. Enhancv makes this easy by letting you create and save different CV versions in the builder.

It depends on your level of experience:

• Students and graduates: Include part-time work, internships, volunteering, and any roles that show transferable skills. Two to three entries are usually enough.
• Early to mid-career professionals: Aim for your last three to five roles or about the past 10 years. Focus on the positions most relevant to the job you’re applying for.
• Senior managers and executives: Prioritise key leadership roles and major achievements. Earlier jobs can be shortened or summarised to keep the CV to two pages.
  

The golden rule: list enough roles to show progression and relevance, but don’t include every job you’ve ever had. Recruiters prefer clarity over completeness.

Leave out details like your full address, date of birth, marital status, or a photo (unless it’s common in your industry). Avoid outdated skills, irrelevant jobs, and buzzwords like “hard worker” that don’t add evidence of your abilities.

In the UK, “CV” and “resume” mean the same thing: a professional document used to apply for jobs. Unlike the US, where a resume is shorter and a CV is academic, in the UK, the term “CV” covers both and is the preferred word.

For your first job or with little experience, focus on transferable skills, education, and achievements outside formal work, such as volunteering, projects, sports, or societies. A modern template will give your CV a professional, polished look, even if you’re only just starting out.