Best CV format in the UK

This is the most common CV format in the UK. It lists your roles from most recent to oldest, making your experience easy to scan. This is the best format for:

Most candidates with steady experience
Anyone who wants to show growth or progression
Applications through job boards / ATS portals

Pros

Recruiters can understand your story quickly
Work experience is easy to compare role-by-role
Usually ATS-friendly when kept simple

Cons

Employment gaps are more visible (you can still explain them clearly)
If you’re changing careers, you’ll need stronger “transferable skills” framing

Typical structure (section order)

Contact details
Personal profile (3–5 lines)
Key skills (tailored)
Work experience (reverse chronological)
Education
Optional: certifications / projects / languages / interests

Skills-based (functional) CV

A skills-based CV leads with skills, achievements, and projects instead of putting your work history front and centre. It can work — but only if you back every skill with proof. This is the best format for:

Career changers (transferable skills)
Employment gaps or a non-linear work history
Graduates with strong projects, placements, or volunteering

Pros

Highlights relevant strengths even if job titles don’t match
Gives you control over the story you lead with
Works well when your projects are stronger than your job history

Cons

Risk: can feel vague if it’s just a list of skills → Fix: add proof (results, tools, examples)
Risk: some recruiters prefer seeing a clear timeline → Fix: include a short, clear employment history section

Structure (skills first, but still clear)

Contact details
Personal profile (aligned to the target role)
Key skills and achievements (grouped by theme)
Projects / relevant experience (e.g., portfolio projects, volunteering)
Employment history (short, clear timeline)
Education

Combination CV

A combination CV starts with a focused skills snapshot, then follows with a reverse-chronological work history. It’s often the best compromise when you want to highlight expertise without hiding your timeline. This is the best format for:

Specialists (IT, engineering, finance, healthcare, etc.)
Senior candidates with strong achievements
Career changers who still have relevant experience to show

Pros

You can lead with your strongest selling points
Still shows a clear career timeline
Great for “targeted” applications where keywords matter

Cons

If overdone, it can feel repetitive (skills listed twice)
Needs tight formatting to stay within 1–2 pages

Structure (recommended)

Contact details
Personal profile
Key skills (short, targeted)
Selected achievements (optional: 3–5 proof points)
Work experience (reverse chronological)
Education
Optional sections (certs, languages, projects)

Section order by profile (UK)

Once you’ve chosen a format, the next decision is what comes first. Put your strongest, most relevant section higher.

Students and graduates

Education often goes above work experience
Add projects, placements, achievements, and transferable skills
Keep work experience (even part-time) if it shows responsibility/results

For more tips tailored to students, see our guide to student CVs.

Experienced professionals

Work experience should lead (after profile + skills)
Education can be shorter (degree + university + year is often enough)
Add certifications if they’re valuable in your sector

See our work experience CV guide for more tips.

Career changers or gaps

Lead with skills + proof (projects, outcomes, relevant training)
Keep employment history clear and honest (short timeline section)
Use your profile to connect the dots to the target role

Read our guide to handling gaps in your CV.

Common mistakes when choosing a CV format

Picking a skills-based CV with no proof: skills without examples look like buzzwords.
Trying to “hide” gaps instead of explaining them clearly: clarity builds trust.
Mixing formats: decide what leads (skills or timeline) and keep it consistent.
Ignoring the job advert: your format should make relevant keywords and evidence easy to find.
Overloading the top: keep your profile + skills tight so experience still gets seen.

Key takeaways: choose the right CV format

Not sure which format to use? These quick points help you pick the best structure for your profile — and know when to switch.

Chronological (reverse-chronological) is the safest choice for most UK applications: clear timeline, easy to scan.
Skills-based works best for career changers, gaps, or limited experience — but only if every skill comes with proof.
Combination is ideal for specialists: lead with key skills, then back them up with a strong work history.
Your section order should match your profile: graduates can lead with education; experienced candidates should lead with experience.
Don’t switch formats for every job — keep the same structure and tailor your profile, skills and evidence to each role.
Format = structure. For fonts, spacing, layout (one vs two columns) and PDF vs Word, use the CV layout guide.

FAQ about CV formats

What is the best CV format in the UK?

Is a skills-based (functional) CV ATS-friendly?

When should I use a combination CV?

Should I change my CV format for every application?

Where can I find help with fonts, spacing, layout, and PDF vs Word?

Ready to write your CV?

Now that you’ve chosen the right format, follow our step-by-step guide to fill in each section with strong, recruiter-friendly content.

Create my CV How to write a CV (step by step)