PDF CV Tips: How to Make Your CV Stand Out in the UK Job Market

When applying for jobs in the UK, your CV can make or break your chances of landing an interview. With recruiters often reviewing dozens (if not hundreds) of applications, a clear, well-formatted PDF CV can help you stand out for all the right reasons.

Here are our top tips for creating a winning PDF CV tailored to the UK market.

1. Always Use a PDF (Not Word)

PDFs are universally compatible, so your formatting won’t shift or break when opened on another device. It also looks more professional. In contrast, Word documents can open differently on various systems, with fonts, margins, or bullet points getting scrambled.

Pro tip: Save your final version as FirstName_LastName_CV.pdf – it looks tidy and helps hiring managers stay organised.

1. Download the editable Word template (.docx)

2. Fill in their personal details, experience, and skills

3. Save or export the final version as a PDF

4. Submit the PDF version to employers (because it keeps formatting consistent)

UK_CV_Template.docx

Download DOCX • 37KB

2. Stick to Two Pages – Max

In the UK, the standard CV length is two A4 pages. Unless you’re applying for a senior or academic role, anything longer might feel excessive. Keep it concise, relevant, and easy to scan.

Use clear section headings, short bullet points, and focus on achievements, not just duties.

3. Keep the Design Clean

Recruiters spend around 7 seconds skimming a CV before deciding if it’s worth reading further.

• Use a simple, readable font (e.g. Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica)

• Stick to black text on a white background

• Use bold for headings and job titles

• Avoid overuse of colour or graphics unless you’re in a creative field

There are thousands of templates out there – just make sure yours doesn’t look overly crowded or fussy.

4. Tailor It for Each Job

This might sound time-consuming, but tailoring your CV to the job description is one of the best ways to get noticed.

Include keywords from the job ad and highlight relevant skills and experience. Use the profile/personal statementsection at the top to explain briefly why you’re a great fit for that specific role.

5. Prioritise the Most Recent Experience

Always list your experience in reverse chronological order – most recent first. Employers are usually most interested in what you’ve been doing lately.

Each role should include:

• Job title

• Company name

• Dates of employment (month/year format is fine)

• A short paragraph summary

• 3–5 bullet points outlining achievements

If you’re short on work experience, shift focus to volunteering, education, or transferable skills.

6. Use Action Verbs and Quantify Results

Avoid vague phrases like “responsible for” or “worked on”.

Instead, use action verbs like:

• Delivered

• Managed

• Improved

• Developed

• Resolved

• Led

Where possible, quantify your results:

“Increased online sales by 35% over 6 months”

“Reduced customer wait time by 20%”

Numbers pop off the page and show measurable impact.

7. Include a Skills Section

This is especially helpful if you’re in a technical field or applying for jobs through recruitment software that scans CVs for keywords.

Include both hard skills (e.g. Excel, Python, SEO) and soft skills (e.g. teamwork, communication, adaptability), but prioritise those most relevant to the job.

8. Don’t Skip the Basics

Make sure your CV includes:

• Your full name (no need for ‘Curriculum Vitae’ at the top)

• A professional email address (ideally not from your school or an old nickname)

• A mobile number with voicemail enabled

• LinkedIn profile (if up to date)

There’s no need to include your full address – just your town/city and postcode is fine.

9. Don’t Include a Photo

Unless you’re applying for roles in modelling, acting, or outside the UK (e.g. parts of Europe), leave the photo off. It’s not the norm in the UK and can raise concerns about unconscious bias.

10. Double-Check Before You Send

Before hitting send:

• Spellcheck and grammar check everything

• Ask a friend to review it

• Ensure the PDF is under 2MB in size (especially for online applications)

• Double-check it opens properly on different devices

Once it’s polished, save it and upload with confidence.

Final Thought

Your CV is your personal marketing document. Formatting it as a professional PDF with clear structure and relevant information increases your chances of getting noticed. The UK job market is competitive – but a crisp, clear CV that shows you understand the role and bring value will always make an impression.