A standard British CV is a 2-page, reverse-chronological document designed for the UK job market. It follows a structured 5-part layout: Contact Details, Personal Profile, Work History, Education, and Key Skills.

Unlike a US resume or European CV, a British CV must never include a profile photograph, date of birth, or marital status due to UK Equality Act hiring guidelines.

See a British CV template below and what to include in your application.

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British CV examples

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British CV examples

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Essential sections of a standard British CV

To meet UK recruiter expectations and pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), arrange your CV into these five core sections:

  1. Contact details: Place your full name in bold (18–20pt), followed by your location (City & Postcode area, e.g. London, W12), phone number, professional email, and LinkedIn URL. Do not include your full house address.
  2. Personal statement: A 3–4 sentence (40–60 word) overview highlighting your professional title, years of experience, core technical strengths, and immediate value proposition to the prospective UK employer.
  3. Work experience: List your job history starting with your current or most recent role. Include your job title, employer name, location, dates of employment (Month/Year), and 3–6 bulleted achievement statements.
  4. Education & qualifications: List university degrees, A-Levels, or GCSEs (or international equivalents evaluated via UK ENIC). Include institution name, degree title, grade/classification (e.g. BA (Hons) 2:1), and completion year.
  5. Key skills & certifications: A balanced list of 6–10 job-relevant hard skills, software competencies, and professional accreditations (e.g. PRINCE2, CIPD, ACCA).

British CV example and templates

Here’s a British CV sample you can tailor to any professional situation and use as a template for your job application:

Jane Smith

Customer Service Associate

07700 900123

jane.smith@email.com

linkedin.com/in/janesmith

Personal Statement

Customer service associate with over 6 years of experience supporting high-volume retail and e-commerce environments. Skilled in resolving customer concerns, processing orders, and maintaining service quality. Known for delivering fast, friendly support and consistently meeting performance goals. Eager to contribute strong communication and problem-solving skills to Star Cosmetics to increase revenue and customer satisfaction rates.

Work Experience

Customer Service Associate

Green Eco, Manchester

June 2021–December 2025

  • Handled 60–80 daily customer enquiries in store and online, consistently maintaining a 95% satisfaction score through fast, friendly service.
  • Processed transactions and managed Click & Collect orders with accuracy, supporting smooth store operations and meeting service KPIs.
  • Trained and mentored new staff members in customer service procedures, helping shorten onboarding time and improve team performance.
  • Collaborated with supervisors to resolve escalated issues, improving efficiency and ensuring positive outcomes for customers.

Key achievement:

  • Recognised by store management with a Customer Service Excellence Award in 2023 for consistently high service ratings and problem-solving initiative.

Sales Assistant

ZT Deals, Manchester

August 2019–May 2021

  • Provided customer support in a busy retail environment, assisting with purchases,

product enquiries, and store navigation.

  • Supported stock replenishment and maintained organised product displays, helping increase visibility of promotional items.
  • Operated tills during peak hours, handling cash and card payments securely and meeting accuracy targets.
  • Assisted in store merchandising changes, ensuring promotional layouts met brand and seasonal guidelines.

Key achievement:

  • Contributed to a 15% uplift in seasonal product sales by supporting improved shelf presentation and engaging customer interaction.

Education

BA (Hons) English Literature

Manchester Metropolitan University

October 2015–June 2019

  • A-Levels: English Literature (A), Psychology (B)
  • GCSEs: 9 GCSEs including Maths and English

Skills

  • Customer service: Supported high-volume retail and e-commerce customers by resolving enquiries efficiently and maintaining strong satisfaction scores.
  • Communication skills: Interacted with diverse customers daily and assisted colleagues by sharing product knowledge and handling escalated issues.
  • Problem-solving: Resolved customer concerns by identifying issues quickly and offering appropriate solutions in line with company policy.
  • Time management: Balanced multiple tasks such as service duties, Click & Collect preparation, and restocking during peak periods.
  • POS systems: Used retail point-of-sale systems to process payments accurately and maintain secure cash handling standards.
  • Teamwork and collaboration: Assisted colleagues on the shop floor, shared responsibilities during busy periods, and supported new starters.
  • Attention to detail: Ensured accurate order fulfilment, tidy displays, and correct pricing across the store.

Certifications

  • Level 2 Certificate in Customer Service
  • Health & Safety in the Workplace (Level 2)

For a more professional look, check our templates that can be personalised and downloaded in PDF:

1. Modern British CV template

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modern 08 British CV template

Why this British CV template is a great choice:

  • Very easy to scan for recruiters
  • Modern design, but still ATS-safe
  • Looks polished even with minimal editing

Try it for free: Open the LiveCareer UK CV builder so you can fill it in and experiment with the layout at no cost; pay only a small fee when you’re ready to download your finished CV.

2. Sleek template for British CV

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modern 03 British CV template

Why this British CV template is a great choice:

  • Creates a professional impression instantly
  • Two-column layout maximises space
  • Works well for applicants with both experience and skills

Try it for free: Test different versions of your CV for free in LiveCareer UK CV builder; pay a small fee only when you want to download it.

3. Professional British CV template

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professional 08 British CV template

Why this British CV template is a great choice:

  • Trusted, traditional look aligns with UK corporate expectations
  • Very easy to adapt
  • Strong visual hierarchy improves readability

Try it for free: LiveCareer UK CV builder lets you build and preview your CV for free; download it for a small fee when you’re satisfied.

4. Creative UK CV template

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creative 01 British CV template

Why this British CV template is a great choice:

  • Eye-catching without being over the top
  • Highlights summary and key skills effectively
  • Perfect for showcasing individuality

Try it for free: Test colours, content, and structure at no cost in LiveCareer CV builder; pay only a small fee to download your polished CV.

5. Stylish British CV template

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creative 02 British CV template

Why this British CV template is a great choice:

  • Balance of personality and professionalism
  • Soft, modern graphics draw attention to sections naturally
  • Great for young professionals and career changers

Try it for free: Customise it freely; download your final CV from the LiveCareer UK CV builder for a small fee.

6. Two-column British CV layout

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professional 05 British CV template

Why this British CV template is a great choice:

  • Clear headings and excellent spacing
  • Works especially well for long experience histories
  • ATS-friendly structure

Try it for free: Build your British CV in the LiveCareer UK CV builder for free; pay a small fee only to download.

7. Subtle British CV template

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professional 06 British CV template

Why this British CV template is a great choice:

  • Blends modern visuals with corporate expectations
  • Great layout for achievements and bullet points
  • Consistent, clean design boosts credibility

Try it for free: Customise at no cost, with a small fee to download your final CV from the LiveCareer UK CV builder.

8. Contemporary UK CV design

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contemporary British CV template

Why this British CV template is a great choice:

  • Versatile for both early-career and experienced candidates
  • Clean, modern design with excellent readability
  • ATS-friendly, even with visual enhancements

Try it for free: Build and experiment for free in the LiveCareer UK CV builder; download your polished CV for a small fee.

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

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Most important UK CV rules

Adhere to these strict conventions when preparing a British CV:

  • No headshot photo: UK employers deliberately reject CVs containing photographs to comply with anti-discrimination legislation and fair hiring practices.
  • Omit sensitive data: Do not list your age, date of birth, marital status, nationality, gender, or National Insurance number.
  • Use British English spelling: Ensure document language is set to UK English (e.g. optimised, specialised, licence, organisation, management).
  • Typography & formatting: Set margins to 2.5 cm (1 inch). Use clean fonts such as Calibri, Arial, or Georgia in 10–12pt for body text and 14–16pt for section headings.

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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Thank you for reading my article on how to write a British CV. If you’d like to read more tips on CVs and other job search and career-related topics, head over to our blog for more inspiring articles!

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Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with LiveCareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.

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