Sample content. Your own details replace it when you open the editor.

Compact CV template

Dense and scannable — fits more on a page.

Best for: Engineering, tech, data
Layout: One column
ATS rating: 5/5 — Excellent
Photo: Optional photo slot
Fonts: IBM Plex Sans
Length: Designed for one page
Downloads: Word (.docx), PDF, plain text

About the Compact template

Compact is a technology, ATS-friendly, one-page CV template with one column. Dense and scannable — fits more on a page. It was designed for engineering, tech, data.

Typography: IBM Plex Sans throughout, at 9.5 pt with 12 mm margins. It has a place for a profile photo, which you can switch off. Change the accent colour, fonts, spacing and section order in the editor without losing your content.

ATS rating 5/5 (excellent). Single reading order, standard headings and plain text in the right sequence. Text extraction reads the page in the order a person would. This is M2Toolkit's own rating from reading exported PDFs back as text; it is not a guarantee about any employer's system.

Who it suits

People applying for engineering, tech, data.
Online application forms that parse your CV into fields.
Early-career applicants with limited work history.

Things to know before you choose it

Photos are expected in some regions (the Gulf, much of Europe) and discouraged in others (the US, UK, Canada). Turn the photo off where it isn't customary.

Tips for filling it in

Lead with your most relevant role; the single column reads top to bottom, so order matters.
Aim to keep it to one page unless you have more than ten years of relevant experience.
Start each bullet with what you did, add how, and finish with the result. Only include numbers you can back up.
Run the finished CV through the ATS Resume Checker against the job advert before you send it.

Compact template FAQ

Is the Compact template ATS-friendly?

It scores 5 out of 5 in our checks (excellent). Safe for any online application. The score comes from reading exported PDFs back as text, and it doesn't predict any specific employer's software.

What jobs suit the Compact template?

It was designed for engineering, tech, data. It works for other fields too; the layout, not the job title, decides whether it suits you.

Can I change the colours and fonts?

Yes. Colour, fonts, font size, margins, spacing and section order are all adjustable in the editor, and you can switch to a different template at any time without losing your text.

Can I download it as Word or PDF?

Yes. Download an editable Word (.docx) file, a PDF (through your browser's print dialog, with selectable text) or plain text. Word files use a clean single-column layout so they stay easy to edit, rather than copying this exact design.

Is it free?

Yes. There is no watermark and no sign-up needed to build and download.

Is my CV uploaded anywhere?

No. Everything runs in your browser and is saved on your device only.

Also useful: ATS Resume Checker, Cover Letter Generator, Interview Practice.