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Adding a personal touch to your CV can capture recruiters' attention in the UK job market. While no colour guarantees success, insights from colour psychology and industry trends can help you tailor your CV. Employers often prefer plain CVs, but adding visual elements can help them become more eye-catching, especially in creative fields. Unsure about design and colour choices? We recommend prioritising readability with neutral shades like navy blue or grey. Let us guide you through the selection process, ensuring your final design is both visually striking and universally accessible!
In this article, we cover:
How to choose the best colour for your CV
CV templates with optimal colours
CV colours per industry
Colours to avoid when creating a good CV.
Explore our diverse CV templates, featuring different colour schemes that you can adjust to your needs and industry.
What is the best colour for a CV?
Whether you are a student, a graduate, or seeking a career change, consider factors such as job type and company culture when making your decision.
We suggest using neutral tones, such as grey, dark blue, or black.
Alternatively, lighter shades, also known as pastel colours, might be better for roles where you need to support, entertain, or motivate others, such as a support worker, teacher, care assistant, or nanny.
Remember to keep your CV applicant tracking system (ATS)-friendly, as employers use these systems to filter out the best candidates.
Best CV colours
Blue: Popular for a classic and trustworthy look; perfect for IT, healthcare, and corporate roles.
Black & white: Classic and versatile, with black headings/white background; suited for retail, engineering.
Grey: Neutral, subtle yet modern; ideal for finance, admin, law.
Purple: Creative option that symbolises ambition and luxury; great for leadership roles.
Dark green: Associated with growth and harmony; suitable for sustainability, wellness, and innovative roles.
Pro tip
Regardless of which colour you choose, the key is to present a polished CV with clear headings and a clean, professional layout, avoiding clutter or excessive graphics.
Before writing your CV and choosing a colour, consider creating a master CV to streamline the process and tailor your application to specific job requirements.
How to choose the best colour for your CV
1. Stick to a colour scheme
Using a consistent colourway throughout your CV makes your document more professional and polished.
Opt for colours that complement each other well and create a visually appealing design.
Avoid using too many contrasting colours that could distract from your content or make the CV difficult to read.
Limit your colour palette to 2-3 colours for a sophisticated and cohesive look.
Good colour combinations for a CV:
Black & white with a touch of blue: This combination conveys professionalism, symbolising trustworthiness, as shown in the civil service CV.
Grey and burgundy: Grey is neutral, and burgundy adds warmth. This combination could spark interest, yet look professional, as displayed in the data scientist CV.
Navy blue and light grey: Navy blue is classic, and light grey adds a soft touch, which applies to diverse job types, as shown in the barista CV.
2. Match the colours with the company’s website
Consider the industry and company culture when deciding on the scheme for your CV.
If you're applying for a creative role in the advertising or graphic design industry, you may opt for bold, eye-catching colours, showcasing your creativity.
If you're applying for a more traditional or corporate position, it's best to stick to neutral tones, like black, navy, or grey, to convey professionalism and reliability.
Knowing your target audience is especially useful for candidates with a CV with no experience.
Examples of company colours:
X: primarily blue and white, which emphasise the company's focus on communication and information.
Amazon Web Services (AWS): bright orange colour in combination with blue and black, reflecting the company's goal to drive innovation and improve cloud computing.
Twilio: the focus is on deep purple, which is associated with luxury and creativity.
Atlassian: black and white scheme with blue and orange accents, which creates a professional look.
Refer to our accountant, architecture, and computer science writing guides for more examples of tailoring your CV to a specific job and the company's website.
3. Ensure the content is easy to read
While adding colour to your CV can make it visually appealing, ensuring the content is readable and comprehensive is paramount.
Choose text and background colours that provide sufficient contrast to enhance readability. For instance, if you have a dark background, use light-coloured text, and vice versa.
Avoid using overly bright or neon shades that may strain the eyes or make the text difficult to discern.
Refer to our blog article on how to improve your CV for more tips and practical examples.
4. Use standard formatting
Regardless of your chosen palette, adhere to standard formatting practices throughout your CV.
Use a clear and legible font, consistent spacing, and logical organisation of sections.
The colour should enhance the overall design without overshadowing the content.
Stick to traditional fonts for your CV, such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman for the main body text. Reserve decorative fonts for headings, details or section titles if necessary.
Best colourful CV templates
Modern green template
Download this free driver CV example in PDF.
In this CV example, Cole uses a modern dark green colour to highlight the personal information section and key details from the work experience and education sections. The design is clean, appealing, and modern, yet remains professional.
Purple template
Download this free hairdresser CV example with no experience in PDF.
This CV sample features Jane, a hairdresser with little to no experience. She strategically uses a bright purple colour to highlight her contact information and name, complemented by soft details in the experience section. The rounded corners of the header add an aesthetically appealing touch, making the CV smooth and creative; a perfect fit for her profession.
Light blue template
Download this free artist CV example in PDF.
In this CV sample, Cecil uses a light blue colour to highlight the right column, containing information about personal details, education, skills, and technical proficiencies. The left side of the template remains white, with light blue headings to create a contrasting effect.
Solid block grey template
Download this free digital marketing CV sample in PDF.
In this CV sample, Sofia combines dark grey and white with a simple design. It is well-structured, with an easy-to-read font and clear headings. Two background colours combine to create a cohesive and professional look, with no heavy graphics or overwhelming schemes, making her an ideal fit for the role.
Splash of yellow template
Download this free graphic designer CV example in PDF.
This CV sample features Emily, a graphic designer, who strategically opted for a bright one-column template with white, black and yellow colours. This is a good choice for agencies or creative industries, where you must present your personality and unique traits.
Blue frame template
Download this free data analyst CV sample in PDF.
This CV example shows Samuel, a data analyst passionate about numbers and data-driven solutions. He uses a simple two-column format with black and white colours and a dark blue frame. Doing so adds a personal touch to his CV while maintaining a professional layout. This wise combination sets him apart from other similar candidates.
Mistakes to avoid when choosing a CV colour
It’s best to avoid excessive graphics that can clutter your CV and distract hiring managers from the main content. These could include level bars, graphs, tables, or figures. While visual elements can enhance your CV, too many can overwhelm the reader and make navigating difficult. Instead, opt for a clean and minimalistic design that is easy to read and has clear formatting, such as graduate and customer service CV examples.
Contrasting colours to be cautious of on a CV:
Black and bright red: While black offers a classic foundation, bright red emphasises key sections more. But avoid using red excessively, as it may give an unprofessional look.
Navy blue and orange: Navy blue is elegant, and orange adds vibrancy and creativity. Only use orange to highlight some parts of your CV.
Dark grey and teal: Dark grey looks classy, and teal adds a modern touch. Be cautious not to overuse them to ensure it is easy to read.
Colour combinations to avoid in a CV:
Bright red and neon green could strain the eyes, making your CV look unprofessional.
Dark purple and navy blue may blend, making it difficult to distinguish between different parts of your CV.
Yellow text on a white background can be challenging to read, especially for people with colour blindness.
Clashing neons can make your CV look messy, distracting from the main content.
High-contrast black and white CVs can be hard to read, especially for long sections.
CV colour essentials
Keep your CV clear and concise: Use a clean, easy-to-read format, tailored to the job you're applying to. Recruiters often scan CVs quickly, so make sure yours is easy to digest.
Don't worry about colour: While a touch of colour is fine, it's rarely a deciding factor. Focus on the content and structure instead.
Prioritise readability: Choose a professional font and ensure there's enough white space. Your goal is to make the recruiter's job easier.
Align with industry standards: Research what a typical CV looks like in your target industry and adapt your format accordingly. A creative role might allow for more design flair than a corporate one.
Choose neutral tones for a pro look
Match colours with company culture
Ensure your CV is ATS-friendly
Use colours to show creativity
Double-check industry suitability
Use excessively bright colours
Use clashing or contrasting shades
Utilise heavy graphics or images
Use colours that strain the eyes
Rely solely on colour for a CV template
Next steps?
Access our AI Cover Letter Builder to create a matching cover letter for your CV. You can also connect with one of our experts through our CV and Cover Letter Writing Service to receive feedback and get quick, professional advice on tailoring your CV to a specific job. Finally, explore our career blog for guides on asking good questions during an interview, reasons why you're not getting interviews, and how to organise your job search.
FAQs
What are the best industries for using a colourful CV?
The graphic design, marketing, and fashion industries often appreciate colourful CVs that showcase creativity and individuality.
On the other hand, law firms or engineering industries may prefer conservative ones, such as navy blue or black. However, it's essential to research the specific company culture to ensure the shades align with your employer’s expectations.
See the fashion designer CV writing guide for more inspiration.
What is the most attractive colour for a CV?
The looks of a CV depend largely on various factors, including personal preference, industry standards, and readability.
If you're stuck, choose safe and neutral options like navy blue or charcoal grey. Adding colour is not a problem, but ensure your CV is tailored to your job and conveys your ideas visually and in words.
Check out our modern CV example for more inspiration.
What is the psychology of colour for CVs?
Colours evoke various emotions, influencing how employers perceive your CV. For example, blue conveys trustworthiness and professionalism, while green suggests growth and innovation. Consider the message you want to communicate, and choose the appropriate combination accordingly.
What colour is most likely to get you hired?
While no specific colour guarantees a job, using a clean, professional palette can positively impact employers' perceptions of your CV. Remember, you cannot go wrong with neutral tones like black, navy blue, or charcoal grey, as they are safe options and widely accepted by employers.
Explore our colourful and plain CV examples based on job and industry to help you make the right choice!
