Simple CV Template to Fill In on Word (Free)
Simple CV template to fill in on Word and Google Docs: ready sections, marked fields and what to leave out. Download the free file and apply today.
If you are looking for a simple CV template to fill out in Word, you have found the right file: a free .docx with ready-made sections and fields marked in square brackets, ready to swap for your details. Open it in Word, Word Online, or Google Docs, replace what is inside the [brackets], and your CV will be ready in half an hour. No drawing tables or guessing section order.
This simple CV template, ready to fill out in Word, was created by the Inademy Guide team for anyone looking for their first job in Mozambique: one page, a clean structure, and the sections recruiters look for in the first few seconds. Below, I explain what is inside the file, how to fill it out in Word and Google Docs, and what should not go into a simple CV.
The short answer
- Download the .docx file at the end of this section and open it in Word or Google Docs.
- Replace the bracketed fields — [Name], [Course], [Phone] — with your real details, one by one.
- Keep everything on one page. A simple CV means direct: education, practical projects, and skills.
- Export to PDF before sending so the formatting reaches any screen intact.
- Create a free profile on Inademy and apply for open positions with your newly prepared CV.
📥 Download the template: Fillable simple CV (.docx) — free, opens in Word or Google Docs.
What is included in the template
The file is a clean template, without flashy colours or graphics that break the formatting across devices. At the top, there is a short note reminding you that the text inside square brackets consists of placeholders; below it, the structure follows this order:
- Full name — large, on the first line. It also serves as the document title, so do not write "CV" there.
- Personal details — city and province, phone number in the 82/84 xxx xxxx format, and email. Just one line, as shown in the template.
- Profile — three sample lines about a recent graduate looking for their first opportunity; replace them with your degree and desired field.
- Education — school or university, course name, start and completion years, average grade, and two or three subjects relevant to the role.
- Projects and practical experience — observational internships, volunteer work, informal sales, translation work, or computer tasks done for neighbours. This is where your experience goes when you do not have a signed contract yet.
- Skills — IT skills (Word, Excel, internet, email), languages you speak and write, and skills specific to your course.
- References — the template already includes the standard phrase: "Available upon request", along with the suggestion to list a professor or community leader.
Notice what is missing: there is no space for a photo, ID number, or marital status. This was a deliberate choice — you should only include those details when the job post specifically asks for them. If you have questions about what is required, the article on what to put on a CV: photo, ID, place of birth, and references covers this in detail.
How to fill it in Word, step by step
- Download the file to the Downloads folder on your device.
- Open it in Word. Don't have Word installed? Word Online works in your browser and is free with a Microsoft account — no card or subscription needed.
- Type your name over [FULL NAME], keeping the font size and bold styling already applied.
- Fill in the personal details line: the city where you live, a phone number you answer, and a presentable email address. "yourname@gmail.com" works; funny nicknames do not.
- Tailor the profile in your own words. Say who you are, the course you completed, and the type of role you are looking for. Three sentences are enough; no speeches.
- Check your education against your certificate. Write names exactly as they appear on the document, without abbreviations.
- Structure your projects using this format: role + what you did + result. "Informal vendor at the market — served 30 customers a day and managed cash change" is worth more than three adjectives.
- Review your skills and delete any you cannot defend in a conversation.
- Save two versions: the .docx to update in the future and a PDF to send. In Word: File → Save As, and File → Export → PDF.
How to fill it out in Google Docs
Don't have Word handy? Google Docs does the same job for free and saves everything automatically in the cloud — if your phone dies, your CV won't be lost with it. Here is how to do it:
- Upload the file to Google Drive (+ button, then File upload) from your Downloads folder.
- Open it with Google Docs — double-click the file and select "Open with". The sections stay the same as in Word.
- Replace the fields one by one. Quick tip: use the search tool (Find), type "[" and jump from placeholder to placeholder without missing any.
- Download the final versions under File → Download: Microsoft Word (.docx) to keep your editable original and PDF Document (.pdf) to send out.
There is no "Save" button in Docs — the document updates automatically. When an employer asks for the Word version later, just download the .docx from the same file.
What NOT to include in a simple CV
A simple CV loses its impact when filled with details recruiters don't need. Leave out:
- Full ID or document number — full identification is only needed once hiring is underway, and the employer will let you know.
- Photo, unless requested in the job ad — it isn't mandatory and takes up valuable space. If required, make sure it is neutral and recent.
- Marital status, children, or religion — these don't affect your ability to do the job, and no one decides an interview based on them.
- Expected salary — that conversation belongs in the interview, never on the front page.
- Your entire education history from primary school — start with secondary school or your current studies.
- Words like "Curriculum Vitae" or "CV" at the top — your name is the document header; anyone reading it already knows what it is.
- Exaggerated details — made-up grades and unfinished courses are easily uncovered with a quick call to your school.
Without this dead weight, what remains is exactly what recruiters look for in the first few seconds: who you are, what you studied, and what you can do in practice.
When to use this template (and when to use another)
The simple CV template is designed for those who don't have formal work experience yet: education comes first, and practical projects take the place of professional experience. People searching for "simple Word CV template" usually want just this: open the file and fill it in without touching the layout.
It fits if you are finishing your studies or only have odd jobs and volunteering in your history. Have you already worked for a year or more in a registered role? In that case, your experience needs more space, and there is another template ready for that — the complete index of CV templates in Mozambique.
- Retail, restocking, cashier — there is a variation with vocabulary for these roles, ready to adapt.
- Technical jobs (driver, operator, mechanic) — there is a template that highlights driving licences and certificates.
- NGOs and international organisations — when they request the Europass format, the official template is also available in the same index.
- English applications — there is a dedicated template, with sections already translated.
If you're not sure which path to take yet, the complete guide on how to write a CV in Mozambique shows you how to choose by field and what to write on every line. And for those who are just starting out, the plan for searching for vacancies is in the article on the first job CV with no experience.
Before sending: the final checklist
You have finished filling it in, but the document should still go through three quick checks. The first is visual: open the PDF and make sure everything fits on one page, with standard margins and a clean font (Arial or Times New Roman, size 11 or 12).
The second is proofreading. Read your CV out loud, slowly — your ears catch mistakes that your eyes slide past. Then ask someone you trust to spend two minutes reading it — a fresh pair of eyes will spot a wrong number straight away.
The third is sending it. The file name speaks volumes before the document even opens: "CV_Maria_Machongo_Administration.pdf" communicates better than "cv_final_v3.pdf". And sending an email comes with its own rules — subject line, short message body, correctly named attachment — covered in the guide on how to send a CV by email.
How Inademy helps you
Once your CV is ready, you just need the right destination. On Inademy, you can create a free profile, apply for jobs in a few clicks, and attach your PDF hassle-free. If you activate alerts, you will get new job openings sent by email or WhatsApp instead of hunting for ads at random. The updated job list is always available — filter by your province and start with the applications closing soonest.
Where this information comes from
The structure of this template follows the same section order taught in the guides from the Inademy Guide cited throughout the text — first job, essential CV content, sending by email — and reflects what job ads published on the platform request most.
The file is maintained by the Guide team and updated whenever the guides change; the placeholders in square brackets correspond exactly to what each section of this guide describes.
Read also
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to pay for Word to use the template?
No. The file opens in Word Online, Google Docs, and similar free readers. The desktop version requires a paid subscription, but it is never mandatory — your mobile browser is enough. This simple CV template opens in any of them.
Does it work on a mobile phone?
Yes, it works with either of the two options above. If your phone is your only tool, follow our step-by-step guide to making a CV on your phone.
Should I send my CV in Word or PDF?
Almost always in PDF. A PDF keeps your formatting intact on any device and prevents anyone from editing your document. Send a .docx file only when the job ad explicitly asks for it.
Can I change the order of the sections?
You can, but use good judgment. The sequence in the template — contact details, personal statement, education, projects, skills, references — is what recruiters expect from an entry-level candidate. Only move a section up if you have something exceptional to highlight, like a newly earned certificate.
How many pages should a simple CV be?
One. If your content spills over, cut back details before shrinking the font size: include fewer courses, fewer projects, but keep it on a single page.
In summary, what to do today
- Download the template and open it in Word Online or Google Docs.
- Replace all fields in square brackets with your actual details.
- Export the PDF named «CV_Name_Field.pdf» and read it out loud once.
- Ask someone you trust to proofread it for two minutes.
- Create your free profile on Inademy and apply for job vacancies in your province.
