Simple CV template

For many job applications, the best approach to designing your CV is to use a clean, simple CV template that lets your education, experience and skills speak for themselves. Here, we present our collection of simple CV templates – basic designs that use few if any graphical elements to get your information across. Some of these are appropriate for all roles and others are tailored specifically to certain roles, as indicated.

Basic CV template UK layout (free, MS Word)

Basic CV template UK layout

Our basic CV template has always been a great choice for a clean simple job application with no fuss or clutter. It’s a simple layout that prompts you to complete the core sections, so you don’t miss important details out.

School leaver CV template (2019)

School leavers CV template

We show you how to write a UK school leaver’s CV with a complete ‘how-to-write’ guide and real examples. We also give you a smart modern school leaver template that you can download and use yourself.

Free Retail CV/résumé template in Word

Retail sales CV template

This is a simple effective one-page retail CV that works as either a CV or résumé. It’s filled out for a retail sales job but would suit lots of other positions. A fresh bright layout with a professional feel.

Example of a simple CV templateTips for using your simple CV template:

  • Before customising your simple CV template, read our free guide on ‘How to write a CV’ (or ‘How to write a CV for clinical jobs‘) and view examples of CVs.
  • Tailor each CV you send out to the job you’re applying for, highlighting where you have the required skills and education mentioned in the job ad, and reiterating this in your covering letter.
  • As a general rule, make sure your CV is no longer than 2 pages.
  • When choosing a template, avoid distracting design elements, fancy colours and fonts. A simple CV template from this page has none of those things!
  • Keep to a typical layout/format that employers are used to, so they can find specific information that they are looking for easily. Our simple CV template collection is ideal for this.
  • Give adequate ways for prospective employers to contact you – usually phone, email and address is expected.
  • If your personal email address would raise an eyebrow or two (footiefan@aol.com for example), set up a new gmail address that uses your name instead.
  • Never write in the third person (e.g. “John has demonstrated great interpersonnel skills”). You didn’t have your CV written by a third person and it just makes you look pompous and arrogant.
  • Don’t include fluffy statements (e.g. “I have great interpersonnel skills”!!) – ‘soft skills’ should be supported by evidence and examples.
  • Include achievements for each job you’ve had where possible, and make sure these are specific and verifiable. Employers won’t be interested in the fact you managed a £500k marketing budget at your previous firm. Anyone can spend money. Set out on your CV template the successes you had during your time at the firm.
  • Don’t include a photo unless it’s relevant to the nature of the job (e.g. a model).
  • Run a spell checker on your CV, read it out loud to yourself, then get someone to read it over for you. With so many CVs landing on your prospective employer’s desk every day, a small error is enough to get your application rejected.
  • Customise your simple CV template if you want to. There’s no harm in picking another font if you don’t like the one that has been used on your CV template. We highly recommend you check out our article on the best CV or résumé fonts to use – not every font is suitable for your job application.
  • Add and remove sections to suit your circumstances – as long as you keep in the basics. Your prospective employers will expect to see contact information, work experience, education and references as a bare minimum. We recommend you also have a ‘Skills’ section where you set out the skills you have that are relevant to the position and the skill level (e.g. basic, intermediate, advanced). Some people like to include ‘Interests and Hobbies’ – this can be a valuable section that can help your would-be employer decide if you would fit well into their team environment. Include interests that are desirable from an employer’s perspective – healthy pursuits, for example, rather than ‘drinking and socialising’ which suggests to your employer that you won’t be at your best on a Monday morning!

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