Why this works: CV templates give everyone the same structure. AI gives you the right words — specific bullet points, a tailored summary, and content that mirrors the job description so it passes ATS filters. This guide uses Claude AI (free at claude.ai) with prompts written specifically for the UK job market.
Open Claude AI — it is free
Go to claude.ai and create a free account with your email address. The free tier is sufficient for everything in this guide — you do not need a paid plan.
Claude is made by Anthropic and is one of the leading AI models for writing. It follows complex instructions precisely, which makes it excellent for CV writing where formatting and structure matter.
Use the Starter Prompt to build your CV from scratch
Copy the prompt below, fill in your details where it says [YOUR NAME] and similar placeholders, then paste the whole thing into Claude and press enter.
Be specific with the "What I did" section — the more detail you give, the better the CV. If you remember a number (team size, percentage improvement, revenue figure), include it. Claude will turn rough notes into polished bullet points.
You are a professional UK CV writer. I need you to write a complete, ATS-optimised CV for the UK job market using the information I provide below. Follow these rules exactly: - Maximum 2 pages (1 page if I have under 3 years of experience) - No photo, no date of birth, no nationality, no marital status - Start with my name and contact details (city only, not full address) - Then: Professional Summary (3–4 sentences), Work Experience (reverse chronological), Education, Skills, Tools - Each job role should have 3–5 bullet points using the CAR format: Context, Action, Result - Quantify achievements wherever possible (%, £, time saved, team size) - Use active verbs: led, built, reduced, implemented, delivered - UK spelling throughout (e.g. "organised" not "organized") - Clean plain text — no tables, no columns, no graphics Here is my information: Full name: [YOUR NAME] Target role: [e.g. Software Engineer / Data Analyst / Marketing Manager] City: [e.g. London / Birmingham / Manchester] Email: [YOUR EMAIL] Phone: [YOUR PHONE] LinkedIn: [YOUR LINKEDIN URL — optional] Work experience: [Paste each role like this] Company: [Company name] Job title: [Your job title] Dates: [e.g. March 2022 – Present] What I did: [Write 2–3 sentences describing your responsibilities and achievements — include any numbers you remember] Education: [e.g. BSc Computer Science, University of Birmingham, 2021, First Class Honours] Skills: [List your skills separated by commas] Tools: [List software and tools you use] Certifications: [Optional — list any] Now write the full CV.
Claude will return a complete, formatted CV. Read through it and if anything is not right — a bullet point that sounds off, a summary that does not fit — ask it to change that specific part. For example: "The second bullet point under HSBC — make it more about the technical implementation rather than the team aspect."
Tailor the CV to a specific job description
A generic CV is far less effective than one tailored to the specific role. Most large UK employers use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) that scan for exact keywords from the job description. If your CV says "client relationships" but the job description says "stakeholder management", the ATS may not match them.
Once you have applied for a specific role, use this prompt to tailor your CV for it. Copy the full job description from the employer's website and paste it in.
I have a CV and a job description. Please tailor my CV specifically for this role. Instructions: - Mirror the exact keywords and phrases from the job description (ATS needs to see these) - Reorder bullet points so the most relevant achievements come first in each role - Adjust my Professional Summary to speak directly to what this employer is looking for - Do not invent experience I do not have — only rephrase and reorder what is already there - Keep it to 2 pages maximum My current CV: [PASTE YOUR CV HERE] Job description: [PASTE THE JOB DESCRIPTION HERE] Please give me the tailored CV in full.
Do this for every significant role you apply for. It takes 2 minutes per application and meaningfully improves your callback rate.
Strengthen your bullet points
If your experience bullet points are weak or generic — "Responsible for customer service" or "Assisted with project management" — use this prompt to make them specific and results-focused.
Improve these CV bullet points for a UK CV. Make them stronger using the CAR format (Context, Action, Result). Quantify wherever possible. Use active verbs. Keep each bullet to one line. My current bullet points: [PASTE YOUR BULLET POINTS HERE] My role was: [JOB TITLE] at [COMPANY]
Write a strong Professional Summary
The Professional Summary is the first thing a recruiter reads. Most candidates write something generic like "hardworking and motivated individual who works well in a team" — which tells the recruiter nothing useful.
Use this prompt to get a summary that is specific to you and your target role:
Write a Professional Summary for my UK CV. It should be 3–4 sentences. Specific, not generic. No phrases like "hardworking team player". It should mention my field, a key skill or achievement, and what type of role I am targeting. My background: [2–3 sentences about your experience and goals] Target role: [e.g. Data Analyst at a UK financial services firm]
Format and save it properly
Once you are happy with Claude's output:
- Copy the CV text from Claude
- Paste it into Google Docs or Microsoft Word
- Set the font to Calibri 11pt or Arial 10.5pt — both are ATS-safe and clean for UK employers
- Set all margins to 2cm (File → Page Setup in Google Docs)
- Use bold for job titles and company names. No tables, no columns, no text boxes
- Download or export as a PDF — unless the employer specifies .docx
- Name the file:
FirstName-LastName-CV.pdf
UK CV Rules — What Must Never Appear
- ✗No passport-style photo — the single most common mistake from South Asian applicants
- ✗No date of birth — UK employers legally cannot discriminate by age
- ✗No nationality or immigration status — you prove right to work separately
- ✗No marital status, religion, or caste
- ✗No heading that says "Curriculum Vitae" or "CV" above your name — just start with your name
- ✗No father's or mother's name
- ✗No full home address — city only (e.g. "London" or "Birmingham")
- ✗Maximum 2 pages — 1 page for under 3 years of experience
Tips that make a real difference
If the job description says "data visualisation" — use that exact phrase, not "data visualisation tools" or "charts and graphs". ATS systems match keywords precisely.
Numbers stand out. "Managed a project" is vague. "Managed a £200k project, delivered 3 weeks ahead of schedule" is concrete. If you don't remember exact figures, use ranges: "reduced processing time by approximately 30%".
UK recruiters search LinkedIn directly. If your CV says you were at HSBC from 2021 to 2023 but LinkedIn says 2020 to 2022, that discrepancy raises a red flag. Keep both consistent.
A software engineer CV sent to both a startup and a bank should look different. The skills, the summary, even the order of bullet points should reflect what each employer values. Claude makes this quick — tailor every significant application.
You do not need to mention visa status on your CV. But in your cover letter, a single sentence removes ambiguity: "I currently hold a Graduate visa and have the right to work in the UK without employer sponsorship for two years."
Open Claude, copy the Starter Prompt above, and you'll have a draft in under 5 minutes.
Open Claude AI