How to make a CV
Two pages, a personal statement, and evidence over adjectives. Here's how to build a CV that survives applicant tracking systems and reads well to a UK recruiter.
1Open with a personal statement that says something
Three sentences under your name: what you are professionally, your strongest evidence, and what you're looking for. Cut every adjective you can't prove — 'motivated' and 'dynamic' parse as filler to both software and people.
2Keep the layout machine-readable
Single column, standard headings ('Employment history', 'Education', 'Key skills'), no tables or graphics. ATS software extracts your CV as plain text; anything that scrambles that extraction makes you unsearchable.
3Leave off what UK employers shouldn't see
No photo, no date of birth, no marital status, no nationality. UK employers discard CVs carrying them to avoid discrimination exposure. (If you're applying in Germany or parts of Asia, conventions differ — match the country.)
4Write employment history as evidence
Most recent first. Each role: title, employer, dates, 2-4 bullets on what changed because you were there, with numbers wherever they exist. 'Grew the account base 30%' is evidence; 'responsible for account growth' is a duty.
5Hold it to two pages
Two pages is the UK standard for experienced candidates — one is fine early on. Past two, cut the oldest roles to single lines. Ten-year-old detail costs more attention than it earns.
6Run it through a checker before you apply
See your CV the way the software sees it before an employer does. Low scores are almost always layout problems, and they're ten-minute fixes once you know.
Check your CV now
Free score against CV conventions — UK rules, not US resume rules.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a CV and a resume?
Geography and convention. UK/Ireland/Europe/India use CVs — two pages, personal statement expected. US/Canada use resumes — one page, summary optional. Same purpose: get the interview.
How long should a CV be?
Two pages for most experienced candidates, one page early in your career. Academic CVs are the exception and can run longer.
Should a CV include references?
No — and 'references available on request' is dead space. Employers ask when they need them; use the line for evidence instead.
Do UK employers really use ATS software?
Most mid-size and large ones, yes — and recruiters keyword-search the parsed text. A CV that parses badly is invisible regardless of its content.
Should I include hobbies and interests?
Only if they carry signal — 'run a 200-member climbing club' says organising ability; 'socialising with friends' says nothing. One line maximum, and cut it first when space is tight.