The main differences in a UK CV vs a US resume are length, the opening summary and the wording: a UK CV usually runs to two A4 pages, opens with a short personal statement, and uses British spelling, while a US resume is often one US Letter page with a brief summary. Both leave out photos, age and marital status, and both list your most recent job first. Most of the work in converting is adding depth to each role, not changing the structure.
In the UK, "CV" is the everyday word for the document you send with most job applications. In the US, "CV" usually means a long academic document, and "resume" is what you send to employers. This guide compares the two, as of October 2026, using UK careers-service guidance.
What is the difference between a UK CV and a US resume?
| UK CV | US resume | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | CV (curriculum vitae) | Resume (CV means an academic document) |
| Usual length | Two pages is the most common style; some employers ask for one | Often one page, especially early in a career |
| Paper size | A4 | US Letter |
| Opening | Personal statement or profile: a few short lines on who you are and what you want | Optional summary or headline |
| Order | Reverse chronological (most recent first) | Reverse chronological |
| Photo, age, marital status | Leave out | Leave out |
| Nationality | Usually left out; right to work can be stated in one line if useful | Usually left out; work authorisation stated if useful |
| Interests | Optional, if they show relevant skills | Usually omitted |
| References | Optional "References available on request"; no referee contact details | Usually omitted |
| Spelling and terms | British: organisation, programme, licence, A levels, degree classification | American: organization, program, GPA |
The UK points come from the National Careers Service, which lists contact details, an introduction, education, work history and references as CV sections, says to list the most recent experience first, and advises leaving out age, date of birth, marital status and nationality, and from the University of Manchester careers service, which calls the two-page reverse-chronological CV the most common UK style and says a photograph is not usual practice.
What should you remove from a US resume for a UK job?
- US-only terms. Replace GPA with your degree classification or grade where you have one, and explain US qualifications briefly (for example, "Bachelor of Science, a four-year undergraduate degree").
- US Letter formatting. Switch the page size to A4 and check nothing spills onto a third page.
- Anything that hints at age or family status. Graduation years from long ago are optional; dates of birth and marital status should not appear.
- Salary history. Leave pay off the CV; it is discussed later. See how to answer salary expectations in the UK.
- Dense jargon from your old employer. Internal team names and product codes mean nothing to a UK panel.
What should you add to a CV for UK employers?
- A personal statement. Three or four lines tailored to the role: your field, your level, one or two achievements and what you want next.
- More context per role. With two pages you can add a line on the organisation's size or sector and three to five results-focused bullets per recent role.
- Evidence that matches the advert's criteria. UK adverts often list essential and desirable criteria; your CV should show each essential one somewhere.
- Your right-to-work status, if relevant. One plain line such as "Eligible to work in the UK" or your visa status saves a recruiter's question. See visa sponsorship interview questions if you need sponsorship.
- Interests that show skills. The National Careers Service suggests interests can show skills, for example captaining a sports team showing leadership.
Converting a bullet: an example we wrote
US resume bullet: "Led Q3 GTM for SMB vertical; +22% pipeline."
UK CV bullet: "Led the go-to-market plan for small-business customers in July–September 2025, coordinating sales and marketing teams of 12; sales pipeline grew by 22% on the previous quarter."
The UK version spells out the abbreviation, says what you did and with whom, and keeps the result. It is longer because the UK format gives you room, and a panel reading against criteria needs the detail.
How does your CV shape UK interview questions?
UK interviewers often work through your CV with competency questions, so every bullet is a possible question. "Improved onboarding" becomes "Tell me about a time you improved a process." Expect these patterns:
- "Talk me through your CV." A two-minute tour, most recent role first, ending with why this job. See our tell me about yourself guide.
- Evidence behind a number. "You say pipeline grew 22%. What did you personally do?"
- Gaps and moves. The National Careers Service says it is normal to have some gaps between jobs. Have one honest sentence ready for each gap or short role.
- Criteria checks. "The advert asks for stakeholder management. Where on your CV does that show?"
A good test: for each bullet, can you tell a two-minute STAR story behind it? If not, either cut the bullet or prepare the story. Our STAR method guide shows the structure.
Going the other way: turning a UK CV into a US resume
- Cut to one page if you are early in your career; two pages is acceptable for long experience.
- Replace the personal statement with a one- or two-line summary, or drop it.
- Remove interests and the references line.
- Switch to US spelling and US Letter size.
- Translate UK qualifications, for example A levels and degree classifications, into a short plain description.
Practise the questions your CV will trigger
Once your CV is ready, rehearse the questions it invites. CoPilot Interview's Mock Interview reads your CV and the job description, asks questions drawn from both, and scores each spoken answer out of 10 with what worked, what to fix and a model answer. The free plan includes 15 minutes a day with no account. The same desktop app includes a Resume Builder that tailors your CV to a job URL. For the bigger picture on UK interviews, start with our job interview tips for the UK.
Turn your CV into interview practice
Upload your CV and the job description and answer the questions they generate, out loud. Get a score out of 10 and a model answer for each. Free for 15 minutes a day, no account.
Try a free AI mock interviewFAQ
Is a CV the same as a resume in the UK?
In everyday UK usage, yes: "CV" is the standard name for the document you send with a job application. In the US, "CV" usually means a longer academic document and employers ask for a resume.
How long should a UK CV be?
Two pages is the most common UK format, according to university careers guidance. Some employers ask for one page, and graduates or part-time applicants often fit on one.
Should I put a photo on my UK CV?
No. UK careers services advise that a photo is not usual practice. Leave out age, date of birth and marital status too, unless the employer asks for something specific.
Do I need a personal statement on a UK CV?
It is standard. The National Careers Service describes it as a few short lines under your contact details that sum up who you are and what you hope to do.
Should I include references on a UK CV?
You can add a references section or write "References available on request", but do not put referees' contact details on the CV. Employers usually ask for references after an offer.
Can I send a one-page US resume to a UK employer?
You can, and some employers prefer one page. But a two-page UK CV gives room for context and evidence that UK panels score against, so expand it if your experience supports it.