Shown with sample content. Every colour can be changed.
Modern template
Modern CV Template — Free Download
Modern pairs a solid colour sidebar with a light, airy main column. Contact details and skills sit in the panel where a recruiter looks first, and the colour changes with one click. A safe pick if you want something more current than a plain page.
- Free PDF download
- No watermark
- Free account to download
- Style
- Modern
- Layout
- Two columns
- Photo
- No (can be added)
- ATS-friendly
- Partly (two columns)
- Best for
- Early and mid-career
- Paper
- A4 and US Letter
Who the Modern template suits
Modern is a good fit for early and mid-career. At a glance: a solid colour left sidebar for contact details, skills and languages beside a light main column.
- Marketing
- Tech
- Project management
Built without a photo, which suits the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland, where photos are usually left off. If an employer expects one, you can add a photo in the builder.
Is Modern ATS-friendly?
Partly. Modern has two columns. Most current applicant tracking systems read two-column PDFs, but some older portals mix the sidebar text into the main column. Use Modern when you email your CV or hand it over; for large online portals, a single-column template such as Meridian is the safer choice.
Whichever template you pick, download your PDF and run it through our free ATS checker to see the text a tracking system extracts.
How to use the Modern template
- 1. Open it in the builder. Click "Use this free template". If you already have a CV in the builder, it switches to Modern and keeps your content.
- 2. Fill in each section. The live preview shows page breaks exactly as they will appear in the PDF.
- 3. Adjust the design. Change the accent colour, font size and spacing, or rename and reorder sections.
- 4. Download the PDF. Free, with no watermark, and you just need a free account to download.
Similar templates
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Fjord
Slate left panel with dot-rated skills and details beside a wide career column.
Meridian
Vertical timeline for experience and education. Structured and modern.
Ember
Bold accent header band with pill skill tags. Confident and energetic.
Beacon
Deep-toned sidebar with photo, skill bars and language dots beside a roomy career column.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Modern template free?
Yes. You can edit the Modern template and download it as a PDF for free, as many times as you like. There is no watermark, and you just need a free account to download.
Is Modern ATS-friendly?
Partly. Modern has two columns. Most current applicant tracking systems read two-column PDFs, but some older portals mix the sidebar text into the main column. Use Modern when you email your CV or hand it over; for large online portals, a single-column template such as Meridian is the safer choice.
Can I add a photo to Modern?
Yes. Modern is designed without a photo, but you can upload one in the builder and choose its shape. Only add it where photos are expected, such as many employers in mainland Europe and the Middle East.
Who is the Modern template best for?
Early and mid-career, especially in marketing, tech, project management. It works for other fields too: the content matters more than the design.
Can I change the colours and fonts in Modern?
You can change the accent colour, font size, line spacing, date format and page size (A4 or US Letter), and rename, hide or reorder sections. Your content stays the same if you switch to another template later.
Examples and tools
- Teacher resume example Licences up front and classroom results.
- Resume summary examples Summaries by field and experience level.
- Skills for your CV Hard and soft skills by field, ready to add.
- Free ATS checker Check how a tracking system reads your finished PDF.
- All free CV templates Filter by photo, layout and style.