Part-Time CV Template UK 2026: Free Guide for Flexible Workers
Part-time CV template — whether you are looking for flexible work around childcare, study, a second job, or a health condition, a well-crafted part-time CV template helps you present yourself as a committed, capable candidate for part-time and flexible roles. This 2026 guide gives you a complete copy-ready part-time CV template for UK jobseekers, explains how to handle the unique challenges of part-time applications, and shares tips that will significantly improve your interview rate.
What Makes a Part-Time CV Different?
A part-time CV follows the same fundamental structure as any UK CV, but several elements require extra care. Part-time applicants often have a career history made up of multiple shorter or concurrent roles, gaps between employment, or a mix of full-time and part-time work. A good part-time CV template frames all of this positively, presents your availability clearly, and focuses the recruiter’s attention on your skills and reliability rather than the hours you have worked.
Part-time roles in the UK are subject to the same employment rights as full-time positions — including minimum wage, holiday pay, and pension auto-enrolment — and employers recruiting for part-time positions are looking for all the same qualities: reliability, competence, and a good fit. Your CV must convey these qualities in a tight, well-structured document.
Who Needs a Part-Time CV Template?
A part-time CV template is useful for a wide range of jobseekers, including:
Parents and carers looking for flexible work that fits around family responsibilities, school hours, or caring for a relative.
Students in further or higher education who need work that does not conflict with lectures, coursework, or exams.
People with health conditions or disabilities who can work but require reduced hours or flexibility.
Retirees or near-retirees stepping back from full-time work and seeking part-time roles to maintain income and social engagement.
Portfolio workers who combine multiple part-time jobs or freelance projects and are applying for an additional role.
Career returners re-entering the workforce after a break and starting with reduced hours while rebuilding confidence and skills.
Sections to Include
The ideal structure for a UK part-time CV template in 2026 is:
Contact Details and Availability
Name, phone, professional email, LinkedIn (if you have one), and city. You may also include a brief “Availability” line directly under your contact details: “Available: Monday–Thursday, 09:00–15:00.” This saves the recruiter time and demonstrates you are upfront about your needs.
Personal Statement
A three-to-five line statement that conveys who you are, your most relevant experience, and your motivation for the specific type of part-time work you are seeking. Mention your flexibility and reliability.
Work Experience
Most recent role first. If you have held multiple part-time roles simultaneously, clarify this (e.g., “Part-time, 16 hrs/week”) so the recruiter understands the timeline.
Skills
A brief bullet-point list of hard and soft skills relevant to the target role.
Education and Qualifications
Reverse chronological order. Include any vocational qualifications, health and safety certificates, food hygiene certificates, or driving licence if relevant.
Achievements and Development (optional)
Any awards, commendations, or professional development worth mentioning.
References
“Available on request” is fine. A previous employer who can speak to your reliability is an ideal referee for part-time applications.
Part-Time CV Template UK 2026 (Copy & Paste)
Use the template below as your starting point. Replace all text in [brackets] with your own details. Note the availability line near the top — this is optional but highly recommended for part-time applications to signal your hours upfront.
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City/Town]
Availability: [e.g. Monday–Friday, 09:00–14:30 | Flexible weekends | Up to 24 hours per week]
PERSONAL STATEMENT
[A reliable and experienced [profession / job type, e.g. retail assistant / administrator / healthcare support worker] with [X years / months] of experience in [relevant sector]. Demonstrated commitment to [key quality, e.g. excellent customer service / accurate data entry / compassionate patient care] in part-time and flexible roles. Seeking a [X hours] per week position in [sector or role type] where I can contribute [specific value] while maintaining [reason for part-time, if you wish to state it, e.g. “my commitments as a primary carer” — this is optional and entirely your choice to include or omit].]
WORK EXPERIENCE
[Job Title] (Part-time, [X] hrs/week) [Month Year] – [Month Year / Present]
[Employer Name], [City]
– [Achievement or responsibility — quantify where possible]
– [Achievement or responsibility]
– [Achievement or responsibility, e.g. “Consistently achieved 98%+ customer satisfaction score over 18 months”]
[Job Title] (Part-time, [X] hrs/week) [Month Year] – [Month Year]
[Employer Name], [City]
– [Achievement or responsibility]
– [Achievement or responsibility]
[Voluntary Work / Additional Activity] [Month Year] – [Month Year]
[Organisation Name], [City]
– [Brief description of role and contribution]
[Note: if you have a gap, include a brief note:
Career break – [Month Year] to [Month Year]: [Brief reason, e.g. primary carer for elderly parent / full-time study / medical recovery].
This is entirely optional but can pre-empt a recruiter’s question.]
SKILLS
– [Hard skill, e.g. Experienced with EPOS and stock management systems]
– [Hard skill, e.g. Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)]
– [Soft skill, e.g. Calm and efficient under pressure in fast-paced environments]
– [Soft skill, e.g. Flexible team player; proven ability to adapt shift patterns at short notice]
– [Relevant certificate, e.g. Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate (valid to [Year])]
– [Other, e.g. Full UK driving licence / DBS checked (Basic / Enhanced)]
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
[Most Recent Qualification] [Year]
[Institution Name], [City]
[Earlier qualifications, e.g. A-Levels / GCSEs] [Year range]
[Institution Name], [City]
[Summary line, e.g. 7 GCSEs grades 9–4 including Maths (5) and English (6)]
[Vocational / professional qualifications as relevant, e.g. NVQ Level 2 in Customer Service, [Year]]
INTERESTS
[Optional — include only if relevant or character-building. e.g. “Volunteer litter picker and community garden helper, [Local Organisation], since 2023.”]
REFERENCES
Available on request.
Writing Your Part-Time Personal Statement
A strong personal statement on a part-time CV does the same job as on any other CV: it answers who you are, what you offer, and what you are looking for. The unique challenge for part-time applicants is doing this without over-explaining your situation or appearing apologetic about needing flexible work.
You do not need to explain why you want part-time work in your personal statement. Most employers simply want to know you are available for the hours they are advertising and that you can do the job. Unless your reason for working part-time is directly relevant (for example, if you are a student applying for a student-oriented role), leave the explanation to the interview.
Here is an example personal statement for an experienced administrator returning to work part-time:
“A highly organised and detail-focused administrator with seven years of experience in NHS and private healthcare settings. Proven ability to manage busy patient schedules, maintain accurate records, and provide sensitive front-of-house support under pressure. Currently seeking a part-time administrative position of 16–20 hours per week where I can apply my skills and contribute to a professional team from day one.”
Notice: no explanation of why part-time, just a clear statement of availability and a confident summary of experience.
How to Handle Availability and Hours
Being clear about your availability upfront saves everyone’s time and ensures you only receive interview invitations for roles where the hours genuinely work for you. There are two places to communicate this on a part-time CV template:
Under your contact details: A single line such as “Availability: Monday to Friday, 09:00–14:00, up to 25 hours per week” is quick, professional, and immediately useful.
In the final line of your personal statement: “Seeking a part-time position of X to Y hours per week, ideally with [morning/afternoon/weekend] availability.”
Do not list complicated or highly restrictive availability on your CV — if your availability is very specific (e.g., “only Tuesday and Thursday afternoons”), it is better to discuss this at application or interview stage. Very narrow availability listed prominently can cause your CV to be rejected before your skills are even considered.
Presenting Multiple Part-Time Jobs
Many part-time workers hold two or more roles simultaneously. This is increasingly common and should be presented clearly rather than hidden. For each role, note it is part-time and specify the weekly hours in brackets after the job title. If two roles ran concurrently, list them separately and include their overlapping date ranges — a recruiter familiar with part-time work will understand immediately.
Example:
“Retail Sales Assistant (Part-time, 16 hrs/wk) — [Company], [City] — March 2023 to Present”
“Cleaning Operative (Part-time, 10 hrs/wk) — [Company], [City] — September 2023 to January 2026”
This is clear, honest, and shows you are reliable and capable of juggling responsibilities — a positive signal for any employer.
Part-Time Work Around Caring or Study
If you have taken a career break or reduced your hours due to caring responsibilities, study, health, or other personal reasons, you have two options on your part-time CV:
Option A — Include a brief note: “Career break, [dates]: Primary carer for [family member].” This pre-empts the recruiter’s question and controls the narrative. Many employers, particularly in the public sector and larger organisations with flexible working policies, will view this positively.
Option B — Leave it out and address it at interview: If your gap is relatively short (under 12 months) or if you filled the time with other activities (study, volunteering, freelance work), you may prefer to leave the gap unexplained on the CV and address it briefly at interview. There is no legal obligation to explain gaps on a CV.
Remember: under the Equality Act 2010, employers cannot discriminate against you for taking time out for caring responsibilities or for requesting flexible working. Understanding your employment rights and the UK minimum wage for part-time workers will ensure you negotiate from a position of knowledge.
Passing ATS Checks for Part-Time Roles
Many large employers use applicant tracking systems to filter CVs, including for part-time roles. Your part-time CV template should be ATS-optimised:
Use a clean single-column format — no tables, columns, or text boxes. Use standard section headings (“Work Experience”, “Education”, “Skills”). Mirror keywords from the job description throughout your CV, particularly in the skills section and personal statement. Save and submit as a PDF unless Word is specified.
For a deeper guide to keyword strategy and ATS formatting, see our ATS-friendly CV guide.
Understanding Part-Time Pay and Your Rights
Part-time workers in the UK are entitled to the same hourly rate as full-time workers doing equivalent work — the Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 make it unlawful to pay part-time workers a lower rate without objective justification.
In 2026, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.21 per hour. For younger workers, the rates are lower — see our guide to UK minimum wage 2026 hourly rates and take-home pay for the full breakdown. You are also entitled to pro-rata holiday pay (5.6 weeks per year, pro-rated to your hours), pension auto-enrolment if you earn over £10,000 per year, and the same statutory sick pay and parental leave rights as full-time workers.
When evaluating a part-time job offer, calculate your hourly rate carefully. “Competitive salary” language in part-time job ads can be ambiguous — our guide to the real Living Wage UK 2026 explains the difference between the statutory minimum and what many campaigners consider a fair wage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I mention I want part-time work in my personal statement?
If you are applying specifically to a part-time vacancy, there is no need to mention it in the personal statement — the employer already knows the role is part-time. Simply include your availability under your contact details. If applying to a role that is not explicitly advertised as part-time, you may want to raise the question of flexible or reduced hours in your cover letter rather than on the CV itself, and address it at interview.
How do I show part-time jobs on my CV?
Include each part-time role the same way you would a full-time role, with employer name, job title, dates, and bullet-pointed achievements. Add “(Part-time, X hrs/week)” after the job title to make the context clear. If you held two or more roles concurrently, list each separately with overlapping dates.
Can I get a mortgage or rent privately if I work part-time?
Part-time income is considered by most mortgage lenders and letting agents, though your maximum borrowing will be based on your actual annual income. Some lenders require a minimum income threshold. If you are supplementing part-time income with benefits such as Universal Credit, this may or may not be counted depending on the lender’s policy. It is worth seeking independent financial advice if this is a concern.
What are my rights if an employer refuses flexible or part-time working?
Employees with 26 weeks of continuous service have the legal right to request flexible working under the Employment Rights Act 1996 (as amended). Employers must consider requests seriously and can only refuse them on specific statutory business grounds. If you believe a refusal is unlawful, you can raise a grievance or, ultimately, bring a claim to an employment tribunal. Our guide to UK employment contracts covers your core employment rights in more detail.
Find hundreds of part-time vacancies across every sector at UK Jobs Alert — your part-time CV template is ready; now find the role that fits your life.
