Simple CV Format: A Basic CV Template for Any Job
A simple, basic CV format that works for almost any job: the sections, a template you can copy, two examples and a checklist.
Alexander Phillip
Career Coach and Recruitment Expert
Short answer: a simple CV has six parts in this order: contact details, a short summary, work experience, education, skills, and (optionally) references. Keep it to one or two pages, one font, bullet points and no graphics. Below is a template you can copy, plus two examples.
The basic CV format
- Contact details: name, phone, email, town and country.
- Professional summary: two to four sentences.
- Work experience: newest job first, three to five bullet points each.
- Education: highest qualification first.
- Skills: the ones the job asks for.
- References: names and contacts, or "Available on request".
Simple CV template (copy and fill in)
FULL NAME
Phone | Email | Town, CountryProfessional Summary
[Your job or field] with experience in [two or three strengths]. Looking for a [job title] role where I can [what you will contribute].Work Experience
Job Title, Employer, Town | Month Year to Month Year
• [Verb] + [what you did]
• [Verb] + [what you did]Education
Qualification, Institution | YearSkills
[Skill], [Skill], [Skill], [Skill]References
Available on request
Example 1: first job
Amaka Obi, Enugu, Nigeria
Summary: Business administration graduate with practical office experience from an industrial attachment. Organised, accurate with records and comfortable with Excel. Looking for an administrative assistant role.
Experience: Industrial Attachment, Accounts Office, Enugu | 2025
- Filed and updated supplier records.
- Entered daily receipts into a spreadsheet.
- Answered phone calls and took messages for the team.
Skills: Microsoft Excel, filing, data entry, customer service.
More ideas for a first CV: how to write a CV with no experience.
Example 2: experienced worker
Brian Otieno, Kisumu, Kenya
Summary: Retail supervisor with several years leading shop-floor teams. Strong at stock control, staff rotas and handling customer complaints.
Experience: Retail Supervisor, supermarket branch, Kisumu | 2021 to now
- Planned weekly rotas for the sales team.
- Ran monthly stock counts and reported differences.
- Trained new staff on tills and customer service.
Simple CV format rules
- One font, 10.5 to 12 point for body text.
- Bold headings and job titles. No tables, text boxes or images for important text.
- Margins around 2 cm, with space between sections.
- Dates in one format, for example "March 2024".
- File name like Amaka_Obi_CV.pdf.
PDF or Word?
Send a PDF unless the employer asks for Word. A PDF looks the same on every phone and computer. Keep an editable copy so you can update it for each job; our guide on tailoring your CV to a job description shows how.
Why a simple format works
A simple layout is quicker for a person to scan and easier for applicant tracking systems to read. Decoration does not get interviews; clear, relevant content does. Read how a CV should look in 2026 for the details.
Get a simple CV done faster
Pick one of our clean CV templates and fill it in step by step, or let the AI CV Agent ask the questions and fill it for you. Then run it through the free ATS CV checker before you apply.
Prefer to answer questions instead of formatting? Build your CV with the AI CV Agent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a simple CV format?
Contact details, a short professional summary, work experience, education, skills and optional references, in one column, on one or two pages.
What is the best simple CV format for a job application?
A one-column CV with standard headings, bullet points and newest experience first. It is easy for recruiters to scan and for screening software to read.
Can I make a simple CV on my phone?
Yes. CV Chap Chap works on any phone browser: you fill in each section or chat with the AI CV Agent, then download the CV.
Should a simple CV include references?
You can list one or two references, or write "Available on request". Some employers, especially in the public sector, ask for references on the CV.
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