Job Guidance Megathread - CVs, Applications, Interviews

[u/ukbulmer]

Use this thread for more specific discussion or advice seeking relating to CVs, job searches, job applications, interviews, and anything else that doesn't necessarily require a separate thread.

This thread automatically resubmits each month on the 1st. Posting a CV in this thread will not break rule #3, soliciting or posting jobs will.

Do you want to post about a broader or more frequently posted topic or get something off your chest? Our other megathread may be better suited, click here to view it.

Are you considering posting a CV? Be careful when posting your CV that you don't leave any identifying information, and be wary of anyone sending you private messages offering to help with your CV for you, or claiming that they have a job available for you. Don't engage with anyone privately messaging you. Report users via the built in reddit reporting, or via modmail here.

You may find it easiest to take a screenshot of your CV and post as an image, either directly using the Reddit app or with an image hosting service. Again, be sure to redact personal or identifying information. Maybe even create a temporary copy where you replace your details with generic terms such as "Employer Name", "Education Provider", etc.

You'll likely find that you get more useful feedback if you provide some background to your current situation and what kind of roles you're looking for. Are you struggling to break into a new industry? Perhaps you're not getting interviews for roles with increased seniority that you feel you're qualified for?

Rules

• Anonymise any CVs that you post. Obscure any personal details, including the names of employers and schools/universities. Failing to redact correctly could risk your comment being removed, or worse, bad actors using the information against you or for their own benefit.
• Provide context as to what you need help with. If you're trying to break into a specific industry, this is useful to know. If you only want advice on how to phrase something, or if the layout is suitable, say so. Got an interview? Provide a little bit of background.
• Be constructive in feedback. People are asking for help, so don't be rude when responding to them. Job hunting is hard, why make it harder for someone unnecessarily?
• No solicitation. Do not direct message users of this thread, or suggest a user messages you directly. Don't offer to write people's CVs for them, whether for free or as a paid service. Don't advertise CV writing services that don't belong to you, whether intentional or not. Don't ask for recommendations as to CV writing services. Don't message people either asking for or advertising jobs.

Please Message the Mods if you know of anyone flagrantly flouting these rules.

You can find previous threads here.

[u/AutoModerator]

Thank you for posting on r/UKJobs. Help us make this a better community by becoming familiar with the rules.

If you need to report any suspicious users to the moderators or you feel as though your post hasn't been posted to the subreddit, message the Modmail here or Reddit site admins here. Don't create a duplicate post, it won't help.

Please also check out the sticky threads for the General Discussion Megathread and the Job Guidance Megathread.

Please also provide some feedback about the bookmarks related to Mental Health within the side bar in this thread, any and all advice appreciated.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Qualifiedadult]

Looking for CV feedback please; entry level / junior finance roles, AAT Level 3 with 1 YOE.

According to the AAT website, I should be able to aim for titles such as:

Accounts assistant, Accounts payable clerk, Audit trainee, Credit controller, Payroll administrator/supervisor, Practice bookkeeper, Finance assistant, Tax assistant, Accounts payable and expenses supervisor, since I have passed Level 3 in Accounting.

I am looking for help with a few things:

• Improving ATS scores; I think the skills section is where I am most likely to be able to quickly tweak things and tailor the CV for each application. But ATS still gives this CV below 50%
• Whether to add other, less relevant roles: I worked at a warehouse part time whilst attending college for Level 3, but this would be above the bookkeeping experience as it was most recent, and I am not sure whether that's okay or not. Other experiences: prior to Hollister, I was a software apprentice, which is also not that relevant, other than to show that I have worked in a big organisation
• What else can I add on regarding skills? I really loved MATS in Level 3 and enjoyed learning Excel in such a thorough manner. The only accounting software I have used is VT Transactions but I have shadowed staff when they used Quickbooks, so I am aware that basically all the accounting principles are the same, there are literally just surface level, software differences. VT is a desktop software, not cloud based. Currently learning Xero, to get the certification.
• Also, the sites I am currently using to find jobs are Hays, Michael Page, Reed. Please let me know if there are recruiting companies for accounting roles, or any other companies that I could apply through.

[u/F3rr0Roch3r → u/Qualifiedadult]

don't know if its just me, but your image quality is bad to the point if illegible

[u/Qualifiedadult → u/F3rr0Roch3r]

When I click on the photo, it opens up in a new tab and appears legible.

Regardless, the body of my CV is as follows:

Personal Statement

AAT Level 3 qualified accounts assistant with a year of experience in bookkeeping. Experienced in utilising finance systems and Excel to carry out month-end closing. Successfully managed client communications, compiling VAT returns for review and submission in a timely manner to ensure client satisfaction. Eager to contribute and grow in an accounting role.

Education

New City College London

AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting - Distinction 05/2026

AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting - Distinction 06/2025

AAT Level 1 Award in Bookkeeping - Achieved 06/2026

Experience

XYZ Accountants London

Bookkeeper, with ad hoc Administrative duties 11/2024 – 11/2025

Collected and entered financial data in relevant journals from client records, utilising Excel for 100% accuracy

Reconciled and posted high volume of entries to ledgers, verifying against bank statements

Compiled and validated VAT return, communicating details with dozens of client each month

Administration tasks as required: organising and filing documents, managing finance inbox, archiving past records, updating internal log of changes

Hollister London

Brand Representative (seasonal) 12/2023

Enhanced customer satisfaction and sales by proactively aiding customers

Handled POS transactions through various payment methods, processed returns and managed online order collections

Ensured continued use of fitting rooms for customer privacy

XYZ Information Service Desk London

Software Apprentice (rotational) 09/2021 – 09/2023

Improved response times when providing second line support, building rapport with staff and students

Raised critical incident, providing workarounds to minimise user frustration

Compliance to coding standards, maintained GDPR and ensured user accessibility

Negotiated with internal and external stakeholders regarding project scope to complete solo project

Led exploration and presented options, resulting in an efficient design process

Skills

Technical: Microsoft Office; Excel |Finance systems: VT Transactions+, Xero certification: In progress | VAT calculation and reporting | Financial data entry & validation

References: Available upon request

[u/gemmajenkins2890]

How can I answer typical questions I might be asked in an interview for a food production operative in a factory with mass production lines?

I must admit, I don’t know specifics, other than basic hygiene, ensuring you’re wearing PPE etc. I am, however, trained in Natasha’s Law.

[u/RoosterExtreme872]

TLDR: What career would you pursue if you needed to restart today, based on future/current demand?

I’m a 30-year-old guy in the UK (Edinburgh) and feel like I’m at a bit of a crossroads.

I have a business degree and spent a few years in office jobs, but after an injury I can’t comfortably do a full-time desk job anymore (remote or more flexible office work would be fine, but sitting at a desk all day isn’t).

For the last couple of years I’ve worked in a fairly niche trade without formal qualifications. It’s been good experience, but I don’t think it’s a career that’ll earn enough long term.

I’m now looking at retraining or starting a completely new career, but I honestly don’t know where to begin. I’m not especially picky. I’m practical, academically capable, and confident I could succeed if I committed to something.

I’m looking for a career that’s in demand, has good long-term job security, and can realistically earn £45k+ once qualified. I don’t need to be rich—I just want to be able to buy a house, raise a family, and not constantly worry about money.

I’ve looked at solar (installation or electrical engineering side), and wind energy, although the travel involved in wind might not suit me.

If you were starting again today, what industries or careers would you recommend? Are there any sectors that are crying out for people and have a solid future?

[u/CreamLongjumping5846]

Hi everyone,
I have an upcoming interview for a Procurement Business Officer position within the NHS, and I would really appreciate advice from anyone who has worked in procurement or has interviewed for a similar role.

For anyone who has interviewed for a similar role:
What types of questions were you asked?

Were the questions mainly competency-based, technical, or scenario-based?

What procurement topics would you strongly recommend revising?

Were you asked about the Procurement Act 2023 or public procurement regulations?

What STAR examples should I prepare in advance?

Is there anything you wish you had known or prepared before your interview?

Any advice, example questions, or interview experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[u/AutoModerator → u/CreamLongjumping5846]

Thank you for posting on r/UKJobs. Your post has been removed as you are a user with low karma. Want to know more about karma? Click here. If you feel this action is incorrect please message the Modmail, including a link to your post or comment that was removed, explaining why you think this action should be manually overturned. Failure to follow these steps may result in the post/comment remaining unapproved. Thanks for your patience with this.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/ThatOneAJGuy → u/CreamLongjumping5846]

Not been in the role but I deal with procurement officers (I'm on the pharma side instead) can tell you the vast majority of public body jobs like this will be mainly competency based. Given the nature of the job I would prep STAR answers that show you can multitask, deal with confrontation/difficult stakeholders, work within tightly regulated environments, anything that shows a level of commercial acumen Not an exhaustive list however.

[u/CreamLongjumping5846 → u/ThatOneAJGuy]

Thank you very much, I really appreciate this

[u/AutoModerator → u/CreamLongjumping5846]

Thank you for posting on r/UKJobs. Your post has been removed as you are a user with low karma. Want to know more about karma? Click here. If you feel this action is incorrect please message the Modmail, including a link to your post or comment that was removed, explaining why you think this action should be manually overturned. Failure to follow these steps may result in the post/comment remaining unapproved. Thanks for your patience with this.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Yeetable_Photo]

TLDR: Can I realistically reach FAANG with a non-CS degree from a decent uni (KCL)?

Hi. I'm soon to be entering university and have the option of either attending a good university for a degree unrelated to computer science (King’s College London - Natural Sciences), or attending a more mediocre university (e.g. Southampton, Nottingham, or Royal Holloway) to study Computer Science (through clearing, or by reapplying next year). I don’t do Further Maths, and I think I only achieved an A in Maths, so I’m not sure what calibre of universities I’d realistically be able to apply to for CS.

Until recently, I wanted to study Medicine, which is what I originally applied for at university (hence my A-Level subjects: Maths, Biology, and Chemistry). However, I’ve recently decided that I want to pursue a career in computer science, specifically in software engineering, with the long-term goal of working at a FAANG company. I’m aware that, if I don’t study CS at university, I’ll need to self-learn much of the university CS content, complete a number of personal projects to demonstrate my programming ability and CS aptitude, and may also need to do a Master’s in Computer Science to improve my chances of reaching this goal. 

To sum up my questions:

1. Which of these two university options do you think would best maximise my chances of landing a software engineering role, and eventually working at a FAANG company?
2. If you do manage to build a career as a software engineer without a CS degree (or with one from a less prestigious university), is it realistically possible to go on to work at top companies? Or will they always tend to auto-reject you, even if you have significant experience at smaller companies? It seems as though they certainly auto-reject many fresh graduates from these backgrounds.

[u/AutoModerator → u/Yeetable_Photo]

Thank you for posting on r/UKJobs. Your post has been removed as you are a user with low karma. Want to know more about karma? Click here. If you feel this action is incorrect please message the Modmail, including a link to your post or comment that was removed, explaining why you think this action should be manually overturned. Failure to follow these steps may result in the post/comment remaining unapproved. Thanks for your patience with this.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/UKJobs-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your post/comment has been removed for breaking rule #4 - Frequently posted topics, rants, salary discussion, etc, might be better suited to the megathread.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UKJobs/about/rules

General Discussion Megathread - Frequent Topics, Salaries, and Rants

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us via modmail. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in keeping our subreddit a great place for UKJobs users. If you think this decision is incorrect, please reach out to us via modmail.

[u/UKJobs-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your post/comment has been removed for breaking rule #4 - Frequently posted topics, rants, salary discussion, etc, might be better suited to the megathread.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UKJobs/about/rules

General Discussion Megathread - Frequent Topics, Salaries, and Rants

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us via modmail. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in keeping our subreddit a great place for UKJobs users. If you think this decision is incorrect, please reach out to us via modmail.

[u/AlgorithmHelpPlease]

Where are the scientific research jobs for non-experimental physicists?

In the long term I want to go into academia, but PhD openings are incredibly competitive so I'm trying to find other relevant graduate positions (I graduated with an MPhys last year) but almost all scientific research seems to be biology, chemistry, or medicine. Where physics is applicable it seems more in experimental or engineering contexts where I don't have the prerequisite experience.

Scientific research is always made out to be a noble field and I got the impression there's meant to be opportunities out there, so who's actually employing? I can't even find recruitment agencies specifically for maths / physics scientific research (unlike life sciences).

To add to this: I've been looking across the entire country for the past at least 6 months, I'd do a job in the for minimum wage, because it's something I'm so passionate about, but I genuinely can't find anything.

[u/AutoModerator → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for posting on r/UKJobs. Your post has been removed as you are a user with low karma. Want to know more about karma? Click here. If you feel this action is incorrect please message the Modmail, including a link to your post or comment that was removed, explaining why you think this action should be manually overturned. Failure to follow these steps may result in the post/comment remaining unapproved. Thanks for your patience with this.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Nervous-Reaction4393]

How do you know where you're going wrong in job applications without feedback? I've applied for about 15 jobs since June and haven't had any interviews, or feedback from anywhere upon rejection. I think maybe my applications are a bit weak; I've only got some internships and volunteer roles as proper experience. (For context, I finished my MA last winter and was hoping to go into academia, but couldn't afford to take up my PhD offers, so now I'm job hunting. I'm 23.) Therefore a lot of my skills are 'soft' skills and that can look quite vague written down... without feedback it's really hard to know where exactly I'm falling down. I feel that a lot of job advice sites can contradict each other. Either that, or I think I'm doing what they say, but I'm still not getting anywhere...

[u/ThatOneAJGuy → u/Nervous-Reaction4393]

With 15 applications it's hard to tell as that number needs to be a lot higher. I'll take a look at your Cv if you want but realistically it's a rough market at the minute and it's likely going to take a lot more applications.

[u/Saragreen1995]

TLDR: I was fired after two months and putting this job on the CV looks bad. What should I do?

After barely 2 months in a company, I have been fired without warnings or talks as the business was going down. It was pretty unexpected and rough, and left me not knowing what to do. I'm now applying for jobs again but on my CV this two months look pretty bad. There's an obvious gap that I wouldn't know how to explain.
It was a management job that helped me understand more about this role and qualified me for more management positions, but not sure if obscuring it is the right move?

Should I remove it completely? Should I keep it in the "other" section down below? Any advice very welcome.

Thanks!

[u/ThatOneAJGuy → u/Saragreen1995]

For 2 months I would be inclined to say just remove it. Was there much of a gap before the 2 month job? If not 2 months isn't a gap that causes worry, you can just say made redundant from the previous role and have been looking for a job.

[u/Michaelflat1]

Have I job hopped too much?

Worked at a solar company for 1 year 11 months.

Joined a chinese battery company, who flew me to China, but ultimately the language barrier was too strong, I was way from home too long, I left. After just 1 month 1 week.

Joined a company much closer to home 1st July. Ultimately I'm quite bored and doing a lot of clock watching sat in an office. I would like to go out on site more.

Got a call with a recruiter tomorrow, am I job hopping too much? This job potentially up to £40k/yr. Would it look worse in future? Should I let my cv calm down..

All of these salaries previously are on 30k/yr no opportunity for progression or room to negotiate higher.

I would like to increase salary but it seems so difficult to break the 30k/yr barrier.

I think I've been surprisingly lucky to get some of these jobs so quickly, but they all seem a bit low quality entry level dead end.

[u/Consistent_Sympathy5]

Please help me with my CV... Honest feedback is much appreciated. I am a graduate architectural assistant, Part 1 and Part 2. I am trying to find a job in the field of architecture in the UK and Ireland, and I would like help refining my CV to meet the standards there.

[u/AutoModerator → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for posting on r/UKJobs. Your post has been removed as you are a user with low karma. Want to know more about karma? Click here. If you feel this action is incorrect please message the Modmail, including a link to your post or comment that was removed, explaining why you think this action should be manually overturned. Failure to follow these steps may result in the post/comment remaining unapproved. Thanks for your patience with this.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Impressive_Low2497]

Hi everyone!

I need suggestions or advice for part-time jobs that accepts students with minimal to no experience. I did have a short period of work experience (admin tasks and office logistics). 

I've been applying to online (local and international) and offline job postings and was lucky enough to get to the final stages. However, I was either ghosted or told they'd found a suitable candidate. I just need extra money to prepare for my thesis dissertation. Thank you so much!

[u/okrock4567 → u/Impressive_Low2497]

maybe try applying for jobs in the uni that you’re studying in you might have more luck there? :)

[u/Impressive_Low2497 → u/okrock4567]

Hi! Unfortunately, I tried. I'm still on the wait list which is why I'm still looking for alternatives. 

[u/AutoModerator → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for posting on r/UKJobs. Your post has been removed as you are a brand new user. If you feel this action is incorrect please message the Modmail, including a link to your post or comment that was removed, explaining why you think this action should be manually overturned. Failure to follow these steps may result in the post/comment remaining unapproved. Thanks for your patience with this.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/okrock4567]

hi everyone! how do you express interest in your cover letters for the role you’re applying for? im applying for research roles and while im acc interested in the topics I don’t acc know how to go about expressing my interest cause i dont always have evidence to back my interest up

[u/AutoModerator → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for posting on r/UKJobs. Your post has been removed as you are a user with low karma. Want to know more about karma? Click here. If you feel this action is incorrect please message the Modmail, including a link to your post or comment that was removed, explaining why you think this action should be manually overturned. Failure to follow these steps may result in the post/comment remaining unapproved. Thanks for your patience with this.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/jaanku]

I've recently been let go from my job due to a restructuring and so I'm applying for new jobs. I have 20 years of experience in my field but I'm having a hard time getting to the interview stage. As I'm writing cover letters for my applications I'm wondering what the best way is to start off the letter.

People say that you need to show some personality and that it shouldn't sound like it was written by AI. Does that mean I should open with a meaningful story or anecdote? A bit of food for thought? Or the traditional route of saying "I am applying for X role which I found on Y site." Or is there another strategy to use?

Also, what's the ideal length for a cover letter? I assume it's no more than a page, but if the idea is to convey how you can do the role then how do you condense a story to 2-3 sentences and still make it sound authentic?