The best CV template is not always the most visually dramatic one. It is the one that makes your fit easy to understand for the role you want.
Match the template to the hiring context
- Corporate roles: Use clean structure, restrained colour, and strong spacing.
- Creative roles: Add more personality, but keep the content easy to scan.
- Technical roles: Prioritise skills, tools, projects, and measurable impact.
- Senior roles: Give leadership scope, commercial outcomes, and strategic achievements enough room.
One-column or two-column?
One-column layouts are usually safer for applicant tracking systems and dense experience. Two-column layouts can work well when the structure remains simple and the most important information is not buried in a narrow sidebar.
Colour and typography
Use colour to create hierarchy, not decoration. A strong name, clear headings, and consistent spacing will do more for readability than a bright palette.
Template test before applying
Before sending, export the CV and read it on a laptop and phone. If the document feels cramped, confusing, or hard to skim, choose a cleaner template.