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Simple CV templates

A compact layout with little colour and plenty of white space, so employers can spot your strengths at a glance.

A clear block for each sectionReaders find information quickly without visual clutter.Readable at any paper sizeFont size and line spacing are preset for A4.Crisp printoutsThin lines that save ink when printing in black and white.

Guide

Simple does not mean thin: how to make a clean one-page CV that still persuades

7 sectionsAbout 3 min readUpdated 01/10/2026

People screening applications do not read, they skim: name, most recent position, company, a few figures, and only then do they decide whether to read closely. Simple CV templates are made for that way of reading: they strip out decoration so the text comes through first. Việc Hot has 15 simple CV templates with little colour and plenty of white space, which stay clear when printed in black and white. The sections below cover when to choose this style, where simple ends and thin begins, and how to write so that one page still carries weight.

When to choose a simple CV template

Choose a simple template when the employer has a standard HR process and the reader is a functional manager: accounting, HR and administration, purchasing, import-export, engineering, manufacturing, banking. These people read many applications a day and are used to traditional layouts; lots of colour only makes them spend longer looking for information. A simple template also suits you if you have more than five years of experience and need every line for content.

On the other hand, if you are applying for design, advertising, events or content creation, the recruiter wants to see your sense of style on the CV itself; an eye-catching template or a creative template works better there.

Where simple differs from thin

	Simple CV	Thin CV
Colour	Simple CVOne accent colour or black and white, by choice	Thin CVNo colour because it was never thought through
White space	Simple CVSeparates sections and guides the eye	Thin CVHalf the page empty because there was nothing to write
Experience	Simple CVTwo to four lines with figures for each position	Thin CVOne line: "assisted with department work"
Summary at the top	Simple CVThree lines: years, field, strengths	Thin CVLeft blank, or a stock objective copied from elsewhere
Fonts	Simple CVOne typeface family, two sizes	Thin CVThree or four fonts in mixed sizes

The difference lies not in the template but in the content poured into it: black-and-white CVs get interview calls ahead of colourful ones simply because every line answers the question "what did you do, for whom, and with what result".

On a single page, what goes first and what goes after

The top of the page holds your name in large type and the position you are applying for, worded exactly as in the job post, followed by phone number, email and province or city on one line. Below that come a summary of two to three sentences, work experience starting with the most recent, education, skills, certificates and languages. Experience should take up about half the page; fresh graduates move education and projects to the front.

The simple templates on Việc Hot are already set up for A4: even margins, body text at about 10.5 to 11 pt, section headings one step bolder than the body, and no borders. Keep those settings, change the accent colour if you like, and put your effort into the wording.

Write short lines that carry weight

Each bullet point covers three things: what you did, at what scale and with what result. Cut filler phrases such as "responsible for" and "took part in supporting"; start with a verb and end with a figure or a concrete change.

The same HR and administration position

Before: Responsible for timekeeping, insurance and other administrative tasks.

After: Handled timekeeping and monthly social insurance procedures for 120 staff; moved the reconciliation sheet to a new template, cutting payroll errors from five or six to fewer than one per pay period.

Simple CVs and screening software

Simple templates all use one column, with no tables and no icons in place of words, so the applicant tracking software used by banks and corporations can parse everything. When you apply through a recruitment portal, you only need to do two more things: use standard section headings ("Work experience", not "Journey") and take keywords exactly as they appear in the job post. The article on ATS-friendly CV templates explains in detail how software reads a CV.

Common mistakes with simple CV templates

Shrinking the font to 8 or 9 pt to squeeze two pages onto one.
Putting "CURRICULUM VITAE" in large type at the top instead of your name.
Skills listed as "office software, communication, teamwork" with no evidence.

Frequently asked questions

One page if you have under five years of experience, two pages at most for experienced candidates or management positions; the second page must still be content with figures.

Only if the job post asks for one or it is customary in your field, such as services, sales or reception. Use a small portrait on a plain background in the top corner.

No. Managers and specialists are in fact more likely to use black-and-white templates, because the people reading their applications care only about the scope of responsibility and the results.

Yes. Every template on Việc Hot comes with layouts, backgrounds and fonts you can switch; with a simple template, keep to one accent colour and print a test copy in black and white before sending.

Simple CV templates