How to Write a CV for UK Jobs in 2023: Tips & Examples

Are you ready to embark on a new adventure? What’s more exciting than finding a new job—one that offers an opportunity to develop as well as provides satisfaction?

The pursuit of your dream career starts right now, with a CV that will serve as your vehicle. And we’re here to help you build it.

Read on and learn how to write a CV that will take you where you want to be in 10 years.

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CV Example

This example shows what you’re aiming for. Now, read on to learn how to get there:

Table of contents

1. Understand why you need a good CV
2. Research the company and the job
3. Choose a CV style that suits you best
4. Include the right contact details in a CV
5. Create your personal statement
6. Describe employment history on a CV
7. Present your education
8. Add the right mix of skills
9. Pick additional CV sections
10. Make an appealing CV layout

You can jump to the part that interests you the most or read the full guide to gain as much knowledge on CV writing as possible.

1. Understand why you need a good CV

A CV (abbreviated from curriculum vitae) is a job application document promoting your relevant qualifications for the desired position to your prospective employer. Typically, it’s a written summary of your experience, skills, and achievements. 

While various countries use different application documents, a curriculum vitae is a standard format in the UK. Therefore, you must know how to write an effective CV to get a job.

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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2. Research the company and the job

Before you get down to writing, start by carefully reading the job advertisement and making notes about the job requirements, position and company. You’ll use this information to write each section of your curriculum vitae.

Make notes about the following:

• Why your desired position is important to the company
• What qualifications you need
• What relevant experience, including academic and volunteer work, you possess

To compile such detailed information, look into:

• Information about your previous employers
• Details about your education, such as years of study
• Certificates and diplomas confirming the completion of additional training

Now, it’s a good idea to research the company’s website and social media to learn more about its objectives and culture. Your research should provide a first-light answer to the question: “What problem could the company be facing and trying to solve?”

3. Choose a CV style that suits you best

The above question is just a preface to how you’ll construct your CV. Because you need then to decide how you’ll solve the problems you’ve identified in the job posting. And you can do that by determining if either experience or skills speak in your favour. Once you have your answer, see which of the three most common CV formats you should be aiming at:

1. Chronological CV: it focuses on your experience and shows the most recent positions first.
2. Functional (skill-based) CV: it gives a skills summary and limits the information about work experience to a list of positions.
3. Combination CV: it merges the reverse-chronological and functional formats to highlight your skills and work experience.

Here’s a quick comparison of all the differences between these three formats:

If you haven’t a strong preference for any of these styles, go with the chronological CV. Recruiters prefer this format, and it’s suitable for candidates of all experience levels. It’s also best suited for applicant tracking software used to scan job applications.

4. Include the right contact details in a CV

Start filling out your CV by creating a header at the top of the document. The placement will depend on the template you’re using. Use the header space for your name, job title, and personal details.

How to make a CV header:

1. Put your first and last name first. Use a bigger font size, such as 16–26 pt.
2. Add your professional title in the next line. If you’re a student, specify your field of study.
3. List your contact information, including a phone number and email address.
4. Mention professional social media accounts such as LinkedIn. You can also add your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram profiles if you use them for business purposes and they’re relevant to the role you’re after.
5. Provide additional information, such as a portfolio or personal website link.

Here’s a sample:

CV header: Example

Be careful when typing your email and phone number; always re-read them. A typo can make it impossible to reach you.

5. Create your personal statement

The next section of your curriculum vitae should summarise your qualifications for the desired position. Writing a personal statement is the best way to introduce yourself on a CV. But only when you tailor it to the role you want.

How to write a personal CV profile:

1. Mention your job title and years of experience. 
2. Add information about your professional skills and knowledge, and specify how they can benefit the employer. 
3. Mention a relevant achievement from your employment history or other activities. 
4. Keep the personal statement 3–4 sentences long.

See an example:

CV personal statement: Example

That might sound overwhelming if you’re writing a CV without work experience, but chin up! Instead of employment history, mention your academic background, volunteer work, or transferable skills. Show your understanding of the job and that you can handle it. Just like the applicant in the example below:

CV with no experience: Sample CV profile

If you want to make your job easier, leave this part of your CV blank, and move on to other sections. Fill it out after you complete the rest of your CV. You can later combine bits and pieces of information from different parts of your application.

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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6. Describe employment history on a CV

In the chronological format, your work experience section is vital. But it’s far from the truth that you need a simple listing of your previous jobs and responsibilities. To make the most out of this section, you should include specific details about your experience, such as the accomplishments you achieved and the skills you developed. Additionally, you should emphasise the impact of your work and how it helped to improve the company's bottom line.

Knowing how to write a CV work history well is priceless. So this is how:

1. Start with the most recent position and continue with older ones in the reverse-chronological order.
2. Include your professional title, the employer's name, the city where the company is, and dates of employment.
3. Write up to six bullet points about your accomplishments and duties, starting each one with an action verb, such as “developed” or “coordinated.”
4. Describe measurable achievements for each position. Try using a PAR formula and accomplishment statements for the best impact.
5. Tailor your job description by including keywords from the job advertisement and referring to key skills.
6. Keep the work history limited to the last 10 years, unless you’ve got relevant experience that goes beyond that. 

Here’s a sample job description:

CV employment history: Example

So, what makes this example work so well? Several factors: it includes measurable achievements that prove the applicant’s expertise, names awards they received, and uses action words to highlight the candidate’s initiative.

7. Present your education

The next step on your way to a great CV is the education section. No job application is complete without it. But adding information about your educational background is more than a formality. If you know how to make the CV education section well, this part of your curriculum vitae can become a real asset.

The amount of information you should provide depends on your professional experience: 

• Suppose you’ve got a few years of work history up your sleeve. In that case, you can stick to the basics, which are the highest level of education you’ve obtained (such as a university degree), the name of the school or university, and the years attended.

• However, if you’ve just graduated or left school, you might add more information about your academic record. Mention A-levels, scholarships, extracurricular activities, relevant coursework, extra projects, research, publications or your thesis on top of that. (Those can be important factors in proving you’ve developed valuable skills and gained the knowledge needed for the job.)

Look at a sample:

CV education section: Example

8. Add the right mix of skills

Employers want skilled workers, and that’s a fact. But the skills they expect depend on the job—a university professor needs different abilities than a financial advisor. Do you know what skills are expected of you? You can verify that using your job posting.

Here’s how to make a skills section:

1. Return to the job advert and look for keywords referring to duties, skills, qualifications and qualities. 
2. Jot down all the skills required for this position. 
3. Make a list of the skills you’ve mastered. 
4. Compare the two lists and pick 6–10 that match. (Your skill section needs a combination of soft skills, hard skills, and computer knowledge or technical skills.)

Find an example below:

CV skills section: Example

What if the job posting doesn’t mention the required skills? Here’s a tip: Check the National Career Service job profiles. They include detailed descriptions of various professions and list the most common skills for the role.

9. Pick additional CV sections

You’ve completed the essential sections, so now it’s time for the extras. Bonus sections help make your CV more personal and allow you to provide more details about relevant skills and experience.

The most common additional sections are: 

• Certifications
• Conferences
• Professional associations
• Language skills
• Volunteer work 
• Publications
• Personal interests

Choose 2–3 sections from the list above that you believe will bring you benefits. Describe relevant accomplishments just like you would mention in the work history part. And use action verbs to highlight your initiatives. 

Additional CV sections: Example

10. Make an appealing CV layout

In business, first impressions matter. Make the most of it by creating a curriculum vitae that looks perfect. 

If you want a quick and easy solution, try an online CV builder or find free CV templates that are already pre-formatted. But you can also design your curriculum vitae yourself using Word, Google Docs, or a similar app.

If you opt for the second solution, here’s how to create a CV layout:

• Apply 1-inch margins on all sides of your CV.
• Consider if you prefer one column or two columns on the page.
• Select one of the top CV fonts, such as Times New Roman, Calibri, or Helvetica.
• Set the font size to 10–12 for paragraphs and 13–14 for headings.
• Use 1–1.5 line spacing and add empty spaces between sections.
• Put your name at the top of the document and make it large and easy to spot.
• Make your CV one page long if you have less than ten years of experience.
• Save the work version of your CV in a doc format and the final version in a PDF file.

Are you thinking of adding colour to your CV to stand out from the crowd? Be careful. Resources such as the London School of Economics Careers CV manual advise against it. If you wish to use colour, be subtle: use it to highlight your name, headings, or bullet points, and stick to one colour only.

What else to remember about?

It looks like your CV is ready to win you the job you want. But before you send it, read it once again. Check for typos and misspelt words, and make sure you include all the information that matters. Once done, save your CV in a PDF format, write a cover letter, and craft the email you will send.

A cover letter alone simply won’t be enough—you need an impactful CV, too. Create your CV in minutes. Just follow our wizard and fill in every CV section with ready-made content. Get started by choosing a professional CV template.

The LiveCareer online CV maker lets you build a professional CV fast and download it as a PDF or DOC.

Create your CV now

Thank you for taking the time to read this guide. Now that you know how to write a CV, maybe you’d like to share tips for other applicants? Or do you need to clarify any of the steps outlined above? Let us know in the comments below.

How we review the content at LiveCareer

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.

Frequently asked questions about how to write a CV

What is a CV?

A CV (short for curriculum vitae) is a job application document that presents your professional background, including relevant work experience, education, and professional skills. An effective CV proves your value to a potential employer using targeted information, such as quantifiable achievements.

What is a good CV format?

Reverse-chronological CV format is the best one, according to career experts. It focuses on work experience and lists jobs from the most recent to the oldest, highlighting professional accomplishments. The chronological CV is best for experienced candidates, but it’s easy to adapt for all candidates.

What does a good CV look like in 2023?

A good CV is easy to follow, concise, and visually appealing. It has the necessary CV sections, such as a header with contact information, personal statement, work experience, education and skills, and a few additional sections—all packed in a good CV layout.

Here’s how to ensure your CV looks professional in 2023:

• Use standard CV fonts such as Calibri, Verdana, or Times New Roman.
• Set the font size to 10–12 for paragraphs and 13–14 for headings.
• Apply 1-inch wide margins on all sides.
• Arrange information in distinct sections and separate them with white space.
• Use bullet points to list out information.
• Limit the length of the CV to one or two pages maximum.

What are the five main parts of a CV?

The five main parts of a CV include the header with your name and contact details, personal statement, work experience, education, and skills. In the reverse-chronological format, the work experience section is the most extensive part of a CV.

How to write a CV for a job application?

You can make your CV using a free CV builder where hiring professionals will guide you or create a document in a word-processing application. If you want to create a perfect CV from scratch, follow the steps below:

1. Make a professional CV layout.
2. Choose the CV format that works best for you.
3. Fill in the CV header with your name and contact details.
4. Write an impressive personal statement.
5. Describe your employment history.
6. Mention your educational background.
7. List your skills in a separate section.
8. Pick additional CV sections to provide more information.
9. Proofread your CV before sending it out.

How can a 16-year-old make a CV?

To make an effective teenager CV, consider your achievements at school and from other extracurricular activities relevant to the job you want. Use them to demonstrate your skills and knowledge that you can translate to success at work.

Here’s how you can write a CV for a 16-year-old:

1. Choose a professional CV template or create a good CV layout from scratch.

2. Make a CV header with your name and contact information.

3. Write a personal statement saying what you want to achieve for the employer.

4. Add information about your education, including extracurricular activities, scholarships, awards, and the coursework you excel at.

5. Give examples of educational accomplishments that show you’ve got the skills needed for the job.

6. Make a CV skill section matching the job ad's skills.

7. Select additional sections such as volunteer work, language skills, and personal projects to provide more relevant information.

8. Proofread your CV to make sure everything is correct.