Resources for Customizing Your CV Template

How to Choose the Right CV Format

Our collection of CV templates includes a variety of formats designed to match different career stages and highlight your most relevant skills, credentials, and achievements.

CHRONOLOGICAL CV FORMAT

Highlights your work history, research, and publications in reverse-chronological order, which is ideal for showcasing steady career growth

Chronological

RECOMMENDED

  • You have consistent career progression in your current industry.
  • You’ve built a professional career within a single field of expertise.
  • You’re applying for a role that is similar to your current position.

COMBINATION CV FORMAT

Balances your skills and employment history to showcase diverse qualifications, making it an excellent format for career changers and freelancers

Combinational
  • You’re changing to a new field and need to highlight transferable skills.
  • You have freelance or varied work experience that you want to showcase.
  • You’re applying for a mid-level role that values diverse qualifications.

FUNCTIONAL CV FORMAT

Emphasizes skills and research areas over work history, making it an ideal format for recent graduates or job seekers with limited experience

Functional
  • You’re a recent graduate with limited professional experience to highlight.
  • You have gaps in your work history and want to focus on other areas.
  • You’re applying for an entry-level role that emphasizes skills over experience.

CV Formatting Tips for Every Template

Our CV templates are professionally designed and customizable to reflect your personal style. Follow these tips to tailor your template while maintaining a clean, polished look.

Margins

Keep margins between 0.5 inches and 1 inch on all sides. This ensures your CV looks clean, fits neatly on two pages (or more for experienced candidates), and is easy for ATS to parse.

Font Size

Use an easy-to-read font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Stick to 18–24 point font size for your name, 14–16 points for section headings, and 10–12 points for body text.

Bullet Points

Use nondecorative bullet points to list achievements or responsibilities. Start each bullet with a strong action verb and maintain consistency in formatting and punctuation.

Spacing

Include spacing between sections and bullets to make your CV easy to scan. Use single spacing within sections and one to two lines between sections for clarity.

Get Hired Fast With MyPerfectResume’s CV Templates

Icon for professional resume layout

Designed by Professionals

Our CV templates are professionally designed to meet industry standards with clear, organized, and visually appealing layouts that stand out to hiring managers.

Graphic promoting prewritten resume content

Easy to Customize

Easily customize the design and add as many sections to your CV as you need to highlight the skills, experience, and education that matter most in your field.

Graphic labeled “Errors” for writing diagnostics

ATS-Friendly Layouts

Our CV templates follow best practices for applicant tracking systems (ATS), improving your chances of passing automated screening and getting noticed.

Icon representing expert guidance during job application process

Expert CV-Building Tools

Use our CV Maker to build your CV quickly with step-by-step guidance, effortless customization, and job-specific content suggestions.

Get Started Creating a Job-Winning CV

Upload Your Current CV

Update details and move your content to a new template.

Create a New CV

Choose a template, and we’ll help you write each section.

Job Seekers Trust Our CV Templates

FAQ

Last Updated:

What is a CV?

A CV—also known as a curriculum vitae—is a detailed document that gives employers an overview of your professional experience and academic background.

Most CVs include information about publications, coursework, research projects, awards and achievements, scholarships or grants, and other career accomplishments.

With a professional template, you can build a CV in a matter of minutes. Try one of our free CV templates to kick-start your professional CV today.

When should you use a CV instead of a resume?

You should use a CV instead of a resume when applying for academic, research, or medical positions, or when a job posting specifically requests a CV. A CV provides a comprehensive overview of your education, publications, research, and achievements, making it ideal for roles that require detailed credentials rather than a concise summary of work experience.

What is the best CV template?

The best CV template uses a clean, professional layout that highlights your key qualifications, experience, and education in a clear, easy‑to‑read format. MyPerfectResume offers high-quality CV templates for various experience levels, industries, and roles.

Choose a structure with well‑defined sections, consistent fonts, and sufficient white space, and prioritize simplicity over design flair so hiring managers can quickly find your information.

What are the benefits of using a template for a CV?

Using a CV template saves time and ensures your document looks professional and organized. Templates provide consistent formatting, clear section headings, and balanced spacing, helping your experience and skills stand out to recruiters and hiring committees in your field.

CV templates also reduce the risk of design errors and make it easier to tailor your CV for different jobs, ensuring your application is polished and easy for hiring managers to read.

Are your CV templates ATS-friendly?

Yes, our CV templates are ATS-friendly, meaning they are designed to be easily read by applicant tracking systems. They use simple layouts, standard fonts, and clear headings so your skills and experience are accurately parsed. This increases the chances your CV will reach a human recruiter while still looking professional and visually appealing.

What should I include in my CV?

You should include several sections on your CV, such as publications, conferences, and professional memberships. Every professional CV must include the following sections:

  • A header with your contact information
  • A professional summary showcasing key qualifications
  • A work history section focused on accomplishments
  • A skills section highlighting a mix of relevant hard and soft skills
  • Your education history and relevant credentials

Depending on your field, you may also include publications, research, or volunteer work. Make sure each section is clear, concise, and tailored to the position you’re applying for.

How do I customize my CV template?

To customize your CV template, start by replacing placeholder text with your personal information, work experience, education, and skills. Adjust section order to emphasize your strongest qualifications, and tailor content to match the job description.

You can also modify fonts, colors, and spacing to reflect your professional style while keeping the layout clean and easy to read.

How long should a CV be?

A CV should generally be two to three pages long, though length can vary depending on your experience and field. Here are a few guidelines to consider:

  • Entry-level or recent graduates: Two pages
  • Mid-level candidates: Two to three pages
  • Senior-level professionals: Three to five pages or more
  • Academics and researchers: Five pages or more, depending on your field

Academic, research, and medical CVs are often longer than two pages because they include publications, presentations, and detailed credentials.