Online CV Software & Employment Resources

Q: Is it OK to use a CV template?

It’s more than OK to use a CV template . A CV template saves you lots of time by providing you with a pre-formatted CV layout that you simply download to your computer and fill in with your own details. It’s useful to learn how to write a CV before editing your download though. All of our CV templates are compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS) — software that scans CVs and cover letters for keywords. Graphical elements, uncommon file formats, and rare fonts can prevent the ATS from reading your CV properly, so it’s best to use one of our ATS-friendly CV templates.

Q: What does CV stand for?

CV stands for curriculum vitæ , a Latin word meaning ‘course of your life’. In other words, a CV summarises your career into one document. Your CV needs to cover your education, work experience, skills , and hobbies and interests, so that employers can look through your CV, seeing your professional progress and why you’re the perfect candidate for the job they’re advertising.

Q: What makes a good CV?

Here’s what makes a good CV: Your contact details should be presented clearly, including your name in a large font, your mobile phone number, and your email address. Your postal address, date of birth, nationality, sex, and marital status are unnecessary. A strong CV personal statement that highlights your most relevant achievements, skills, and qualifications for the job. A list of skills that include skills mentioned in the job advert so that employers can see you meet the requirements for the position. A comprehensive work experience section that outlines your achievements at your current and most recent jobs. Focus on achievements rather than duties because achievements impress employers more. Add hard numbers to your bullet points to show recruiters what you’re capable of. Your educational achievements including any degrees you hold, your A-Levels, and GCSEs or equivalents (for example, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers, and vocational qualifications). Some insight into your hobbies and interests to give employers a sense of what kind of person you are like to work with.

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The Best CV Resources Online

CV Genius provides the highest quality CV and cover letter resources, including examples and templates, to help you get job interviews and bring your job search to an end.

CV Templates

Whether you’re looking for something traditional or seeking a design that’s a bit more creative, you’ll find the CV template you’re looking for here — all free to download.

CV Examples

Need some inspiration as you write your CV? Have a look at our free downloadable CV examples to see what CVs for your industry should look like.

CV Layout

Find out more about CV layout, including margins and font. How you structure your CV is just as important as what you write because it means employers can find your information quickly.

How to Write a CV

If you’re new to the job market, learn how to write a CV for your first job. If you’re updating your CV, brush up on the basics, and learn how new technology affects CV writing.

Why Choose

CV Genius has the best CV and cover letter resources on the web, created particularly for UK job hunters. All our advice is written by CPRW holders — the industry's top certification for CV and cover letter writers.

Best CV Maker Online

Our CV maker is easy to use: Just pick your favourite template, answer a few questions, and select from pre-written bullet points to create a CV in Word or PDF format in under 15 minutes.

Top Career & CV Experts

Each of our team of career counsellors and CV writers has years of experience helping hundreds of job hunters to seek out fulfilling new jobs and new opportunities.

CV and Cover Letter Resources for Job Seekers

No matter whether you’ve just left school or university, or have decades of experience to call on, our free-to-use templates, resources, and CV maker are all at your disposal.

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Why is CV Genius the best free CV maker available online?

Our CV builder allows you to:

Pick your favourite CV template from a selection of modern and traditional designs
Create a full-length CV no matter your skill set, experience level, or background
Download, edit, and print your CV in Word or PDF format

Is it OK to use a CV template?

It’s more than OK to use a CV template. A CV template saves you lots of time by providing you with a pre-formatted CV layout that you simply download to your computer and fill in with your own details. It’s useful to learn how to write a CV before editing your download though.

All of our CV templates are compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS) — software that scans CVs and cover letters for keywords. Graphical elements, uncommon file formats, and rare fonts can prevent the ATS from reading your CV properly, so it’s best to use one of our ATS-friendly CV templates.

What does CV stand for?

CV stands for curriculum vitæ, a Latin word meaning ‘course of your life’. In other words, a CV summarises your career into one document.

Your CV needs to cover your education, work experience, skills, and hobbies and interests, so that employers can look through your CV, seeing your professional progress and why you’re the perfect candidate for the job they’re advertising.

Which CV builder template should I use?

All of our CV templates are designed to be suitable for any job and no matter what your background is. We do recommend that you use a traditional design for jobs in law firms, banks, and civil service roles because these employers tend to be more conservative.

For creative roles, like graphic design, event planning, and fashion, feel free to select a more creative CV template.

What makes a good CV?

Here’s what makes a good CV:

Your contact details should be presented clearly, including your name in a large font, your mobile phone number, and your email address. Your postal address, date of birth, nationality, sex, and marital status are unnecessary.
A strong CV personal statement that highlights your most relevant achievements, skills, and qualifications for the job.
A list of skills that include skills mentioned in the job advert so that employers can see you meet the requirements for the position.
A comprehensive work experience section that outlines your achievements at your current and most recent jobs. Focus on achievements rather than duties because achievements impress employers more. Add hard numbers to your bullet points to show recruiters what you’re capable of.
Your educational achievements including any degrees you hold, your A-Levels, and GCSEs or equivalents (for example, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers, and vocational qualifications).
Some insight into your hobbies and interests to give employers a sense of what kind of person you are like to work with.

Do I need a matching cover letter for my CV?

Yes, you do need a matching cover letter for your CV. Format your cover letter the same as you formatted your CV. That means:

Using the same font and font size on your cover letter and CV
Highlighting your name in the same way (font size, colour)
Applying the same formatting (margins, lines, line spacing)

If writing your cover letter from scratch sounds like too much hard work, use one of our ready-to-use cover letter templates. All of our CV templates have a matching cover letter template you can use to save time.

Should I use a different CV for every job?

Yes, you should use a different CV for every job. Tailoring your CV for each job shows employers you understand what they’re looking for in candidates.

At a minimum, use the company’s name in your cover letter and CV personal statement, include keywords from the job advert in your CV, and write something in your cover letter about why you especially want to work for this company or that shows you know something about the company’s goals or history.

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Online CV Software & Employment Resources

The smartest way to write your CV.

The CV Genius Blog