The Minimalist CV template

The least design a CV can have and still look deliberate: one column, generous space, quiet headings, no rules or shading. It is the one to reach for when the writing is strong and does not need help.

Download PDF opens your browser's print dialog: choose "Save as PDF" there, and enable "Background graphics" for templates with colored areas.

Everything on this page stays in your browser. Your CV is autosaved on this device only, and the Save data button gives you a file backup; nothing is ever uploaded.

How to use the Minimalist CV template

  1. The Minimal template is already selected.
  2. Fill in your details on the left. The page on the right is the real one, at real size, and it updates as you type.
  3. Change the accent colour, the font pairing, the spacing and the page size until it reads the way you want.
  4. Click Download PDF and choose Save as PDF in the print dialog. Turn on background graphics for a template with coloured areas.

Frequently asked questions

Will a minimalist CV look unfinished?

Only if the spacing is wrong, and that is the part the template handles. Minimal is not the same as empty: the margins, the line height and the gaps between sections are doing the work that a border or a coloured band would do in a busier layout, and they do it without competing with your words.

Can I try it against the other templates?

Yes, and it costs nothing to look. What you have typed is kept separately from how it looks, so switching template rewrites the page and leaves every word in place. 43 templates are on the strip above the form and you can go through all of them without losing anything.

Will an applicant tracking system read it?

An applicant tracking system reads the text, not the picture. Every template here is real selectable text rather than an image, so the words can always be read, but a two column layout can be read out of order by older software. If the employer is large or the application goes through a portal, the ATS template is the safe one: one column, ordinary headings, nothing decorative.

Should I put a photo on it?

It depends entirely on where you are applying. In much of continental Europe a photo is expected. In the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Canada and Australia it is not, and some employers discard a CV that has one to keep their hiring defensible. Templates that carry a photo are marked, and the rest simply leave it out.

Is it really free?

Yes. No sign-up, no trial, no watermark, no paying at the download step, and no limit on how many versions you make. The site is paid for by ads.

Other looks

A CV for a particular moment

More free tools: CV Builder