Free CV check for the United Kingdom
Sam, an AI recruiter, reads your CV the way a hiring manager in the United Kingdom would. He checks it against the local rules below, scores it out of 100 and tells you what to fix first. He can also check your fit for a job post and write a cover letter in the the United Kingdom format.
Review my CVFree. No account. Your CV stays in your browser tab.
What employers in the United Kingdom expect from a CV
- Length
- 2 pages of A4 for most roles; 1 page for school leavers.
- Personal details
- Leave out photo, date of birth or age, marital status, religion and gender; UK employers avoid them under the Equality Act 2010. Nationality isn't needed; state right to work instead if relevant.
- References
- Leave off "References available upon request". Employers assume it, and references go on a separate page when they ask.
- Spelling
- Use British spelling (colour, centre, organise, programme).
- Location
- Give your location as town or city.
- Right to work
- If it helps your application, say it plainly, for example "Full right to work in the UK".
- Also worth knowing
- A short personal profile at the top is standard.
Cover letters in the United Kingdom
- Opening
- "Dear Mr/Ms <surname>," if the post names a contact, otherwise "Dear Hiring Manager,".
- Closing
- "Yours sincerely," after a named contact; after "Dear Hiring Manager," the traditional close is "Yours faithfully," (many now use "Yours sincerely,").
- Subject line
- Not needed.
What job posts in the United Kingdom often ask for
Sam checks your CV against requirements like these when a job post lists them: right to work in the UK or visa sponsorship, security vetting (e.g. SC or DV), a professional registration.
What Sam checks
- The 7-second skim: does the top of your CV read as the role you want?
- Relevance, impact, progression, clarity, credibility and local standards, scored out of 100
- ATS basics: standard headings, contact details in the body, dates, keywords
- The roles you fit now, with search links for LinkedIn, Indeed, Reed
- Certifications employers in your field ask for, from a checked list
- Interview questions your CV is likely to raise