How to Write a CV That Gets You an Interview: Tips to Maximise Your Earnings
Published 21st of May 2012·Updated 26 April 2026
Reviewed by: Reviewed for accuracy April 2026
A well-written CV significantly increases your chances of landing a higher-paying role. The goal is not to list everything you have ever done; it is to make it immediately obvious to a hiring manager that you are worth interviewing. Most CVs are scanned for under 10 seconds before a recruiter decides whether to read further.
Short Summary
A CV summary at the top should be three to four lines that describe who you are professionally, your most relevant skill or achievement, and what you are looking for. It is the first thing a recruiter reads and must be compelling enough to make them continue.
Quantifying achievements makes a dramatic difference. "Managed a team" tells a recruiter very little. "Managed a team of eight and reduced customer complaint response time from four days to one" tells them exactly what you can do.
Tailoring your CV for each application is not optional if you are applying for competitive roles. A CV written for a general audience will lose out to one that mirrors the language and priorities of the specific job description.
Most UK employers now use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter CVs before a human reads them. Including keywords from the job description in your CV increases the chance of passing the automated filter.
What Should a UK CV Include?
A standard UK CV runs to two pages for most candidates. Three pages is acceptable for senior roles with extensive relevant experience; one page suits recent graduates or career changers. The typical sections are:
| Section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Contact details | Name, phone, email, LinkedIn URL (no photo required in the UK) |
| Personal profile | 3-4 line summary of your experience and what you offer |
| Work experience | Roles in reverse chronological order; focus on achievements |
| Education | Qualifications in reverse chronological order |
| Skills | Relevant technical or professional skills |
| Interests (optional) | Only include if genuinely relevant or interesting |
Do not include a photograph, your date of birth, your marital status, or your National Insurance number. UK employment law means employers should not take these factors into account, and including them serves no purpose.
How to Write a CV Personal Profile That Gets Noticed
The personal profile (sometimes called a summary or personal statement) sits at the top of your CV and is your first and best opportunity to differentiate yourself. A weak profile says nothing specific. A strong profile makes the hiring manager want to read on.
Weak: "A hardworking team player with excellent communication skills seeking a new challenge."
Strong: "Experienced marketing manager with eight years in B2B SaaS, including responsibility for a £1.2 million annual budget and a team of five. Proven track record in demand generation, with a 40 per cent increase in qualified leads year-on-year at my current employer."
Write your profile last, after you have written the rest of the CV. That way you know exactly which achievements to highlight.
How to Write Work Experience That Stands Out
List your work experience starting with your most recent role and working backwards. For each role, include the company name, your job title, the dates you worked there, and a brief description of your responsibilities and achievements.
Use bullet points rather than prose for the main content of each role. Start each bullet point with an action verb: delivered, managed, negotiated, increased, reduced, designed, led. Avoid passive constructions.
Wherever possible, quantify results. Examples of strong achievement statements:
- Reduced stock wastage by 18 per cent through improved supplier scheduling
- Increased monthly revenue from £40,000 to £67,000 over 18 months
- Managed onboarding for 200 new employees across three UK sites in 2023
- Negotiated a new software contract saving the business £30,000 annually
Hiring managers remember numbers. General claims about being "responsible for" things are forgettable.
How to Tailor Your CV for Each Job Application
Read the job description carefully and identify the five or six most important requirements the employer has listed. Then check your CV against each of those requirements. If you have relevant experience or skills that address them, make sure they are visible and clearly expressed.
Recruiting software (ATS) scans for specific keywords before a human ever reads the CV. If the job description says "project management" and your CV says "coordination of projects", the software may not match them. Use the same terminology the employer uses.
Tailoring does not mean rewriting your entire CV for every application. It usually means adjusting the personal profile, tweaking two or three bullet points in your most recent role, and checking that your most relevant skills are easy to find.
How to Get Useful Feedback on Your CV
Once you have a draft CV, share it with people who are likely to be honest and whose professional judgement you trust. Ideally, one of them works in the same sector or has hiring experience.
Ask them to read it cold for 10 seconds and then tell you what they remember. If they cannot recall your main selling points after a brief scan, the CV is not doing its job. The most important information should be visible without having to search for it.
The National Careers Service (nationalcareers.service.gov.uk) offers free CV reviews for adults in England. Many local libraries and job centres also offer free CV checking sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a UK CV be?
Two pages is the standard for most candidates with several years of experience. Recent graduates may use one page. Senior candidates with 15 or more years of relevant experience can justify three pages, but anything longer is unlikely to be read in full. Cut ruthlessly; a concise two-page CV will almost always outperform a padded three-page one.
Should I include a photo on my CV in the UK?
No. Including a photograph is not standard practice in the UK and could inadvertently introduce bias into the selection process. UK employers should not make decisions based on appearance, and a photo gives them no relevant information about your suitability for the role.
Do I need a different CV for every job I apply for?
You need a base CV that covers your full experience, and then a version tailored to each application. The tailoring usually takes 15 to 30 minutes per application and significantly improves your success rate for competitive roles. Using a generic CV for every application is one of the most common reasons candidates do not hear back.
How far back should my work history go?
Most hiring managers want to see the last 10 to 15 years in detail. Roles older than that can be summarised in a single line ("2002-2008: various roles in retail management") unless they are particularly relevant to the job you are applying for.
What if I have gaps in my employment history?
Be honest. Short gaps are common and rarely problematic. Longer gaps are best addressed briefly in your cover letter or personal profile rather than left for the interviewer to question. If you did anything productive during a gap (volunteering, caring for a family member, studying), include it.
Is a cover letter still necessary in the UK?
A cover letter is expected when applying directly to employers, and it gives you space to explain why you want this specific role at this specific organisation. Many online applications have replaced the traditional cover letter with a covering statement box. Either way, use the opportunity to connect your experience directly to the job requirements rather than simply summarising your CV.