Design Principles for Non-Designers
You don't need graphic design skills to create a visually appealing CV. These fundamental principles will instantly improve your CV's appearance:
Use Consistent Formatting
Pick one font (max two) and stick with consistent spacing, bullet styles, and heading sizes.
Prioritize Readability
Ensure sufficient contrast (black on white works best) and font size (11-12pt for body text).
Keep It to One Page (If Possible)
Especially for early-career roles, one page is ideal. Focus on what’s most relevant to the position.
Use Clear Section Headings
Make headings like 'Experience' or 'Education' stand out with bold text or slightly larger font size.
Align Everything Neatly
Use consistent margins and align text to the left to keep things easy to scan quickly.
Avoid Large Blocks of Text
Use bullet points to break up information. Recruiters skim—help them find what they’re looking for fast.
Use Action Verbs
Start each bullet with strong action verbs like 'Led', 'Created', or 'Managed' to convey impact.
Include White Space
Give your content room to breathe—don’t cram everything into the page. A clean layout stands out.
Save as PDF
Always export your CV as a PDF to preserve formatting across devices and platforms.
Professional Templates
Our designer-created templates handle all the formatting for you - just fill in your information.
View Design Templates