How to Write a CV for Your First UK Job (2026)

Why this matters

UK first-job CVs face a specific challenge: the standard CV format assumes professional history. Reframing the CV around what you've built and led — rather than where you've been employed — produces a stronger document. Most candidates with no formal experience underestimate what counts as relevant.

Step-by-step

1. 1 Open with personal profile (3 lines): degree, target field, key strength
2. 2 Education section: degree, university, dates, predicted/actual grade, A-levels if recent
3. 3 Projects section: 2-3 substantive projects (academic, side, voluntary, freelance) with outcomes
4. 4 Leadership/Activities: society roles, volunteer leadership, sports captaincy, fundraising
5. 5 Part-time work: 2-3 most relevant; skip every short summer job
6. 6 Skills: technical (specific tools/languages), language (with level), software
7. 7 Keep to 1 page — under 10 years from school usually fits in 1 page

Common mistakes

• ✗Apologising for lack of experience in personal profile
• ✗Listing every short summer job equally — focus on most relevant
• ✗Generic skills (Communication, Teamwork) instead of specific (Python, JavaScript, French B2)
• ✗Going over 1 page
• ✗No projects section — flags absence of self-directed work