The Best CV Templates for 2026 (and How to Choose One)
The best CV template is the one that's clean, easy to scan, and parses correctly in an ATS. Trendy designs that look great on screen often fail both tests. Here's how to choose.
Safe, professional, and ATS-friendly
For most corporate, tech, finance, and government roles, the best CV template in 2026 is a clean single-column layout with clear, standard headings — like write.cv's ATS, Professional, or Minimal templates. A single column matters because applicant tracking systems read top to bottom; multi-column grids, sidebars, and text boxes can scramble the order or drop content entirely. Within that safe structure, choose readability over decoration: one accent colour, one or two consistent fonts, generous white space, and section titles a recruiter recognises at a glance (Summary, Experience, Education, Skills). The template should also export to PDF cleanly, with sensible page breaks and selectable text rather than an image. Get those fundamentals right and the same template will pass the six-second human skim and the software scan behind it — which is exactly what every other style choice in this guide builds on.
When a little personality helps
Design, marketing, and creative roles can use a touch more character — a sidebar for skills, a timeline, or a colour accent. write.cv's Sidebar and Timeline templates add style while staying readable.
Rules that apply to every template
Keep one accent colour, consistent fonts, and generous spacing. Make sure it exports cleanly to PDF with proper page breaks. Every write.cv template is print-perfect and works in Arabic and English.
Try them in one click
Open write.cv and switch templates instantly from the toolbar — your content stays, only the design changes. Pick the one that scores well and looks like you.