UK CV format: what British employers expect
By Bhagirath Sheela, founder of JobCatch ·
In the UK a resume is called a CV, and it follows a few firm conventions: two pages of A4, a short personal profile at the top, and none of the personal details an Indian resume often carries. Employers there avoid seeing information that could lead to a discrimination complaint.
What to leave out
- No photo.
- No date of birth or age, marital status, religion, father's name or nationality.
- No full postal address: your city is enough.
- No "Declaration" or signature at the end.
The UK's Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate on characteristics such as age, sex, religion or race, so employers prefer CVs that do not show them.
What a UK CV includes
- Personal profile: three or four lines on who you are, what you offer and what you want.
- Key skills, often as a short list.
- Employment history, newest first, with achievements rather than duties.
- Education: degree, university, year and grade.
- Additional information: certifications, languages, and your right to work.
Right to work and sponsorship
Every UK employer must check that you are allowed to work there. If you will need a visa sponsored by the employer (such as the Skilled Worker visa), say so briefly and honestly, for example "Will require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship". If you already hold a visa that lets you work, name it. The UK government's work visa pages list the routes.
Spelling, grades and length
Use British spelling (organised, programme, centre). Give your Indian grade as it is — "CGPA 8.2/10" — rather than converting it yourself; if you know the UK equivalent from an official comparison, add it in brackets. Two pages is standard; one is fine for a graduate.
Questions
Should I put a photo on a UK CV?
No. Most UK employers do not want one, and some remove CVs that have one to avoid any appearance of bias. Actors and some front-of-house roles are the exceptions.
Do I need to write 'references available on request'?
No. It is assumed. Use the space for something useful.
Templates that follow this format
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