Simple CV template
One fine line down the full page, wide margins and plenty of white space. No photo.
Best for experienced candidates, career changers and first jobs. One-column layout, minimal and elegant, in blue.
£4.99 one-off · CV + matching cover letter · PDF and Word. Secure checkout by Stripe, instant access, no subscription. Or try it free with your details first.
Colourways of the Hairline design: Ink, Fjord, Fern.
What's included
- A matching cover letter in the same design
- A4, laid out for UK applications
- Real, selectable text that online application systems can read
- Switch template any time without losing a word
- AI writing help for your profile, achievements and letter (up to 60 AI actions)
- PDF and Word downloads of your CV and letter
- Edit and download again any time, no subscription
What to put on a simple CV
A simple CV is easy to read in the thirty seconds most recruiters give it. This simple CV template uses one fine line down the page, wide margins and clear headings, with no photo, icons or graphics to get in the way. It suits almost any job, from office and retail work to graduate schemes, and it prints cleanly in black and white.
Write your CV here and preview every page for free, with no account needed. When you are happy, pay £4.99 once to download it as PDF and Word, with a matching cover letter included. The text is real and selectable, the layout is A4 and UK style, and you can switch to any other template at any time without losing a word.
Lead with a short profile
Three or four lines under your name saying who you are, what you are good at and the kind of job you want. Write it for the role you are applying for, not as a general summary of your life.
Put your recent work first
List jobs with the most recent at the top. Give the job title, employer, place and dates, then two to four lines on what you did and what changed because of it.
Use plain headings
Profile, Experience, Education and Skills are the headings people expect. A simple layout works because the reader finds what they need without hunting for it.
Cut anything that does not help
You do not need your full address, date of birth, a photo or a list of hobbies with no link to the job. A town and a phone number are enough for contact details.
Check it in print
Print one copy or look at the full-page preview. If the page looks crowded, shorten the oldest jobs to a single line rather than squeezing the text smaller.
Questions
What is a simple CV template?
A layout with clear headings, plenty of white space and no graphics, photos or charts. It keeps the attention on what you have done, works for most UK jobs and is easy to read on screen and on paper.
Is a simple CV better than a creative one?
For most jobs, yes. Recruiters read quickly, and a plain layout lets them find your experience at a glance. Creative designs suit roles where how you present things is part of the job, such as design or marketing.
How long should a simple CV be?
One or two sides of A4. One page is enough for many school leavers and graduates. Two pages suits most people with a few years of experience.
Can I download my CV in Word?
Yes. Filling it in and previewing are free. Paying £4.99 once lets you download it as PDF and Word, with a matching cover letter included.
More templates like this
- Slate CV template - Black and white, wide-tracked capitals and section labels in the margin.
- Oxford CV template - Quiet serif typography and generous margins. A strong everyday CV.
- Navy CV template - Centred and polished, with your systems and availability as tags under your name. No photo.
- Navy CV template - A dark header band with your SIA licence and first aid up front, then sites and shift patterns. No photo.