Knowing what to put on your CV (and what to leave out) is crucial for landing interviews. This comprehensive guide covers every section of a UK CV with examples, so you can create a winning application.
Essential CV Sections (Must Include)
1. Contact Information
What to Include:
- Full Name - Use your professional name (larger font, bold)
- Phone Number - UK mobile format: 07XXX XXXXXX
- Email Address - Professional: firstname.lastname@email.com
- Location - City, UK (no full address needed)
- LinkedIn Profile - Optional but recommended
- Portfolio/Website - If relevant to your field
❌ Don't Include:
- • Date of birth or age (age discrimination laws)
- • Photo (unless acting/modeling)
- • Full home address (city is enough)
- • Marital status or children
- • National Insurance number
2. Professional Summary / Personal Statement
What to Include (3-5 sentences):
- Your job title and years of experience
- Key skills and areas of expertise
- 1-2 major achievements with quantified results
- What you're looking for (optional)
✅ Example:
"Results-driven Marketing Manager with 7+ years of experience leading digital campaigns for B2B SaaS companies. Proven track record of increasing lead generation by 250% and reducing customer acquisition costs by 40% through data-driven strategies. Seeking to leverage expertise in marketing automation and team leadership to drive growth for an innovative tech company."
3. Work Experience
What to Include for Each Role:
- Job Title - Your official position
- Company Name - Include location if not well-known
- Dates - Month Year to Month Year (or Present)
- Achievements - 3-6 bullet points with quantified results
- Key Responsibilities - Focus on impact, not just duties
✅ Good Example:
Marketing Manager | TechCorp Solutions | Jan 2021 - Present
- Increased qualified leads by 250% through data-driven digital marketing strategy
- Managed £500K annual marketing budget across 5 channels with 4:1 average ROAS
- Reduced customer acquisition cost by 40% through campaign optimization
- Built and led team of 4 marketing specialists, achieving 95% retention rate
❌ Bad Example:
Marketing Manager | TechCorp Solutions | 2021 - Present
- Responsible for marketing activities
- Managed social media accounts
- Worked with team members
Too vague, no numbers, focuses on responsibilities not achievements
4. Education
What to Include:
For Graduates (0-3 years):
- • Degree classification and subject
- • University name and dates
- • Relevant modules with grades
- • Dissertation topic
- • University achievements
- • A-Levels with grades
- • GCSEs summary
For Experienced (5+ years):
- • Degree classification and subject
- • University name and year
- • A-Levels (optional)
- • That's it - keep it brief
📝 Format:
First Class BA (Hons) Business Management | University of Manchester | 2024
5. Skills
What to Include:
- Technical Skills - Software, programming languages, tools
- Professional Skills - Industry-specific abilities
- Soft Skills - With evidence in work experience
- Languages - With proficiency levels
- Certifications - Professional qualifications
✅ Example:
Technical Skills: Python, SQL, Tableau, Power BI, Excel (Advanced), Google Analytics
Professional Skills: Data Analysis, Project Management, Stakeholder Engagement
Languages: English (Native), French (Fluent - C1), Spanish (Intermediate - B1)
Optional CV Sections (Include If Relevant)
Certifications & Qualifications
Include professional certifications that add credibility:
- • PMP, PRINCE2, Agile certifications
- • ACCA, CIMA, ACA (accounting)
- • AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud certified
- • CIPD, CIM (HR/Marketing)
- • Industry-specific licenses
Volunteering
Include if it demonstrates relevant skills:
- • Leadership roles in charities
- • Skills-based volunteering
- • Long-term commitments
- • Relevant to target role
Projects
Especially for technical roles or graduates:
- • University projects with results
- • Personal coding projects (GitHub)
- • Freelance work
- • Portfolio pieces
Awards & Achievements
Recognition that demonstrates excellence:
- • Industry awards
- • Academic honors (Dean's List)
- • Sales/performance awards
- • Published articles or research
Professional Memberships
Membership in professional bodies:
- • Chartered status (CEng, MICE)
- • Professional associations
- • Industry bodies
- • Alumni networks
Interests & Hobbies
Only include if they:
- • Demonstrate leadership (team captain)
- • Show relevant skills
- • Are unique/conversation starters
- • Relate to company culture
❌ Skip: "Reading, watching TV, socializing"
What NOT to Put on Your CV
Never Include These:
❌ Photo
UK CVs don't include photos (unless acting/modeling). It can lead to unconscious bias.
❌ Date of Birth / Age
Protected by age discrimination laws. Never include your age or DOB.
❌ Marital Status / Children
Personal information that's irrelevant to your ability to do the job.
❌ National Insurance Number
Only provide this after you're hired, not on your CV.
❌ Salary Expectations
Discuss salary during interviews, not on your CV.
❌ "References Available Upon Request"
This is assumed. Don't waste space stating the obvious.
❌ Reasons for Leaving Jobs
Save this for interviews if asked. Don't explain on your CV.
❌ Irrelevant Work Experience
Jobs from 15+ years ago or completely unrelated roles can be omitted.
❌ Generic Hobbies
"Reading, watching films, socializing" add no value. Either make them specific or remove them.
❌ Lies or Exaggerations
Employers verify qualifications and references. Be honest.
How Much Detail to Include
Detail Level by Experience:
Graduate / Entry-Level (0-3 years)
MORE detail on education, projects, university activities. LESS on work experience (you don't have much yet).
Mid-Level (3-10 years)
MORE detail on recent roles (5-6 bullets). LESS on education (just degree and grade). Older roles get 2-3 bullets.
Senior (10+ years)
Focus on strategic achievements and leadership. Summarize or omit roles from 15+ years ago. Education is one line.
CV Content Checklist
Before Submitting, Check:
✅ Must Have:
- Contact information (name, phone, email, location)
- Professional summary (3-5 sentences)
- Work experience with achievements
- Education with qualifications
- Skills relevant to target role
❌ Must NOT Have:
- Photo, age, or date of birth
- Marital status or children
- National Insurance number
- Salary expectations
- Generic hobbies or clichés
Tailoring Your CV Content
The most important rule: tailor your CV for each application. Don't send the same CV to every job.
How to Tailor:
Read Job Description Carefully
Highlight key requirements, skills, and keywords mentioned multiple times.
Match Keywords
Use exact phrases from the job posting in your professional summary and skills section.
Reorder Bullet Points
Put most relevant achievements first in each role. Recruiters scan top bullets.
Adjust Skills Section
Prioritize skills mentioned in the job description. Remove irrelevant ones.
Customize Professional Summary
Rewrite your opening paragraph to align with the specific role and company.
Create Your Perfect CV with AI
Knowing what to include is one thing - actually writing it all is another. My CV Buddy uses AI to help you create comprehensive, tailored CVs in minutes.
AI-Powered CV Content Generator
Upload your current CV and paste the job description. Our AI analyzes both and automatically includes the right content, removes what shouldn't be there, and tailors everything to match the role's requirements. Get a professional CV with all the right sections in the right order.
Key Takeaways
- Essential sections: Contact info, professional summary, work experience, education, skills
- Focus on achievements with quantified results, not just responsibilities
- Never include: Photo, age, marital status, salary expectations
- Tailor for each job - match keywords and prioritize relevant content
- Detail level varies by experience - graduates need more education detail
- Optional sections only if they add value and are relevant