posted 11th February 2026
Article angle and structure
• Lead with purpose: a CV wins interviews; a cover letter personalises fit and intent. Keep the promise clear: concise, relevant, and tailored beats long and generic every time.
• Recommended sections: CV essentials, formatting and ATS, writing stronger bullets, tailoring strategies, cover letter structure, common mistakes, quick checklist.
CV essentials
• Core sections: header with contact details, professional summary, key skills, work experience in reverse-chronological order, education, and optional extras (certifications, projects) where relevant.
• Focus on responsibilities and measurable achievements, using action verbs and outcomes to show impact (e.g., “increased fill rate by 18%”).
• Keep length tight: most candidates fit into 1–2 pages with high relevance and clear prioritisation.
Formatting and ATS readiness
• Use a clean, scannable layout: clear section headings (e.g., Professional Summary, Work Experience, Skills), consistent spacing, and bullet points for readability.
• Avoid headers/footers, tables, text boxes, columns, images, and graphics that can break parsing; use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman) at 10–12pt.
• Optimise keywords by mirroring the job description’s language (skills, tools, certifications) naturally across summary, skills, and experience sections.
Formatting and ATS readiness
• Use a clean, scannable layout: clear section headings (e.g., Professional Summary, Work Experience, Skills), consistent spacing, and bullet points for readability.
• Avoid headers/footers, tables, text boxes, columns, images, and graphics that can break parsing; use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman) at 10–12pt.
• Optimise keywords by mirroring the job description’s language (skills, tools, certifications) naturally across summary, skills, and experience sections.
Writing stronger bullet points
• Use the CAR/STAR idea to structure bullets: Context, Action, Result; be specific and quantify where possible.
• Start with decisive verbs (analysed, created, led) and avoid clichés unless backed by proof; keep one idea per bullet.
Tailoring strategies
• Mirror the employer’s priorities: pick 6–10 keywords from the advert and reflect them in your profile, skills, and two most recent roles.
• Address gaps briefly and positively (e.g., parental leave, study, volunteering) and keep the CV versioned per role family to stay relevant.
Cover letter structure
• One page, 3–5 short paragraphs: open with role and hook; middle with 2–3 proof-led paragraphs; close with a clear, courteous call to action.
• Tailor every letter; write to a named person where possible; avoid starting every sentence with “I,” and evidence each claim.
• Match tone and formatting to the CV and job advert; use a professional font and business-letter layout.
Common mistakes to avoid
• Over-designing the CV (columns, graphics) that harms ATS readability.
• Generic letters where swapping the company name doesn’t change meaning; lack of evidence; excessive “I”-statements.
• Weak summaries that repeat a job title without value, or overlong personal statements without focus.
Quick checklists
• CV: clear sections, reverse-chronological roles, quantified achievements, relevant keywords, standard fonts, no tables/graphics, error-free proofreading.
• Cover letter: tailored to the role, named addressee, evidence-led mid-section, professional close (“Yours sincerely” if named, “Yours faithfully” if not), correct contact details.
Here are the essentials for a UK-style CV and covering letter, with practical tips to get noticed and pass ATS scans. The short version: keep both concise, tailored to the job advert, and easy to parse by humans and software alike.
UK CV essentials
• Include contact details, a short profile, skills, reverse-chronological work experience, and education; add certifications or projects only if relevant to the role.
• Aim for 1–2 pages and prioritise measurable achievements in bullet points, not duties-only summaries.
• For the UK market in 2025, reverse-chronological format remains the norm; skills-based can work for early careers or career changers.
ATS-friendly formatting
• Use simple structure with clear headings and standard fonts; avoid tables, columns, text boxes, images, icons, and graphics that can scramble parsing.
• Mirror keywords from the job description across your profile, skills, and recent roles so both ATS and recruiters see immediate fit.
• Save as .docx or PDF per employer instructions; keep spacing clean and bullets short for quick scanning.
Strong CV bullets
• Use a results-first approach with evidence: impact + metric + method (e.g., “Improved customer response time by 24% by redesigning the triage workflow”).
• Keep one idea per bullet and start with crisp action verbs to emphasize outcomes over responsibilities.
Covering letter structure
• Keep to one page with 3–5 short paragraphs: hook and role fit; 1–2 evidence-led paragraphs matching the advert; a confident close with next steps.
• Address a named person when possible; if not, use “Dear Recruitment Manager” rather than generic salutations.
• Match tone and formatting to your CV, use clear spacing and a professional close and signature block.
Common UK pitfalls
• Over-designed CVs that break ATS parsing; stick to linear, left-aligned content without columns or tables.
• Generic letters that restate the CV without linking your evidence to the employer’s priorities from the advert.
• Including personal details like age or marital status; they are unnecessary for UK CVs and should be omitted.
If you share a specific role or sector (e.g., tech, legal, hospitality), ready-to-use CV bullets and a tailored covering letter template can be drafted to match that audience and UK recruiter expectations.
Common UK pitfalls
• Over-designed CVs that break ATS parsing; stick to linear, left-aligned content without columns or tables.
• Generic letters that restate the CV without linking your evidence to the employer’s priorities from the advert.
• Including personal details like age or marital status; they are unnecessary for UK CVs and should be omitted.
If you share a specific role or sector (e.g. tech, legal, hospitality), ready-to-use CV bullets and a tailored covering letter template can be drafted to match that audience and UK recruiter expectations.
