Classic CV Template: When to Use It and How

The classic template is the traditional layout: one column, clear headings, sections in the order a reader expects. It is not the most striking design, but it is the least risky — every recruiter understands it and every parser reads it, which is why it stays the default for office and administrative roles.

The steps

1. Open it from the template gallery and choose "Use this template" to land in the editor ready to fill
2. Complete the contact block first: name, phone, email, city
3. Order the sections the way readers expect: summary, experience, education, skills
4. Give each past role a company, title and dates, then three bullets that open with a verb and end in a result
5. Export a PDF with selectable text and keep a DOCX copy

Practical tips

• Pick it when you apply through a portal or an ATS — it is the safest layout for machine reading
• Keep it to one or two pages; this format compresses overflow quickly
• Leave the section headings as they are; they are standard on purpose

Common mistakes to avoid

• Adding columns or tables to save space, which breaks machine reading in this layout specifically
• Leaving two pages of content behind two years of experience, where length itself becomes a negative

Frequently asked questions

Is the classic template boring?

It is conservative, not boring. A recruiter reads dozens of CVs a day, and a predictable layout lets them find information instead of hunting for it. Put personality in the content.

Does it work for a recent graduate?

Yes, but with limited experience, split the space between education and academic projects — this layout assumes experience is the biggest section.

Links for this guide

• See the classic template
• Use this template in the editor