How to Format a CV
Feb 24, 2026
Formatting a CV is about making it work, not about making it look nice. A well-formatted CV must do three things at once: pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), be easy to scan, and present your experience clearly so it has an element of coherence and limited friction.
No matter how strong a candidate you are, if you get the format wrong, you’ll more often than not be filtered out before your CV is read by a human.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to structure a CV for maximum impact, ensuring it works for both automated systems and human recruiters so you can boost your chances of success.
How to format a CV: the basics
Poor formatting undermines even the strongest experience. Your CV structure should come before any relevant experience and education you share.
Great CV formatting is reliant on:
Evident section headings
Consistent alignment and spacing
An appropriate and readable font
A chronological CV format from top to bottom
You should avoid visual clutter like graphics, images, bold colours, and overly creative layouts. These won’t pass ATS scans, distract human readers, and your experience will go unread. Clean formatting builds credence.
If you’re using a CV format template on Word, keep it simple and straight to the point. Templates should fight your case of clarity, not impose design choices that reduce readability.
How to build a chronological CV format
Knowing how to create a chronological CV format makes it easier for both software and people to understand your profile.
A strong structure follows a predictable order which includes:
Name and contact details
CV summary or profile (3-5 lines max)
Key skills that are specific to the role you’re applying for
Work experience that’s relevant to the job application
Education
Any additional sections (e.g. languages or charitable work)
Nearly all candidates will find heightened success with a chronological CV format. Listing your experience from most recent to oldest mirrors how recruiters think and is also ATS-compatible.
You can start with a proven CV template format, then tailor your content accordingly, ensuring you keep the fundamental structure outlined above. Even if you use a CV format template on Word, be sure to review it carefully. Many templates often contain hidden formatting issues that aren't ATS-friendly.
ATS-friendly formatting rules
Before a human recruiter looks over your CV, ATS software will first scan your CV. If it can’t be read properly by the system, it will often be disregarded.
To keep your CV ATS-friendly, you should:
Use standard headings (e.g. Work Experience, Education)
Avoid using tables, text boxes, images, charts, and columns as these will be disavowed completely
Use concise bullet points
Keep important information out of your headers and footers
Avoid use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) content
Many candidates accidentally sabotage themselves by prioritising design over functionality. The safest CV format should follow simple layouts in order to pass ATS platforms. Choose clarity over creativity when in doubt.
Common formatting errors to avoid
Even the smallest CV formatting error could potentially have a disproportionate impact. However, the majority of these errors are completely avoidable.
Some of the common formatting issues include:
Inconsistent font sizes or spacing
Dense paragraphs instead of bulletpoints
Multiple columns that confuse ATS scanners
Typography issues such as bolding, italics, or colour
Illegible fonts
Sending a PDF when a Word document is requested or vice versa
Trying to fit too much onto one page is often another mistake. Simplicity and readability should always be prioritised.
Choosing the right CV format for the UK job market
UK employers tend to prefer CVs that are immaculate, adept, and effortless to scan. A chronological CV format is usually ideal for most roles, especially for experienced candidates.
Graduates and career-changers can still use the same structure, but you should place your key skills and education higher in your CV to reflect relevance.
Researching strong CV format examples can help set expectations, but don’t copy them word for word. Remember, CV formatting should support the role you’re applying for.
Want further guidance on how to format a CV?
Learning how to format a CV properly is one of the most important parts of job searching and is often overlooked. A well-formatted CV removes friction, passes ATS systems, respects the reader’s time, and allows your experience to be understood quickly and accurately.
Remember to keep the structure clean, the formatting simple, and let your experience do the talking.
With Scriberly, you can follow proven CV layouts that meet ATS standards and recruiter expectations from the start. Get in touch with us today for further guidance, or browse and download our range of free CV templates today to help take the guesswork out of CV formatting.