How to Write a CV in 2025 — Complete UK Guide

What Is a CV?

A CV (curriculum vitae) is a document that summarises your work experience, education, skills, and achievements. In the UK, a CV is the standard document used when applying for jobs — unlike in the US, where "resume" is more common (though the two terms are often used interchangeably).

A good CV gets you an interview. A poor one gets you rejected — often automatically by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) before a human even reads it.

CV Structure: What to Include

A standard UK CV should include these sections in this order:

1. Personal details — name, email, phone, LinkedIn, location (city only)
2. Personal statement / professional summary — 3–4 lines about who you are and what you offer
3. Work experience — most recent job first (reverse chronological)
4. Education — most recent qualification first
5. Skills — technical and soft skills relevant to the role
6. Optional: Certifications, languages, volunteering

How Long Should a CV Be?

For most people: 2 pages maximum. Graduates with limited experience: 1 page. Senior professionals with 15+ years: up to 3 pages, but only if every line adds value.

Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds on the first scan of a CV. Make every word count.

How to Write a Personal Statement

Your personal statement sits at the top of your CV and is the first thing a recruiter reads. Keep it to 3–4 lines. Structure it as:

• Who you are — your professional identity and years of experience
• What you do — your key skills and specialisms
• What you're looking for — the type of role or company you want to join

Example: "Results-driven marketing manager with 6 years of experience in B2B SaaS. Specialising in demand generation and content strategy, I've grown pipeline by 40% YoY at two fast-growing startups. Looking to bring data-driven marketing leadership to a scaling tech company."

How to Write Work Experience

For each role, include: job title, company name, dates (month/year), and 3–5 bullet points of achievements. The most important rule: use achievements, not duties.

Weak (duty): "Responsible for managing social media accounts."

Strong (achievement): "Grew Instagram following from 2k to 18k in 6 months, driving a 32% increase in website traffic."

Use the formula: Action verb + what you did + measurable result.

How to Make Your CV ATS-Friendly

Over 75% of CVs are rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems before a human sees them. To pass ATS:

• Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills — not creative names)
• Use a single-column layout — avoid tables and text boxes
• Include keywords from the job description
• Use common fonts (Arial, Calibri, Georgia)
• Save as PDF unless the application specifies .docx

Use our free ATS CV checker to see your exact score and which keywords you're missing.

CV Tips for 2025

• Tailor every application — adjust your personal statement and skills for each role
• Quantify everything — numbers make achievements credible
• Include a LinkedIn URL — recruiters check it
• Remove photo and date of birth — not required in the UK and can cause unconscious bias
• Use action verbs — Led, Built, Grew, Delivered, Reduced, Launched
• Keep formatting clean — consistent fonts, spacing, and alignment

Free CV Builder & Templates

Writing a CV from scratch is hard. FixerCV's free CV builder gives you 8 professionally designed templates, an ATS score checker, and AI-powered suggestions — all free to start.