CV guides
Short, practical guides with no filler and no invented statistics. Where we cite figures, we link the source.
CV basics
- UK CV format: the layout UK employers expectSection order, length, what to leave out and how to save it — with a structure you can copy.
- How long should a CV be?Pages by career stage, and how to cut a CV that runs long without losing anything important.
- How to write a CV with no work experienceWhat to include when you've never had a job, and how to make school, volunteering and projects count.
- Skills to put on a CVHow to choose skills from the advert and prove them, with examples by job type.
- ATS explained: how applicant tracking systems read your CVWhat ATS software really does with your CV, and how to stay readable without keyword stuffing.
- CV vs resume: what's the difference?What each word means in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Europe, and which to send.
- CV personal statement examplesA simple formula and honest examples for the profile at the top of your CV.
- Student CV: a free UK template to copyA copy-and-paste student CV template with what to put in each section, even with no work experience.
Interview answers
- The STAR method, with example interview answersWhat STAR is, how long each part should be, and three worked answers you can adapt with your own examples.
- "Tell me about yourself": how to answer, with examplesA 60–90 second structure and example answers for school leavers, career changers and experienced candidates.
- Strengths and weaknesses: how to answer at interviewPick strengths the job needs, choose a real weakness you're working on, and back both with an example.
- Competency-based interview questions and how to answer themThe questions you're likely to get for each common competency, what good looks like, and how to prepare.
Supporting statements & Civil Service
- How to write a supporting statement for a job applicationHow shortlisters score supporting statements, a structure that matches the person specification, and worked examples.
- Civil Service personal statement (statement of suitability)What a statement of suitability is, how it's assessed under Success Profiles, and a structure to follow.
- Civil Service behaviours: how to write examplesThe nine behaviours, how they're assessed by grade, and a worked behaviour example you can adapt.
Country formats
- US resume format: what changes from a UK CVHow to turn a UK CV into a US résumé: length, paper size, spelling, headings and what to leave out.
- Canadian resume formatLength, paper size, spelling, bilingual skills and what Canadian employers don't expect to see.
- Australian CV formatLength, referees, work rights and spelling for Australian applications.
- New Zealand CV formatLength, referees and visa status for New Zealand applications.
- Irish CV formatLength, personal details and work permits for jobs in Ireland.
- Europass CV: when to use itWhen to use Europass, how to show language levels and when a national format is better.
Applying smarter
- How to write a career change CVExplain the move, prove transferable skills and cut what no longer helps.
- How to cancel a MyPerfectCV subscriptionThe routes MyPerfectCV's own help pages describe, what happens to your documents and how to check it worked.
- How to cancel a Zety subscriptionThe cancellation routes on Zety's own pages, when the cancellation takes effect, and how to check it worked.
- How to cancel a LiveCareer subscriptionLiveCareer UK's own cancellation steps, what its terms say about refunds, and the names it uses on card statements.
- How to tailor your CV to a job descriptionA step-by-step method that takes ten minutes per application, with a worked example.
- The true yearly cost of CV builders (2026)What "£1.95 trials" really cost once they renew, with the cancellation terms.