Free CV template: how to choose one that actually gets read
A good free CV template fits on one page, reads in a single column and exports to a text-based PDF. Everything else, colours included, is secondary.
What a recruiter looks at first
A recruiter in Accra or Kumasi with 200 applications for one role spends a few seconds on each CV. They look for three things: the target role, the latest job and the qualification. Your template should show those three at the top of the page.
Banks, large companies and NGOs often run CVs through screening software (an ATS) before a person reads them. It extracts the text: a CV built as an image or split into floating boxes can look empty or scrambled to it.
Five criteria for a good free template
- One page under 10 years of experience, two at most after that.
- One main column: side columns look nice but some software reads them out of order.
- Standard headings: Experience, Education, Skills, Languages.
- A real-text PDF: you should be able to select the words in the file.
- A readable font at 10 to 12 points, two colours at most.
| Tool | Price | Read by screening software | Strength | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Word / Google Docs | Free (or already installed) | Good with a simple layout | Full control, works offline | Slow formatting, dated templates |
| Canva | Free, premium elements paid | Variable: columns and icons can be misread | Very attractive design | Built for design, not for screening software |
| Online builders (Zety, Resume.io…) | Often free to build, paid options in dollars or euros | Usually good | Step-by-step guidance | Foreign currency, card often required |
| EmploiZen | Unlimited free CVs, AI options from 300 CFA francs | Real-text PDF, single-column version | Tests the CV against a job ad, local pricing | New service, AI writing is paid |
Prices and features checked in November 2026; they may change.
Simple or designed CV?
For banking, administration, public service or NGO roles, a simple CV wins: it looks serious and passes every filter. A more visual CV makes sense in communications or design, as long as you keep a plain version for online applications.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free CV template?
Can I make a free CV without installing software?
Should a CV in Ghana include a photo?
Kpak is published by the EmploiZen team, one of the tools mentioned in this article. Our transparency policy
