Looking for work in the UK for the first time — whether you have just arrived or are returning to the market after time away — involves navigating conventions that are not always obvious. The UK job market has particular expectations around CVs, interview behaviour, and reference formats that differ from those in other countries.
UK CV Format: What Is Expected
A standard UK CV is two pages long. The document should begin with your name and contact details — email and phone number, and optionally a LinkedIn profile — but not a photograph, date of birth, marital status, or nationality. UK employers do not expect or want these details at the CV stage. The main sections are: a brief personal statement (three to five lines), work experience in reverse chronological order, education in reverse chronological order, and skills. Each role should include the job title, employer name, dates, and a short list of responsibilities and achievements. Quantified achievements are significantly more useful than general descriptions of duties.
Interview Etiquette
UK interview culture values preparation, directness, and honesty about what you know and do not know. Common formats include competency-based interviews where you are asked for specific examples of handling situations relevant to the role. Preparing two or three examples per competency, structured as situation / action / result, covers most of what is needed. Punctuality matters — five to ten minutes early is appropriate. If you are unavoidably delayed, calling ahead is expected.
References
Most UK employers ask for two references — typically one from a recent employer and one character or academic reference. References are usually contacted after a conditional job offer has been made. You should always ask someone's permission before listing them as a referee. Professional references from line managers carry the most weight.
Spotting Job Scams
Job scams targeting people seeking work in the UK are common. Warning signs include: offers that arrive unsolicited without you having applied, unusually high pay for apparently simple or unspecified work, requests for payment upfront for training or equipment, requests for bank account details before any formal offer, communication conducted exclusively via messaging apps rather than email, and job descriptions that are vague about the company name or location.
Legitimate employers do not charge applicants for anything. They conduct interviews before making offers. They provide formal written contracts before asking for personal or financial details. If something feels inconsistent with how real employment works, search the company name independently and if necessary contact Action Fraud — the UK's national fraud reporting centre.
Editorial note: This article is intended for general informational purposes. medinitiatives.com is an independent publisher.