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CV templates

CV templates that survive the skim and the software

Six recruiter-friendly designs, rendered live from the same engine that powers the editor — never a doctored screenshot. Pick one, make it yours, switch designs anytime without retyping a word.

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Modern

Centered header with accent headings. Friendly and current.

Professional

Tinted sidebar for contact and skills. Calm and structured.

Bold

Bold color band over a single column. Confident and modern.

Minimal

No rules, lots of whitespace. Clean and ATS-friendly.

Classic

Centered headings in a single column. Formal and elegant.

Compact

Tight, space-efficient single column. Fits more on one page.

By role

CV templates by role, with real example content

Each role page pairs the right design with example content written for that job — summaries, achievement bullets and the skills recruiters actually search for — previewed live before you commit.

Software engineer CV templateImpact-first bullets, a scannable stack, zero fluff.Web developer CV templateShow live work, name the stack, prove the performance.Data analyst CV templateDecisions influenced, not dashboards built.Product manager CV templateOutcomes shipped, metrics moved, teams aligned.Project manager CV templateOn time, on budget, with the numbers to prove it.Marketing manager CV templatePipeline, growth and campaigns that paid for themselves.Graphic designer CV templateA CV that shows taste without fighting the parser.Registered nurse CV templateLicenses visible, units named, patient loads quantified.Teacher CV templateLearning outcomes and classroom evidence, formally presented.Student & graduate CV templateNo experience is not no evidence. Structure it right.

How to choose a CV template

The honest answer: the template matters less than what you put in it, but the wrong template can sabotage good content. Three things actually matter. First, parseability — your CV will pass through software before people, so the layout must export as real text in a sensible reading order. Every design here does. Second, fit with the field — a formal single column reads right for law and academia, a confident two-column design fits startups and creative roles. Third, density— pick a layout that makes your amount of experience look intentional, whether that's Compact fitting a long career onto one page or Modern making a shorter history feel complete.

Why the previews here are different

Template galleries usually show polished screenshots that look nothing like what you end up with. Every preview on this site is a live render from the same engine that powers the editor and the PDF export: what you see on this page is exactly what your document will be, right down to the accent color you pick before you ever sign up.

Questions, answered

Are these CV templates really free?
Yes. Every design is free to edit in the online builder and free to export as a PDF, with a free account. Paid plans only come in for the AI features (tailoring your CV to a job, generating cover letters), never for the templates themselves.
Are the templates ATS-friendly?
Yes. All six designs export as real, selectable text in a standard reading order — no tables, text boxes or images of text that trip up applicant tracking systems. The single-column designs (Minimal, Classic, Compact) are the most conservative choice for strict corporate portals.
Can I switch templates after I've written my CV?
Anytime, without retyping anything. Your content and the design are stored separately, so one click in the builder's Design panel moves everything you've written into a different template, and you can switch back just as easily.
Single column or two columns — which should I pick?
Two-column designs look modern and fit more into the first glance; single-column designs are the safest for automated parsing and senior/formal roles. If you're applying through big-company portals, lean single column. For startups, agencies and design-adjacent roles, two columns is a fine choice.
Should my CV template include a photo?
It depends on where you're applying: photos are customary in much of continental Europe and discouraged in the UK, US, Canada and Australia. Most of our designs have an optional photo slot, so the same document works both ways — just toggle it per application.

Pick a template. The AI does the rest.

Build your CV free in any design, then let ApplyLift tailor it to each job description and draft the matching cover letter. Sign up free and get AI credits to try it.

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