Question 1

Which CV template should I choose?

Accepted Answer

Work backwards from who reads it first. If you are uploading to a large employer’s careers portal, pick a template with an ATS score of 5 and a single column. If a named person opens the file — a founder, a studio lead, a hiring manager you have spoken to — you can afford a designed layout. Then match the category to the sector: corporate and classic for finance, law and government; technology for engineering; creative for design and media.

Question 2

What does the ATS score mean?

Accepted Answer

It is our rating, from 1 to 5, of how reliably an applicant tracking system can extract the content from that layout. A 5 means one column, real headings, no tables, no text inside images and no icon fonts, so the file reads back the way you wrote it. Lower scores indicate layouts where columns, panels or decorative elements can cause a parser to re-order or flatten the text. Every score is stated on the template’s own page, along with what specifically costs it points.

Question 3

How many of the 56 templates are free?

Accepted Answer

16 templates are available on the free plan, including the highest-scoring ATS layouts, and the free plan lets you build a CV and download it as a PDF. The remaining designs are part of Pro, which also adds unlimited CVs, unlimited downloads, custom sections and full control over fonts and spacing. Use the Free filter to see exactly what is included before you create an account.

Question 4

Can I switch template after I have written my CV?

Accepted Answer

Yes, at any point, and you will not lose anything. Every template consumes the same normalised data, so switching is a single click in the editor and your sections, dates and bullet points move across untouched. Most people write in a plain layout and try three or four designs at the end.

Question 5

Should my CV include a photo?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the market. In France, Germany, Spain, Morocco, the Gulf and much of Asia a photograph is normal and its absence can look like an omission. In the UK, US, Canada and Ireland it is discouraged, and some employers strip photos before review to keep hiring defensible. Filter for templates with photo support if you need one — and remember the photo can always be switched off for a specific application.

Question 6

Are these templates suitable for a resume as well as a CV?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The difference is mostly length and paper size: a US resume is typically one page on US Letter, while a CV can run to two or three pages on A4. Every template here supports both paper sizes and re-flows rather than scaling, so the same design works for either. The ATS category in particular includes layouts drawn to the North American convention.

Professional CV templates

Start with the ATS score

One column or two

Photo or no photo

Match the industry, not your taste

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Choosing a CV template

Pick a template, fill it in, download the PDF