Best Visual CV Templates for Download & Examples (2025)

Highlight your contact information

Your contact information is the first thing recruiters look for, so it needs to be clear and accessible. This section sits at the top of a CV. On a visual CV, you can make it more eye-catching than just making the font size larger.

Tips for formatting contact information in a visual CV:

• Placement: Keep it at the top, usually in a header. This sets the tone for the rest of the CV.
• Typography: Use a bold font for your name and slightly smaller, clean fonts for details.
• Icons: Incorporate small, universally recognised icons for phone, email, and LinkedIn. This reduces clutter and gives a polished, modern look.
• Colours: Use a subtle accent colour for your name or section dividers. Don’t overdo it — the goal is clarity, not decoration.
• Order: List your phone, email, LinkedIn (or portfolio), and location. Avoid including your full address; a city and postcode are enough.

Example of a visual CV contact section

Lead with a personal profile

Your personal profile (sometimes called a CV summary) is like an abstract of your CV that sits near the top of the document. In a visual CV, you can make this section stand out by using design elements that highlight it subtly.

Tips for formatting the personal profile in a visual CV:

• Use a shaded box or highlight colour – Place your profile in a contrasting text box at the top to set it apart from other sections.
• Keep it short – Aim for 3–4 sentences.
• Focus on achievements and skills – Emphasise what you bring to the role, not just what you want.
• Add subtle visuals – Consider a thin border, an icon for “About Me,” or a bold CV headline that piques interest.

Example of a visual CV personal profile

Showcase work experience

The work experience section is the backbone of your CV. It shows employers where you’ve worked, what you’ve done, and how you’ve added value. In a visual CV, the challenge is to keep it easy to scan while using visuals to highlight your impact.

Tips for formatting work experience in a visual CV:

• Timeline layout – Consider using a vertical or horizontal timeline to show career progression at a glance.
• Hierarchy of text – Use larger or bold fonts for job titles, as well as smaller fonts for company names and dates.
• Icons or graphics – Small role-specific icons (like a briefcase for jobs or a building for companies) can add visual cues.
• Achievements over duties – Highlight results with bullet points. Use bold text, coloured call-out boxes, or even small infographics to show quantifiable impact. Start each bullet point with a CV power word to make them more actionable.
• Consistency – Keep spacing, font size, and bullet styles uniform for readability.

Example of a visual CV work experience section

Present your education

The education section shows your academic background and proves professional preparation. For early-career professionals, education may be the strongest part of the CV. For experienced professionals, it still confirms qualifications and adds credibility. A well-presented education section shows attention to detail.

Tips for formatting education in a visual CV:

• Timeline format – Position your degrees along a vertical or horizontal timeline, showing progression.
• Icons or logos – Use a 🎓 icon or a small, high-quality university logo to make institutions stand out.
• Two-column layout – Degree and subject on the left, dates and institution on the right, for a tidy, balanced look.
• Highlight key achievements – Add one bullet point for distinctions, scholarships, or relevant coursework.

Example of a visual CV education section

List skills on your visual CV

The skills section is where a visual CV can really stand out. Instead of listing skills in plain text, you can use design elements like icons, bars, or charts to make your strengths instantly clear. Recruiters often skim for keywords related to the role. A visual layout makes your top skills easy to spot in seconds. It also shows your ability to present information in a modern and engaging way.

Tips for formatting skills in a visual CV:

• Group hard and soft skills together – Don’t separate them; instead, mix hard and soft skills. Employers value both.
• Use graphics sparingly – Skill bars, dots, or icons can make your abilities easy to compare at a glance. But keep them simple, because graphs make it difficult for ATS to read your CV.
• Prioritise relevance – Tailor the skills to match the job description. A visual CV template lets you move less relevant skills into a sidebar.
• Highlight proficiency – Show levels (basic, intermediate, advanced) with visual cues instead of long descriptions.

Example of a visual CV skills section

Include bonus sections

Adding bonus sections is a smart way to make your visual CV unique and tailored to the role. These sections sit neatly in sidebars or at the bottom of your CV, where they can catch the eye without distracting from core content like work experience and education.

Bonus sections help you highlight extra value that doesn’t fit naturally elsewhere. They’re especially useful in creative or competitive industries, where employers are looking for well-rounded candidates.

Tips for formatting bonus sections in a visual CV:

• Place them in a sidebar – Side columns are perfect for certifications, languages, or interests.
• Use icons or dividers – A certificate icon for qualifications, a globe for languages, or a briefcase for projects makes scanning easy.
• Keep entries short – A one-line description is usually enough. Don’t clutter the design.
• Choose relevance over quantity – Add sections that strengthen your application for the specific job.

Consider including sections like:

• Certifications: Showcase relevant professional certificates that prove your expertise and continuous learning.
• Languages: List additional languages you speak and your proficiency level to highlight international versatility.
• Projects: Add selected projects to demonstrate practical experience and hands-on achievements.
• Awards & Honours: Include industry or academic awards to underline excellence and recognition.
• Volunteer Work: Highlight unpaid contributions that build transferable skills and show social responsibility.
• Professional Affiliations: Mention memberships in associations or organisations relevant to your field.
• Publications: Cite articles, research papers, or blogs that strengthen your authority in the field.
• Conferences & Workshops: Show participation in events where you developed new skills or knowledge.
• Portfolio Links: Provide links to online portfolios, GitHub, or personal websites for work samples.
• Hobbies & interests: Share hobbies or passions that add personality and may spark connections with recruiters.

Format your visual CV

The strength of a visual CV lies in how you present information. Good formatting makes your CV easy to scan, professional to read, and memorable without looking gimmicky. Poor formatting, on the other hand, can make even a strong CV look disorganised.

Here’s how to format a visual CV template effectively:

• Fonts – Choose proper CV fonts like Calibri, Helvetica, or Arial for readability. Stick to 1–2 fonts maximum (one for headings, one for body text) to keep the layout consistent. Avoid decorative fonts, which reduce professionalism.
• Font sizes – Make your name stand out with 18–22 pt. Use 12–14 pt for headings (bold or coloured), and keep body text at 10–11 pt for easy reading.
• Colours – Limit your palette to 2–3 colours: one for headings, one for accents (like icons or dividers), and black or dark grey for body text. Stick with professional tones such as blue/grey or muted greens; avoid neon or clashing shades.
• Margins and spacing – Keep margins at around 1 inch (2.5 cm). If space is tight, reduce them slightly (to 0.7 inch / 1.8 cm). Use white space generously to prevent clutter, and set line spacing to 1.15–1.2 for readability.
• Layout – Stick to one or two columns. A sidebar works well for bonus sections (skills, certifications, languages). Use clear hierarchy: bold headings, aligned bullets, and consistent spacing. Keep the CV 1–2 pages long; a single page is best unless you have extensive experience.
• File format – Always save and send as PDF to lock formatting and ensure your CV looks the same on every device.
• CV length – Most professionals should keep their CV to one page for clarity. If you have over 10 years of experience, a two-page CV is acceptable, but avoid going beyond that. Recruiters prefer concise, focused applications.