UK CV Format Guide (2026): The Two-Page A4 Standard

The correct UK CV format in 2026 hasn't changed dramatically, but the ATS layer has. Here's what a properly formatted UK CV looks like today.

Paper size and margins

A4 (210 × 297mm), 15–20mm margins. Never US Letter, it prints incorrectly on UK paper trays.

Length

Two pages of A4 for 90% of applicants. One page for school leavers and recent graduates; three for executives.

Section order

1. Name and contact details
2. Personal statement (4–6 lines)
3. Key skills (6–10 items)
4. Work experience (reverse-chronological)
5. Education (with UK classifications: 1st, 2:1, 2:2)
6. Certifications, languages, interests (if relevant)

Fonts and sizing

Calibri, Arial or Georgia at 10–12pt for body, 14–16pt for headings. No decorative or serif-slab fonts.

File format

.docx as primary. Add a mirrored PDF only if the advert says PDF-only.

British English throughout

Spelling, punctuation, date format, all British. This is a trust signal for UK recruiters and UK-language search engines.