These free CV templates give you 8 CVs as Word documents on A4 and US Letter: a classic CV, a modern CV with a navy name band, a graduate CV with education first, and a teacher CV with QTS, safeguarding training and references. I’m Patrick Elliott, a teacher and Inclusion Lead. I have read hundreds of CVs when hiring at school, so I built these in one clear column with the headings recruiters and ATS software expect, and grey guides you simply type over.

In this guide, you’ll find which CV template suits you, how to fill one in quickly in Word, and how to keep your CV readable by the software many employers use to sort applications.

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What’s in the CV Templates

Paper	Version	Best for
A4	Classic	Clean single column with gold rules; suits any job
A4	Modern	Navy name band and gold section markers
A4	Graduate	Education first, for students, school leavers and graduates
A4	Teacher	Qualifications, teaching experience and checks for teachers
US Letter	Classic	Clean single column with gold rules; suits any job
US Letter	Modern	Navy name band and gold section markers
US Letter	Graduate	Education first, for students, school leavers and graduates
US Letter	Teacher	Qualifications, teaching experience and checks for teachers

👉 Every CV is a single column with standard headings, with no tables, text boxes, icons or photos, so applicant tracking systems (ATS) can read it.

👉 Grey guide text sits in every space. Click it and start typing: the guide disappears and your words take its place.

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Which CV Template Should You Use?

• Classic CV: a clean layout with gold rules under each heading. It suits almost any job and keeps the focus on your experience.
• Modern CV: the same order with your name on a navy band and gold section markers, for a bit more personality without hurting ATS reading.
• Graduate CV: education first, with your dissertation, modules and A levels, then part-time work, volunteering and activities.
• Teacher CV: QTS and your Teacher Reference Number, ECT induction, teaching experience, DBS and safeguarding training, and references from your headteacher.

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How to Fill In a CV Template in Word

1. Click the grey text under your name and type your target job title, phone, email and town.
2. Write a personal statement of 3 to 5 lines that uses words from the job advert.
3. For each job, keep the title, employer and dates on their own lines, then add 3 to 5 bullets that start with a verb and show a result.
4. Delete any section you do not need, then check spelling and save a copy as a PDF if the employer asks for one.

Each heading is a Word style, so changing the colour or font of one heading in Styles changes them all. See the guides on bulleted lists in Word and saving a Word document as a PDF.

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How to Make Your CV ATS-Friendly

• Keep one column. Tables, text boxes and two-column layouts can scramble the order when software reads your CV.
• Keep your name and contact details in the body of the page, not in the header or footer.
• Use standard headings such as Work Experience, Education and Skills, and one date format, such as Sep 2024 – Present.
• Spell out short forms once, such as Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

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How to Print at the Right Size

Most employers want your CV by email, so save it as a PDF unless they ask for Word. If you print it, use plain white A4 at 100% and print both sides of a two-page CV.

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FAQs

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Conclusion

These CV templates give you a clear, ATS-friendly CV in minutes, human-made by a teacher and ready to fill in from Word.

Choose your paper size above, download the ZIP, and to send it with a matching letter try the cover letter templates.

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