8 Free Government CV Templates (& Writing Advice)

Each of the free government CV templates below is tailored for a different type of Civil Service role. Simply choose the one that best fits your background and customise it for the job you’re applying for.

Government recruiters favour formal CV layouts and colours such as dark blue, green, red, or classic black — so all of our templates are designed to meet those expectations.

We also explain who each template is best suited for, so you can pick the right one with confidence.

1. Blank government CV template

If you’d just like a blank CV template to fill in, download this one and fill it in according to the instructions in the Word document — whether you’re applying to a central government department or a devolved or local government, like the Scottish Government or a county council.

2. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) CV

Use this template to get His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) recruiters interested in hiring you:

Why this HMRC government CV template works

If you’re applying to HM Revenue & Customs, this CV template works because it:

• Aligns key skills with the Civil Service Behaviours, which are the set of principles the Civil Service expects of all civil servants. Referencing these Behaviours in your CV shows recruiters you understand what the role demands and that you’re a good cultural fit
• Shows good numeracy skills, with the applicant describing how they handled sums of money in a previous role and highlighting a low error rate
• Highlights customer service skills that will be essential in the Customer Service Advisor role the candidate is applying for at HM Revenue & Customs. These customer service skills are described in a full sentence in the key skills section, as well as illustrated in the work experience section

What this job applicant does well

This particular CV template is an example of a recent graduate CV. If you’re applying for a government job as a grad, here’s how basing your CV on this example works well:

• Leads with qualifications because as a recent grad, your education section contains the details government recruiters are looking for, like the university you went to, the course you read, and the degree classification you got
• Includes some work experience — while not the main focus, it demonstrates your transferable skills and ability to operate in a modern workplace. The emphasis remains on potential rather than experience, especially since past roles are unlikely to mirror HM Revenue & Customs work directly
• Mentions university modules that are relevant to a position in their target field

3. HM Passport Office (HMPO) CV

Here’s a good CV template for applying for a job at His Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO):

Why this HMPO government CV template works

This government CV template is effective for HM Passport Office applicants because it:

• Includes relevant university units like Cultural Policy and Planning and Project Management, which are linked with the operational processes and planning focus at HM Passport Office
• Mentions the job title and government agency name in the personal profile, which shows government recruiters that you’ve tailored your CV to the position you’re going for rather than sending out a generic CV
• Highlights documentation handling experience, vital since passport applications comprise dozens of pages of complex documentation, and passports can be issued only after the most stringent security checks

What this job applicant does well

This CV was written by someone looking to transition from a private-sector customer service position to a role at HM Passport Office. Here’s what this applicant does well:

• Highlights transferable skills such as providing high customer satisfaction at their current role, which directly aligns with helping citizens navigate the passport application process
• Uses numbers to quantify the achievements on their CV — a strong personal customer satisfaction rate in the private sector tells recruiters that this candidate can achieve similar successes in the Civil Service if hired
• Mentions various ways they communicate with stakeholders, including phone, email, and in-person. This aligns with the needs of HM Passport Office, where passport applicants may be contacted by email or phone, or in the case of first-time applicants, through a first-time passport interview

4. Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) CV

Below is a free government CV template for a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) role:

Why this DWP government CV template works

Base your CV on this DWP CV example if applying for a role there or in an affiliated agency like Jobcentre Plus because it:

• Highlights the candidate’s strong sense of purpose for their job so far, particularly in finding people employment
• Showcases their success at routine DWP processes like accurate processing of benefit claims
• Indicates strong leadership/mentorship skills with the candidate training five new staff members

What this job applicant does well

This candidate is a career Civil Servant. If you’re in that situation, here are the strengths of this CV example:

• Shows steady career progression, with this candidate showing a promotion on their CV (from Administrative Assistant to Administrative Officer)
• Indicates an expert knowledge of DWP operations, by using keywords like ‘case resolution time’ and ‘benefits claims’ and ‘caseload’ and referencing DWP database management practice
• Highlights substantial time with the Civil Service, in this case 5+ years. This goes a long way to convince government employers that you’re familiar with the Civil Service job culture, goals, and requirements to be politically neutral, implementing government’s programme regardless of the political party in power

5. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) CV

This is a good CV template to use if you’re applying to work at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA):

Why this DVLA government CV template works

The example CV above can make for a successful DVLA application because it:

• Shows proximity to DVLA HQ, which is based in Swansea. Although an address on your CV is optional, adding it in situations like this can help by proving that you can easily commute to work
• Includes evidence of documentation handling — similar to passport applications, driving licence applications require attention to detail since they must be accurate and fulfil statutory requirements for licence issue
• Points to good communication skills, vital since DVLA employees must work with many third parties. One example is medical professionals who are required to inform the DVLA if a driver has a condition that means their licence must be suspended

What this job applicant does well

If you’re early in your career and looking to move from the private sector into a similar Civil Service role, this government CV template can help you make that transition because it:

• Highlights current key responsibilities in the personal statement, showing that the candidate already performs tasks aligned with the Civil Service role they’re applying for
• Lays out several accomplishments in their current role, which could be repeated at the DVLA, such as improving email follow-up efficiency and increasing project delivery efficiency
• Highlights soft skills picked up in a retail role, showing they have good interpersonal skills and will be a positive addition to the DVLA team

6. Security Service (MI5)/Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) CV

Want to serve your country as an intelligence officer? Here’s an MI5 / MI6 CV template you can download and then edit with your own details:

Why this Security Service/Secret Intelligence Service government CV template works

• Includes international experience, which is useful when working in intelligence
• Points to a pattern of success with a 15% reduction in potential threats, highlighting the candidate’s ability to deliver measurable results
• Shows a broad skill set, including leadership skills that are crucial for intelligence officers who must operate autonomously and under pressure

What this job applicant does well

This government CV template is ideal for people writing a career change CV. In this case, the candidate is a senior intelligence analyst and would like to transfer to the Security Service from London’s Metropolitan Police. It effectively makes the case for hiring them because it:

• Highlights transferable skills in each bullet point, such as counter-terrorism work, one aspect of the Metropolitan Police’s remit that differs from UK police forces based outside of London, along with diplomatic and royal protection duties
• Includes experience with GCHQ — along with MI5, MI6, and Defence Intelligence, Government Communication Headquarters is one of the UK’s intelligence agencies. As this applicant already has experience working at this agency, it puts them in a good position to be considered for MI5
• Has a relevant master’s degree in Security Studies, essential training for a counter-terrorism

7. Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) CV

This government CV template is ideal if you’ve got expertise in public health, patient advocacy, and want to contribute to government policy:

Why this DHSC government CV template works

This CV template is ideal for candidates looking to advise government ministers and senior officials in the Department for Health and Social Care. It:

• Showcases success in boosting patient engagement within underserved communities
• Demonstrates strong budget management skills, reassuring cost-conscious government employers focused on value for money
• Proves familiarity with central government policies such as NICE and the NHS Long Term Plan

What this job applicant does well

This applicant is a public health expert with experience in local communities looking to work directly for HM Government. Here’s how they make their application successful:

• Highlight prior collaboration with the DHSC, suggesting both effective teamwork and an existing network within the department
• Hold a relevant degree in Public Health, which is a key foundation for a policy-based role at DHSC
• Show prior work experience with an NHS Trust, showing they’ve already worked with a component of the NHS/DHSC at a local level

8. Ministry of Justice (MoJ) CV

The Lord Chancellor and her ministry oversee the administration of courts, prisons, and probation services.

This CV template was written by a candidate aiming to contribute to the ministry’s work through policy drafting and advisory support:

Why this Ministry of Justice government CV template works

Lawyers looking to advise the government on legal, prisons, and probation policy could benefit from a CV example like this because it:

• Demonstrates policy and compliance expertise relevant to public service, showing they can focus on government policy goals and communicates a background in legislative analysis and stakeholder consultation, aligning well with the MoJ’s advisory and regulatory responsibilities
• Shows strong alignment with Civil Service behaviours and values, which are mandatory for Civil Servants
• Documents a proven ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly — this is valued in government legal roles, where clarity, accessibility, and the ability to serve both internal and public audiences are vital

What this job applicant does well

The candidate in this example is in private practice but wishes to work for the Ministry of Justice providing legal advice. The Lord Chancellor’s team would consider them because their CV:

• Highlights expertise in writing in plain English, which is mandatory for government publications
• Showcases a history of providing legal guidance, a core responsibility of MoJ Civil Servants
• Demonstrates skill in crafting legal arguments for public sector appeals and judicial review cases — a valuable asset, given the MoJ frequently submits evidence and arguments in such proceedings

Tips for using your government CV template

According to the Civil Service, there’s no set format for a government CV.

But there are still differences between a CV for a private-sector job and a CV for a government job.

We put together four tips to help you make a job-winning application for a government role:

1. Showcase your Civil Service Behaviours and Success Profiles

When you submit your Civil Service CV, your goal is to move on to the assessment stage.

In this phase of the application process, you may be asked to take various tests and attend an interview to assess your Civil Service Behaviours and Success Profiles, government terms for your hard and soft skills.

To get through the CV sift, show your hard skills (learnt talents, like maths) and soft skills (abilities connected to your personality, such as communication) on your CV using the STAR method to detail your experience and accomplishments:

• Situation: Describe specific situations you’ve faced
• Task: Explain the tasks you handled during these situations
• Action: Outline the actions you took
• Result: Use hard numbers to show the positive results of your actions

Here’s a good example of a CV bullet point that uses the STAR method:

• Efficiently handled a surge in passport applications during peak season by streamlining verification processes and training junior staff, resulting in a 30% increase in monthly application processing with 99% accuracy

2. Tailor your content to a specific government job advert

If you’re struggling to decide which details to emphasise on your CV, take another look at the government job advert you’re targeting.

The recruiter should clearly state what skills and experience an ideal candidate should have.

These are the abilities and bits of your work history that you should focus on when you write your CV for the Civil Service.

3. Write a strong personal statement to go with it

As part of your Civil Service application, you’ll need to write a personal statement — also commonly referred to as a cover letter, and not to be confused with a personal statement for a CV.

The Civil Service website describes exactly what they’re looking for in this statement, briefly summarised here:

1. Use the full word count (or close to it) to outline your fit for the role — check the job advert for a word count to follow
2. Follow the STAR method to show what you’ve accomplished, rather than listing your responsibilities
3. Ensure your personal statement is error-free by proofreading it and asking someone else to take a look as well

One more item to note is that while you typically don’t put references on your CV for a government job, you should definitely include the name of a Civil Service referee — if you have one and they consent to it — when you write your personal statement.

4. Use a simple CV template for government job applications

Government departments tend to be traditional, so don’t use a flashy CV template with graphics and pictures to apply for a Civil Service job. Instead, use a simple CV template with a minimalist design and subtle colours.

Frequently asked questions

We answer any unanswered questions you may have about government CV templates below.

1. Should I use a CV template from a government website?

Templates available on UK government websites tend to be very basic. You won’t stand out from other candidates if you use them.

Professionally designed CV templates, on the other hand, feature expert designs with bold headers and expert CV font pairings to help you stand out to government employers.

Just make sure you use a CV template made for UK job seekers to ensure you include all the information UK government employers expect to see (all the CV templates available on CV Genius are customised for the UK).

2. Can I use a CV builder to make my government CV?

Yes, you can and should use a CV builder to make your government CV.

A good CV maker uses AI and human expertise to help you build a job application document that is perfectly formatted with strong bullet points.

3. How far back should my government CV go?

Your government CV should go as far back as necessary to show how your work experience matches the job requirements.

However, if you have a wealth of related experience, going back 10 years is enough. The main point is to highlight your most relevant jobs, leaving off irrelevant details to make your CV concise and easy to read.

4. How can I make my government CV PDF for free?

Making your CV a PDF for free is easy. You can write your CV in either Microsoft Word or Google Docs, and then download it as a PDF for free. Here’s how:

• In Word, go to File → Save As… → File Format: PDF
• in Google Docs, go to File → Download → PDF Document (.pdf)