How to Write a Winning CV

Five recommendations for creating an effective resume

This blog has been written to support a CV workshop delivered in partnership with The Launchpad Collective — a charity doing vital work to help refugees and asylum seekers access opportunity, rebuild confidence, and move towards meaningful employment in the UK.

The guidance below is designed specifically for asylum seekers and refugees who have the legal right to work in the UK, and reflects how UK employers and recruiters actually read CVs in practice.

UK hiring managers and recruiters are often busy, stressed, and under pressure. A winning CV makes things easy for them. It is clear, practical, and answers their questions quickly.

Here are five clear recommendations to help you create a CV that works in the UK.

1. Use white space and clear presentation

White space is a good thing.

A CV that is crowded, dense, or full of long paragraphs is difficult to read. Clear spacing between sections helps employers quickly find the information they need.

Aim for:

• A CV of no more than three pages (maximum)
• Clear section headings
• Short bullet points (not long paragraphs)
• Space between roles and sections

Avoid:

• Very small text
• Long blocks of writing
• Over-designed templates

While many CVs are two pages, three pages is acceptable where experience or explanation is genuinely needed — but clarity should always come first.

2. Be very clear at the top: right to work and location

At the top of your CV, make it immediately clear that you have the right to work in the UK.

You do not need to explain your immigration or asylum status — but this information does need to be visible, so recruiters don’t have to guess or hesitate.

Also, be clear about:

• Where you are currently based
• Whether you are open to relocating
• Or which locations you are targeting

Example:

Right to work: UK
Location: Brighton (open to roles in London / South East)

Location matters. Commute matters. Practicality matters. Making this clear helps employers quickly decide whether the role works for both sides.

3. Start with a short, focused personal profile

Your personal profile should be 3–4 lines explaining:

• Who you are
• What you do well
• The type of role you are seeking

This helps a recruiter immediately understand your direction.

Example:

“Reliable and detail‑oriented accounts assistant with experience in hospitality and retail environments. Strong customer service skills, comfortable working in fast‑paced teams, and seeking a finance or administration role within a growing business.”

Keep it short. Keep it relevant.

4. Explain your experience so it’s easy to understand

Do not assume employers or recruiters know every company, sector, or overseas organisation.

For each role:

• Focus on what you did
• Highlight your skills and responsibilities
• Briefly explain what the company or business unit does

This is especially important if:

• The organisation is overseas
• The company is a direct competitor
• The business is large and you worked in a specific team or division

Example:

Accounts Assistant – XYZ Group
(Hospitality business operating 20+ restaurants across the UK)
• Supported day‑to‑day finance operations
• Processed invoices and supplier payments
• Worked closely with operations and site managers

Explaining what the company does in around 10 words removes uncertainty and saves the reader time.

5. Tailor your CV to the employer and role

A winning CV is bespoke.

Before applying:

• Read the job description carefully
• Adjust your profile to match the role
• Highlight experience relevant to the sector, size, and type of business

If you’ve worked in:

• The same sector
• A similar‑sized organisation
• A related part of a larger business

Make that clear.

Small changes — especially to your profile, location, and most recent experience — can significantly improve your chances of being shortlisted.

Final encouragement

UK employers are not looking for perfect CVs.

They are looking for people who are:

• Clear
• Honest
• Practical
• Ready to work

A strong CV helps them see this quickly.

If you follow these five recommendations, you give yourself a much better chance of being considered.

About the author

David Dand is the Founder of Coreus Ltd and a qualified career counsellor. He works with individuals and organisations to help people access meaningful work through fair, clear, and human recruitment processes.

This workshop and blog were created in collaboration with The Launchpad Collective, a charity supporting refugees and asylum seekers to build skills, confidence, and pathways into employment.