General CV Examples & UK Templates

While most CV writing advice recommends tailoring your CV to each job you apply for, creating a completely new CV every time isn’t always practical—especially if you’re applying for similar roles across the same industry. That’s where a general CV template can be incredibly useful.

General CVs can serve as a master version of your CV, allowing you to quickly draw out your most relevant skills and experience for each specific job opening. Furthermore, if you’re new to the job market, using a general CV format can allow you to showcase transferable skills and experience.

Your general CV needs to capture the highlights of your career to date. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to craft a generic CV that condenses all of your experience into a  couple of pages.

Guide for a general CV example

Boost your chances of getting hired with resume.io. Our guides and  CV examples cover over 200 professions, and our  CV builder makes it easier than ever to create a compelling CV.

This CV guide and corresponding general CV example will cover the following:

• How to write a general CV
• Choosing the right CV format for a generic CV
• How to add your contact information
• Using a CV summary
• Adding your work experience
• Listing education and relevant experience
• Picking the right CV design and layout

How to write a general CV

The very first step in  writing your general CV is understanding which sections you need to include. 

Your CV should contain the following elements:

• The  CV header
• The  CV summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The  employment history section
• The  CV skills section
• The  education section

We can’t emphasise enough how important it is to ensure that your CV has a clear and organised structure, especially since your general CV is not tailored to any one position. 

Here are some strategies to help your generic CV stand out:

• Focus on achievements rather than simply listing duties. It’s easy to state what your role involved, but what did you actually achieve? Think about the impact you’ve made and the value you’ve added to your previous employers.
• Make your accomplishments measurable. Tangible results boost your credibility. Shine a light on any administrative processes you’ve improved, any leadership responsibilities, or any  awards you’ve received for strong performance.
• Get past the ATS. Using the right keywords wherever possible in your CV will improve its chances of being read by a human if parsed through an  applicant tracking system (ATS).

Choosing the right format for a general CV

One great benefit of a general CV is the flexibility it offers when selecting a layout or format.

The most common  reverse chronological format emphasises work experience and is often what prospective employers prefer. It’s generally the most straightforward way to review your relevant job history.

However, for those whose work history does not follow a linear pattern—such as freelancers, independent contractors, or consultants—a  functional (skills-based) format may be more suitable, where relevant qualifications are presented in relation to transferable skills. The hybrid CV layout is another option that evenly balances these chronological and functional elements.

If you’re not sure where to begin, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at the wide selection of  CV templates in our CV builder and choose one that suits you. We also have plenty of  CV examples using each format as well.

When it comes to the look of your CV, you should always opt for a  simple layout. The aim is to make sure that the hiring manager can quickly and easily find the information they need.

Include your contact information

You need to make sure that the hiring manager can easily reach you. Your  header sits at the top of your CV and contains your basic contact details so that they can do just that.

Here’s what you’ll need to include when you get started:

• Full name and title. Add your first and last name, plus a job title that’s most generally applicable.
• Location. You don’t need to list  your full address. It’s enough to simply include your town or city, along with your county or country.
• Professional email address. Be sure to use a clean, suitable email address. Avoid any nicknames or jazzy words here.
• Phone number. Include your mobile number, but make sure that your voicemail message is professional and appropriate in case an employer calls.
• LinkedIn. If your  LinkedIn profile is current and relevant, it’s a good idea to add that link here.

You don’t need to include:

• Date of birth. Adding this detail could potentially lead to  age discrimination.
• Personal details. You don’t need to include private details, such as whether you have children, your marital status, your NI number, or your passport number.
• Social media. Avoid adding links to your personal social media, such as Instagram or Facebook.

Make use of a CV summary

Although summaries are helpful in various situations, they’re especially valuable on general CVs. They give you a chance to highlight your background, showcase your motivation, and emphasise your key skills. It’s also a great spot to let your professional personality shine through. A well-written, engaging CV summary can help you stand out from other applicants.

Write a short, adaptable  personal statement at the top of your CV. Summarise your experience, key strengths, and career goals in a way that’s relevant to a range of roles, while still sounding personal and authentic.

You can use  action verbs in the simple past or present tense to grab the reader’s attention. Examples of impactful words include “delivered,” “managed,” “excelled,” “succeeded,” and “created.”

Don’t simply repeat information that can be found elsewhere on your CV. Instead, take the chance to demonstrate your unique value. For example, you could write, “Adept in multitasking and effectively prioritising tasks to streamline processes and achieve success.”

You can find adaptable general CV example summaries below:

Outline your general work experience

Start by outlining  your prior roles and then add descriptive bullet points beneath each. Relevance must guide your decisions about what to include or omit from your CV’s employment history section. Be selective in reserving this space for your shiniest work experience highlights.

Find a way to showcase your past achievements in terms that resonate with your future employer. Everything listed here should give a sense of how you’ve applied your varied skills and expertise to ensure positive results.

Descriptive and dynamic action verbs are integral to your concisely precise language. Keep the focus on contributions, accomplishments, and outcomes, as opposed to job duties. Talk about what you did, not what you were responsible for. 

Discuss tangible results that could be replicated in your next general role. Incorporate numbers to quantify the impact you achieved, such as cost savings or efficiency improvements.

For example, here’s what not to write for this section:

• "Significantly reduced reporting times…”
• “Coordinated meetings and events…”
• “Played a key role in a successful project…”

The above statements could apply to anyone. What makes you special? Instantly upgrade your bullet points by adding more details and colour, like the following:

• “Reduced reporting times by 30% by using customised MS Excel templates.”
• “Coordinated over 100 successful events and meetings.”
• “Automated repetitive office procedures via ERP software, leading to significant cost savings and improved efficiency.”

Take a look at the general employment history CV sample below:

How to write a general CV with no experience

If you  lack direct experience, remember that everyone has to start somewhere. What you lack in employment history, you can make up for in skills and passion. In this case, we recommend using a skills-based CV layout instead of the traditional format.

Here are some of the ways you can catch the reader’s attention:

• Talk about your related skills. It’s likely that you at least have transferable skills from previous roles. For example, if you have ever worked in a customer-facing role, you will have gained many  interpersonal skills that you can detail in your general CV.
• Include any voluntary work. Have you volunteered anywhere? If so, you can include that  voluntary experience on your CV to make up for any employment gaps you may have.
• Software knowledge.  Technical expertise is in high demand, so it’s helpful to mention if you have a decent grasp of any particular software, internet tools, or programming languages. Talk about times when you’ve used these programs in your work.

Include the relevant key skills for a general CV

Take the employer’s perspective when developing your CV skills list. Think beyond the obvious generic abilities that recruiters will rightfully take for granted in all job applicants. Imagine yourself already hired and consider the types of activities and functions you will be managing.

Remember that not everything you accomplish will be in isolation. That means that  soft skills also have an influential place on your CV, alongside the  hard skills that are essential to each specific role. Think about the strengths that will best suit each organisation.

Our CV builder provides a wide range of pre-selected skills to choose from, as well as the option to upload your own and add  proficiency levels.

Here’s what the skills box looks like in our general CV template:

Listing your skills is one thing, but you also want to provide some context. If possible, you should hint at your key skills elsewhere throughout your general CV. 

Here’s how you can do this:

• Showcase your  communication skills by writing a clear and concise CV. This way, the hiring manager will instantly know that you have what it takes.
• Talk about the software you’ve used for various tasks. For example, you might detail how you’ve used MS Excel to speed up administrative processes.
• Hint at your  leadership skills by talking about how you’ve led projects, trained new recruits, or mentored junior team members.

Looking for some more skills to include? The job advert is a great place to find additional skills to include on your CV that are specific to the job posting.

Detail your education & certifications

General CVs can have widely different education and training information. In any case, the education section of your CV should be straightforward. List your most relevant and recent qualifications in reverse chronological order, from highest to lowest level.

Here are some of the things you might include:

• High school education. Only include your  high school in the absence of postsecondary graduation.
• Degrees. For example, you might have earned a  business degree, or graduated in an industry-specific field such as healthcare, education, finance, or IT.
• Software training. Don’t overlook diploma programs,  internships, and on-the-job training you’ve completed, along with any workshops or online courses. Examples include a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) or other Microsoft Credentials course.
• Professional development courses. These show your commitment to continued learning and networking.

Pick the right CV layout and design for a general CV

An orderly layout and eye-pleasing design will start working in your favour before recruiters even dive into your CV content. A clean, polished, and clutter-free page automatically looks inviting to read, and sends a reassuring message about your skills and experience.

If you have text-dense blocks, go leaner by amplifying white space on the page. Stick to the default one-inch margins, and ensure that line and paragraph spacing is adequate.

Be sure that your  choice of fonts, text formatting, and graphic touches enhance readability. The goal is to attract attention, not distract. Take a look at our  CV examples for more inspiration.

Key takeaways for building a general CV

An exceptional general CV, that reflects the breadth and depth of your expertise and experience, can give you a competitive edge as a job candidate. Strategically target a new version of your general CV template to each job application and align it with the employer’s specific needs and expectations.

Aim to make a direct, immediate connection with recruiters in your CV summary, reinforced in your work history section and skills list. 

Want to stand out from the crowd? Consider using a pre-made CV template to produce a high-quality, reader-friendly document that visually sets you apart from other applicants.

The first step is to check out our online  CV builder and create an interview-winning CV now.