CV Best Practice Guide
A professional, well-structured CV tailored to the role is crucial for standing out in the UK job market. Here’s how to create an impactful CV that works for you:
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Personal details
What to Include: Your full name, professional email address, mobile number, and LinkedIn profile (if relevant).
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What to Avoid: Do not include unnecessary personal details such as your full address (town/city is enough), age, marital status, or a photo. These are not typically required in the UK.
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Professional summary (put your target job title here)
A short, powerful statement below your name summarising your professional identity and expertise.
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What to include: A concise paragraph (3 or 4 sentences) highlighting your key achievements, core expertise, and career aspirations. Tailor this section to the specific role by aligning it with the job description.
Example: "A results-driven project manager with over 15 years of experience leading complex projects across multiple sectors. Skilled in resource management, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement, I have consistently delivered initiatives on time and within budget. I thrive in dynamic environments, managing cross-functional teams to drive innovation and exceed business goals."
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Why it’s important: It acts as your elevator pitch, an illustration of your personal brand, showcasing your key strengths at a glance.
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Key Skills
What to include: A bullet-pointed list of 10–16 relevant skills aligned with the role. Focus on technical expertise, leadership abilities, and transferable skills.
Example: Strategic project planning and execution. Budget management and cost optimisation. Cross-functional team leadership. Risk assessment and mitigation
Formatting tip: Use keywords from the job description to demonstrate your fit for the role and improve ATS compliance.
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Career History
Structure: Job Title | Company Name | LocationStart Date – End Date (e.g., "March 2015 – November 2023")
Responsibilities: Outline what you were responsible for.
Achievements: Highlight what you delivered, focusing on measurable results.
Example: Project Manager | Global Solutions Ltd | London March 2015 – November 2023
Responsible for leading cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects for clients in finance and technology sectors.
Delivered a £10M transformation programme three months ahead of schedule, resulting in a 20% increase in operational efficiency.
Improved resource allocation processes, reducing project costs by 15%.
Why it’s important: Recruiters value evidence of impact. By balancing responsibilities (what you were accountable for) with achievements (what you delivered), you demonstrate the value you bring to an organisation.
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Education
What to include: Degree Title | Institution Name | Location Graduation Date (e.g., "MSc in Project Management | University of Manchester | July 2008")
Mention relevant honours, awards, or coursework if they support your application. If relevant include ongoing certifications or professional training.
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Professional Qualifications
Outline your core relevant qualifications that relate to the job you are applying for. ​
(e.g., "Prince 2 Practitioner – 2021").
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Additional sections (optional)
Languages: If applicable, list languages spoken and proficiency levels.
Volunteering: Include if it demonstrates transferable skills or aligns with the company’s values.
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Interests: Only include if you can keep it to 1 line and its showcases your personality.
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Formatting and presentation
Length: Limit your CV to two pages. Recruiters prioritise clarity and relevance over length.
Font: Use a clean, professional font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman (10–12pt).
Consistency: Maintain consistent formatting for headings, dates, and bullet points. Use bold for job titles and section headings.
File Type: Save your CV as a Word document.
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Focusing on the last 15 Years
The past 15 years typically represent your most relevant and impactful professional experience. Industries evolve rapidly, so roles older than this are often less relevant to today’s job market unless they showcase exceptional achievements or provide critical context. Roles or employers from beyond 15 years ago can also be included if you consider the company you worked for was a great brand and adds real value to your own personal brand, or the role you occupied would be critical to supporting your current job search.
How to handle older experience: Summarise roles beyond 15 years briefly under a section like "Earlier Career," e.g. Roles included project management and operations positions in the logistics and energy sectors. This approach keeps your CV concise and focused, aligning with recruiter expectations.
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Proof-reading and final checks
Proofread thoroughly: Eliminate spelling or grammatical errors—use UK English spelling (e.g., "prioritise" instead of "prioritize").
Check for consistency: Ensure uniformity in dates, headings, and punctuation throughout.
Get feedback: Ask a trusted colleague or mentor to review your CV for clarity and impact.
By following these best practices, you’ll create a professional, ATS-friendly CV that highlights your key achievements and is tailored to the expectations of UK recruiters.
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