Free ATS CV builder, no sign-up
Fill in the form, pick a template, download a PDF. No account, no paywall when you download, no watermark. Your CV is written and stored only in this browser: nothing is uploaded to HireWire or anyone else.
How it works
- Fill in the form. Start empty or press More → Load example to see a finished CV. The preview updates as you type.
- Pick a template. Classic, Modern and Compact are single-column CVs that applicant tracking systems (ATS) read reliably. German Lebenslauf is the tabular layout German employers expect.
- Download the PDF. “Download PDF” opens your browser’s print dialog; choose Save as PDF. The PDF contains real, selectable text, not an image.
- Match it to jobs (optional). “Score it against live jobs” opens HireWire with your CV loaded, so it can pick out your skills and rank postings by fit.
The templates
| Template | Best for | Layout |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | Most applications, traditional industries | Serif type, centred name, one column |
| Modern | Tech, product, design, start-ups | Sans-serif, a single accent colour, one column |
| Compact | Fitting a lot onto one page | Smaller type and tighter spacing, one column |
| German Lebenslauf | Applications in Germany, Austria and Switzerland | Dates on the left, details on the right, optional photo, place, date and signature line |
You can switch templates at any time without retyping anything, and set the CV language (English or German headings and dates) and the paper size (A4 or US Letter) separately.
Applying to a German-speaking employer? The German page, Lebenslauf-Vorlage kostenlos, opens the same builder with the tabular Lebenslauf selected and explains in German how a Lebenslauf is structured: language levels (A1–C2), the photo question, length, signature, and how it differs from an English CV.
Why these templates are ATS-friendly
An applicant tracking system turns your PDF back into text before anyone reads it. Layouts that look clever to a person can come out scrambled. The three ATS templates follow the rules that keep the text clean:
- one column, read top to bottom, with no text boxes, tables or sidebars;
- standard section names (Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, Languages) that parsers recognise;
- contact details in the body of the page, not in a header or footer;
- no icons, skill bars or photos, and common fonts (Georgia or Arial and their equivalents);
- real text in the PDF, so a parser or a recruiter can search and copy it.
No tool can promise how a particular employer’s system scores you; the content still has to match the job. For that part, see the Jobscan alternative page or score your CV against a posting in HireWire.
Your CV stays in your browser
The builder is a single page of JavaScript. It makes no network requests while you write, loads no analytics, and the PDF is produced by your own browser. With Remember in this browser switched on (the default), the CV is kept in this browser’s local storage so it is still there next time; switch it off and it is deleted from storage straight away. To move it to another device, use More → Save as file and open the file there. More on how HireWire handles data on the privacy page.
From CV to job matches
A CV on its own does not find you a job. “Score it against live jobs” hands your CV to the HireWire app on this same site, still inside your browser: it reads your skills out of it, asks for the role and place you want, and ranks postings from 55 job feeds by fit. From there you can track applications, run an AI fit score on any posting (three free), or, with Pass Plus, have a tailored CV written for a specific job.
FAQ
Is this an ATS CV builder?
Yes, in the sense that matters: Classic, Modern and Compact are single-column layouts with standard section names, contact details in the page body, no icons or skill bars, and real text in the PDF, which applicant tracking systems read reliably. No tool can promise how a specific employer’s system will score you; the wording still has to match the job.
Is this CV builder really free?
Yes. Building, editing and downloading your CV as a PDF is free, with no watermark and no sign-up. HireWire earns money from optional AI passes inside the job app, never from the CV builder.
Can I download my CV without signing up?
Yes. There is no account at all. “Download PDF” uses your browser’s print dialog: choose Save as PDF as the destination, and turn off headers and footers for a clean page.
Where is my CV stored?
Only in your browser’s local storage on this device, and only while Remember in this browser is on. Nothing is sent to HireWire. Clearing your browser data or pressing More → Clear everything deletes it.
Should I put a photo on my CV?
For the UK, the US and Ireland, no: leave it out. In Germany a photo is common but not required, so the photo field appears only on the German Lebenslauf template.
Can I get a Word (.docx) file?
Not from the builder; it produces a PDF, which most employers and portals prefer. If a portal asks for Word, the AI tools inside HireWire (Pass Plus) export DOCX for tailored CVs.
How long should my CV be?
One page for up to about five years of experience, two pages beyond that. The preview shows the page count and marks where each page breaks.
Is there a German version?
Yes: Lebenslauf-Vorlage kostenlos, the same builder with German labels and the tabular Lebenslauf selected.
Your CV is ready. Now find the jobs it fits.HireWire pulls postings from 55 job feeds into one list and scores each one against your skills, in your browser and without an account. Press “Score it against live jobs” above to bring your CV along.
Open HireWire →