Where the jobs are and what a UK CV looks like

Finding a job in the UK as a foreigner or expat requires knowing where to look and how to present yourself on paper. This guide covers the main job search platforms used by UK employers and the CV format that will actually get you noticed by recruiters—because getting the format wrong can cost you an interview before a human even reads your qualifications.

Where to find UK jobs

The UK job market is served by several key platforms, each with its own audience and reach. Knowing which ones to use and how to use them will significantly improve your chances of finding the right role.

Gov.uk Find a Job

The government's official Find a Job service is one of the largest free job boards in the UK. It allows you to search and apply for vacancies across England, Scotland, and Wales directly on the platform. This is a good starting point because it aggregates many vacancies and is consistently used by employers across the country. There is no fee to use the service, and you can set up job alerts to be notified when new roles matching your criteria are posted.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the world's largest professional social network, and UK employers actively recruit through the platform. You can search jobs directly on LinkedIn, apply through your profile, or upload your CV. Beyond job search, LinkedIn lets you follow companies, connect with recruiters, and keep your professional profile visible to headhunters. Many recruitment consultants use LinkedIn to source candidates, so maintaining an up-to-date, professional profile increases your chances of being discovered.

Indeed

Indeed is a large job search engine that aggregates listings from thousands of sources—job boards, company career sites, and recruiters. This means many vacancies from different employers appear in one place. You can upload your CV to Indeed and apply directly to postings. The platform also offers salary comparisons, company reviews, and career advice to help you make informed decisions about roles and employers.

Specialist and sector job boards

Beyond the major platforms, many industries and professions have their own job boards. For example, Reed.co.uk is a popular general job board in the UK. Academic roles are often advertised on specialist sites, and many companies post vacancies directly on their own careers pages. Check whether your industry or sector has dedicated boards—recruiters often post exclusively there first.

Recruitment agencies

Recruitment agencies know what employers are looking for and can match you to roles that suit your background. You can register with multiple agencies at once to increase your chances of being placed. Agencies are particularly useful if you're new to the UK job market or unfamiliar with local hiring practices.

UK CV format: what recruiters expect

UK recruiters receive an average of 118 applications per job posting. The faster your CV can be scanned and understood, the better your chances of reaching an interview. This means following the UK CV format strictly—it signals you understand the market and can follow instructions.

Length: two pages, maximum

A UK CV should be two A4 pages for most roles. Recent graduates or those with less than two years of experience can use one page. Senior professionals with 20+ years of experience may extend to three pages, but this is rare. UK recruiters do not expect longer CVs, and most simply will not read beyond two pages. This means you must prioritise your strongest achievements and most relevant experience.

No photo, no date of birth

UK CVs do not include a photo. The Equality Act 2010 protects candidates from age and appearance discrimination, and UK employers are trained to avoid seeing personal attributes during the initial screening phase. Do not include your date of birth, marital status, nationality, or full home address. If you are concerned about sharing your address, use only the city and country—for example, "London, UK" instead of a full street address. These omissions also help protect your personal data.

Personal statement, not objective

Open your CV with a brief personal profile or statement—three to four lines (80 to 150 words maximum). This should lead with your role, level, and years of experience, then add one or two distinguishing facts about your strengths or what you are seeking. Keep it concise and achievement-focused. UK recruiters prefer short, punchy profiles over lengthy career objectives.

Reverse chronological order and measurable outcomes

List your work experience in reverse chronological order—most recent role first. For each role, include the job title, company, dates, and three to six bullet points. Focus on achievement-based bullets that show results and impact: percentages, revenue figures, cost savings, time saved, or performance improvements. Recruiters want to see what you accomplished, not just what your responsibilities were.

Format and file type

Save your CV as a PDF. Use a clean, professional sans-serif font such as Calibri or Arial, size 10 to 11 points. Keep margins consistent—2cm on all sides. Use a single column, black or grey text on a white background, and avoid excessive graphics, tables, or bright colours. Many UK companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen CVs, and overly designed documents can cause problems with these systems. Your CV name should be clear: "Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf" not "CV-Final.docx" or "CV-V3.pdf".

British English spelling throughout

Use British English spelling throughout: organisation, colour, centre, optimise. This signals you understand UK hiring culture and helps you pass both human reviewers and ATS keyword matching. If you are writing from a non-UK background, change your spell-check settings before writing.

Tailoring to each role

Do not send the same CV to every employer. Review the job description and company website, then customise your CV for each application. Highlight the skills and experience most relevant to the specific role. This is not about dishonesty—it is about emphasising what matters most for that particular job. Recruiters screen CVs very quickly, often spending less than a minute on each. A tailored CV that matches the job description will score higher and be more likely to advance.

What NOT to include on your CV

• Photo (unless the job posting specifically asks for one)
• Date of birth or age
• Marital status or family details
• Full home address (use city only)
• Salary expectations
• References (see below)
• The phrase 'References available on request' (considered outdated)

References: when and how to provide them

One of the key differences between UK CVs and those used in other countries is when references are provided. In the UK, you do not include references on your CV at the application stage. Instead, employers request them much later in the hiring process—typically after an interview or once a conditional job offer has been made.

The reasoning is practical. Recruiters do not call references before deciding whether to invite you for an interview; they assess your CV on your content, qualifications, and experience alone. Including referees' personal contact details on a document that may be uploaded to multiple job boards, forwarded internally, or stored in databases also raises data protection concerns under GDPR. There is no reason to share their details so early.

When an employer does ask for references—usually at the offer or late interview stage—prepare a separate, clean reference sheet with two or three professional referees. Include each person's full name, job title, organisation, email address, and phone number. Ensure you have asked their permission and briefed them on the role beforehand.

Key differences if you are coming from abroad

If you are used to CVs or resumes from other countries, the UK format may surprise you. American resumes are typically one page, while European CVs can run three to four pages. Both usually include dates of birth, photos, and other personal details that UK employers actively avoid seeing. Getting these differences right shows you understand the UK market and respect local norms—and it dramatically improves your chances of being shortlisted.

When applying for a UK job as a non-British citizen, mention your visa status or right to work in your contact section if relevant. For example, if you hold a Graduate Route visa (formerly Tier 2), add a single line stating your visa category and eligibility end date. This shows you have the legal right to work and removes a potential barrier for employers.

Preparing to apply: practical tips

• Create a LinkedIn profile and keep it up to date—recruiters actively search here
• Sign up for job alerts on Find a Job, Indeed, and any specialist boards in your sector
• Write a short personal statement that highlights your key strengths and the type of role you are seeking
• List your most recent and relevant experience first; remove or summarise older roles
• Quantify your achievements wherever possible (percentages, revenue, time savings, impact)
• Proofread carefully for spelling and grammar—mistakes suggest carelessness
• Save different versions of your CV tailored to different job types, but never lie or exaggerate
• Check that your email address and phone number on your CV are correct and that you answer messages promptly

Moving forward

The UK job search takes time, especially if you are new to the country or the market. Use multiple platforms, tailor each application, and follow the CV format closely. British recruiters are efficient and filter fast, so every detail—from page length to spelling to what you choose to highlight—matters. Once your CV is polished and you understand the job boards available to you, you are ready to apply with confidence.