CV builders are great time savers during the job application process. Instead of sweating over the structure of your CV for hours, try an online CV creator to create a colorful, well-formatted CV in minutes.

However, not every CV creator offers the same features. In truth, some are free, others are paid, and a few are far superior to others in terms of CV style and content creation. We created five websites where you can create a standard CV for job applications in the UK.

Five websites where you can create a standard CV for job applications in the UK

Now, let’s look at the best CV makers for the UK market.

1. Resume.io/UK.

Despite the use of the US term “resume” in the title, this is a UK site dedicated solely to UK job searchers. It’s true that some examples lean toward Americanisms, such as citing Stanford University in an example education section and using addresses on some CV examples written in the American style, but once you get past that, it’s a simple and easy-to-use CV builder that walks you through each stage.

You can customize pre-written sentences, use an automatic spell checker, and find inspiration from over 250 CV examples, as well as 18 recruiter-tested templates.

This means you’ll be well on your way to building a complete CV with this CV builder. Once you’ve posted your CV, you’ll be able to see personalized statistics about how frequently, for how long, and from where your CV is seen. There’s also a job tracking feature that keeps all of your job applications and tailored CVs organized and easy to access. You can even upload documents in PDF or Word format.

2. Career.io/UK.

Again, this is the UK arm of American service and is a terrific tool to utilize if writing isn’t your strong point. There are artificial intelligence (AI) terms to choose from that will assist you along. While it provides text blocks, you can choose the phrases that are most relevant to your position and incorporate them into your new CV.

It has over 25 templates, an advanced spell-check tool, and the ability to download in several formats. Once you’ve prepared your CV, there’s a rating system that suggests ways to improve your job search papers, such as cover letters.

3. CV Genius.

There are 15 templates, including six with a pop of color, if that’s your thing. There are also additional suggestions and advice, such as a section on which abilities to include in your CV, as well as numerous CV examples for various professional levels, from school leavers and graduates to executive professionals and leaders. This CV builder offers automatic formatting, so you can select your desired template and the software will lay out all of your information within it.

4. Zety

This offers straightforward, easy-to-follow directions and a visually appealing home page. It claims to be able to help you navigate the full recruitment process till you find your dream job. It has 1,400 career guides, which are recognized by over 200 organizations and universities worldwide. There are over 18 options to pick from, including a free CV template that you may copy and use.

Even though it discusses CVs, the phone number appears to be from the United States. Aside from that, you can add more sections to your CV, such as your language skills.

5. LiveCareer

This website contains over 100,000 pre-written phrases that you can use when you create your CV. It also provides 41 different templates, each with 25 different color possibilities, for a total of over 100 CV styles to pick from.

However, when you first start writing your CV, it only gives up to 5 templates, so dig a little deeper and click on “See All Templates” further down the page to access the complete selection. abilities are essential in a CV, and this CV creator will automatically recommend vital abilities that you may include once you’ve entered your job experience.

6. MyPerfectCV.

MyPerfectCV.co.uk also offers an excellent online CV creator. My Perfect CV is a wonderful place to find a large range of UK-specific CV templates. They have 32 designs, each with 25 colors to choose from, so you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to personalizing your CV.

My Perfect CV’s UI is elegant and modern. It has a spell-checker and formatting options for font size, indentations, and line spacing.

The work experience, education, and skills section builders are simple to use. However, it would be useful if My Perfect CV included a live preview that updated automatically as you entered information (both CV Genius and LiveCareer do).

Furthermore, My Perfect CV might benefit from localizing its education section for UK readers. The current design makes it impossible to format school and college-level qualifications (e.g., A-Levels and GCSEs) accurately.

7. Kickresume

This website, which claims to be trusted by 5 million successful job searchers worldwide, provides an AI resume creator powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4, the world’s most powerful language model. It appears to produce text that reads like it was authored by a person. There is also a standard version; however, certain aspects, such as skills and hobbies, require an additional fee. There are also real-life examples of KickResume customers who have been employed to provide additional motivation. With over 40 templates to choose from, you can scroll down a line from creative to conservative to find the appropriate one for you.

8. CV Maker

CV Maker takes 15 minutes to produce, making it one of the slightly longer CV makers available. It’s fairly US-centric, but there’s a lot of additional information about how to create a new CV, which is helpful. There are 9 layouts but no pre-written content, and there are a lot of faults on the website itself, which makes you doubt the site’s overall quality.

What’s the best free CV maker?

Who doesn’t like getting something for nothing? So here’s a little treat for you: 5 completely free CV makers, with no obligations or hidden fees.

1. CV Library.

Given that CV-Library is already a job board, it makes sense for the company to provide added value to clients by offering a CV builder. There is only one template and no color alternatives, which means that your CV may seem identical to those that utilized the same site. But remember, it’s free, so you can’t get it all the way.

Your CV will be in PDF format; therefore, you will need to return to the platform each time you want to change it. On the positive side, you can watch your CV being updated in real-time as you add new information. However, editing the pre-written content is difficult, except for the professional profile at the top of the CV. That means you’ll have to either create your content, which defeats the purpose of hiring a CV maker or accept content that’s ambiguous and unlikely to relate to your situation.

2. Student Job

As the title suggests, this builder is geared toward students and includes four free templates in a variety of European languages, including Spanish, German, and French. There’s even a list of positions in places often associated with students, such as Bristol, Liverpool, and Manchester, to encourage you to get your CV ready. There are application hints, career advice, and a focus on first-time candidates.

3. Reed

Reed, another job search website on this list, provides the most basic CV creation tool. But it’s free and linked to the job board, with the added benefit of allowing you to apply for positions on the site as soon as you’re satisfied with your new CV. There is no pre-written information; therefore, all details must be written by you. However, you can save your CV in DOCX format, allowing you to change it once downloaded.

How do I create an excellent CV for a job?

1. Research the company and its role.

Before you start creating your CV, I recommend that you carefully read the job posting and take notes on the employment requirements, position, and firm. This information will help you decide what to include in each component of your CV for work.

Take notes on the following things:

Why is your desired position vital to the company?
What qualities do you require for the position?
What relevant experience, including academic and volunteer work, do you have?

To gather such precise data, look into:

Information on your past employers
Details regarding your education, such as years of study
Certificates and diplomas indicating the completion of supplementary training

Now, to discover more about the company’s goals and culture, visit its website and social media pages. Your study should provide a first-hand solution to the question, “What problem could the company be facing and trying to solve?”

2. Choose a UK-standard CV style that suits you best

The preceding question is simply a precursor to how you will create a CV for a job application. You must then select how you will address the concerns indicated in the job offering. And you can do so by deciding whether your experience or skills work in your favor. Once you have the answer, determine which of the three most frequent CV forms you should aim for:

Chronological CV: It emphasizes your experience and lists the most recent positions first.
Functional (skill-based) CV: It emphasizes your skills while limiting information about work experience to a list of roles.

Combination CVs combine reverse-chronological and functional forms to highlight your talents and work experience.

3. Include the right contact details in a CV

Begin your CV by establishing a header at the top of the document. The location will be determined by the template you are using. Use the header space to include your name, job title, and personal information.

How to Create a UK CV Header:

Enter your first and last names first. Use a larger font size, such as 16–26 pt.

Add your professional title on the next line. If you are a student, please specify your field of study.

List your contact details, such as a phone number and an email address.

Mention professional social media profiles like LinkedIn. You can also include your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram profiles if you use them for business and they are relevant to the position you’re seeking.

Include other information, such as a portfolio or personal website link.

Always double-check your email address and phone number after typing them. A typo may make it hard to contact you.

4. Create a personal statement for your UK CV.

The next section of your curriculum vitae should outline your qualifications for the desired position. Writing a personal statement is the most effective technique to introduce yourself on a CV. But only if you personalize it to the career you seek.

How to Write a UK CV Personal Statement:

Mention your position title and years of experience.
Provide information about your professional talents and knowledge, as well as how they might assist the organization.
Mention one important accomplishment from your work history or other pursuits. Keep the personal statement to 3-4 sentences.

5. Describe your career history on a UK CV.

In the chronological format, your work experience part is essential. However, it is far from true that you require a straightforward list of your former positions and responsibilities. To make the most of this part, give precise facts about your experience, such as accomplishments and skills you learned. Furthermore, you should highlight the influence of your effort and how it contributed to the company’s bottom line.

Knowing how to write an effective CV work history is invaluable. Here, I describe what you should do step by step:

Begin with the most current position and progress to older ones in reverse chronological order.

Include your professional title, your employer’s name, the city where the company is located, and the dates of employment.

Write up to six bullet points outlining your successes and responsibilities, beginning each with an action verb like “developed” or “coordinated.”

Describe the measurable achievements for each position. To maximize impact, I advocate employing PAR calculation and accomplishment statements.

Customize your job description by using keywords from the job announcement and mentioning important abilities.

Keep your job history to the last ten years, unless you have relevant experience beyond that.

6. Present your education

The next step in developing a superb UK CV is the education section. A job application is incomplete without it. However, providing information about your educational background is more than just a formality. If you know how to write a good CV education section, it can be a valuable asset to your UK CV.

7. Add the correct combination of talents

Employers demand skilled labor, and this is the truth. However, the talents people anticipate vary by employment; a university professor requires different abilities than a financial advisor. Do you understand what abilities are needed of you? You can confirm this using your job posting.

8. Select more CV sections.

What else should you include in your CV? You’ve completed the crucial sections, and now it’s time for the extras. Bonus sections help to personalize your CV and allow you to add more information about relevant talents and expertise.

9. Create an appealing UK CV layout.

In business, initial impressions count. Make the most of it by producing a visually appealing curriculum vitae. If you want a quick and easy option, use an online CV builder or select free CV templates that have already been formatted. You can create your curriculum vitae using Word, Google Docs, or a comparable tool. They make CV writing a lot easier.

Conclusion

As you can see, premium apps take the top ten slots among the UK’s top CV generators. Although some free builders provide useful capabilities, commercial programs have the most features, pre-written content, and customizable themes.

With a little clever manipulation of subscription packages, you can obtain a terrific CV—and maybe help your job search—for just a few pounds, less than a cup of coffee.