UK employers in 2025 favour CVs that are clear, concise, and easy to scan quickly. They want to see relevant skills and experience highlighted without unnecessary detail. A simple, well-structured format with organised sections and bullet points is the best way to catch their attention.
Many recruiters use software to screen CVs before a person even reads them. This means a CV must be formatted so that both people and machines can understand it easily. CVs with too much decoration or unusual layouts often get overlooked.
Keeping the CV to two pages with clear headings for each section helps employers find key information fast. Focusing on recent, relevant roles and using action verbs also improves the chance of being noticed in today’s competitive job market.
What Makes the Best CV Format for UK Employers in 2025
The best CV format in 2025 is clear, easy to scan, and highlights relevant experience quickly. It fits modern recruitment tools and meets the expectations of hiring managers. It avoids unnecessary information and focuses on facts and achievements.
Current Standards and Trends
UK employers now prefer CVs that are simple and structured. Bullet points are used to list job duties and key achievements clearly. The ideal length is two pages, enough to detail experience without overwhelming the reader.
Digital-friendly formats like PDF are common, but CVs should also be ATS-compatible, meaning they can be read by software scanning for keywords. Fonts are kept simple, such as Arial or Calibri, with sizes between 10 and 12 points for readability.
Visual elements like graphs or pictures are generally avoided unless applying for a creative role. Consistency in layout and clear headings make the document easy to follow.
What UK Recruiters Value Most
Recruiters look for relevance above all. They want CVs tailored to the job description, highlighting skills and experiences that match the role closely. Achievements with measurable outcomes—such as sales figures or project results—stand out.
Plain language and honesty are expected. Recruiters dislike exaggeration or vague statements. Contact details should be easy to find, usually at the top of the first page.
Education is important but secondary to work experience. Professional certifications are highlighted if relevant to the job. Key competencies and technical skills may be listed to catch attention quickly.
Key Differences Between UK and Global CVs
UK CVs usually avoid including personal details like a photo, date of birth, or marital status, unlike some other countries. This is to prevent bias and comply with equality laws.
The term “CV” in the UK is often two pages, while in some countries a CV can mean a longer academic record. UK employers favour a concise work history focused on recent and relevant roles.
References are listed at the end or given as “available on request.” Personal statements must be brief and focused on career goals tied to the job rather than long summaries of personality.
Essential Structure of a UK CV in 2025
A strong UK CV is clear, easy to read, and focuses on relevant information. It highlights key details that help employers quickly see a candidate’s background and skills. Each part of the CV has a specific role to play, from contact details to work history and education.
Header and Contact Information
The header must include the candidate’s full name, phone number, email address, and location. It should avoid full addresses to protect privacy but mention the town or city. Using a professional email is essential—avoid nicknames or informal addresses.
Social media links like LinkedIn can be added if they are relevant and up to date. No other personal details like date of birth or marital status should appear, as UK employers do not require these. A clean, simple header with clear font makes this section easy to scan.
Professional Profile
This section is a short paragraph—around 3 to 4 sentences—summarising who the candidate is, their main skills, and what roles they seek. It focuses on specific achievements or strengths that match the job applied for.
Avoid vague phrases like “hard-working” or “team player” unless backed by examples in later sections. The goal is to capture attention quickly and show how the candidate fits the employer’s needs. This profile acts as a quick pitch, not a full biography.
Work Experience
Work experience is listed in reverse chronological order with job title, employer, dates, and location. Each role includes bullet points describing responsibilities and achievements, focusing on measurable results or skills used.
Only include relevant jobs from the past 10-15 years, unless older roles show crucial experience. Use action verbs like “managed,” “developed,” or “improved.” Avoid long paragraphs; keep each bullet clear and concise. Gaps in employment can be briefly explained if needed.
Education
Education includes the highest level first, such as degrees, diplomas, or professional qualifications. Name the institution, qualification, and dates attended. Include grades if strong and recent, especially for early careers.
If the candidate has training courses or certifications related to the job, add them here or in a separate section. GCSEs or A-level results are only included if relevant or for younger applicants. This section should be straightforward and factual, helping employers confirm qualifications quickly.
Formatting Guidelines for Maximum Readability
A CV needs to be easy to scan quickly. The text should be clear and well-organised to help recruiters find key information. Proper font choices, spacing, and headings improve readability and keep the document professional.
Font Choices and Sizing
Choose simple, clean fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica. These are widely accepted and easy on the eyes. Font size should be between 10 and 12 points for the main text. This size is readable without looking crowded.
Headings can be slightly larger, around 14 points, to stand out clearly. Avoid decorative or complex fonts, as they reduce clarity and can distract the reader.
Bold is useful for section titles and key points, but use it sparingly. Italics may highlight minor details like job titles or dates without overwhelming the main text.
Section Spacing and Margins
Leave enough space between sections to separate different parts clearly. A line space or 8-12 point paragraph spacing works well. This makes the CV less cluttered and easier to scan.
Margins should be about 2.5 cm (1 inch) on all sides. This prevents the text from feeling cramped and ensures no information is cut off when printed or viewed on screens.
Avoid large blocks of text. Break paragraphs into short lines or bullet points to keep information visible at a glance.
Effective Use of Headings
Use clear, descriptive headings like Work Experience, Education, and Skills. Headings should stand out with bold or slightly larger font.
Consistent use of headings helps guide the reader through the CV. Subheadings can be used if necessary but keep the structure simple.
Maintain the same heading style throughout. Clear headings help recruiters navigate quickly, finding relevant details without confusion.
Optimising Content for Applicant Tracking Systems
A CV must be easy for software to read while showing relevant skills clearly. This means using the right words, the best way to list information, and avoiding mistakes that can confuse the system.
Keyword Integration
Keywords are specific words or phrases found in the job description. Including these helps the system match the CV to the job. Candidates should tailor their language to mirror the job ad, using exact terms where possible.
Important keywords often relate to skills, qualifications, and job titles. Overusing keywords can look unnatural, so they should be spread evenly across the CV. Using variants and related terms helps the CV feel natural but still relevant.
Bullet Points vs Paragraphs
Bullet points make key information easier to find. They break down skills and achievements into clear snippets.
Paragraphs are harder for software to scan quickly. Bullet points also help highlight important details like responsibilities and results without cluttering the page.
It is best to use short bullet points with action verbs to describe tasks and achievements. One or two short sentences per bullet work well.
Avoiding Common Formatting Errors
Simple formatting makes a CV more readable for applicant tracking systems. Fancy fonts, graphics, and tables often confuse the software and cause errors.
Use standard fonts like Arial or Calibri and avoid images or charts. Stick to consistent headings and avoid text boxes or columns.
File format matters: saving as a Word document (.doc or .docx) or PDF without restrictions is best. Avoid scanned images or unusual file types.
Showcasing Skills and Achievements Effectively
Skills and achievements must be clear and easy to find for the employer. They should show the candidate’s abilities and results in previous roles. The right approach helps CVs stand out in a crowded job market.
Highlighting Soft and Technical Skills
Employers look for both soft skills and technical skills. Soft skills include communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Technical skills are specific to the job, like software knowledge or machinery experience.
It is important to list relevant skills only. For example, a digital marketing role should mention SEO and social media skills, not unrelated ones. Using bullet points helps make this section clear.
Skills should match the job description. This shows the candidate understands what the employer needs. Avoid generic terms like “good communicator” without examples or proof.
Quantifying Successes
Numbers catch an employer’s eye quickly. Candidates should add measurable results to their achievements. For instance, “Increased sales by 20% in six months” is more impactful than “Improved sales.”
Specific figures give clear evidence of capability. This includes percentages, money saved, targets met, or customers served. If exact numbers are confidential, approximate or relative figures can be used.
Employers prefer achievements placed with the job role. This helps connect skills with real-world success. For example, “Managed a team of 10” shows leadership clearly.
Placement of Skills in Your CV
The skills section should appear near the top of the CV, after the profile or summary. This ensures employers see them early without hunting through the document.
Achievements work best in the work experience section. Brief bullet points under each job describe key successes. This method links skills to practical use.
Some candidates use a separate accomplishments section, but only if they have notable recognitions or awards. Otherwise, integrating achievements with job duties is more effective.