How to write a CV for UK office jobs
If you're applying for office jobs in the UK, your CV is usually the first thing an employer sees. Most hiring managers skim CVs quickly, so yours needs to be clear, relevant and easy to read. This guide walks you through a simple layout that works for administration, reception, office support and similar roles, and shows you what employers look for.
What a UK CV for office jobs should look like
A UK CV is different from a US-style résumé or a European CV in a few ways:
- Length: two pages is standard. One page is fine if you're early in your career.
- No photo: UK employers don't expect one, and leaving it out helps keep the process fair.
- No personal details you don't need: leave out your date of birth, marital status, nationality and full home address. Your town or city is enough.
- Reverse order: list your most recent job first.
Keep the design plain. Use one clear font, such as Arial or Calibri at 10 to 12 points, with plenty of white space. Avoid tables, text boxes and columns, because some application systems can't read them.
A simple layout you can copy
1. Your name and contact details
Put your name at the top in a slightly larger font, then your phone number, email address and town. Add a LinkedIn link if your profile is up to date.
2. Personal profile
Write three or four lines that say who you are, what you're good at and the kind of role you want. For example:
Organised and friendly administrator with experience supporting busy teams. Confident with Microsoft 365, diary management and customer enquiries. Looking for a full-time office role in Nottingham where I can help a team run smoothly.
Change this for each type of role you apply for.
3. Key skills
A short list of six to eight skills that match the job. For office roles, these often include:
- Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook
- Diary and meeting management
- Data entry and record keeping
- Answering phone and email enquiries
- Minute-taking
- Handling confidential information
Only list skills you can talk about in an interview.
4. Work experience
For each job, give your job title, employer, town and dates (month and year). Then add three to five bullet points about what you did and what difference it made.
5. Education and training
List your qualifications, most recent first. Include relevant short courses, such as an Excel course or a customer service certificate.
6. Extra sections (optional)
Volunteering, languages or a full driving licence can be worth a line if they're relevant to the role.
Show what you achieved, not just what you did
Many CVs list duties, such as "responsible for filing". Employers learn more when you show the result of your work. Compare these:
- Duty: Responsible for the office diary.
- Achievement: Managed diaries for three managers, arranging meetings across different sites without clashes.
Only use figures you can back up. If you don't have numbers, describe the improvement in plain words, such as "introduced a shared filing system that made documents easier to find".
Tailor your CV for each office job
Sending the same CV to every employer is one of the most common mistakes. Before you apply:
- Read the job advert and highlight the skills and tasks it mentions.
- Move your most relevant experience higher up.
- Use the same words as the advert where they're true for you. For example, if it says "diary management", use that phrase rather than "scheduling".
- Adjust your personal profile to match the role.
This takes ten minutes, and it makes a real difference.
Explaining gaps and career changes
Gaps are normal. If you've taken time out for caring, study, health or travel, add a single line with the dates and a brief reason. You don't need to go into detail.
If you're moving into office work from another field, such as retail or hospitality, focus on transferable skills: dealing with customers, handling cash or records, working to deadlines and using systems. Our changing career guide has more ideas.
Final checks before you send it
- Check spelling and grammar, and ask someone else to read it too.
- Make sure your email address looks professional.
- Save it as a PDF or Word file with a clear name, such as "Sam-Taylor-CV.pdf".
- Keep a copy of the version you sent to each employer.
Frequently asked questions
Should I include a cover letter?
If the advert asks for one, always include it. If it doesn't, a short cover letter or covering email can still help, especially if you're changing career or explaining a gap. Keep it to three or four short paragraphs: why this role, why you, and what happens next.
Do I need references on my CV?
No. You don't need to list referees or write "references available on request". Employers will ask for them later in the process. Make sure your referees know they may be contacted.
What if I don't have office experience?
Focus on transferable skills from other jobs, study or volunteering, such as handling enquiries, keeping records, using computers and working to deadlines. Temporary office work can also be a good way to build experience quickly.
How often should I update my CV?
Update it whenever you change role, finish a course or learn a new system. It's much easier than trying to remember everything later.
Ready to apply?
Once your CV is ready, register your CV with Bridge & Talent and apply for office and administration roles across Nottingham and the East Midlands. You can also browse our office and administration jobs or read more CV advice.