CV and Cover Letter Writing: Why the UK Format Is Different (and How to Get It Right)

If you've ever put together a CV or bio-data back home, you already have a system that works — for Bangladesh. The problem is, UK employers and university career services expect something quite different, and a CV that looks "complete" by Bangladeshi standards can actually work against you here. The good news: once you know the differences, fixing them takes an afternoon, not a rewrite of your whole career.

The CV differences that actually matter

No photo. This is the one that surprises almost everyone. In Bangladesh, a photo is standard on a CV or bio-data. In the UK, it's the opposite — employers are trained to set aside CVs with photos to avoid any appearance of bias in shortlisting. Including one doesn't make you look prepared; it makes your application stand out for the wrong reason.

Leave out personal details you'd normally include. Date of birth, marital status, religion, gender, father's name, nationality — all standard on a Bangladeshi bio-data, all things UK employers don't want to see and, in most cases, aren't legally allowed to ask for. Your UK CV should have your name, UK contact address, phone number, email, and optionally a LinkedIn profile. That's it for personal information.

Keep it to one or two pages. A bio-data-style CV that runs several pages listing every certificate and detail from childhood doesn't read as "thorough" to a UK recruiter — it reads as unfocused. UK CVs are deliberately short: the skill is choosing what's relevant to this specific role, not including everything.

Reverse chronological order. Most recent education and experience first, working backwards. It's a small thing, but a CV listed the other way round is an instant sign it wasn't written for a UK reader.

Swap "Objective" for a personal profile. Rather than a generic "To obtain a position where I can utilise my skills," UK CVs open with a short personal statement — 3-4 lines summarising who you are professionally and what you're looking for, written for the specific job, not copy-pasted everywhere.

Tailor it every time. This is the habit that makes the biggest difference and takes the most discipline: adjust your CV's wording to match the language of each job description, rather than sending the identical CV to every application.

Cover letters: not optional, and not a formality

In the UK, most graduate and professional roles expect a cover letter alongside your CV — skipping it (or sending a generic one) is often read as not being serious about the role. A few things to know:

One page, always tailored. A cover letter that could be sent to any company for any role is worse than sending none.

Structure: why you're applying and to this employer specifically, then 1-2 short paragraphs connecting your skills/experience directly to what the job asks for, then a confident closing line.

Tone: UK cover letters favour direct, concise, active-voice writing. The very formal, elaborate language that reads as respectful and polished in Bangla often comes across as vague or overly flowery to a UK reader. Simple and specific beats impressive-sounding and general.

Get this checked before you apply — for free

You don't have to figure this out alone, and you shouldn't wait until your final year to sort it out. The University of Portsmouth Careers and Employability Service offers genuinely useful, free support for exactly this:

Daily drop-in sessions at the Careers Centre, 1-4pm Monday-Friday during term time — no appointment needed.

One-to-one appointments with a professional careers adviser for tailored, in-depth CV and cover letter feedback — book through MyCareer.

An online CV toolkit, plus a 24/7 CV-checking tool you can use anytime.

Ask a question online through MyCareer if you can't make it in person — they reply within five working days.

This isn't just for final-year students either — it's available to every current student, and to graduates for up to five years after finishing. Getting your CV checked in your first term, before you're under pressure to apply for anything, means it's already in good shape when a real opportunity comes up.

SWAP is here too

If English isn't your first language or you're just not sure where to start, come talk to us. Several SWAP committee members and alumni have been through this exact process — from a Bangladeshi-style CV to one that actually gets UK interviews — and are happy to look over a draft or point you toward the right careers adviser to book with.