cv_resume

cv_resume is a LaTeX CV and resume template based on ModernCV, adapted with Chinese font support and optimized for XeLaTeX compilation.

What is cv_resume?

cv_resume is a LaTeX template for creating CVs and resumes, derived from the ModernCV class. It accepts LaTeX source files with personal content and produces a professionally formatted PDF document when compiled with XeLaTeX. The template is maintained by geekplux and released under the MIT License, so it can be freely used and modified. It is distributed through a GitHub repository with 533 stars at the time of writing.

Key Features

• Chinese font support — the template includes modified style files that enable Chinese punctuation so resumes can be written in Chinese without font-related errors.
• Based on ModernCV — inherits ModernCV's clean sectioned layout for personal data, work experience, education, and skills.
• XeLaTeX compilation — designed to be compiled with XeLaTeX, which handles Unicode and system fonts necessary for Chinese characters.
• Comment-documented macros — font types and sizes are controlled by macros in the .tex file, each with explanatory comments for easy customization.
• Adjustable margins — page outer margins can be modified through the scale option in the geometry settings.
• Adjustable spacing — vertical spacing between the title and body text can be fine-tuned with the vspace command.
• Makefile build — a simple make command compiles the resume, streamlining the workflow.
• MIT licensed — free to use, modify, and redistribute with attribution.

Who is it for?

• Chinese-speaking job seekers — anyone who needs a professional resume in Chinese can use the template to avoid font configuration issues that commonly break other LaTeX resumes.
• LaTeX users — people already comfortable with LaTeX can customize the template's commented macros to match their preferred typography.
• Developers and academics — those who want a version-controlled resume in plain text can store their CV source in Git and regenerate the PDF after each edit.
• MacOS users — the author documents a workflow using MacTeX on MacOS, making it a known-good path for that platform.

What can you do with cv_resume?

• Create a Chinese resume: replace the placeholder contents in the .tex file with your personal data, education, work history, and skills, then compile to a PDF.
• Customize typography: adjust font family, size, and margin settings using the commented macros to match a specific job application style.
• Maintain a version-controlled CV: because the source is plain LaTeX text, you can track changes over time with Git and generate different PDF versions for different applications.

How does cv_resume work?

The workflow starts by installing a full LaTeX distribution such as MacTeX, which includes the xelatex compiler and all required packages. After editing the .tex file with your information, running make in the repository directory invokes xelatex to produce the final PDF. The template's style files handle Chinese punctuation so that the output is typographically correct for Chinese text.

FAQ

Is cv_resume free to use?

Yes, cv_resume is released under the MIT License, which permits free use, modification, and redistribution. You only need to retain the copyright notice and license text when you share modified versions.

How do I install the required compiler?

On macOS, you can install MacTeX from the official TUG website, which installs the xelatex compiler along with all necessary LaTeX packages. The template's Makefile runs the compile automatically after installation.

Does the template support English resumes?

While the template is optimized for Chinese with Chinese punctuation support, ModernCV's base design is English-oriented, so the same template can be used for English resumes with minor adjustments to the font and language settings.

Can I change the font?

Yes, the template places all font and size macros at the top of the .tex file with comments explaining what each controls. You can replace the default fonts with any font installed on your system.

What is the difference between a CV and a resume?

A curriculum vitae (CV) is typically a longer, detailed academic or professional history, while a resume is a shorter, targeted summary. This template's ModernCV base is flexible enough to produce either by adding or removing sections in the .tex source.