Professional CV template
Soft tinted paper, a tall photo with a vertical hello, and your job title on a dark bar.
Best for experienced candidates, career changers and first jobs. Two-column layout, professional and minimal, in green.
£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 Professional design: Grey, Navy, Olive.
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 professional CV
A professional CV is one a busy reader can trust at a glance, because it is tidy, consistent and easy to scan. This professional CV template uses soft tinted paper, a tall photo with a vertical hello, and your job title on a dark bar, so the reader knows straight away what you do. It suits experienced people in office, management, sales, operations and other roles where a polished first impression matters.
The photo is optional, and a monogram shows if you leave it out. It comes in grey, navy and olive. Fill it in and preview every page for free, with no account needed. Pay £4.99 once to download it as PDF and Word, with a matching cover letter included. It is A4 and laid out for UK applications, with real, selectable text, and you can switch to any other template without losing a word.
Write a job title that fits the role
The dark bar is one of the first things a reader sees, so use a clear title that matches the job you want, such as Operations Manager or Senior Sales Executive. Avoid vague labels like professional or hard worker.
Open with a short profile
Three or four lines are enough: what you do, your level of experience, the kind of organisation you work in and one or two strengths. Tailor it to each application, using words from the advert where they are true for you.
Show what you achieved
Under each role, give a few bullets on what improved because of you, such as a process made faster, a team you trained or a target you met. Keep each one to a line or two and start with a strong verb.
Keep the formatting consistent
A CV looks professional when the details match. Use one date format, the same style for every job title and employer, and full stops either on every bullet or on none. Read it once on screen and once printed before you send it.
Think twice about the photo
Most UK employers do not expect a photo. If you would rather not include one, leave it out and the monogram keeps the layout balanced. Either way, leave off your age and date of birth.
Questions
What makes a CV look professional?
Clear structure, consistent formatting and plain, specific writing. Use readable fonts, a sensible amount of space and colour only for small touches. Put your newest job first, keep it to two sides of A4 and check every line for spelling mistakes. A tidy layout helps, but accurate, relevant content matters most.
Should a professional CV be one page or two?
Two sides of A4 suits most people with a few years of experience. If you are early in your career, one page is often enough. Give the space to recent, relevant work and shorten older roles to a line each, rather than adding a third page.
Do I have to use the photo on this template?
No. The photo is optional, and a monogram shows in its place if you leave it out. Most UK employers do not expect a photo, so the monogram version suits most UK applications. You can preview both before you download.
Which colourway is best for a professional CV?
All three are calm and suit most employers. Grey is the most neutral, navy feels traditional and fits finance, legal and public sector roles well, and olive is a little warmer. Choose the one you like best, as your content counts for far more than the colour.
More templates like this
- Eucalyptus CV template - Warm neutral paper, light tracked capitals and an airy two-column layout.
- Cream CV template - Pale plain paper, a big two-line name, bracketed section labels and dates in a margin, with an optional black-and-white photo.
- Green CV template - Black and grey: a boxed contact strip, a round photo over a hatched square, a bold name with a hatched rule, and education in a dark panel.
- Zürich CV template - A big grotesque name, numbered sections and one bold accent. No photo.