CV Format 2026: Tips & Templates for a Winning Resume

Your resume is often the first impression a recruiter gets of you. The right CV format can make you get an interview immediately as it is well-organized, clean, and professionally written. Whether you are an experienced professional or a fresher, selecting the right CV format and following proper CV writing guidelines will make you more confident in showcasing your skills. This guide contains everything you need to know, from what a CV is to the best CV templates you can use, as well as sample templates you can use.

What Is a CV?

A CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a detailed document that outlines your career, skills, experience, education, and accomplishments. A resume is usually short and precise whereas a CV is long and more detailed. It is usually applied to job applications, academic jobs, research jobs, and overseas jobs. The right CV format increases the chances of your profile being scanned and evaluated quickly by recruiters by the recruiters finding out whether you will fit the position.

How to Structure Your CV

A professional and updated CV format typically follows this structure:

1. Header (Contact Information)
   • Full Name
   • Phone Number
   • Email Address
   • Location (City, Country)
   • LinkedIn or Portfolio Link (optional)
2. Professional Summary

   A short 2–3 line overview summarizing your experience, skills, and career goals.

   Example: Result-oriented Digital Marketer with 4+ years of experience in SEO, PPC, and brand strategy.

3. Work Experience
   • Job Title
   • Company Name
   • Duration
   • Key Responsibilities (bullet points)
   • Achievements (use numbers wherever possible)
4. Education
   • Degree
   • Institution
   • Passing Year
5. Skills

   List relevant skills such as technical skills, tools, or soft skills.

6. Certifications / Projects (Optional)

   Include only if relevant to the job.

7. Additional Sections (Optional)
   • Languages
   • Awards
   • Internships
   • Volunteer Work

This is the most commonly accepted CV format across industries.

How to Format a CV?

Formatting your CV correctly is just as important as the content of your CV. A clean and well-organized CV writing format will help in making it more readable and will ensure that the recruiters can easily scan through your information. Follow these essential tips to format your CV in a professional and polished way:

• Use a clean font: Choose simple, ATS-friendly fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
• Font size: Use 11–12 pt for text and 14–16 pt for section headings.
• Maintain consistent spacing: Keep line spacing between 1 and 1.15 for a neat look.
• Standard margins: Set 1-inch margins on all sides to ensure proper alignment.
• Use bullet points: They help break down information and improve clarity.
• Save your CV as a PDF: This preserves the layout across devices and ensures professional presentation.
• Follow a simple CV format for job applications: Keep the layout minimal, clean, and recruiter-friendly.

A well-formatted professional CV not only looks impressive but also increases your chances of passing applicant tracking systems (ATS) and landing interviews.

What's the Best CV Format?

The best CV format depends entirely on your career stage and the type of job you are applying for. Here are the three most effective and commonly used CV formats:

1. Reverse-Chronological CV (Best for Most Candidates)

This is the most widely accepted and professional CV format across industries.

• Highlights your work experience in descending order
• Easy for recruiters to scan quickly
• Ideal for professionals with a strong and consistent work history

2. Functional CV Format (Skills-Based)

This CV writing format focuses more on skills than work experience.

• Perfect for freshers, freelancers, or career changers
• Highlights competencies, strengths, and technical skills
• Useful when you have limited experience or employment gaps

3. Combination CV Format

A hybrid format combining both skills and work experience.

• Mixes skill categories with chronological job history
• Ideal for senior professionals, managers, and specialists
• Works well when you want to showcase both expertise and achievements

Across industries, the reverse-chronological CV format remains the most preferred and professional option for job applications.

Sample CV Format Templates

1. Simple CV Format for Job (Fresher)

2. Professional CV Format (Experienced Candidate)

3. Updated CV Format

Modern, ATS-friendly layout with:

• Clean headers
• Left-aligned section titles
• Minimal icons
• Highlighted achievements
• Strong keywords matching the job description

How Elevizo Can Help Create a Perfect CV

Elevizo makes the entire CV creating process faster, smarter and professional. Whether you are looking for a basic CV format for job applications, or a fully customised, modern CV layout, Elevizo has the tools and templates to help you stand out. Here's what Elevizo can do to help you write the perfect CV:

1. Ready-to-Use Professional CV Templates

Elevizo has a wide range of beautifully designed professional CV formats that are ATS-friendly and suitable for freshers, experienced professionals, and senior-level candidates. You just select a template and fill in your information with no design skills required.

2. ATS-Optimized CV Layouts

All templates follow the best format of CV guidelines, which will ensure that your CV will pass Applicant Tracking Systems that top companies use. This helps you to have a better chance of getting shortlisted.

3. Smart Content Suggestions

If you don't know what to write for, Elevizo offers expert-backed content hints for each section's professional summary, skills, achievements, etc. This helps you to build a strong profile even if you are creating a CV for the first time.

4. Customizable CV Format Options

Whether you prefer a reverse chronological, functional, or combination layout, Elevizo gives you multiple CV formats you can customize to match your experience and career goals.

5. Error-Free, Professional Output

With consistent formatting, clean typography, and a professional structure, Elevizo will ensure that your CV looks professional, clear, and recruiting friendly, just the way hiring managers like it.

6. Instant PDF Download

Once you're finished with your editing, you can instantly download your CV in a clean PDF format, perfect for job portals, emails and printing.

With Elevizo, it is easy to craft the perfect CV format. You get expert quality design, clean format and impactful content to help you make a great first impression and stand out in your job search.

Conclusion

Deciding on the right CV format is one of the most important steps to creating a professional and impactful job application. Whether you are a fresher creating your first CV or an experienced professional updating your profile, a good structure, neat layout and content organization makes all the difference. By following the suggested CV writing format and using ATS-friendly designs and tailoring your information to the job, you are dramatically improving your chances of getting noticed by recruiters.

With the help of tools like Elevizo, the entire process becomes smarter and easier. From pre-made templates and optimized layout to expert content recommendations, Elevizo helps you produce a polished, professional CV that works to showcase your strengths in the best possible way. No matter your field or experience level - you can create a standout CV that will make a good first impression.