Free CV builders, application letters, interview help and pay calculators, with a step-by-step guide from first application to first payslip.
Finding a job is a sequence of small tasks done well: a CV that fits the country and the role, a cover letter that shows results, interview answers you’ve practised, and knowing your rights once you’re in work. This guide follows that order and links to free tools for each step. They all run in your browser, and nothing you type is stored.
Pick the right tool
| I want to… | Use this |
|---|---|
| Write a CV from scratch | CV Builder |
| Use the right CV format for a country | UK · US · Canada · Germany · Gulf · Pakistan · India |
| Check my CV against a job advert | Resume Keyword Matcher |
| Write a cover letter | Cover Letter Builder |
| Prepare interview answers | STAR Interview Answer Builder |
| Find a UK employer that can sponsor a visa | UK Visa Sponsor Search |
| Accept an offer, resign or say thank you | Offer acceptance · Resignation · Thank-you email |
| Check my pay, holiday or notice in the UK | Minimum wage · Holiday · Notice period |
| Work out redundancy or end-of-service pay | UK redundancy · UAE gratuity · Saudi end of service |
| Set a freelance day rate | Freelance Rate Calculator |
1. Write a CV that fits the country
CV rules are different around the world, and using the wrong format is an easy way to be filtered out. The main differences are length, whether to add a photo and how much personal detail to include.
| Country or region | Usual format | Tool |
|---|---|---|
| UK | Up to 2 A4 pages, no photo, no date of birth or marital status | UK CV template |
| US | Usually 1 page on Letter paper for early and mid-career roles, no photo | US resume template |
| Canada | Like the US, with no photo or personal data, and your work permit status if relevant | Canada resume builder |
| Germany | A tabular Lebenslauf, often signed and dated; a photo is optional | Lebenslauf builder |
| UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar | Often includes a photo, nationality, visa status and notice period | Gulf CV template |
| Pakistan and India | Government jobs often ask for set personal details and a signed declaration | Pakistan CV · India resume |
Whatever the format, the same things make a CV work. Lead with a short profile that says what you do and the level you work at. Under each job, write achievements rather than duties, with numbers where you can, such as “cut month-end close from 8 days to 5”. Keep the layout simple, with standard headings and no tables or text in images, so applicant tracking systems (ATS) can read it.
Match each CV to the job
Many employers screen CVs with software that looks for the skills and terms in the job advert. Paste the advert and your CV into the resume keyword matcher to see which important words are missing, then add the ones that are true for you in your own words. Don’t copy the advert wholesale: a person will read it too.
2. Cover letters and applications
A good cover letter is short, usually three or four paragraphs. Say which role you’re applying for, pick two or three results that match what the employer needs, and finish with a clear next step. The cover letter builder gives you that structure and fills it from your own examples.
If you need a visa to work in the UK, check whether the employer holds a sponsor licence before you apply. The UK visa sponsor search searches the Home Office register, which is updated every working day. Being on the register doesn’t mean the employer will sponsor a particular job, so check the advert too.
3. Interviews
Most interviews include behavioural questions such as “tell me about a time you handled a difficult customer”. The STAR method keeps answers clear: the Situation, the Task you had, the Action you took and the Result. Spend most of the time on your action and the result. Prepare five or six stories that you can adapt to different questions with the STAR answer builder.
After the interview, a short thank-you email sent the same day is polite and keeps you in mind.
4. Offers, resigning and references
- Get the offer in writing before you resign from your current job. Then confirm the start date, salary and any conditions with an offer acceptance letter.
- Resign politely and in writing, with your last working day: resignation letter generator. Check your contract for your notice period.
- Managers asked to write a reference can use the reference letter generator. A reference must be fair and accurate.
5. Know your rights at work (UK)
These are the legal minimums in Great Britain. Your contract can give you more but not less.
| Right | The minimum | Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage (from 1 April 2026) | £12.71 an hour at 21 and over, £10.85 at 18 to 20, and £8.00 under 18 or for apprentices | Minimum wage checker |
| Paid holiday | 5.6 weeks a year, which is 28 days for someone working 5 days a week. Bank holidays can be included. | Holiday calculator |
| Notice from your employer | 1 week after a month’s work, then 1 week for each full year, up to 12 weeks | Notice period calculator |
| Statutory redundancy pay | After 2 years’ service. Weekly pay is capped at £751 for redundancies from 6 April 2026, and up to 20 years count, so the most you can get is £22,530. | Redundancy pay calculator |
Working in the Gulf? End-of-service pay works differently there. Use the UAE gratuity calculator or the Saudi end-of-service calculator.
6. Freelancing
A freelance rate has to cover the things an employer would normally pay for: holidays, sick days, pension, equipment, software and the days you spend finding work. That’s why a fair day rate is usually well above your old salary divided by 260 working days. The freelance rate calculator works back from the income you want to the hourly and day rate you need. To compare with a job offer, use the salary to hourly calculator, and send invoices with the invoice generator.
All job search and CV tools
- Canada Resume BuilderMake a Canadian-format resume with no photo or personal data, plus work permit status.
- Cover Letter BuilderWrite a tailored cover letter from your strongest results in a few minutes.
- CV BuilderBuild a clean, ATS-friendly CV with a live preview and save it as a PDF.
- Freelance Rate CalculatorMinimum hourly and day rate to hit your income as a freelancer.
- German CV (Lebenslauf) BuilderCreate a tabular German Lebenslauf with optional photo, in German or English.
- Gulf CV Template (UAE, Saudi, Qatar)Make a Gulf-style CV with photo, nationality, visa status and availability.
- India Resume FormatBuild an Indian resume for private jobs and Naukri, or government jobs with a declaration.
- Interview Thank-You EmailA short, personal thank-you email to send after a job interview.
- Job Offer Acceptance LetterAccept a job offer by email or letter, confirming your start date and salary.
- Pakistan CV Format (Govt & Private)Make a CV for Pakistani government jobs, with CNIC, domicile and declaration, or for private jobs.
- Reference Letter GeneratorA fair and accurate employment reference, full or basic, for a current or former employee.
- Resignation Letter GeneratorA professional resignation letter with your last working day.
- Resume Keyword MatcherCompare your CV with a job description and find missing keywords.
- Saudi End-of-Service CalculatorSaudi end-of-service award, including reduced amounts after resignation.
- STAR Interview Answer BuilderBuild STAR answers to behavioural interview questions.
- UAE Gratuity CalculatorEnd-of-service gratuity under the UAE Labour Law, from basic salary and service dates.
- UK CV TemplateFill in a UK-style CV with no photo, up to 2 A4 pages, and save it as a PDF.
- UK Holiday Entitlement CalculatorStatutory holiday in days or hours, pro rata, and the 12.07% irregular-hours rule.
- UK Minimum Wage CheckerCheck your pay against the April 2026 National Minimum and Living Wage.
- UK Notice Period CalculatorStatutory and contractual notice, and the date your notice ends.
- UK Redundancy Pay CalculatorWork out statutory redundancy pay from your age, service and weekly pay, using the April 2026 cap.
- UK Visa Sponsor SearchSearch the Home Office register of licensed sponsors by company, town and visa route.
- US Resume TemplateBuild a one-page US resume on Letter paper, with a live page-length check.
Related guides
- Finance calculators: take-home pay, tax and budgeting once you’ve got the job.
- Study abroad and visa tools: work visas, points tests and settlement.
- How to position yourself as a senior marketer
Employment law differs between countries, and between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Our tools are for general information, not legal advice. For your own situation, contact Acas or a qualified adviser.
Frequently asked questions
Should I put a photo on my CV?
Not in the UK, US or Canada, where it can lead to unfair bias and many employers will set it aside. In Germany a photo is optional, and in the Gulf it is common. Our country templates follow the local custom.
How long should a CV be?
In the UK, up to 2 A4 pages. In the US, usually 1 page unless you have many years of relevant experience. Academic CVs can be longer.
What is the STAR method?
A way to answer behavioural interview questions: describe the Situation, your Task, the Action you took and the Result. Spend most of your answer on the action and result.
What is the UK minimum wage in 2026?
From 1 April 2026 it is £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over, £10.85 for 18 to 20 year olds, and £8.00 for under-18s and apprentices.
Are these tools free?
Yes. Every tool is free, needs no account and runs in your browser, so your CV and details stay on your device.
Sources
- GOV.UK: National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates
- GOV.UK: Holiday entitlement
- GOV.UK: Redundancy pay
- Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2026
- GOV.UK: Redundancy notice periods
- Home Office: Register of licensed sponsors
- Acas: free advice on workplace rights
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