UK CV Format 2026: What British Employers Actually Expect

In the UK it's a CV, and it has its own conventions that genuinely differ from the American resume — not just in name. Most UK CVs never reach a human either: they're filtered by ATS software first, so format compatibility matters just as much as content.

Two pages, opening with a personal statement

Unlike the US one-page norm, a UK CV typically runs to two pages and opens with a short personal statement summarizing who you are and what you're looking for — a section US resumes generally skip entirely.

British spelling, A4 formatting, no photo or date of birth

Use British English spelling throughout ("organise" not "organize"), format for A4 paper size, and — like the US — skip the photo and date of birth. Post-Brexit, it's also increasingly common to include a brief line confirming your right to work in the UK.

Evidence-based, measured language

UK CVs favour understated, evidence-based phrasing over the more assertive tone common in US resumes — "Managed a team of 12 and delivered a 15% reduction in costs" over anything that reads as self-promotional. Mirror keywords from the job advert directly: stakeholder management, project delivery, commercial awareness are common high-value terms.