CV Examples and Guides
Browse a wide range of UK templates and good CV examples suitable for recent graduates, experienced professionals, and everyone in between. Our easy-to-use CV Builder tool allows you to customise your CV to highlight your unique skills and experience.
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Impress recruiters and hiring managers with professional CV examples. Browse a wide range of templates and CV examples suitable for recent graduates, experienced professionals, and everyone in between. Our easy-to-use CV Builder tool allows you to customise your CV to highlight your unique skills and experience. Explore our blog for valuable career advice and tips on crafting a professional CV.
How do I create my CV?
Creating a powerful CV can be daunting, especially if it's something you do only sometimes. But don't worry, CVMaker is here to help. Our selection of good CV examples can inspire your own CV, no matter your background, experience, or industry. With various CV samples available, we've simplified the writing process.
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How to write a good CV UK example
To help you craft a successful CV, we have compiled some essential tips to remember:
Once you know the jobs you are targeting, highlight the skills and experience relevant to the position.
A simple CV should be at most two pages, and make sure your writing is relevant and tailored towards your career goals. Learn more about how long a CV should be.
Make sure your CV format and structure follow a simple and easy-to-read font.
List your current experience or last-held job title first. If you have no experience or are a recent graduate, consider creating a skills-based CV. Refer to our student or undergraduate CV examples.
Start each sentence with a strong action verb highlighting your experience, skills, or achievements.
While it might be the last thing you consider, choosing the best colour for your CV can make a small difference in your application.
Simple errors can be easily avoided by just running a spell check. These minor mistakes could make a bad impression and hurt your chances of getting an interview.
How our free CV examples help you achieve your career goals
Written by experts, our CV examples help shape your CV. One that reflects your personality, key skills, strengths, and career goals. Tailor your CV to the specific job and organisation, ensuring it stands out. With our user-friendly and professional templates, you can create a winning CV in just a few minutes. Choose from our collection of over 20 expertly-designed CV templates, trusted by over 100,000 satisfied users. We have an extensive CV library full of CV examples for students, professionals, and those seeking a career change.
Explore the biggest industries in the UK or highest paying jobs to help you choose your ideal career path.
What are the core sections to include in your CV?
When crafting a modern CV, including the right sections to make your application stand out is important. Our CV examples follow this format, ensuring they are easily scannable and well-structured.
1. Personal details
Include personal details in your CV such as your full name, address, phone number, email address, and link to professional websites, online portfolios, or LinkedIn.
2. Personal profile
This brief summary at the top of your CV focuses on your skills, experience, and career goals. It's your chance to make a great first impression and give employers a snapshot of who you are as a candidate. Refer to our personal profile article for more CV examples.
3. Work experience
List your current and previous jobs, starting with the most recent job. Include the job title, the company’s name, the dates of employment, and a brief description of your duties, followed by measurable achievements with strong action verbs. Refer to our work experience article for more CV examples.
4. Education
Remember that education can come in many forms, formal and informal. List your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. Make sure to include the name of the institution, the degree or qualification you earned, and the dates of attendance. Refer to our education CV section article for more inspiration.
5. Skills
It's important to keep a few things in mind. Instead of listing all your skills, consider organising them into hard skills, soft skills, and technical skills categories. Additionally, highlight any transferable skills throughout your CV that may be relevant to the position you're applying for. Refer to our skills article for more CV examples.
What are the optional CV sections to include in your CV?
If you want to distinguish yourself from other candidates with similar qualifications, consider adding the following additional sections to your CV. These can be especially useful if you have extra space or need relevant work experience. However, it's important to remember that these sections should complement, not overshadow, the main sections of your CV.
1. Additional experience
This section on its own should be used for experiences more than 15 years ago or that are short-term. It can also be leveraged by including volunteer experience, hobbies and interests relevant to your job targets.
2. Achievements
These are important throughout your CV, but having a section called achievements or career accomplishments could set you apart from other candidates. Check out our article on how to list achievements in a CV.
3. Courses and certificates
An additional section accompanying your skills and work experience. It should be brief, concise, and targeted to your career goals. Learn more about how to list certifications and courses on a CV.
4. Languages
List your language skills in a dedicated section on your CV or under the skills or education section. Before adding them, carefully review the job requirements and company website to determine if including them is relevant. Refer to our article to learn more about effectively showcasing your language skills on a CV.
FAQ
What makes a good CV?
A good CV is one that effectively showcases your skills, qualifications, and experience in a concise and clear manner. The information should be relevant and tailored to the job. Moreover, a clear structure should be applied while incorporating keywords and phrases from the job description. Read more about how to start with the CV writing process.
What is an ATS-friendly CV example?
An ATS-friendly CV is a curriculum vitae optimised for applicant tracking systems (ATS), software tools employers use to screen job applications. Our CV examples have been designed to ensure that the ATS can accurately read and interpret the content.
How do I write my first CV example?
If you are a student or recently graduated, consider a skills-based CV format where you focus on your skills over work experience. We have various CV examples and guides, including students and graduates, which you can use for inspiration. Learn more about how to write a CV for a first job.
What is the best layout for a CV?
This depends on the type of job and industry you are applying for. Different layouts to suit different job types and categories, such as chronological, functional, and combination formats. Choosing a layout that highlights your skills and experiences is essential and easy for the hiring manager to read and scan.
How to write a CV with no experience?
Writing a CV with no experience can be challenging, but there are several things to consider, such as highlighting your skills and achievements or making use of a functional CV format (also known as a skills-based CV). This format highlights your skills and accomplishments rather than focusing on your work history. Our CV library contains a variety of examples if you have little to no experience for the job you are applying for.
How to write a cover letter for a CV?
To ensure coherence between your CV and cover letter, it is crucial that both are tailored to your career goals. Your CV provides a comprehensive overview of your skills and experience, whereas a cover letter expands on some of the key points within your CV, showcasing why you are the best candidate for the role.
Can I use AI to write my CV?
Technically yes, AI tools can help generate a CV based on the inputs you give, but they shouldn't be relied on entirely. AI tools lack the context and strategic understanding to create a CV tailored to your personal attributes and the best-suited format for your needs. Read more about how to strategically use AI in CV writing.
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