🔍 What UK Recruiters Prioritise

UK recruiters often spend mere seconds per CV, scanning for relevant job titles, clear dates, and evidence of impact.

They also look for indicators of UK work culture fit—like concise language, British spelling, and location proximity.

ScanMy.CV ensures your CV aligns with both ATS needs and UK recruiter preferences.

✍️ Essential Sections in a UK CV

• 👤 Contact Details

  Name, phone number (with UK code if international), professional email, and LinkedIn. Include city (e.g., London) but avoid photos or personal data like date of birth.

• 🎯 Personal Profile

  A brief, impactful intro (3–4 lines) summarizing your role, strengths, and what you offer UK employers.

• 🏢 Employment History

  Reverse chronological: Company, role, location, dates (month/year), and achievement bullet points with outcomes.

• 🎓 Education & Qualifications

  Include relevant qualifications (e.g., degree, A Levels, professional certifications) and institutions.

• 🛠 Key Skills

  Highlight both hard and soft skills tailored to the job advert; include UK spelling like “analysed” or “organisation.”

✨ Optional Boosters That Impress UK Employers

• 🏅 Professional Memberships

  Mention bodies like CIPD, CIMA, BPS, or professional registrations if relevant.

• 🌐 Volunteering & Community Roles

  UK employers value civic involvement—include impactful volunteer work if relevant.

• 📄 Projects & Freelance Work

  Ideal for showcasing skills or consulting clients—it’s recognised in UK hiring especially in creative or consultancy roles.

🚫 Common Mistakes in UK CVs

• ❌ Adding a Photo

  Uncommon and can introduce bias—UK CVs should not include personal photos.

• ❌ Overly Personal Information

  Avoid nationality, birth date, health status, marital status—it’s not required.

• ❌ Including Irrelevant References

  “References available on request” is sufficient; no need for referee details.

• ❌ Inconsistent Date Formatting

  Use UK format (“Apr 2020 – Jun 2023”), and avoid international or full-date variants.

⚙️ Formatting Best Practices for UK CVs

• 🔠 Use Clear, Formal Fonts

  Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman, 10–12pt, single-column layout.

• 📋 British Spelling & Grammar

  Use UK spellings (e.g., “organisation,” “analysed”) and follow formal tone conventions.

• 📁 Compatible File Formats

  Save as .docx or simple PDF. Avoid tracker impediments by ensuring clean formatting.

• ✔️ Section Headings in Title Case

  Use headings like “Employment History,” “Education,” “Professional Profile.”

ScanMy.CV reviews all these specifics and lets you preview your CV with British-English refinement.

🌍 Localising Content for the UK Job Market

Include terms like “UK GDPR compliance,” “Health and Safety,” or “public sector experience” when applicable. Mention eligibility to work in the UK clearly.

ScanMy.CV offers localisation suggestions to embed UK-specific keywords and phrasing.