How to Find a Job in London: CV Formats, Recruiters, and Job Boards

Getting a job in London isn’t about sending out hundreds of CVs and hoping for the best. It’s about knowing where to look, how to stand out, and who to talk to. With over 5 million people working in the city, competition is real-but so are the opportunities. If you’re moving to London or just starting your career here, this guide cuts through the noise. You’ll learn what recruiters actually look for, which job boards work best in 2026, how to format your CV so it doesn’t get tossed, and where to find hidden roles no one’s posting online.

Start with the right CV format

Your CV is your first impression. In London, employers don’t have time to guess what you can do. They want facts, not fluff. The standard UK CV format is clean, concise, and reverse-chronological. That means your most recent job comes first, and everything else follows backward.

Most hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds on a CV. If they don’t see your value fast, you’re out. So ditch the fancy templates. No photos. No personal details like marital status or age. UK law bans that kind of bias, and smart employers follow it.

Here’s what actually works in London right now:

• Top section: Your name, phone, email, LinkedIn URL (make sure it’s updated), and location (e.g., "London, UK").
• Professional summary: Two to four lines. No "hardworking team player" nonsense. Say what you do, who you help, and what results you’ve delivered. Example: "Digital marketing specialist with 5+ years driving 40%+ growth in SaaS customer acquisition across UK markets. Led campaigns for £2M+ annual revenue clients at TechFlow Ltd."
• Work history: Job title, company, dates (month/year), and 3-5 bullet points per role. Focus on metrics. Not "managed social media," but "Grew Instagram following from 8K to 47K in 8 months through targeted content strategy, generating 1,200 qualified leads."
• Education: Degree, university, year. No need to list GCSEs unless you’re under 23.
• Skills: List hard skills only: Python, Salesforce, Google Ads, Tableau, Agile, etc. Avoid "communication skills"-show it in your work examples.

One thing most people miss: tailor your CV for every job. Change the professional summary and tweak the bullet points to match keywords in the job description. ATS systems (applicant tracking software) scan for those words. If you don’t use them, your CV gets filtered out-even if you’re qualified.

Who to talk to: Recruiters in London

Recruiters aren’t just middlemen. In London, they’re gatekeepers to roles that never make it to public job boards. Many companies, especially in finance, tech, and healthcare, hire 60-70% of their staff through agencies.

Don’t just send your CV to every recruiter you find on LinkedIn. Target the right ones. Here are the top 5 recruiter types in London in 2026:

• Tech recruiters: Agencies like Hays Technology, Michael Page Technology, and Reed Technology. They specialize in software engineers, data scientists, and DevOps roles. Many have dedicated teams for AI, cybersecurity, and fintech.
• Finance recruiters: Robert Half, Charles Russell Speechlys, and Morgan McKinley dominate here. If you’re in accounting, compliance, or investment banking, these are your go-tos.
• Healthcare recruiters: Medacs, HCL Healthcare, and NHS Talent. Hospitals, private clinics, and NHS trusts hire heavily through agencies.
• Startup recruiters: Not the big agencies. Look for niche players like Techstars London, SeedLegals Talent, or Founders Factory’s hiring network. These recruiters know early-stage companies and often have unlisted openings.
• International mobility recruiters: If you’re moving from abroad, firms like RelocateMe or Global Mobility Solutions help with visas, relocation packages, and job matching. They’re essential if you need a Skilled Worker Visa.

How to connect? Don’t just message them on LinkedIn. Find their email (often on their agency website), write a short, specific note: "Hi [Name], I’m a project manager with 6 years in logistics, currently relocating to London. I’ve attached my CV. I’m looking for roles in supply chain tech-any openings you’re handling in Q2 2026?" Attach your CV as a PDF named "YourName_CV_London.pdf"-not "CV_Final_v3.docx.""

Best job boards for London in 2026

Job boards still matter-but not all of them. Some are flooded with spam. Others are outdated. Here are the 5 that actually deliver results in London right now:

• LinkedIn: Still the #1 platform. 87% of London employers post here first. Use filters: "Posted in the last 7 days," "Remote or Hybrid," and "Entry Level" if you’re starting out. Set up job alerts for keywords like "junior data analyst," "UX designer," or "graduate engineer."
• Reed.co.uk: The UK’s oldest job site. Strong for public sector, education, retail, and admin roles. Many NHS and local council jobs appear here before anywhere else.
• CareerBuilder UK: Popular with mid-career professionals. Better than Indeed for roles paying over £40k. Has a cleaner interface and fewer fake listings.
• Totaljobs: Good for blue-collar, warehouse, and trade jobs. Also strong in hospitality and customer service roles across London boroughs.
• Indeed: Still useful, but be careful. It pulls listings from everywhere, including spammy agencies. Always check if the company has a website. If not, skip it.

Pro tip: Use Google Sheets to track every application. Column A: Job title. Column B: Company. Column C: Date applied. Column D: Contact (recruiter or hiring manager). Column E: Status (Applied, Interview, Rejected, Offer). Update it weekly. You’ll see patterns-like which industries reply fastest or which job boards give you real interviews.

Hidden job market: How to find roles no one’s advertising

About 70% of jobs in London are never posted. They’re filled through referrals, internal promotions, or direct outreach. This is where most people fail. They wait for the perfect job ad. The smart ones go hunting.

Here’s how to tap into the hidden market:

• Attend London networking events: Events like London Tech Week, Meetup.com groups (search "London Marketing Professionals," "London Data Science," etc.), and Chamber of Commerce mixers. Bring business cards. Say: "I’m looking to move into [industry]. Do you know anyone hiring?" Most people will help if you’re polite and specific.
• Message hiring managers directly: Find the head of department at companies you like. Look them up on LinkedIn. Send a short, warm message: "Hi [Name], I really admire how [Company] handled [recent project]. I’m a [your role] with experience in [skill]. Would you be open to a 10-minute chat about your team’s hiring plans in the next quarter?" No CV. Just curiosity.
• Follow companies on Twitter/X: Many London startups announce openings there first. Follow @LondonTechJobs, @CityJobsUK, and company accounts like @Monzo, @Revolut, @Zoopla.
• Join Slack communities: There are dozens. Try "London Tech Jobs" or "UK Remote Workers". People post openings daily. Some are even paid roles.

Visa and work rights: What you need to know

If you’re not a UK or EU citizen, your job search has extra steps. The Skilled Worker Visa is the main route. To qualify, you need:

• A job offer from a licensed sponsor (most big companies are).
• A salary meeting the minimum threshold: £38,700 or the "going rate" for the job, whichever is higher.
• Proof of English (B1 level or higher).

Some roles are on the Shortage Occupation List-meaning they’re easier to get sponsored for. In 2026, these include: software engineers, nurses, radiographers, and certain construction trades. If you’re in one of these fields, your chances jump.

Don’t waste time applying to companies that don’t sponsor visas. Check their careers page. If it says "must have right to work in the UK," skip it. If it says "we sponsor visas," go for it.

What to avoid

Here are the top 3 mistakes people make in London’s job market:

1. Using a US-style CV. Including photos, age, or marital status. UK employers don’t want that info-and it can hurt you legally.
2. Applying to 50 jobs with the same CV. Generic applications get ignored. Tailor even if it takes 10 extra minutes.
3. Waiting for "perfect" timing. There’s no ideal season. Spring and autumn are busiest, but roles open year-round. Start now. The sooner you build momentum, the faster you’ll land something.

Final tip: Track your progress

A job search isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon with small wins. Celebrate them. Got an interview? Win. Got feedback? Win. Sent 5 tailored CVs? Win. Keep going. In London, persistence beats talent every time. The city’s job market is big, fast, and demanding-but it rewards those who show up, adapt, and stay focused.