Start with the application instructions, then choose a builder that lets you produce the requested CV without unnecessary fields or an unwanted subscription. This guide uses the National Careers Service as a starting point and separates UK application advice from the features and prices of any particular builder.
Start here
- The National Careers Service advises leaving date of birth out of the CV. Follow the employer’s separate application instructions where information is specifically requested.
- No. Check the actual currency, payment method and terms before buying. The guidance does not certify a particular local payment flow.
| Situation | What to prepare | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| CV requested | A role-focused CV | Format and supporting documents |
| Application form | The employer’s own form | Which CV details must also be entered |
| First role | Education, projects and placements | Accurate labels and dates |
A practical UK CV layout
Start with your name and contact details. Follow with a concise profile when useful, then experience, education and relevant skills. If you are early in your career, education and projects can come before paid work. Within experience, show the most recent role first.
For ordinary applications, one or two readable pages can be a practical target; this is an editorial starting point, not a universal rule. Use any limit in the vacancy. Choose a clear font and consistent headings. The National Careers Service recommends size 11 or larger. Leave out age, date of birth, marital status and nationality in line with its general CV guidance. Separate application forms may ask their own questions.
For a teaching application or another role asking for a supporting statement, a tidy CV is only one part of the submission. Address the stated criteria in the requested document or form. Do not assume a template replaces that step.
Use the advert as your document specification
Save the job description and identify the essential criteria, requested attachments and file formats. Decide whether the employer wants a CV, a separate supporting statement or answers in an application form. A resume builder prepares a document; it does not complete every part of the application for you.
The National Careers Service recommends a clear, consistent layout and tailoring the CV to the role. Use that as a practical starting point rather than assuming an ornate template will demonstrate a qualification the content does not support.
Control personal details and references
The National Careers Service advises against including age, date of birth, marital status or nationality in the CV. It also advises against putting someone else’s reference contact details directly into it. Choose an editor that lets you omit optional fields rather than inventing entries or copying every field in a template.
Keep the employer’s actual application questions separate. If references are requested through another channel, obtain permission and provide them there. Do not interpret this general CV guidance as advice to leave required application questions unanswered.
Build a relevant work or education narrative
If you are early in your career, make genuine coursework, projects, volunteering or placements easy to find. With more experience, lead with the work that best supports the role. Keep official titles and dates accurate, and explain abbreviations that an unfamiliar reader may not recognize.
Choose bullets that describe your contribution, not generic claims about motivation. Tailoring should change emphasis and clarity without turning a project into paid employment or adding an outcome you cannot support.
Check the builder before committing
Try hiding an optional section, changing its order and exporting a short draft. Verify whether PDF, Word or plain text is included and whether the purchase renews. A price displayed in US dollars is not a confirmed sterling checkout amount; compare the currency and full term shown to you.
Guul offers a non-renewing pass for one resume and also recurring plans. Its PDF and Word exports require a pass or qualifying plan. Use a genuinely free alternative if a no-cost download is your priority.
Review the file and retain the submission
Open the exported document, inspect the contact details and page breaks, and confirm that every link works. Follow the employer’s requested format instead of treating a builder’s ATS label as a guarantee. Save the submitted version with the job advert.
For help deciding what to include, consult the National Careers Service or a relevant careers adviser. A builder comparison can explain tools; it cannot determine an employer’s decision or replace role-specific guidance.