Whether you’re writing a new CV or just want to give your old one a makeover, these 15 easy-to-use templates are built for Google Docs.
Simply click to make a copy of your favourite free CV template and start filling in your information to create a job-winning application.
1. Serif CV template
The Serif template allows you to outline your skills and experience in a visually pleasing, one-page CV format.
By default, Serif includes a dedicated section for foreign language skills. If you don’t speak multiple languages, you can change that section to highlight any other unique traits that set you apart, such as your programming languages or freelance projects.
2. Swiss CV template
Featuring a contemporary design that conveys confidence and a forward-thinking mindset, the Swiss template is a great choice if you’re applying for jobs in tech or marketing.
Moreover, editing the Swiss template is easy as its simple vertical layout looks great across one or two pages.
3. Spearmint CV template
Bright section headers give Spearmint a fresh, energetic appearance suitable for employers with more casual company cultures.
This CV template’s minimal design is clean and straightforward, so each section will stand out to employers.
In Google’s template gallery, this CV template starts with a skills section. However, we advise starting your CV with a personal statement. Your application will appear tailored to the role, giving it more of an impact on employers.
4. Modern Writer CV template
We appreciate this template’s use of colour to highlight key information. The contact details and work experience entries are easy to find on the page.
Like the previous template, the Modern Typewriter’s simple layout makes it very easy to personalise your information, and it looks great across multiple pages.
5. Coral CV template
With its cheerful header and pastel accents, this template conveys enthusiasm and friendliness. For this reason, Coral is sure to strike the right chord if you’re seeking a customer-facing role — or writing your care assistant CV.
6. Severn CV template
This CV template’s stripped-back greyscale design helps the employer focus on what you have to say. Simple sans serif fonts and varied letter weighting create an easy reading experience, with each CV section easy to distinguish from the last.
7. Stirling CV template
Looking to stand out? The Stirling’s creative two-tone border sets it apart from other CVs.
This CV’s monochrome design makes it pleasingly modern. Subtle green highlights in the header bring forward your name and contact details, while tactful bolding emphasises each section header and job title.
8. Tyneside CV template
The Tyneside template is cleverly structured, using a versatile modern design appropriate for a variety of professions.
Efficient use of space in the header allows you to fit your name and contact information into a single block and save more space for your skills and experience. The following sections read just as easily thanks to subheadings and generous line spacing.
9. York CV template
The York CV template has you covered if you want to go into more detail when adding work experience to your CV.
This relatively conservative design formats each job entry across two columns, allowing you to fit more words onto the page. Meanwhile, the line to the left helps employers quickly skim each previous job for key information.
10. Wakefield CV template
The Wakefield template’s detailed header includes space for a professional summary, evenly weighted layout gives it a polished professional look — a great choice for experienced candidates.
11. Sheffield CV template
A simple, contemporary layout makes the Sheffield CV template easy to edit on Google Docs. Wide-set margins and a compact yet easy-to-read font gives you more space to describe your work experience and achievements, making this versatile design a great choice for describing your strengths in detail.
12. St Albans CV template
Geared toward specialist roles, the St Albans template features detailed work experience entries with space to describe your technical expertise.
This more conservative design uses a serif font and minimal colour, making it suitable for employers with traditional company cultures.
13. Zetland CV template
Oriented toward tech roles, the Zetland CV template stands out for its creative design. A unique geometric background helps this contemporary CV stand out, and its coloured headings give it a structured appearance.
Generous paragraph spacing makes Zetland an ideal CV template for a first-time job because it’s possible to make the template look full and detailed without adding a lot of information. More experienced applicants can use this template by reducing the line spacing and setting their CV across two pages.
14. Wells CV template
This free Google Docs template features vibrant section headers and an efficient two-column layout, making it perfect for highlighting technical skills.
Narrow, lowercase headings give this template a casual yet contemporary appearance, and each section is nicely structured to create an easy visual flow for the reader.
15. Birmingham CV template
With its narrow margins and traditional choice of font, the Birmingham looks polished and authoritative. This formal CV template uses a detail-oriented layout that’s structured to highlight your hard skills and workplace achievements, making it appropriate for more experienced job seekers.
FAQs
Here are four common questions people have about creating a CV in Google Docs:
How do I add a Microsoft Word template to Google Docs?
Using a Microsoft Word CV template in Google Docs is relatively straightforward. All you need is a Google Account.
- Sign into Google Drive and select ‘File upload’ from the ‘My Drive’ drop-down menu at the top of the page.
- Select the Word template in your browser and then click ‘Open’.
- Double-click the template on your Google Drive to open and edit it in Google Docs.
What is the best CV format for Google Docs?
The best format for Google Docs is simple and doesn’t have any complicated design elements.
Single-column CVs are generally the easiest to edit using Google Docs because they have simpler formatting. The advantage of simple formatting is you’ll find the CV sections easier to edit and reorder when you fill out the template.
Furthermore, employers are most familiar with standard single-column CVs, making this format a safe choice regardless of the job you’re applying for.
Here’s an example of a CV with a simple, single-column format:
How do I share my Google Docs CV with the employer?
There are a couple of ways you can share your finished Google Docs CV with the employer:
- Download the file as a PDF: File > Download > PDF document.
- Share a Google Docs link with the employer: Share > General access > Anyone with the link (Viewer) > Copy link. You can then paste the link into your job application email.
‘Anyone with the link’ means that the employer will be able to share your CV with whoever they like. You can restrict access to your CV, by selecting Share > General access > Restricted and then entering the employer’s email.
Remember that restricting access to your CV could make it difficult for the employer to share and discuss your application with other staff members.
Are Google Docs CVs ATS-friendly?
Any Google Docs template that uses appropriate formatting can be used to make an ATS-friendly CV.
To ensure that your CV will pass an ATS scan, you should use a widely recognisable font. The following default Google fonts will pass an ATS scan:
- Lato
- Merriweather
- Playfair Display
- Proxima Source Code Pro
- Oswald
- Roboto
