Update your CV with this free Word CV template
Why a strong CV matters
This basic CV template is designed to give you a head start with creating your CV that highlights your experience and qualifications. A well-structured and professional CV is essential in today’s competitive job market. Here’s why:
First impressions: in just 6 seconds, hiring managers will typically decide whether to shortlist a candidate based on their CV. A well-formatted and easy-to-read CV increases your chances of making a positive first impression.
Highlights your skills and experiences: A strong CV will effectively communicate your most recent and relevant skills and experiences to hiring managers. By tailoring your CV to each specific job description, you can ensure that your qualifications align with the employer’s needs.
What to include in a CV? – Word template download
First, download our CV Word Template for 2024 above. Then, follow the steps below to fill out your details.
CV template Word | Profile
The profile is also known as a personal statement. In this section, start by giving your current job title (if it’s relevant), years of experience, key skills and career objectives. Then, give a brief summary of your qualifications, career experience and measurable achievements. Don’t forget to make the content relevant to the job you’re applying for. As a starting point, try following the profile template below.
Profile template
I am an experienced [job title] with [number of years] of experience in [industry name]. As a [job title], I have [list of relevant experiences]. I am now searching for a [name of the desired job] position where I can exercise [list three relevant skills].
CV template Word | Career history
The career history section is the perfect opportunity to go into more detail about your previous experience. Here’s how to structure it effectively:
Heading: Use a clear heading like ‘Career History’
Chronological order: Start with your most recent job and work back. Your current or latest role should appear highest on the page.
Bullet points: Use bullet points to lay out information to make things easier for the reader.
Career history template
Current role
[Start date] – PRESENT
[Company Name]
[Job Title]
[List of duties in bullet points]
Previous role
[Start date] - [End date]
[Company Name]
[Job Title]
[List of duties, no full stops]
Career History Example
June 2021 - Present
Eden Scott Recruitment
Marketing Manager
- Led the development and execution of the digital marketing strategy, resulting in 25% increase in website traffic
- Managed a team of 5 marketing specialists, who all achieved their annual targets.
- Developed and implemented a social media strategy that increased brand awareness by 18% and follower engagement by 20%
- Analysed marketing campaign performance using tools like Google Analytics and HubSpot to identify areas for improvement and optimise future campaigns
Use the same format for all past work experiences too.
CV template Word | Education
Begin with your most recent qualification and list your education history chronologically from latest to oldest. If you have an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, it’s best not to include qualifications you gained in high school.
Education template
[Date] – [Date]; [Name of academic institution][Course (and qualification if applicable)]Additional relevant information in italics e.g. Dissertation]
Education example
2014 - 2018
Edinburgh University
First Class Bachelor's Hons Business & Marketing
Dissertation: The impact of influencer marketing on generation z purchasing decisions in the fashion industry
CV template Word | Key skills
Keep your skills and experience brief so that they’re easy for the person reviewing your CV to process.
If possible, use a mix of soft and hard skills.
Key skills examples
Hard skills are technical skills needed to perform a role. These are generally skills that require qualifications or training.
For example:
A civil engineer would have design skills
A copywriter would have writing skills
A nurse would have medical skills
A finance director would have financial planning skills
…and so on.
Soft Skills
Soft skills can be described as life skills. They’re needed in every job and usually involve relating to others.
Soft skills include…
Problem-solving
Communication
Active listening
Time management
Empathy
Situational awareness
Key skills example
Marketing analytics and reporting
Search engine optimisation (SEO)
Proficient in Canva and Adobe Photoshop
Creative
Problem solving & critical thinking
Team leadership & collaboration
CV template Word | References
Always ask your chosen referee if they’re happy to be listed as a reference. If they’re happy to provide one, a pre-written reference can be advantageous.
Most people include “references upon request” on their CVs. However, we wouldn’t recommend this. It’s an outdated approach and unnecessary, as it’s assumed that you already have references. It also takes up valuable space on your CV that can be used to highlight your skills and achievements.
CV Word template | Other recommendations
While a photo can add a personal touch, it’s generally best to leave it out your CV. The focus should be on your skills and experience, and a photo can distract from that. It could also introduce unconscious bias into the process, so it’s best to leave it out.
Stick to a clear, legible format
Stick to a professional font and text colour (definitely no comic sans!). Opt for fonts that are easy to read, some good options are sans serif fonts like helvetica, calibri and ariel.
Always submit your CV as a PDF, not a Word document or other format. Once you have finished editing your CV in Word go to file, hit ‘save as’ and in the ‘file type’ dropdown, make sure ‘PDF’ is selected.
Ready to write your CV?
You’ve learned how to write a CV – now use our template for free. Hit ‘Download’ at the top of this page to receive your free CV template.
Next steps
Once your CV is ready, why not send it to us? We’ll match your skills and experience to suitable positions – and then guide you through the application and interview process.
Go ahead – submit your CV today.
