Is finding a job in the UK insanely difficult?

Author: Xiaohongshu blogger “White Rabbit Milk Candy.

Recently I’ve been helping my boyfriend switch jobs (he’s a London native), and I realized that not knowing how to job hunt has nothing to do with nationality. With my help, he landed a fully remote offer within two weeks. At the same time, thanks to his word-of-mouth, I’ve also managed to open up the UK market for myself and attracted a bunch of equally clueless Brits. It still feels surreal that a foreigner is teaching locals how to find jobs.

Anyway, let’s get straight to some practical tips 👇

1️⃣ Your CV is not an autobiography — it’s a rewrite of the JD

HR is not interested in your life story! The first step in applying for any job is to carefully read the Job Description (JD), highlight the keywords, and think about which of your past experiences those keywords can fit into. Make sure those keywords appear on your CV.

Of course, this requires some “smart” word substitutions and rephrasing. When employers read your CV, a sense of familiarity helps increase your chances of getting an interview. Skills and experiences that are not requested in the JD don’t need to be included.

2️⃣ The right CV structure

Start with a professional summary — 4–5 sentences summarizing who you are and showing why you’re a good fit for the role.

Next, I personally prefer adding key skills. Many people put this at the end, but in my experience, placing key skills at the front and aligning them closely with the JD is a big plus.

Then comes the most important part: work experience. Each bullet point should be no more than two lines. Don’t just describe what you did — highlight your contributions and achievements.

After that, briefly list your education. Trust me, no one really cares about your grades or specific courses.

Ideally, keep your CV to one page, or at most one and a half pages. Don’t over-compress just to fit one page. Adjust margins and spacing so it’s comfortable for the panel to read.

3️⃣ Targeted applications or mass applications?

Definitely go for targeted applications (in any field). Sending out hundreds of applications with no interviews is mentally draining. Don’t just submit randomly.

For the same role at different companies, you don’t need to completely rewrite your CV, but you must tailor it slightly. Let me repeat: always match the JD.

✅ Summary

The best CV is a blend of your relevant experience, skills, and the JD. Use AI wisely, but remember: you are the one giving instructions. Provide clear and detailed prompts, and develop the ability to judge the quality of the final result.