Don’t know how to write a CV or unclear what to include in a CV? You’re in the right place.

Here’s a visual breakdown of a UK CV template and what to include on your CV to impress your target employer:

An example of what to include in a CV with the CV section highlighted.

Download CV Example (MS Word)

Copy + Paste Template (Standard CV Sections)

 

YOUR FIRST NAME AND SURNAME

Email | Phone | Address | Social Media (LinkedIn, etc.)

Personal Statement

Enthusiastic and driven retail-industry professional with 6+ years of experience providing unsurpassed customer service and regularly exceeding sales goals. Skilled communicator and problem solver with a proven ability to interact with a diverse range of clientele, demonstrating patience and professionalism to resolve high-stress situations.

Work Experience

Customer Service Manager | FASHO, Kilmarnock
February 2021–Present

  • Direct a cross-functional team of 15+ customer service associates and representatives, helping them set and achieve both personal and team sales goals
  • Ensure positive shopping experience for all clients, increasing customer satisfaction rate by 47% since my June 2021 start date
  • Collaborated with the supervisor to train 7 new associates on how to handle escalated problems, reducing customer escalation rate by 17%
  • Introduced incentive programmes that increased revenue by 20%

Customer Service Associate | NEXT, Kilmarnock
June 2019–January 2021

  • Played a key role as part of an 11-member team in maintaining an organised, clean, and customer-friendly store
  • Met and exceeded all assigned sales goals, increasing revenue by 7.4%
  • Achieved Customer Service Associate of the Year Award 3 years in a row
  • Consistently exceeded personal and store KPIs by 15%

Customer Service Representative | HOUSE OF FRASER, Glasgow
October 2016–June 2019

  • Attended and responded to 74+ customer calls daily regarding product usage, billing issues, and company information
  • Responded to product/service queries in a courteous manner, enhancing new customer NPS scores by 12%
  • Maintained 99% positive customer feedback rate

Customer Service Intern | HOUSE OF FRASER, Glasgow
October 2015–June 2016

  • Attended and responded to 74+ customer calls daily regarding product usage, billing issues and company information
  • Responded to product/service queries in a courteous manner, enhancing new customer NPS scores by 12%
  • Maintained 99% positive customer feedback rate

Education

Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
BA (Hons) Business Management
Upper second-class honours
September 2013–October 2016

Relevant modules: Financial Decision Making, Changing Self and Organisation

Gosforth High School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
A-Levels: Business Studies (B), History (C), Maths (B)
September 2010–October 2012

GCSEs: 10 A*–C, including English, Maths, and ICT

Skills

  • Highly organised and effective communicator with all levels of management, peers, and diverse cultural audiences
  • Technically proficient in using Point of Sale software (TokenWorks, Magnetic Card Reader, and Plexis POS)

Languages

  • Native-level English
  • Fluent in French
  • Intermediate-level Spanish

Hobbies and Interests

  • Ukulele playing
  • Pub quizzes
  • Attending science-fiction conventions

 

The example above provides a basic outline, demonstrating what to include in a CV.

And if you’re after more information, here’s what you should put on a CV section-by-section:

1. Your contact information

A CV header is something essential to include in your CV

Here are some resources for writing your CV header and contact details:

Consider using CV icons to make your contact details even easier to find.

2. A job-specific personal statement

A personal statement included on a CV.

Learn how to write your personal statement, also known as a:

  1. CV about me
  2. CV summary
  3. CV personal profile

Your personal statement should be brief, so be selective about its contents. Remember, you can always add more details when you make a cover letter.

3. Relevant experience

The work experience section of a CV, showing what to put on a CV.

Here are some key resources for writing your work experience section:

4. Your education history

The education section of a CV showing what should be on a CV

Educate employers on your qualifications by writing an education section using these guides:

5. A list of job-specific skills

What to include on a CV (Skills Section)

Putting a bulleted list of skills on your CV shouldn’t be an afterthought. Here’s some guidance on what to include in a CV skills section and a list of common hard skills:

And here are 4 common soft skills for your CV:

  1. Communication skills
  2. Leadership skills
  3. Time management skills
  4. Interpersonal skills

6. Hobbies and interests

A hobbies and interests section of a CV illustrating how to include on your CV your hobbies.

Adding hobbies and interests that show you’re a well-rounded person and extracurricular activities highlighting job-specific skills is an essential part of a CV in the UK. You should include this section in your CV to give employers an idea of your personality.

A comparison between a dull CV and an eye-catching CV, with a button that leads to the CV Genius CV maker.

Other good things to put in your CV

In addition to placing the right sections on your CV, here’s what to include in a CV’s layout and language:

  • Keywords from the job advert — Include exact terms and phrases from the job description to emphasise your suitability for the specific role.
  • Unique CV words — Describe your work experience with powerful words like ‘data driven’ and ‘personable’.
  • Proper spacing — Use 1.27–2.5 cm margins and 1–1.5 line spacing to ensure your CV is easy to read.
  • Professional fonts — Your CV’s font should be easy to read too (Arial or Georgia are good options).

Now that you know exactly what to include in your CV, select a CV template and get started or speed the process up with a CV maker.

Build My CV Now

Frequently asked questions about what should go on a CV

Still unsure what to include in a CV for a job in the UK? We’ve answered these three common questions about CV content:

  1. What do you include in a CV for a 16-year-old?
  2. What do you include in a resume?
  3. What do you include in a video CV?

1. What do you include in a CV for a 16-year-old?

If you’re writing a CV as a teenager, you probably don’t have much experience to highlight. But that doesn’t mean you should only look for jobs that don’t require work experience. You can still write a job-winning CV by connecting the following information to the role you want:

  • Soft skills
  • School projects
  • Voluntary experience
  • Internships
  • Personal projects

2. What do you include in a resume?

A resume is what people in the US and Canada call a CV. So if you’re writing a resume, include the same sections you’d put on your CV, with some slight differences:

  • A header with your name and contact information
  • A resume summary (typically called a personal statement on a CV)
  • Work experience
  • Education
  • Skills

Another difference between a resume and a CV is their length. A resume should be just one page, instead of the customary two pages required for a CV. So there’s typically not space for your CV’s hobbies and interests section.

Looking at job-winning resume examples is a good way to learn how to write your own.

3. What do you include in a video CV?

Here’s what you should include in a video CV:

  • An introduction with your name and job title
  • The reason you’re applying (mentioning the specific company and role, if possible)
  • Your relevant job history and education details
  • Job-specific skills
  • Examples of your work (either visuals or stated in your script)
  • A request for an interview
  • A thank you to the employer for taking time to watch your video

More answers to your CV-related questions

Below are expert answers to 6 more common questions about what to include in a CV:

  1. What should you not include in a CV?
  2. Should you stuff white words on your CV to trick an ATS?
  3. What does a good CV look like?
  4. Do you put your age on a CV?
  5. What do you put in the personal profile of a CV?
  6. Is there software that can scan my CV and give me feedback?
Samuel Johns, CPRW

Samuel Johns is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), recruiting manager, and lead career counsellor on the CV Genius team, with almost 5 years of experience in the career space. He has helped countless job hunters craft high-quality CVs and cover letters, exceed expectations at interviews, and obtain their dream jobs. Born and raised in County Durham in the beautiful North East of England, he graduated with a BA (Hons) in French Language and Literature from the University of Bristol in 2013 and has worked in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, London, Paris, and Taipei as a French–English translator. He’s determined to use his native English and fluent French skills to help UK and French candidates get the jobs they deserve. In addition to the British and French versions of CV Genius, Samuel’s job-hunt advice has been published on numerous websites, including Careers.org, the University of Warwick, the Enterprisers Project, and HR.com. If you’d like to collaborate, please reach out to Samuel through LinkedIn. Please note, we don’t accept guest posts and won’t reply to such requests.