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Resume templates

Put your best qualities on display with professional, customizable resume and cv templates. no matter your line of work or length of professional history, you'll find resume and cv templates that'll help you get the gig..

Download free resume templates

Land your dream job with free, customizable resume templates. Showcase your potential to recruiters and stand out from other candidates with a professional template. Whether you're applying to corporate positions or creative roles, go with a sleek design or show your creativity with bold colors .

Resumes don't need to look boring—add flair to your professional experience with a creative resume template. There are plenty of resume designs to choose from, like simple resume templates and modern resume templates. Each resume template is fully customizable in Microsoft Word , so you can personalize each design element and add your own text. Using a template also makes it easier to customize your resume for each position you apply to.

Print out as many copies as you'd like or download the template for free to share digitally when applying online. These professional resume templates are perfect for any stage of life or career. Whether you're a high school student, actor, or seeking a career in nursing, you can find any format for any job type.

There are also a variety of free CV (Curriculum Vitae) templates to choose from. A CV is often longer than a resume and contains an in-depth look at your education and professional accomplishments. Like our resume templates, these CV templates are also customizable in Word.

Remember, your next job is only a template away! Once you've customized your resume, explore free cover letter templates to help you land the job.

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Free Resume Templates [Download & Print]

Customize your resume like you’d customize your favorite coffee order. Step into the limelight with a professional, simple, and ATS-friendly resume template designed to capture and keep the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.

Elegant – Best for senior and mid-level candidates

There’s plenty of room in our elegant resume template to add your professional experience while impressing recruiters with a sleek design.

Official – Best for candidates with 3+ years of experience

With your job experience and a stunning resume layout, recruiters will be ready to give your application the official stamp of approval.

Standout – Best for professionals eager to make a mark

Looking for one of the best resume templates? Your accomplishments are sure to stand out with these bold lines and distinct resume sections.

Professional – Best for jobs requiring a traditional resume

A professional resume like this one communicates a more formal tone, but it’s unique enough to still leave a favorable first impression.

Classic – Best for mid and entry-level candidates

Our classic resume template is anything but basic. A classic look can bring out your best work—whether for projects or traditional experience.

Minimalist – Best for resumes with multiple roles

This minimalist resume template curtails lines and color, so it can maximize your job experience and highlight your professional achievements.

Compact – Best for professionals light on experience

Lacking experience doesn’t mean you can’t make a good resume. A compact resume template can spotlight projects, internships, and school.

Modern – Best for careers that encourage creativity

Browsing for creative resume templates for graphic design, photography, or event planning? Make a statement with this modern resume.

Built to Pass Through the ATS

When you enter our AI resume maker , you can have total confidence that the resume template you choose is ATS-friendly. Get the green light from the bots so real people can see what an incredible candidate you are for their company.

Creative & Professional Templates

Whether your industry calls for a creative design and a bold pop of color or a more subdued and traditional resume style, we have you covered. Our standout resume templates are all professional while giving you the freedom to choose.

AI-Powered Tools to Make Life Easy

Kill two three birds with one stone. When you select a resume template, you can build a resume (and customize it) with the help of AI, score your resume with feedback to improve, and put a bow on it with our free AI cover letter generator .

Designed with Your Profession in Mind

No matter the resume template you pick, you can fully tailor it to the job you want. Start editing a template to leverage our bullet point generator for job-specific examples of responsibilities and achievements to inspire your resume.

Fully Loaded Customizable Templates

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe—Don’t like your template? Pick a new one! Want a different color or font? There’s plenty for the choosing. Need to add a custom section to your resume? Add it, title it, and re-arrange it to make it your own.

Download & Print in PDF or Word

A resume template is only as good as the finished product. Downloadable free resume templates in PDF or Word make it a cinch to print for a pixel-perfect career story that’s sure to snag the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.

Resume Templates by Format & Style

Sometimes you need a traditional resume, and sometimes you need a resume that’s particular to a certain circumstance or job. Whether you need to showcase your work on the stage or apply for a scholarship, you can download free resume formats to support your specific goals.

Resume Templates by Experience & Life Situations

Download our free resume templates that support you at any stage of your career journey. From a high school student to a retiree and an entry-level candidate to a career changer, find the inspiration you need to showcase your unique experience, talents, and achievements.

Resume Templates by Profession & Role

Different career types have different resume requirements. A nurse applying to a large, old-school hospital is going to need a different resume template than a programmer applying to a tech company. Download a resume template (PDF) to make that selection process easier for you.

Job Seekers Are Finding the Perfect Resume Template

Customers love our attractive resume templates and say our customer service is unmatched.

Choosing the Best Resume Template

Sections of a resume template, resume templates faqs.

Lots of job seekers are concerned about their resumes passing through both the ATS and human eyes—and rightly so! You can find impressive resume templates with a quick Google search, but how do you know if it’s a template that will work for you? It can feel like rocket science, so we break it down below.

Think about your industry or job type

While all our resume templates are professional, consider whether your job leaves a lot of—or a little—room for creativity. Professions in graphic design, art, web development, architecture, etc. may lend themselves more to a creative resume template.

On the other hand, jobs in academia, consulting, finance, law, etc. may be better represented in a more basic and simple resume template.

Think about the company culture

Just like you should consider your industry, you should also research the company you’re interested in working for to understand its culture.

Does the company use a conversational or formal voice in its messaging? Do employees dress casually or in business attire? Do benefits include traditional healthcare plans and PTO or more unique options like gym access and bringing your pet to work?

This should give you insight into whether a more modern resume template or something like an executive resume template would serve you best.

Think about your experience level

The less experience you have, obviously the less you have to put on your resume! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you’re looking for your first job out of college, it might make more sense to use a compact resume template.

Conversely, if you’re a seasoned vet in your field, you probably need a reverse-chronological resume template that showcases your growth over time.

Consider a few more things

• Look for one-page resume templates: It’s a proven fact that recruiters spend mere seconds on a resume to determine whether that candidate is a potential match. Don’t end up in the trash pile simply because your resume has too much content. Keep your resume to one-page by including your most recent and relevant positions with tailored bullet points that address the job description.
• Opt for an updated resume template: Even if you’re in a more formal field, such as legal work or investment banking, it doesn’t mean your resume has to be boring to look at with microscopic font. We vehemently oppose the microscopic font and encourage you to choose a modern resume template that’s easy to scan and read.
• Focus on readability and scannability: Speaking of microscopic font, if you have to squint to make out what your resume says, the recruiter will, too, and it’ll be an automatic toss in the trash bin. Besides ensuring a reasonable font size, pick a resume template that leverages white space, uses basic bullet points and icons that won’t be a blocker for the ATS, and gives you some creative freedom to play with colors and arrange sections.

There are four main sections that a good resume template will have. These are non-negotiable, so make sure the template you choose has the following resume sections:

• Contact header: Besides spelling your name correctly (yes, misspelled names are a common faux pas), make sure a recruiter or hiring manager can reach you! Provide a good phone number and a professional-sounding email address.
• Work Experience: The debate’s been settled on this one—this section is the most vital on your resume template. If your experience doesn’t tell a story that relates to the job description, the odds are definitely not in your favor.
• Skills section: And this is arguably the second most important resume section. It’s fine if your resume template doesn’t leave a ton of space for a skills section because you want to cap it at about 8 to 10 skills anyway. Any more than that, and you may be giving off red flags.
• Education: Where you place education usually depends on your experience level and whether the job description emphasizes it. But no matter how you slice it, education is a section that should be on any basic resume template.

Optional resume sections

When you make a resume with us, you’ll have plenty of freedom to customize your resume sections. Besides getting what we’ll call the “Core Four” resume sections mentioned above, you’ll be able to re-arrange them as it makes sense.

You’ll also be able to add and create new sections, such as

• an objective or summary statement
• projects or volunteer work
• certifications

A job resume is a short, sweet, and to-the-point document that spotlights your professional experience. It’s basically a summary.

Whether you’ve been in the workforce for 15+ years, have no job experience, or are somewhere in between, resumes have been sparking fear and dread in job seekers since approximately 1482 when Leonardo De Vinci drafted what became known as the first resume .

Resumes are what just about any place of employment requests when you apply for a job. Companies—big and small—wanna know:

◉ What skills do you bring to the job? ◉ Do you have relevant work experience for the role? ◉ Do you want to work for them?

A good resume answers those questions—and isn’t so unlike De Vinci’s resume that honed in on how he could meet the specific needs and challenges of the Duke of Milan.

Happy dance! Yes, our BeamJobs templates are absolutely free.

You can download our eight resume templates at no cost in Word and Google Docs formats. Edit BeamJobs-created resume templates for free in our builder. Only pay for premium features if you like what you see (hey, we gotta make a living, too!).

We also update our site from time to time with fresh Google Docs resume templates and Word resume templates , which will always remain free for you.

The best resume template is the one that complements your personality and allows the space you need to highlight your finest work, top achievements, and job skills.

Every resume template you see on this page has been thoroughly vetted by hiring experts to ensure they include everything you need to help you land your next job. Whether you’re applying to a funky tech startup or looking to join the ranks of a reputable law firm, you’ll find a professional resume template that speaks to you. You can get a resume template download on the resumes above, or get a free resume template download using our  AI resume builder .

Hunting for a new job is incredibly stressful as there’s a lot of uncertainty in the process. And while these resume templates won’t alleviate all stress, they’ll ensure your resume has everything you need to sail through an applicant tracking system (ATS) and impress hiring managers.

In most cases, recruiters and hiring managers want to see your resume formatted in reverse-chronological style. This is because it gives a clear timeline of your work history and what you accomplished in each role.

On occasion, someone might find it worthwhile to try a functional resume or a hybrid (aka as a combination) resume. A functional resume format focuses on your skills in action, minimizing work history. This can be effective at downplaying job hopping or gap years.

A hybrid/combo resume places equal emphasis on skills and work experience and should only be used by a candidate who has extensive expertise in the field and wants to spotlight specific skillsets and achievements that directly relate to the needs and desires of the role.

BeamJobs resume templates are naturally formatted to support a reverse-chronological style, as 99 percent of the time, it’s the right choice to make. It’s what recruiters are naturally expecting to see and it’s straightforward and easy to make heads and tails of your professional history.

However, if you’re the one percent who decides a functional or hybrid resume template is the way to go, you can easily re-arrange and add your own sections to support the format of your choice.

The best resume templates come packaged with a free resume builder that lets you customize your resume for the job and any ATS software a company may use. You’ll find the BeamJobs resume builder does this and more in an intuitive user interface that guides you one step at a time with professional resume templates to help you land your dream job.

If you’re wondering how long a resume should be , you’re far from alone! There’s a lot of conflicting advice out there, but as a general rule of thumb, you’re best sticking with a one-page resume.

If a recruiter is only spending mere seconds looking at a resume before determining if it’s worth a deeper look, don’t you think it stands to reason that a one-page resume template is going to fare a lot better than one that spills onto a second (or third) page?

It may be daunting to think about how you can squeeze your career history onto one page, but keep in mind that you don’t need to list every job you’ve ever had, nor do you need a novel of job description bullet points for each role.

Three to four work experiences with four to six bullet points each will help you target the job description and keep your resume template at a page.

Try saying “applicant tracking system” 10 times fast, and you’ll know why it got shortened to ATS.

At its core, an applicant tracking system puts the gas on hiring. Typically, when folks think about ATS software, they think about it weeding out resumes that don’t include the right skills or qualifications.

That’s certainly true enough, but the ATS also helps HR and recruiters organize and sort job candidates, keeps track of communication with job seekers, sets up interviews, and does a host of other not-so-fascinating things.

Basically, when you choose an ATS-friendly resume template from BeamJobs, you can rest easy knowing that the document itself will make it through the software

When it comes to your resume, it will house these staple sections:

◉ Contact info (Triple-check the spelling of your name; see the question about “how to make a resume” for a cringe-worthy BeamJobs blunder.) ◉ Work experience ◉ Skills ◉ Education

Depending on your occupation and years of experience, you could add these optional resume sections:

◉ Resume summary or resume objective ◉ Hobbies and interests ◉ Projects (an umbrella term for things like volunteer experience, academic or personal projects, etc.)

The more relevant job experience you have, the longer the “work experience” section of your resume should be since that’s what employers care about most. On the other hand, when you’ve recently graduated and don’t have much (or any) experience, things like education and projects can take up more real estate on your resume.

Whatever your professional background, our resume maker lets you re-arrange, remove, and add sections as needed to your resume template.

Not to blast our own horns, but we’ve reviewed tens of thousands of resumes in the last few years. Would you believe we’ve actually seen resumes without a name ?! Besides discovering disheartening news like that, we’ve figured out  how to make a good resume .

There are plenty of resume tips we could give you, but here are three that, when followed, will most increase your chances of snagging an interview:

1. Use numbers to showcase your impact in past roles. Your work experience should focus on your measurable accomplishments, not on job responsibilities.

2. Tailor your resume for each job you apply to, which means reading each job description carefully. As you read, see if any prior work projects come to mind. Include those projects on your resume.

3. Avoid grammar and spelling errors. We know, you’ve heard it before. But you’d be aghast (fun word) at the number of folks rejected for a job because of this. (C ough cough We won’t say his real name, but one of our team members whose title rhymes with re-bounder once sent out 20 resumes with his name spelled ‘Stepen.’)

Our mission is to create practical tools and content that makes the process of landing a new job seamless and un ambiguous. While we try to give you tips and advice that won’t bore you to tears, we aim to cut the fluff so you understand exactly what you should be doing each step of the way.

Our ATS-friendly resume templates give you confidence that the ATS won’t be a bottleneck for you, and our AI resume builder has undergone many updates to bring you an intuitive step-by-step experience so you feel supported and empowered to write your best resume.

To top it off, our customer support truly does operate to serve you. You’re not just a number, and we’re committed to making sure that any concerns or questions you bring to us are answered in a timely, kind, and solution-oriented manner.

Definitely! You can generate a free cover letter that’s customized to your resume and the job description. Just as we give you options for free printable resume templates, we’ll invite you to choose a matching cover letter template you can download and print.

3x Your Odds of Landing an Interview

Gut the guesswork in your job hunt. Upload your existing resume to check your score and make improvements. Build a resume with one of our eye-catching, recruiter-friendly templates.

PDF Resume Templates

All of our resume templates are downloadable as a PDF. It's the most efficient way to send your resume to recruiters, as it retains the styling, fonts, and formatting to ensure consistency across any device.

Browse templates by resume style

Mix & match unlimited theme, font and color combination..

Use our suggestions to complete your resume 5x faster.

Get a head start with one of our resume examples.

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• Resume Templates

Choose a free Resume Template and build your resume. Use our intuitive drag-and-drop resume builder and save it as a PDF in minutes. Start building your resume right now.

Double Column

Free, Two Column resume template. The most popular choice for most roles, including programming & marketing.

The classic Harvard template, updated for the 21st century with a refined design that recruiters love and an optimized structure for improved ATS performance.

Elegant template with a beautiful design and compact, easy-to-read layout that highlights your strengths and achievements.

Contemporary

A clean, modern resume template showcasing key achievements, experience, and skills, designed to make any professional's strengths stand out.

A refined template, especially great for positions where presentation is paramount: business development managers, sales leaders & other customer-facing roles.

The most popular template for upper management roles, project managers and product owners.

A creative template that accents your header and makes recruiters want to read the rest. Built for any industry.

A timeline resume template. Organized neatly with a Timeline to show your career progress. For experienced professionals.

Are you a software engineer or a data scientist with a lot of skills & projects to list on your resume? This template allows you to create a perfect one-page resume.

Single Column

Free, simple resume template. Easily readable by both humans and ATS bots.

Elegant with Logos

An elegant resume template featuring company logos. Its sleek design highlights your strengths and achievements. Ideal for those who want to impress with both style and substance.

Double Column with Logos

The most popular choice for most roles, including programming & marketing - now featuring company logos to highlight your career progression.

Designed as a one-page resume template for mid-level roles with 3-10 years of experience.

Modern with Logos

A top choice for upper management, project managers, and product owners. This sleek template includes company logos, offering a modern, professional look that highlights your career achievements.

Multicolumn

Multicolumn resume template. Made for executives to fit additional info in a third column.

Timeline with Logos

Showcase your career journey with this clean, timeline-based resume template. Company logos are prominently displayed alongside your job history, giving a visual representation of your career progression.

Traditional resume template. Fitting for conservative industries.

Ivy League with Logos

A 21st-century update to the classic Harvard template, featuring company logos. This refined design is recruiter-approved and optimized for ATS, ensuring your experience stands out professionally.

High Performer

Data-focused resume template. Perfect for project and product managers.

Minimalistic resume template. Blends whitespace and content, without clutter.

How It Works

Select a template.

Fill in your details.

Customize your design.

Tailor, Check for Errors, and Download.

Resume Templates by job

Unleash the full potential of your career with professionally vetted resume templates. Take a look at samples from real resumes that helped people get hired at top companies in your field, and build a job-winning resume yourself.

Search more resume examples by job

Software Engineer

Project Manager

Product Manager

Account Manager

Business Development

Marketing Manager

General Manager

Operations Manager

Business Analyst

Managing Director

Full-Stack Developer

Data Scientist

Resume templates by experience.

(1-3 years of experience)

(3-7+ years of experience)

10+ years of experience)

Entry Level

(no prior experience)

Career Change

Resume templates by format.

Combination Resume Templates

Corporate Resume Templates

Infographic Resume Templates

One Page Resume Templates

Timeline Resume Templates

Chronological Resume Templates

Functional Resume Templates

Minimalist Resume Templates

Two Column Resume Templates

ATS Friendly Resume Templates

Printable Resume Templates

Photo Resume Templates

• Modern Resume Templates

• Simple Resume Templates

Every resume template you see on these pages is free to use, fill in your details, and download until your seven-day free trial ends. Most of the functionalities are free, including:

• Two resumes and cover letters
• All resume templates
• Basic resume sections
• Enhancv branding
• Maximum 15 section items
• Access to all design tools

With Enhancv’s Pro Plans (split into monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual tiers), you’ve got additional access to:

• Unlimited resumes and cover letters
• Real-time content suggestions, including AI features
• ATS check (for the Applicant Tracking Systems)
• All resume sections
• Turn off the branding
• Unlimited section items

Using Enhancv's templates offers a variety of benefits that make crafting a standout resume simpler and more effective. Here’s why you might consider choosing Enhancv for your next resume overhaul:

• Easy to use : Enhancv's templates prioritize great design without the hassle. The drag-and-drop resume builder allows you to assemble your resume easily, letting you focus more on the content than on figuring out the layout.
• Parsable by ATS : all our important sections, such as experience, skills, contact information, summary, and education are all parsable by ATS. This ensures your resume does not end up at the bottom of the pile.
• AI-powered assistance : Enhancv's templates include an AI resume helper that not only suggests powerful language and phrases but also helps craft personalized summaries and cover letters. This tool enhances your creativity rather than replacing it, ensuring your resume reflects your unique professional profile.
• Highly customizable : Every job seeker is unique, and so is every job. Our templates can be easily adjusted to meet individual needs. Modify colors, add photos, or change line spacing with just a few clicks to tailor your resume to the specific job you're targeting.
• Adaptable across all industries : With a wide range of designs from minimalistic to modern and professional, there’s a template suitable for every industry and job level.
• Flexible format options : While Enhancv focuses on providing PDF and TXT downloads, these formats ensure high compatibility and preservation of layout across different platforms and devices.
• Free & premium options : Start with a free 7-day trial to explore the features without any commitment. If you find it suits your needs, you can choose from several pricing plans to continue accessing full features.

Our creative resume templates can be particularly impactful in industries where innovation, design, and visual communication play a significant role. Here's a brief overview of why and where a creative approach might enhance your resume, along with tips on how to use these templates effectively:

Benefits of creative resume templates

• Showcase your creativity: A well-designed resume can demonstrate your creativity and eye for design right from the start.
• Stand out: In competitive fields, a unique, visually appealing resume can help you stand out from other candidates.
• Highlight design skills: For roles in design and multimedia, your resume itself can serve as a portfolio piece.
• Express personality: Creative resumes allow you to inject personality into your application, making it more engaging and memorable.

Tips for using creative resume templates

• Balance creativity with clarity: Ensure your resume is still easy to read and navigate. Avoid overly complex designs that can distract from the content.
• Consistent branding: Use colors, fonts, and design elements that reflect your personal brand and the industry you are applying to.
• Focus on readability: Even with a creative design, the text should be clear and legible. Use contrasting colors and clean fonts.
• Tailor to the role: Align the style of your resume with the job and company. A highly creative resume might be perfect for a design studio but less suitable for a corporate environment.
• Keep it professional: While creative, your resume should still look polished and professional. Avoid using too many gimmicks or overly playful elements.

Suitable job titles for creative resume templates

• Graphic designer
• Marketing specialist
• Web designer
• Art director
• Content creator
• Fashion designer
• Photographer

Considerations for creative resume templates

• Industry expectations: Some fields appreciate creativity more than others. Always consider the norms of the industry you’re applying to.
• Cultural sensitivity: Ensure your creative approach aligns with cultural expectations if applying internationally.
• Tailored approach: Customize your resume template to the specific job and company, making sure it aligns with their brand and values.

Our traditional resume templates can be particularly effective in industries where clarity, professionalism, and straightforward presentation of skills and experience are valued. Here's a brief overview of why and where a traditional approach might enhance your resume, along with tips on how to use these templates effectively:

Benefits of traditional resume templates

• Professional appearance: A traditional format presents your information in a clean, professional manner, making it suitable for most industries.
• Easy to read: Simple layouts with clear sections make it easy for employers to quickly find key information.
• Widely accepted: Traditional resumes are widely accepted across various fields, making them versatile and reliable.
• ATS-friendly: Many applicant tracking systems (ATS) prefer traditional formats, increasing the chances of your resume being seen by hiring managers.

Tips for using traditional resume templates

• Focus on structure: Use clearly defined sections like Contact Information, Summary, Work Experience, Education, and Skills.
• Consistency: Ensure fonts, spacing, and formatting are consistent throughout the document.
• Bullet points: Use bullet points to list achievements and responsibilities, making it easy to scan.
• Simple design: Avoid overly complex designs and graphics; keep it simple and professional.
• Keywords: Incorporate industry-specific keywords to help your resume get noticed by ATS.

Suitable job titles for traditional resume templates

• Administrative assistant
• Human resources manager
• Financial analyst
• Project manager

Considerations for traditional resume templates

• Industry standards: Ensure the resume format aligns with industry standards and expectations.
• Tailored content: Customize the content to the specific job you are applying for, even within a traditional format.
• Professional tone: Maintain a professional tone throughout the resume, avoiding casual language or personal anecdotes.
• Updated information: Keep your resume updated with your latest experience, skills, and achievements.

Using a resume template can streamline the process of creating a polished and professional curriculum vitae. Here’s a simple guide to help you effectively utilize a resume template:

• Choose the right template : Select a resume template that suits your industry and professional level. Look for a layout that is clean, professional, and aligns with the job you are applying for.
• Customize your information : Replace the placeholder information in the template with your own details. Be thorough in updating sections such as Contact Information, Work Experience, Education, and Skills.
• Tailor your content : Adapt the content to highlight your most relevant experiences and skills that match the job description. This might involve rearranging sections or adding specific keywords found in the job posting.
• Edit and proofread : Carefully review your resume for any typos or grammatical errors. Accuracy is crucial, as mistakes can detract from your professionalism.
• Format properly : Ensure that the formatting is consistent throughout the document. This includes font sizes, styles, and spacing. Keep the layout clean and organized to make a good visual impression.
• Save in multiple formats : Save your resume in various file formats as required by the application process. PDF is typically preferred to preserve the formatting, but some applications might require Word files.

What's the best resume layout?

According to eye-tracking studies , recruiters spend on resumes like these around 6 seconds.

On average day recruiters scan and filter through dozens and hundreds of generic resumes.

Until they stumble upon a resume layout like this:

The combination of formatting, clever white space usage, and section order encourages recruiters to study critical parts of your resume in the order you need.

A job-winning resume layout has three main qualities:

• The job-winning resume layout is easy to read. No one enjoys reading a wall of text, especially recruiters. On the other hand, if your resume is enjoyable to read, there’s a higher chance that recruiters will spend more of their time learning about you and your qualities. At the end of this section, we’ll share a checklist with 7 tips to boost the readability of your resume and increase the chance that recruiters will like you.
• The job-winning layout is easy to scan. When recruiters scan your resume, it’s important to control where their eyes will go first. Every job is unique — depending on whether it’s an executive resume or a tech resume, recruiters will be looking for different things. Check the “Examples” section of this guide where we share the best performing resume layout examples for every job type.
• The job-winning layout is easy to remember . When recruiters like you, that’s great. But when they remember you, that’s a whole different level of appreciation. Most resume layouts are too similar to be remembered, so even a slight adjustment in section orders may pique the recruiter’s interest. Don’t go for an overkill though. We’ll share the most common resume formats and how you can use them to your advantage in the next section.

Readability and scannability checklist for best resume layout

• #1. Check your margins. Make sure there’s at least a 1-inch margin on all sides to ensure your resume looks good in PDF or when printed.
• #2. Use white space . The proper use of white space on your resume can increase the reader’s comprehension by as much as 20%. Make sure there’s enough space between sections and text blocks.
• #3. Utilize bullet points. Presenting your experience and skills in bullet points improves both the scannability and readability of your resume.
• #4. Create headers . Headers help organize your resume sections into a clear hierarchy.
• #5. Use colors . Colors add visual interest to your resume and let the recruiter’s eyes rest from the all-black text. The more creative your job the more colors you might use.
• #6. Check your font size . For the best readability pick a serif or sans-serif font. The size should be between 10.5 and 12 points to ensure you pass ATS scanners.
• #7. Add icons when you can. Icons both add visual interest to your resume and indicate a critical section of your resume. Check out the “Examples” section.

Last, but not least, is #8: Section Order. What sections should come first on your resume? Which ones recruiters are paying the most attention to?

It depends on your resume format and job specialty.

In today's job market, your resume needs to be both impressive and ATS-friendly to help you stand out. Here are the essential sections you should include:

• Contact information : Include your full name, phone number, and professional email address.
• Professional summary : Offer a brief overview of your skills and career goals.
• Work experience: List your previous jobs, including your role, the company name, and dates of employment.
• Education : Detail your highest degree, the institution's name, and graduation year.
• Skills : Highlight relevant skills that match the job description.

You can also add a few extra sections to provide more insight into your qualifications:

• Certifications : If applicable, list any professional certifications that are relevant to the job.
• Volunteer work : Show any unpaid work that might demonstrate your commitment and skills.

What's the difference between resume sections and a resume outline?

Almost all articles on the topic get the part of an outline and resume sections wrong.

Likewise, you, the reader, get confused.

The difference between resume sections and an outline is that you use, reorder, and match different sections to create an outline.

(Side Note: We’ve made an extensive guide on resume sections so you know how to optimize them and maximize your chances of getting hired. If you haven’t already, feel free to check it out!)

How to choose the right resume format?

Usually, resumes are structured by following one of three formats:

• Reverse Chronological Resume Format
• Functional Resume Format
• Hybrid Resume Format

All three have their purpose when it comes to building a resume that stands out . Whichever format you decide to use should be based on your background, experience, and objective.

So, let’s go a bit more granular.

Reverse chronological order format

This is by far the most popular resume format out there.

One of the biggest advantages of the reverse chronological resume format is that it allows you to spotlight key achievements on a single page. It also provides a clear narrative for your work experience.

The biggest drawback, however, is the fact that gaps in your career are more noticeable.

Functional format

The functional resume format makes your skills the main highlight of your application.

You should still list any professional experience you have, but the format itself focuses on what you’re good at. This type of resume format is best for people who are looking to change careers. Focusing on your skills is specifically valuable for the new position you’re applying to.

Hybrid format

A hybrid resume format is exactly what it sounds like – a combination of both a functional and chronological resume.

It highlights both your skills and your most recent work experience. It’s for people who’d like to play it safe and avoid going all-in on a less popular format like the functional one.

Frequently Asked Questions for Resume Templates

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