Simple CV Templates
Simple CV templates for UK job applications
Choose a simple CV template that puts your experience, skills and qualifications first. Our clean layouts are easy to read, professional and designed around the expectations of UK recruiters.
Pick your preferred design, add your details online and customise your CV without worrying about formatting. You can start creating for free and download your finished CV as a PDF when you’re ready to apply.
Clean, readable layouts
Designed for UK applications
Easy to customise
Free to start
Simple CV Template Collection
Simple CV templates, ready to customise
Explore our collection of simple CV templates with clean typography, clear sections and professional layouts. Each design gives your experience room to stand out without unnecessary visual distractions.
Choose a template below, then personalise the colours, content and sections online to create a CV that fits your profile and the job you’re applying for.
Keep it simple
Why choose a simple CV template?
A simple CV doesn’t have to look basic. A well-designed clean CV template uses structure, spacing and typography to make your application easier to scan while keeping the attention on what matters: your experience and skills.
Clear structure
Clearly separated sections help recruiters find your work experience, education and skills quickly. A straightforward structure also makes longer career histories easier to follow.
Professional appearance
Simple layouts use typography and white space rather than unnecessary graphics to create a polished result. They’re particularly well suited to professional and traditional working environments.
Easy to customise
Start with a ready-made layout and make it yours. Add your information, adjust the available design options and organise your sections without having to build a CV from scratch.
Works across industries
A neutral design can adapt to almost any career. From administration and finance to healthcare, engineering or education, a simple CV keeps the emphasis on your suitability for the role.
Simple CV Examples
See simple CV examples with real content
Wondering how your information will fit into a clean layout? Explore our simple CV examples for three different career stages and switch between profiles to see how experience, education and skills can be presented clearly.
James Whitfield
Business Graduate
Motivated business graduate with practical experience in customer service, administration and team projects. Organised, confident with data and ready to contribute to a professional working environment.
Work Experience
Business Support Intern
Harrison & Partners
- Prepared reports, spreadsheets and presentations for the operations team.
- Updated customer records and maintained accurate internal databases.
- Supported weekly meetings and followed up on actions across departments.
Customer Service Assistant
Greenfield Retail
- Assisted customers and resolved day-to-day enquiries in a busy store.
- Worked as part of a team to maintain high service standards.
Education
BSc Business Management
University of Sheffield
A Levels – Business, Economics & English
Sheffield Sixth Form
Key Skills
- Microsoft Excel
- Administration
- Customer Service
- Data Analysis
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Organisation
Interests
- Football
- Travel
- Reading
- Volunteering
James Whitfield
Customer Service Adviser
Reliable customer service professional with 6 years of experience supporting customers, resolving enquiries and maintaining high service standards. Known for clear communication, attention to detail and a calm approach.
Work Experience
Customer Service Adviser
Oakwood Services
- Handle more than 50 customer enquiries each day by phone and email.
- Resolve account and service issues while maintaining customer satisfaction.
- Support new team members with systems, procedures and customer queries.
Customer Service Assistant
Westbrook Retail
- Provided face-to-face support in a high-volume retail environment.
- Processed payments, returns and customer requests accurately.
Education
Level 3 Diploma in Customer Service
City College Birmingham
GCSEs including English and Mathematics
Oakfield School
Key Skills
- Customer Service
- Problem Solving
- Communication
- CRM Systems
- Complaint Handling
- Administration
- Time Management
Interests
- Running
- Cooking
- Travel
- Community events
James Whitfield
Office Manager
Experienced office manager with 10 years of experience coordinating teams, improving administrative processes and supporting the day-to-day running of busy workplaces. Highly organised with strong people and planning skills.
Work Experience
Office Manager
Hamilton Consulting
- Coordinate office operations for a team of more than 40 employees.
- Manage suppliers, facilities and an annual office budget of £180K.
- Introduced new administrative processes that reduced recurring tasks by 25%.
Senior Administrator
Parkside Associates
- Supported senior managers with scheduling, reporting and office administration.
- Supervised three administrators and coordinated staff onboarding.
Education
Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management
Chartered Management Institute
BA Business Administration
Nottingham Trent University
Key Skills
- Office Management
- Team Supervision
- Budget Management
- Process Improvement
- Microsoft Office
- Supplier Management
- Organisation
Interests
- Hiking
- Travel
- Reading
- Local volunteering
Use these simple CV samples as inspiration for the structure, but make the content your own. Focus on experience, skills and achievements that are relevant to the position you’re targeting. For help with each section, read our guide to writing a CV.
Clean by design
Simple doesn't mean basic
A simple CV strips away distractions, not professionalism. The difference between an effective basic CV template and an unfinished-looking document comes down to the details: consistent spacing, balanced sections, readable typography and a clear visual hierarchy.
Our simple designs are built around those principles. They give you a straightforward starting point while still producing a CV that feels polished and appropriate for a professional UK job application.
- Clean, readable typography
- Consistent spacing
- Clear visual hierarchy
- Designed for UK applications
A versatile choice
Who should use a simple CV template?
Simple templates suit a wide range of candidates because the design doesn’t compete with the content. They can work particularly well when clarity, professionalism and ease of reading are priorities.
Students & Graduates
When your career is just beginning, a clean layout helps you make the most of your education, placements, part-time work and relevant skills without highlighting a shorter employment history.
Experienced Professionals
If you already have several years of experience, a simple professional CV template gives your achievements and career progression the space they need while keeping the document easy to scan.
Career Changers
A neutral design works well when moving between industries. It lets you draw attention to transferable skills, relevant achievements and your profile rather than relying on a sector-specific visual style.
Corporate & Traditional Roles
For applications in areas such as finance, administration, law, healthcare or the public sector, a restrained layout can help you present a professional application without unnecessary design elements.
CV layout
What makes a good simple CV layout?
The best simple CV layouts make information effortless to find. Good formatting isn’t about adding more design, it’s about creating a consistent structure that guides the reader through your CV.
Clear section headings
Use familiar headings such as Work Experience, Education and Skills so recruiters can immediately understand how your CV is organised. Avoid making important sections difficult to identify.
Consistent spacing
Keep the spacing between headings, jobs and sections consistent throughout the document. Enough white space prevents even a detailed CV from feeling crowded.
Readable typography
Choose a professional font at a comfortable size and use bold or different weights to establish hierarchy. Decorative typography can make an otherwise simple CV harder to read.
Logical reading order
For most UK applications, a reverse-chronological structure works well: introduce your profile, then show your latest work experience before moving on to education and relevant skills.
Enough white space
Don’t fill every available centimetre. Margins, line spacing and space between sections make your content easier to scan. If the page feels overcrowded, edit the content rather than squeezing the layout.
Find your style
Compare simple CV templates with other styles
A simple template isn’t the only option. Compare it with our Classic, Modern and Creative styles to decide which CV template best matches your career, industry and the impression you want to make.
| Simple This page | Classic View templates | Modern View templates | Creative View templates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATS compatibility | Highest | High | High | Variable |
| Corporate / finance | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Risky |
| Creative industries | May feel plain | May blend | Good | Excellent |
| Senior profiles | Professional | Excellent | Good | Context-dependent |
| Graduate applications | Safe choice | Safe | Strong | Stands out |
| Speed to create | Fastest | Fast | Fast | More setup |
| Visual personality | Minimal | Understated | Polished | Bold |
ATS compatibility
Are simple CV templates ATS-friendly?
Simple layouts can be a strong choice when you’re applying through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Clear headings, readable text and a logical content order make your information easier for both recruitment software and human readers to interpret.
However, no CV template can guarantee that you will pass an ATS: screening also depends on factors such as your content and its relevance to the job. A simple CV template gives you a clean foundation; you still need to tailor your skills and experience to each application.
Clear reading order
Information follows a logical structure, making your CV straightforward to navigate.
Recognisable headings
Standard sections such as Work Experience, Education and Skills clearly identify your information.
Content comes first
Simple designs rely less on decorative elements, keeping important career information at the centre of the document.
Readable PDF
Download your finished CV as a professional PDF while preserving its layout and formatting.
How it works
Create a simple CV in four steps
Choose your design and build your CV online without having to format the document yourself.
Choose your template
Browse our simple CV templates and choose a clean layout that suits your experience and the type of role you’re applying for.
Add your information
Enter your profile, work experience, education and skills in the editor, or import an existing CV to save time.
Customise your CV
Review your content, adjust the available design options and organise your sections while previewing your CV as you work.
Download as PDF
Check the finished document and download your CV as a PDF when you’re ready to send your application.
UK CV templates
Simple CV templates for UK jobs
For most UK job applications, clarity matters more than elaborate design. Recruiters need to understand your background quickly, which makes a simple CV template for UK jobs a versatile choice across a wide range of sectors and experience levels.
A typical UK CV puts your contact details near the top, followed by a short personal profile and your most relevant experience. Employment is generally presented in reverse chronological order, with your latest position first, followed by education, skills and any additional sections that strengthen your application.
Photos are not normally required for UK applications, so choosing a CV template without a picture keeps the emphasis on your qualifications and experience. Above all, your layout should remain consistent and your content should be tailored to the requirements of the job.
A clean design gives you the structure, but the words still need to convince the employer. If you’re unsure what information to add, our CV writing guide explains how to build each section of your application.
FAQ