Guides for every step of your job search
Short, practical answers on CVs, cover letters and interviews, written in plain words for UK jobs.
All guides
CV helpHow to Write a CVA step-by-step guide to writing a UK CV, covering format, personal statement, work history, education and skills, with a clear order to follow.
CV helpHow to Write a CV With No Work ExperienceHow to write a CV with no work experience, using education, volunteering, projects and transferable skills to show what you can offer an employer.
CV helpSchool Leaver CV: Writing Your First CVA guide for school leavers writing their first CV, covering what to include instead of work experience and how to present GCSEs and activities.
CV helpCV Personal Statement ExamplesHow to write a CV personal statement, with short examples for different situations including school leavers, career changers and experienced staff.
CV helpHow Long Should a CV Be?How long a UK CV should be, with clear guidance for school leavers, mid-career applicants and senior candidates, and how to shorten one that runs long.
CV helpCV vs Resume: The DifferenceThe difference between a CV and a resume, why the UK uses CV for standard job applications, and how UK CVs differ from US resumes in length and content.
CV helpSkills to Put on a CVWhich skills to put on a CV, the difference between hard and soft skills, and examples for retail, care, office and trade roles to help you choose.
CV helpUK CV Format and LayoutHow to format a UK CV using the standard reverse chronological layout, including section order, fonts, spacing and what to avoid for readability.
CV helpExplaining Gaps in EmploymentHow to explain gaps in employment on a UK CV, when to mention them directly, and how to describe time out for caring, health, study or redundancy.
CV helpWriting a CV for a Career ChangeHow to write a CV for a career change, focusing on transferable skills, a targeted personal statement and how to present unrelated past experience.
CV helpCV for a Part-Time Student JobHow students can write a CV for a part-time job, balancing studies, short work history, availability and skills gained through college or university.
CV helpHow to Write an ATS-Friendly CVA plain-language guide to writing an ATS-friendly CV, covering simple formatting, keyword matching and file types that most tracking systems can read.
CV helpTailoring Your CV to a Job AdvertHow to tailor a CV to a job advert, including which sections to adjust each time, matching the job description and keeping the process quick.
CV helpReferences on a CVWhether to include references on a UK CV, how to write 'references available on request', and how to prepare your referees before you apply.
Cover letter helpCover Letter vs CVThe difference between a cover letter and a CV, what each should include, and how to make sure they work together rather than repeating each other.
CV helpCommon CV MistakesThe most common CV mistakes UK job seekers make, from formatting and proofreading errors to vague statements, and how to fix each one.
CV helpHobbies and Interests on a CVWhether to include hobbies and interests on a CV, which ones are worth mentioning, and how to avoid a section that adds nothing to your application.
CV helpListing GCSEs, A Levels and Degrees on a CVHow to list GCSEs, A levels and degrees on a UK CV, including how much detail to give, how to handle grades and when to summarise older results.
CV helpCV Tips for Over-50sAge-neutral CV tips for over-50s job seekers, covering how much work history to include, dates, and how to keep a long career focused and relevant.
CV helpAction Verbs for a CVA categorised list of strong action verbs for a CV, grouped by leadership, communication, organisation and problem solving, to replace weak phrasing.
Cover letter helpHow to Write a Cover LetterA simple, paragraph-by-paragraph guide to writing a UK cover letter, with a short example letter, so you can write a clear, confident one quickly.
Cover letter helpHow to Start a Cover LetterHow to start a UK cover letter, including greetings like Dear Hiring Manager, finding a name, and opening lines that work, with examples.
Cover letter helpHow to End a Cover LetterHow to end a UK cover letter, including the closing paragraph, the difference between Yours sincerely and Yours faithfully, and example sign-offs.
Cover letter helpUK Cover Letter FormatThe correct UK cover letter format: layout, one-page length, what to put at the top, and whether to send it as an email or an attached letter.
Career adviceJob Interview Tips for Everyday JobsPractical UK interview tips for everyday jobs like retail, care, warehouse and hospitality, covering what to do before, during and after.
Career adviceHow to Answer 'Tell Me About Yourself'How to answer 'Tell me about yourself' in a UK job interview, with a simple structure and example answers for retail, care and warehouse roles.
Career adviceHow to Send a CV by EmailHow to send a CV by email for a UK job application, including the subject line, a short email message, file naming, and PDF versus Word, with an example.
Career adviceHow to Follow Up After an InterviewHow to follow up after a UK job interview, including a thank-you email, when and how to chase for an update, with example messages you can adapt.
Career adviceHow to Write a Resignation LetterHow to write a polite UK resignation letter, including your notice period, what to include, and a short example letter you can adapt.
Career adviceHow to Find a JobPractical ways to find a job in the UK, from job sites and agencies to Jobcentre Plus and asking in person, with a simple weekly routine to follow.