15+ Visual CV Resume Templates (Download for Free)

15+ Visual CV Resume Templates (Download for Free) Not so long ago, all resumes looked pretty much the same:Plain text. Black font on white background. No fireworks, no visuals, no graphics.But the times, they are a-changin.Nowadays there are many beautiful visual resume templates available for download all over the internet. Weve browsed through 400+ online visual resume templates to present you only the best of the best.First, have a look at a visual resume sample made with the Zety builder.1Cubic by ZetyWant to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample resume made with our builderSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowTo see our gallery of 15+ eye-pleasing visual resume templates (fre e templates included), just scroll down.Hold your horses, thoughBefore you download a visual resume in hopes of knocking recruiters off their feet with your flair for creativity, you need to know something.Not all visual resume templates are equally good.See what I mean:Pros and Cons of Visual Resume TemplatesBasically the only good thing about graphic and visual CV templates?Theyre pretty. Theyre cool. Unique. Creative.But the truth is, theyre dysfunctional.Why you shouldnt use a visual resume template?Unless saved in PDF with a properly formatted text layer, visual resume are not scannable by the Applicant Tracking Software (ATS). This means, you automatically miss out on 80% of jobs you apply to. (Yes, up to 80% companies use ATS.)Visual resumes draw recruiters eyes to graphics which are usually least important elements. Traditional resume layout focuses on work accomplishments which is what recruiters want.Graphic resume templates often use large blocks of text. Bullet points ar e too boring. Too bad, resume bullets are what recruiters expect. Theyre quick and easy to skim. That saves recruiters time.Theyre a waste of space. Graphics, icons, and other visual elements take up valuable real estate you could use to focus on whats relevant to the job youre trying to land.Unless youre applying to a small company and are 100% sure your resume will not be scanned by the ATS, choose simplicity and readability over the urge to have a cool resume template.I get it. You do want your resume to reflect your individual style. MS Word resumes are boring. Not to mention that its a pain to get your formatting up to scratch.SoInstead of using a fully visual resume template, give our builder a try:Our templates use small visual elements to enhance readability and add a modern touch.We know black-on-white resumes are lifeless and dull, so we offer over 400 color combinations to choose from.At the same time, we know how recruitment works, so all our templates are ATS-compatible .We went as far as possible to provide you with beautiful templates while not sabotaging your job search with unreadable graphics.Not convinced? Heres a list of alternatives:2Watercolor TriangleSHOWY 68s Watercolor Triangle is an eye-catching visual resume template ideal for job hunting in casual industries.Bear in mind, though, that employers who prefer a conservative office culture might not appreciate the paint-like header.Plus, big fonts and graphical section headings take up lots of spacethere might not be enough left for what matters: your detailed achievements and relevant experience.Heres the link to this visual resume editable in MS Word, Photoshop, and Illustrator.As a bonus, youll get access to a similar cover letter template.(Speaking of which: do include cover letter in your job application. Tell a story. Seduce recruiters. They love stories much more than raw data sheets!)Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidat es. You can write it in our cover letter builder here.Here's what it may look like:See more cover letter templates and start writing.3Orange is the New BlackThis high-contrast visual resume imitates the design of websites for the visually impaired. A very refreshing visual CV that will surely grip attention. A great pick for a visual designer resume.But... this one will work well for digital applications onlyonce printed out, it might not look too great on resume paper.Heres the link. Download and edit in Photoshop or Illustrator.4Modern by ZetyCreate my resume nowAnother ATS-friendly visual resume made with love at Zety. Some of its graphic features include: block rating system (for languages and skills), ribbon-style arrows preceding each section title, and a clean design throughout with numerous color combinations to choose from.Modern is included when you create a resume in our builder, along with many other tested visual CV templates.5Clean ResumeThe Clean Resume available at C reative Market gives a direct proof that even two-page resumes can be easily scannable when section titles stand out the way they should. You can download this visual resume in Word, as well as INND and PSD.The photo placeholder, however, might not be easy to remove. And on most US resumes, including photographs is an instant dealbreaker.Heres the link to this resume design template.6Iconic not LaconicTolgahan Yurtsevens FREE Resume Template is an unbeatable combination of informative and creative resume design. A great fit for applicants targeting creative positions. (In case youve missed Tolgahans caps in the title: THIS ONE, believe it or not, IS FREE). Available in INND and PSD.The problem? Again, the placeholder for you headshot will likely be hard to remove and recruiters dont want photographs on resumes. Plus, en extensive use of graphics will make it hard for this visual template to pass an ATS scan.Heres the link to this visual CV template.7Concept by ZetyCreate my resume n owHow about this visual resume template? Combining features of infographic resumes and a traditional layout, its perfect for those who need the reverse-chronological resume format. This resume uses a thin sidebar to the left for dates, creating an easy-to-follow timeline.Concept is included when you create a resume in our builder, along with 20+ other visual CV templates.8Minimalist InfographicTibor van der Brink, in his Personal Resume and Promotion, puts traditional resume sections inside a creative, visual infographic. Blue icons add a pleasant touch of color, but the design remains elegant and clear.Note: use this template only for applications where you dont expect an encounter with the dreaded ATS. This ones pleasant to look at for humans, but robots might not appreciate overly visual representations of skills or interests.Heres the link to this visual CV.9Fun and QuirkyPersonal Branding Design by Matteo Innominato on Behance is surely one of the most unique visual resume exam ples on our list. The hand-drawn graphics and icons are very distinct. All in all, an image is worth a thousand words, they say.This resume is beautiful, but dont use it unless you work in graphic design. It stands no chance against ATS bots.Heres the link.10Self IdentityLam Lus Self Identity project on Behance is one of the best personal infographics weve seen. A pleasant, blue-and-orange color scheme, dozens of icons and charts, and an area of convergence in the center which ties everything together. Visual resume poetry at its finest.This one will work great as an addition to an online portfolioits a wonderful visual project. For regular job applications though, it features too much plain text plus, the layout is confusing. Recruiters have no time to dig for important information, you need to present it to them on a silver platter.Heres the link to this visual resume.11Vibes by ZetyCreate my resume nowThis ones called Vibes. And what sort of vibes does it send, huh?Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, right? Just look at it: tiny, elegant icons next to section headings are eye-catching but not too invasive. Simple bar charts for your skills let you describe your proficiency level easily.A fantastic visual resume layout for corporate jobs, as well a good CV layout for academic positions. You can get it in Zetys resume builder.12MariquitaMara Vzquez Reina brings us her CV Mariquita, and what a looker it is!Hand-drawn images break up the various sections and alert the recruiter exactly what your interests and skills are. Resume graphs and bar charts detail your expertise and qualifications.Yet againthe visual CV above is beautiful, but the automated recruitment AI hasnt been trained to appreciate art. At least not yetfor digital job applications, value raw data over artistry and storytelling.Heres the link to this visual resume template.13YoThe lucky thirteen on our list goes to Clmentine Storas design, simply named My Resume. A nice visual resume templa te with a photo placeholder. White space helps direct the hiring managers eyes and attention to the sections of the document that are most important to them. The design of this CV template is clean and very elegant.The main problem is, this template doesnt give enough space for text. For those of you who actually want to pack your resume full of achievements and relevant experience, its a poor choice.Recommended for highly creative positions only.Heres the link.14Black Matte Visual CVVincenzo Castros Curriculum Vitae is a stunning, if risky, graphic template that can be put to great use by designers, visual artists, and other creative professionals. Your name and contact info go at the top, below them, centered around a grouping of tech icons are lines that point to different areas of your expertise.Bear in mind that most recruiters print out resumes they get. This one will be very prone to printing errors. Its safest to stick to white resume backgrounds for job applications.Heres t he link to this visual CV template. Available for download in InDesign and Photoshop.15Bold (and Beautiful?)One of the most creative visual resumes by graphic designer Nhung Nguyen. Giant drop caps mark the start of each section. All kinds of boundaries are broken, the resume uses multiple columns, aligned differently and scattered across all parts of the resume.Sounds like a hot mess? But somehow it works!Like with most visual resume templates, though, scannability is the main problem of this one. You could make it work during career fairs or networking events, but for corporate job applications, it might confuse recruiters and, in the end, do you more harm than good.Heres the link. Editable in Illustrator only.16Yet Another WatercolorThis is where we make a wrap (an a loop). Started with a watercolor visual template, finishing off with just that. Do Anh Nguyets template is colorful and creative without being overwhelming. Its two-column layout gives you plenty of room to talk up y our experience, education and skills.Recommended only for applications where you dont suspect an ATS encounter.Want to know how to make a creative resume in Microsoft Word? This one is the answer. If youre an Adobe user, its got templates in your size, too.Heres the link.Key TakeawayHeres all you need to know about visual resume templates:Visual resumes with lots of graphics are beautiful and fun but they might not pass ATS scans.To stay on the safe side, save your visual resume as a PDF with a text layer over the graphics (thats what our resume builder allows you to do).While visual resumes are usually a waste of space. Words are more important than graphics, keep that in mind.Speaking of whichA pretty resume design wont get you far if you dont know how to write the contents. Luckily, we have tons of resources to help you out:First, learn the critical rules. This quick guide will take you from a resume rookie into expert in 5 minutes: How to Make a Resume: A Step-by-Step GuideThen, pick a professional format. This is key to presenting your strongest suit to employers. Make them realize they need you: Resume Format: How to Format a Resume RightOnce youve got the general idea for your resume contents, get the show on the road. Aint as easy as it seems? Well, weve just made it easy: How to Start a Resume: A Complete Guide With Tips 15+ ExamplesOne last thing:Do write a cover letter.Heres how: How To Write A Cover Letter in 8 Simple StepsDo you have any questions on choosing the visual resume template? Give us a shout in the comments and well get back to you!