Templates
CV template Excel free & workplace-ready
Free Excel CV template for Excel and Google Sheets. Tabular sections for experience, education, and skills. Export PDF for US or UK applications—no sign-up.
- 100% free
- Workplace-ready
- Excel & Google Sheets
What is a CV template and why use a free Excel template?
A CV template is a ready-made layout for your work history, education, and skills. A CV template Excel keeps dates, employers, and bullet points in rows and columns so nothing drifts out of alignment—and you can update one cell instead of reformatting a whole document.
The free Ordio workbook includes an instructions sheet plus tabular sections for personal details, experience, education, and skills. Open it in Excel or Google Sheets, complete the fields, and export to PDF when you apply. Many sites advertise “free” templates but ask for registration first; this download does not.
CV, resume, and curriculum vitae—what differs?
In the United States, “resume” usually means a short, role-focused summary (often one page). In the United Kingdom, “CV” is the standard term for the same kind of document, commonly one or two pages. “Curriculum vitae” often means a longer academic or medical record; for most hourly, retail, and hospitality roles, this spreadsheet works as a concise CV or resume.
What is in the Excel workbook?
- Instructions sheet: Field labels, US/UK length tips, and export notes.
- Personal details: Contact information and an optional summary line.
- Experience: Reverse-chronological table for employers, titles, dates, and bullets.
- Education and training: Qualifications, certifications, and courses.
- Skills: Languages, software, licenses, and tools relevant to the posting.
Save a separate copy for each employer (for example Smith_Jane_CV_RetailCo.xlsx) so you never attach the wrong tailored version.
Why Excel instead of Word?
- Clear structure: Chronological roles fit naturally in tables.
- Easy updates: Change one cell instead of reformatting pages.
- Multiple versions: Duplicate the file per job and tailor bullet points.
- Optional calculations: Summarize years of experience or date ranges when helpful.
For UK expectations on CVs and cover letters, see GOV.UK guidance. Need a cover letter in the same workbook? Use our job application template. If you hire with Ordio later, you can store signed employee documents in employee files.
Worked examples: US resume vs UK CV length
Same free template, different markets—the examples below show how US and UK norms change length and emphasis. This is practical guidance, not legal advice.
US hospitality — one-page resume
A candidate targets a front-of-house role and keeps the export to one page: three recent jobs with outcome bullets (for example “trained two new hosts on floor plan”), high school or college education, and skills such as POS systems and cash handling. No photo. They hide optional experience rows in the spreadsheet, set the print area to one page, and upload a PDF to the employer portal.
UK retail — two-page CV
A store supervisor applies internally using a two-page CV: ten years of roles with month/year dates, NVQ training, and IT skills. They follow NHS Jobs CV tips for clear headings, export PDF from Google Sheets, and attach it with a cover letter from the job application template when HR asks for both files.
US logistics — one master file, three applications
A warehouse associate applies to three similar employers in one week. They keep one master Excel CV template and save a copy per company, changing only the skills row and the top three bullets. Dates stay consistent across versions; each PDF gets its own file name before upload.
Word vs Excel vs PDF for CVs
Most employers want a PDF. The choice is where you edit first—spreadsheet, Word, or Docs—before you export.
| Format | Editing | Formulas | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excel / Sheets | Tabular rows, easy versioning | Date or tenure helpers optional | Free (Ordio template) | Tabular CV, multiple applications |
| Word / Docs | Text flow, creative layouts | No formulas | Free built-in gallery | Narrative or design-led CVs |
| Read-only for employers | None | Export from Excel or Word | Final submission |
Word and Google Docs include free resume galleries—helpful when you want a visual layout on day one. Word can use tables too, but long employment histories are usually faster to maintain in a spreadsheet before you export.
Choose Excel or Sheets when you need consistent dates, sortable history, and reusable rows across several applications. Choose Word or Docs when the employer expects a design-heavy or narrative CV. Submit a PDF unless the posting explicitly asks for `.docx` or `.xlsx`. Keep the spreadsheet as your master file for the next role.
How to make a CV in Excel format (step by step)
Start from the free Ordio workbook: one row or block per role, with dates you can sort or filter before export.
- Download the file, read the instructions sheet, and duplicate the workbook if you apply to several employers.
- Personal details: Name, email, phone, and city (add a photo only if the employer or country expects it).
- Experience: Newest role first—dates, employer, title, and short outcome bullets (use numbers only when you can verify them).
- Education: Qualifications and training, newest first.
- Skills: Languages, software, and licenses that match the posting—reuse wording from the job ad when it is accurate.
- Review: Spelling, consistent date formats, and gaps you can explain in a cover letter if asked.
- Export PDF: Set the print area or page breaks so columns are not cut off; name the file clearly (for example
Smith_Jane_CV.pdf).
Quality check before you upload
Read bullets aloud once, then open the PDF on your phone. If text looks cramped, hide optional rows or shorten bullets. Keep claims factual—tailor to the job description without inventing roles or qualifications—and save the spreadsheet as your master copy for the next application.
Classic, modern, or tabular CV layouts
Recruiters scan PDFs in seconds. This workbook suits a tabular CV layout; you can still keep the export classic by using plain headings and minimal color.
| Style | Look | Typical use | Excel fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | Black-and-white, restrained | Finance, public sector, senior roles | Strong—clear sections |
| Modern | Subtle colour or icons | Marketing, tech, startups | Good—format before PDF export |
| Tabular | Grid of dates and facts | Most UK/EU applications | Optimal—native table layout |
When in doubt, use a classic tabular PDF: black-and-white, clear headings, no decorative clutter.
When each layout fits
- Classic: Banking, public sector, and healthcare support—readability beats design.
- Modern: Marketing, tech, or startups where subtle color is acceptable—format in the sheet, then check the PDF on mobile.
- Tabular: Operations, retail, logistics, and most UK/EU employers who expect dated role history in a grid.
Send a PDF export unless the posting asks for an editable Excel or Word file.
CV template for students and career starters
With limited work history, lead with education, then internships, part-time jobs, and volunteering. Use every section of the template—specific bullets (for example “cash handling on busy shifts”) work better than vague labels like “hard worker.”
Suggested section order for a first CV
- Contact details and, if helpful, a one-line profile focused on the role.
- Education, including relevant modules; add grades only if the sector expects them.
- Experience: Part-time jobs, internships, and volunteering with dates and outcomes.
- Skills: Software, languages, and licenses named in the job ad.
- Optional: Projects or society roles—only if they support this application.
US students often aim for one page; UK graduates often use two when placements need space. When the posting asks for a cover letter, pair this template with our job application template. Keep facts on the CV; put motivation in the letter.
Download the free CV template
Use the download button on this page or open the Google Sheets copy in the hero. You get a free .xlsx with instructions and tabular CV sections—no sign-up.
After you download
- Excel or LibreOffice: Open locally, enable editing, and duplicate the file before tailoring it for each employer.
- Google Sheets: Choose “Make a copy” so you do not edit the shared master link.
- Export: Set the print area if needed, then download or print to PDF for portals or email.
- Full application pack: Need a cover sheet, letter, and CV in one workbook? Use the job application template.
More HR and hiring spreadsheets are on the free templates hub.
Manage CVs with Ordio
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Frequently asked questions about CV template Excel
Which CV template is really free?
This page’s CV template Excel is free to download for Excel and Google Sheets—no subscription, no account, and no paywall after export. You get a tabular CV template with sections for experience, education, and skills plus an instructions sheet. Export to PDF when you apply.
Does Microsoft Word have CV templates?
Yes. In Word, open File → New and search for “resume” or “CV”. Built-in designs are often US-centric. If you want a structured grid and several tailored versions in one file, an Excel CV template is usually easier to maintain before you export to PDF.
Does Google Docs have a CV template?
Yes. Google Docs includes resume templates in its gallery. They work well for text-led layouts. For chronological tables and several application versions, start from this page’s free Excel download or Google Sheets copy, then export PDF.
Can I use a curriculum vitae Excel template for job applications?
Yes. A curriculum vitae in Excel suits job applications when you want dates, employers, and skills in tables you can update quickly. Download the free template, complete the sheets, and export to PDF for US or UK employers. Move sections into Word only if the posting requires it.
One-page resume or two-page CV?
It depends on market and experience. In the United States, early-career candidates often use a one-page resume. In the United Kingdom, two pages are common when the history warrants it. Follow the job posting and sector norms, then trim or expand before you export PDF.
Is there a CV template for students?
Yes. Use the same free template and emphasize education, then internships, part-time jobs, and volunteering when work history is thin. Use concrete bullets (“cash handling”, “team shift cover”) instead of vague adjectives. One page is a sensible US default; UK graduates often use two pages when placements need space.
How do I export a CV to PDF?
Export from Excel or Google Sheets with File → Download → PDF (or Print to PDF). Before you export, set the print area so columns are not cut off, then check pagination on your phone. Name the file clearly (for example Smith_Jane_CV.pdf) and keep the spreadsheet for your next application.
Excel or Word for a tabular CV?
For a tabular CV, use Excel or Google Sheets when dates and employers belong in a table and you reuse data across applications. Use Word or Docs for design-heavy or narrative CVs. This free download is built for spreadsheet layout first.
Can ChatGPT write my CV?
Not safely on its own. AI tools can suggest wording, but you must verify every fact—do not submit invented jobs or skills. Use this CV template Excel for structure and treat AI as a drafting aid only. For a cover letter and CV in one workbook, see our job application template.
Where can I write and print a CV for free?
You can write and print a CV for free by downloading the template on this page, editing it in Excel, LibreOffice Calc, or Google Sheets, and exporting or printing to PDF. No online builder account is required. Avoid sites that charge after a “free” teaser—this download stays free with no registration.
Wo finde ich bei word vorlagen für einen lebenslauf?
In Microsoft Word findest du Lebenslauf-Vorlagen unter "Datei" → "Neu", indem du gezielt nach "Lebenslauf" suchst. Diese sind jedoch oft nicht optimal für deutsche Standards. Für eine bessere Struktur und Datenverwaltung, beispielsweise für einen lebenslauf klassisch vorlage download, bieten Excel-Vorlagen oft entscheidende Vorteile, da sie eine übersichtliche Tabellenform ermöglichen. Erwäge daher eine Excel-Vorlage für deinen professionellen Lebenslauf, um Flexibilität zu gewährleisten.
Wo kann ich kostenlos einen lebenslauf schreiben und ausdrucken?
Du kannst kostenlos einen Lebenslauf schreiben und ausdrucken, indem du eine lebenslauf klassisch vorlage download nutzt. Viele Online-Anbieter versprechen dies, verlangen aber oft Registrierung oder versteckte Kosten. Eine Excel-Vorlage, wie sie kostenlos von Ordio angeboten wird, bietet dir eine strukturierte Basis ohne Registrierung. Lade dir einfach eine passende Vorlage herunter, fülle sie aus und drucke deinen Lebenslauf aus.