If you’re asking what the best CV template format in the UK is, the short answer is this:
A clean, reverse chronological, ATS friendly CV template is still the format recruiters prefer most.
Despite all the flashy designs you’ll see online, most UK recruiters still want a CV that is easy to scan in seconds, a clean conventional layout, simple for ATS software to read, and structured in a familiar order.
From a recruiter’s perspective, clarity almost always beats creativity, professional and modern designs elevate what you can achieve without going over the top.
That means a strong CV layout with clear headings, logical spacing, and recent experience placed first will outperform an overly designed template in most sectors.
Quick Answer: Best CV Template UK
The best CV template UK job seekers should use is:
reverse chronological format
1 to 2 pages
clear professional profile
subtitle featuring your job title
key skills section
recent work history first
clean fonts that are easy to read
ATS friendly formatting
minimal graphics, no generic canva designs
This is the recruiter preferred CV format because it works well for both human screening and applicant tracking systems. Increasingly, UK employers use ATS tools to filter CVs before a recruiter even sees them.
Small note: Creative CVs can be extremely impressive when done correctly, and can seriously elevate your application, but if done badly they will hurt your chances, professional CVs are the safe bet.
Why This CV Format Works Best in the UK
After reviewing thousands of CVs across professional, commercial and leadership roles, the pattern is always the same:
The CVs that progress are usually the easiest to read.
Recruiters often spend only a few seconds on an initial scan. Oxford University Careers notes this can be as little as a few seconds, which means your layout matters enormously.
A good UK CV template helps the reader instantly find:
who you are
what role you do
your level of experience
your most recent achievements
your key skills
That is why the reverse chronological CV format remains the safest and strongest choice.
The Best CV Layout Structure (Recruiter Approved)
Here is the ideal CV layout for most UK roles.
1. Name and Contact Details
Keep this at the top.
Include:
full name
mobile number
professional email address
LinkedIn URL
location (town or city)
Avoid full postal addresses.
2. Professional Profile
This should be a short 3 to 4 line opening summary.
Think of it as your value proposition.
Example:
Commercial Project Manager with 8+ years’ experience delivering cross-functional change programmes across retail and logistics environments. Strong track record of reducing costs, improving delivery timelines and leading teams through transformation.
This is often the first section recruiters read.
3. Key Skills
Use a clearly formatted skills section with role relevant keywords.
For example:
Stakeholder Management
Budget Control
Project Delivery
Data Analysis
Team Leadership
Risk Management
This is especially important for an ATS friendly CV template, as systems scan for matching terms from the job advert.
Knowing what skills to include and where to include them is an essential part to creating your CV. This article What Skills Should I Include in My CV will help guide the way.
4. Employment History (Most Recent First)
This is the heart of the document.
Use reverse chronological order:
Current Role
Previous Role
Earlier Role
For each role include:
job title
company
dates
short overview
bullet point achievements
Focus on outcomes, not duties.
Instead of:
Responsible for managing projects
Use:
Delivered a £1.2m transformation programme that reduced process time by 32%
This is exactly the kind of language recruiters want to see.
5. Education and Qualifications
For experienced professionals, this can sit below work history.
For graduates, move this section higher.
What Makes a CV Template ATS Friendly?
This matters more than ever.
Many UK employers now use ATS software as a first screening step.
The best ATS friendly CV template should avoid:
incorrect layouts
unconventional section headers
tables for main content
headers and footers for contact details
graphics and charts
strange formats (jpg, .pages or .txt)
Instead, use:
standard section headings
bullet points
left aligned text
PDF format
consistent spacing
white space and a considered design
Simple and professional is the safest route.
Interestingly, what works best for ATS also tends to be best for recruiters.
As we often say at Career Improvement Club:
ATS friendly usually means recruiter friendly too.
This closely aligns with our previous guidance on whether templates are worth using at all.
Should You Use a Modern Designed Template?
Yes, but carefully.
The mistake people make is confusing design with readability.
Good design means:
strong spacing
elegant typography
clean section breaks
subtle colour use
Bad design means:
too many colours
infographic style skills bars
profile photos
decorative icons
multi-column layouts that break ATS parsing
For most UK applications, the best template is clean modern professional, not overly creative.
Unless you work in design, branding or media, keep the format conservative.
A well-designed CV can absolutely help you stand out and a small investment on a pre-made CV template can be totally worth it. As Laura Little highlighted on my LinkedIn…
The Best CV Template for Different Career Stages
Entry Level / Graduate
Use:
education higher up
projects and placements
skills focused layout
Mid Career Professional
Use:
reverse chronological
achievement-led work history
2 pages maximum
Senior Leadership / Executive
Use:
strong opening profile
commercial metrics
board level achievements
leadership outcomes
You could always consider tailoring your CV to the exact career path with these CV Template for specific job roles and levels.
Common CV Format Mistakes UK Candidates Make
Here are the issues recruiters spot immediately.
Too Much Design
Looks nice.
Reads badly.
Fails ATS.
Long Paragraphs
Dense blocks of text are rarely read.
Use bullets.
Short lines win.
Generic Templates
If your CV looks identical to hundreds of others, it loses impact.
This is why professionally written premium templates often outperform free ones.
Final Verdict: What Is the Best CV Template UK Employers Prefer?
The best CV template format in the UK is a:
clean, ATS friendly, reverse chronological CV layout with strong spacing and achievement-led bullet points.
It should feel professional, easy to scan, and credible.
Recruiters do not need flashy.
They need clarity.
That is what gets interviews.
FAQ: Best CV Template UK
What CV format do UK recruiters prefer?
Most UK recruiters prefer a reverse chronological CV format with recent roles first, clear headings and measurable achievements.
Are two-column CV templates good?
Yes they are a great option, they allow you to feature more information on page 1, giving you a greater chance to showcase your skills and abilities quickly.
Is PDF or Word better for UK CVs?
PDF is usually best for preserving layout. Always save and send in this format.
What is the most ATS friendly CV template?
In 2026, ATS systems can parse even the most complicated CVs, if you save your document in a PDF format (to lock in formatting) and use clear headers your information will be read and parsed perfectly.
Ready to Upgrade Your CV?
If you want a recruiter-built ATS friendly CV template designed for the UK market, our downloadable CV templates are built specifically to help you pass screening software and impress hiring managers.
A strong template will not get you the job on its own.
But it will help open the door faster.