Disclosure: Some links below may be affiliate links, meaning, at no cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
The job market in 2020 is most likely to be the most competitive it’s ever been. Your CV is a vital tool if you want to open doors, it’s the first impression an employer makes of you. I receive lots of CVs from designers and candidates have around 6 seconds to grab my attention before they’re relegated to the bottom of the pile.
If you think 6 seconds is harsh let me explain from a designer’s perspective in the creative industries. As a designer, I can instantly see if someone understands fundamental design principles. Within a few seconds, I can see how they practice layouts, typography, hierarchy, alignment and colour theory. If I shudder looking at the CV I will not read the content. If simple design principles aren’t followed it’s an indication that the candidate does not possess the skills required for a design role at my company.
As much as the aesthetic of the document matters, you also need to craft content that shies away from being bland and generic. To have a chance of beating your counterparts, you need show your achievements, experience and most of all personality in an engaging way. I always like to get an idea who the person is that I may be working with.
Your CV really should be a representation of the time and effort you’ve spent creating it. Top tip, please proofread and perform a spellcheck!
If you’re looking for a template to get your started or to adapt, this roundup will point you in the right direction. The creativity of these examples would guarantee they make it to the top of the pile on my desk.
01. Free minimal CV template by Theme Raid
Template features:
- Adobe Illustrator AI file
- A4 size
02. Free resume template by Fernando Báez
Template features:
- Adobe Illustrator format
- A4 size
03. Cover letter and CV template by Resume Tools
Template features:
- Adobe Illustrator format
- Adobe InDesign format
- Pages for Mac format
- Microsoft Word format
- A4 and US letter sizes
04. Infographic CV and cover letter template by The Resume Creator
Template features:
- Adobe Illustrator format
- Adobe Photoshop format
- Adobe InDesign format
- Microsoft Word format
- A4 and US letter sizes
- Free fonts
- 50+ social media icons
- 20 hobbie icons
- Vector world maps
05. Free minimalistic and clean resume by Mats-Peter Forss
Template features:
- Adobe Illustrator format
- Adobe Photoshop format
- A4 size
06. Simple CV and cover letter template vol 7 by The Resume Creator
Template features:
- Adobe InDesign format
- Microsoft Word format
- A4 and US letter sizes
- Free fonts
- 50+ social media icons
07. Freebie cover letter and resume template by Design Shock
Template features:
- Adobe InDesign format
- A4 size
08. Orion resume template by Nina Shaw
Template features:
- Adobe Photoshop format
- A4 size
09. Professional cover letter and CV template by A1 Resume
Template features:
- Microsoft Word format
- A4 size
Want paperless alternatives?
If you’re looking for paperless CV alternatives be sure to check out my Evolution Resume Template.
