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The UK CV format: a London job application guide
A strong UK CV is concise, evidence-led and adapted to the role.
Use a clear structure
Add contact details, a short profile, reverse-chronological experience, measurable achievements, education and relevant skills.
On this page
Leave personal details out
A standard UK CV does not need a photograph, date of birth or marital status.
Write evidence, not duties
Show the scale, action and result of your work.
Numbers help only when they explain genuine impact.
Adapt every application
Bring forward experience that directly answers the responsibilities and skills in the vacancy without copying the advert.
Create a master CV first
Maintain a detailed private document containing roles, dates, projects, technologies, budgets, team sizes and verified outcomes.
Build each application from that source rather than rewriting from memory. The submitted CV should remain selective, but the master record protects consistency across LinkedIn, application forms and interviews.
Remove confidential information and never invent a metric merely because quantified achievements are easier to scan.
Make the first half-page earn attention
Recruiters often decide quickly whether a CV deserves deeper reading.
Put the target role, strongest relevant evidence and recent impact near the top. Avoid a profile made of generic adjectives.
Use clear headings, familiar job language and enough context to explain scale. Decorative graphics, rating bars and dense multi-column layouts can reduce clarity and may parse poorly in recruitment systems.
Run a credibility edit
Check every claim against a simple question: could you explain the method, your personal contribution and the result in an interview?
Remove repetition, unexplained acronyms and claims that belong to the whole company rather than your work. Verify dates and contact details, then export a clean PDF unless the employer requests another format.
Keep the file name professional and role-specific.
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TfL apprenticeships are closed: use the gap to prepare, not to submit
TfL’s apprenticeship page currently says its roles are closed. Registering interest in future opportunities is different from applying for an open position.
An apprenticeship search that starts with the commute, not the job title
An apprenticeship combines paid work, training and a qualification. For a London applicant, the location and weekly pattern deserve as much attention as a recognisable employer name.
UK job interviews: prepare clear, credible answers
Strong interview answers are relevant, specific and easy to verify. Preparation should improve clarity, not make you sound rehearsed.