CV & LinkedIn Character Limits: A UK Guide

In the UK, it's a CV, not a résumé — and while LinkedIn's field limits are identical worldwide, the way UK job seekers use them differs from US convention. Here's the character limits guide for CVs and LinkedIn, in British English.

CV & LinkedIn Character Limits

For the complete interactive reference with all fields for every platform, visit our all-platforms character limit cheat sheet — with 16 platforms in one page and links to a dedicated tool for each.

CV, Not Resume: A Genuinely Different Search Term

In UK English, "CV" (curriculum vitae) is the standard term for what Americans call a "résumé" — and it's not simply a stylistic swap. UK recruiters, job boards, and ATS systems consistently use "CV" in their terminology, meaning a page optimised only around "resume" is effectively invisible to a large share of UK search intent.

UK CV Conventions That Differ From a US Resume

• UK CVs are conventionally up to two A4 pages, versus the stricter one-page norm common in US resume advice
• UK CVs typically omit a photo, date of birth, marital status and nationality — including these is common in some European countries but generally discouraged on a UK CV
• A UK CV's "personal statement" (equivalent to a US resume summary) is conventionally shorter — 50-150 words is standard, versus a slightly longer allowance often seen in US guidance
• References are typically noted as "available on request" rather than listed in full on a UK CV

LinkedIn Fields Are Global, but Usage Norms Differ

LinkedIn's character limits (220-character headline, 2,600-character About section) apply identically everywhere. What differs is convention: UK LinkedIn profiles commonly favour a slightly more understated tone in the headline and About section compared to the more overtly promotional style often seen on US profiles — worth keeping in mind if you're optimising specifically for UK recruiters.

For the actual "how long should my CV be" question with UK-specific formatting guidance, see our CV length guide. See our resume & LinkedIn character limits guide for the US-terminology equivalent, and our full LinkedIn character limits guide.