Professional CV template: ‘Cornered’ design, in Word format

This simple CV template uses the classic Garamond font and an attractive soft-blue border to help your application stand out from the pile. Dark blue headings divide up your content which is presented in a logical, ATS-friendly way. There are no graphics, lines, tables or text boxes to confuse ATS software, should your prospective employer scan your CV as part of their application process. The social media icons are included using a font, allowing you to add this small style detail to page two of your CV without worrying about the effect on an ATS programme. Sample information for a Secretary or Administrator-type role.

CV template details:

  • CV ref: #204
  • File size: 20kb
  • File format: .docx (Microsoft Word format)
  • File name: Cornered-CV-Template.docx
  • Fonts required: Garamond, Social Media Circled
  • Price:
  • ATS CV: Yes*
  • User rating:
    Professional CV template: 'Cornered' design, in Word format
    4.7 rating based on 12,345 ratings
    Overall rating: 4.7 out of 5 based on 46 reviews.
/cv-template/cornered-free-professional-cv-template-to-download/

About this CV template:

Fresh, smart and fuss-free, this attractive template is a great choice for a whole host of roles. It has been designed with simplicity in mind, so adding and editing sections is very easy for anyone with a basic knowledge of Microsoft Word. Achievements are highlighted using font shading, while sub sections using basic styling to help make the text easy to scan through.

* Every effort has been made to design this CV template according to best practice so that your information can be read by ATS software correctly. However, all Applicant Tracking Systems are different and no guarantees can be offered.

Click here to view a preview of this CV template (PDF)

Click here for our CV editing guide

Don't like this CV template? Find another:

Review this CV template:

Name
Email
Rating
Review Content

Text preview of this CV template:

This is a text-only preview - download the formatted Word file using the link above.

James McCarthy | Secretary/Administrator

21, High Street, Nottingham NG1 2DY | Tel: 0115 9123456

james.mccarthy@aol.com

Profile:

I am a competent secretary with 7 years of secretarial and administrative experience. I have excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) and stakeholder management experience, having previously developed strong networks within my work environment to provide more effective support. I am looking for a full time role at a city firm.

Work history:

Secretary : March 2017 – date (30 hours/wk)

Hawley and Sons Limited, Nottingham

In this role I carried out typical secretarial duties to a high standard, including: answering telephones and minding reception, copy and oral typing, filing, monitoring and responding to emails, managing stationary for the office, handling post and booking appointments into the diary.

I was employee of the month May 2017 / August 2017 / April 2018 / October 2018.

Senior Secretary : January 2014 – February 2017 (25 hours/wk)

Geoffrey and Co Limited, Nottingham

In this senior administrative role, I took ownership of the substantial number of daily enquiries, resolving or escalating them as appropriate. My role required me to get to know the company’s clients and build relationships with them and their PAs. I produced long complex house-style documents with a high degree of accuracy, together with making document comparisons. In addition, I managed the diary for senior members of staff, arranging and rebooking meetings, conference calls and lunches.

I progressed to a supervisory position, managing and training three junior members of the team.

Secretary / Administrator : April 2012 – December 2013 (18 hours/wk)

Hamilton & sons Limited, Nottingham

This role covered a range of administrative duties, including taking accurate and detailed telephone messages, accurate and regular maintenance of the company’s filing systems, e-filing, and archiving,  retrieving files from storage and opening new matter files, drawing up and issuing bills, keeping accurate records of disbursements/fees/expenses and organising travel arrangements (inc. flights, accommodation and dining).

Volunteer : July 2011 – March 2012 (35 hours/wk)

Oxfam, Nottingham

Whilst seeking my first position, I volunteered at Oxfam full-time in one of their busy high street stores. Responsibilities included serving customers on the shop floor and at the till, sorting new stock, creating displays, training new junior members, ensuring health & safety processes were followed and organising the rota.

Education:

A Levels : September 2009 – June 2011

Redhill Academy, Arnold

English (A), Maths (A), Biology (B), Design and Technology (C)

GCSEs : September 2005 – June 2009

Redhill Academy, Arnold

English (A), Maths (A), Biology (B), Design and Technology (C), Geography (C), Art (C), History (C), Economics (C)

Hobbies and interests:

I enjoy rowing in my spare time and I am part of a local City team that regularly competes at National events. I also love visiting the gym and spending time with family.

References:

James Brown, Manager, Hawley & Sons Limited : james@hawleyandsons.co.uk / 0115 9123456

Holly Smith, Manager, Geoffrey & Co : holly.smith@geoffreyandco.co.uk / 0115 234567

Template details:

This free ATS-friendly  professional CV template has a super simple design and is easy to edit in Microsoft Word. Adding or editing sections is no problem, making it perfect for just about any role.

Here’s page two of the template:

Cornered CV template - page two

Fonts required for this professional CV template:

Disclaimer: There are many ATS packages around – we therefore cannot guarantee (nor can any other website) that our ATS-friendly CV templates will run through every one without issue. However, be assured that we have lovingly designed this CV template with best ATS design principles in mind.

“Employers read CVs very quickly – do the key points of your CV stand out if the CV is only scanned for a few seconds? View it from a distance – does it look neat and professional?”

~ University of Birmingham

The easiest way to get work experience for your professional CV template

If you’re a recent school leaver you may be worried about how you’re going to get a full time job with little to no work experience. Although most employers expect a school leaver to have quite a bare work history, it would still always be more favourable if some kind of experience was present on your CV.

For entry level positions an employer would be inundated with applications from ex-students who are now looking for employment. When faced with so many other applicants you will need to try and prove to the employer that you already have some experience in a working environment.

Here’s the easiest way to get work experience for your CV:

Voluntary work

You’ll see in this professional CV template that the candidate has a voluntary position which he took almost immediately after completing his A-levels.

Some people assume voluntary work is for retired people who are looking to fill their time and help out a good cause. In some cases this may be true, but you’d also be very surprised at how many different types of people volunteer for a local charity or country park.

Voluntary work should not be dismissed as a waste of time just because you don’t get paid. Instead, view this as an opportunity, to not only add valuable work experience to your CV, but also a chance to develop your soft skills. Most employers look for certain soft skills in all their employees. Here are the 6 soft skills an employer wants to see on your CV.

Here are some sites to help you find volunteering opportunities:

Work experience = soft skills

There are two possible paths you can take when leaving school and searching for a full time position. You can either apply with a CV that has a very bare work experience section – maybe even none. Or, you can take up a voluntary role and instantly create a list of skills, tasks and responsibilities for your CV.

The advantage is clear from this candidate’s work history: he has no employment gaps and he has added valuable work experience, thanks to taking up a voluntary position.

There are so many soft skills you can learn and develop from a voluntary position. Here are some of the main skills:

  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Problem solving
  • Organisation
  • Work ethic

These soft skills will become an important tool to use on your CV when looking for that first job. An employer will instantly be able to see that you have already begun to build up these skills and have some experience already in a working environment. See our article ‘Volunteering for work experience‘ for more information.

Although in the example CV the candidate has not made much of his voluntary experience, a school leaver with very little experience can provide far more detail about the skills they gained volunteering. See our School Leaver’s CV for more details and examples.

Part time work

Part-time roles are often easier to find and can be a great way to keep busy and earn money whilst searching for a full time position. This may be a more popular route than voluntary work because of the pay and the chance to work in a similar industry to your chosen career path.

In the example content used for our professional CV template, you’ll see the candidate’s first job was for just 18 hours a week. However, he includes it anyway as it demonstrates the valuable skills he has built in his first position.

Even working in a coffee shop will reap many rewards. Not only will you be getting paid for your efforts, you will also be building up some valuable work experience for your CV. So don’t turn your nose up at something which is below your career goal, and get working as quickly as possible to build up that valuable work experience.

Part time is still work experience

Ideally you want to try and get a part time job in a similar industry to where you would like to work full time. If retail is of interest to you, applying for weekend jobs at Christmas or during busy seasonal periods will often yield success.

The interaction you have on a daily basis with customers and co-workers will give you a great platform with which to build upon when searching for a full time position. Part time roles can also create other opportunities and it may be possible to land a more permanent position within the same company.

More CV templates like this:

2 thoughts on “Professional CV template: ‘Cornered’ design, in Word format”

Leave a comment