resume format for pdf

Resume templates

Most jobseekers use resume formats & templates while building their own. It is a quick and secure way to create your very own top-notch resume without inventing the wheel (a professional resume format) yourself.

Free PDF Resume Format Templates

Check out the free resume templates, up and below, for your own use. Or go straight to the resume  tool  to customize your own. The  first  resume is for free, so are ALL cover letters!

Technologic

All the PDF resumes have been made with  Resume.io , an easy tool to build your resume online in minutes that come with many designs. You are welcome to scroll down to all our free Word Resume Templates.

Despite the arguments of the naysayers, you can make your resume fully stand out from the crowd, even while it’s based on a template. For that, we suggest premium templates. Classic to edgy or modern, we have a resume design for you. A great starting point toward your next dream job!

Free Microsoft Word Resume & CV Templates

The free resume formats made in Word are easily adjusted to your needs and personal situation. Clicking the link is the immediate MS Word file download. No catches!

Photo Format

Chronological

Formal Long Profile

Word template 5

Simple and Basic

Simple and Formal

Modern word resumes samples.

Three Shades of Grey

Robert Grey

Andrea Rowland

Charlotte Anderson

Purple & Pink

Green & Green

Creative word resume samples.

In this world, there are many wonderful things. So are our free creative resume samples! (Only for personal use)

Thomas Earland

Charlotte Webb

Harvey Ross

Georgia Fleck

Yellow Resume

Orange Resume

Golden Brown Resume

Mint Resume

Montserrat Resume

Three colors resume

Resume Blue

Purple Resume

Stolzl Resume

Tomato-Purple

Red-Blue Resume

Google's free resume format templates.

Google Doc’s is a great place to work on your resume. They have a small set of resume templates you can choose from and then easily edit to your needs. Google docs is great, becaus it saves all your files as whish: .docx, .pdf and many more extensions.

Coral Template

Modern Template

Serif Template

Spearmint Template

Swiss Template

Get the most out of our free resume formats.

Here are a few short tips for using curriculum vitae/cv templates, as they are also called, resourcefully. With these tips, you will get to your own and original resume in minutes:

• Your touch Just because a template of a resume example is set up a certain way, does not mean you have to keep it this way. Play by your own rules and provide the document some of your creativity. For example, play with the font, and add or remove a border. Divide sections of start combining them. By seeing more and more templates, you will get more ideas flowing through your brain.
• Make your set-up Many people use the standard Microsoft Word samples and formats, so to stand out you should use other templates (for example one of ours!). While you work your way through different ideas, you could take the best bits of all CV templates and combine them with your very own.
• Use resume builders Job boards generally offer their resume generators as a service for their subscribers. For some instances, this might be a good way to go, as quite some job applications go through these platforms. However, a fair resume generator can build you a more than a decent resume that will also not lose its shape when rendered to different sites and employers.

We crafted some basic and edgy templates for you to have a great starting point for your next dream job.  The examples are all made in Word , so they are easily adjusted to your needs and information.

Professional Resumes & CV's

You are not certain if or what kind of style to use? A professional resume or CV template is always a good choice. For any role, floor, manager, or CEO, with a professional resume, you show that you are correct, punctual, and doing the right thing. The perfect format for businesses that pre-auto scan their candidates.

• Formal industries such as finance, banking, healthcare government, semi-government, law.
• Workers with either a long or short work history.
• All other industries are also a perfect match for a professional resume

Avenir Resume

Grey Resume

Modern resumes & cv's.

A modern template does well in industries and positions that have to be current with time. Great for non-traditional businesses and young people working environments.

• Technology-, news-, media-, marketing-, culture-, branding- and sales sectors.
• Consulting, finance, science and technical environments

Creative Resumes & CV's

A creative template is there for creatives in the creative sectors, where a positive impression of your work is necessary. What is a better way than to start off by showcasing a creative resume? It serves the purpose of getting you noticed and not discarded before your resume is even being read.

Ideal for: 

• Creative positions in all area’s and industries
• Entertainment sectors
• Content creators

Muller Resume

What our customers says.

Create your own review

Good page. Great help.

More Word samples please

good download

gracias por el ejemplos. Hay en Espanol tambien?

Time saver! Thanks

Free always does it well for me!

good resume!

Nothing Found

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.

Facebook • Twitter • Linkedin • Pinterest • Crunchbase

• Build my resume

• Build a better resume in minutes
• Resume examples
• 2,000+ examples that work in 2024
• Resume templates
• Free templates for all levels
• Cover letters
• Cover letter generator
• It's like magic, we promise
• Cover letter examples
• Free downloads in Word & Docs

Free Resume Templates to Customize, 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.

• Create free custom resume template
• Resume templates by experience level
• Resume templates by role
• Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Create a Custom Resume Template for Free

Create free resume template

Management Resume Templates

A management resume is a great choice if you are more experienced in your career. Whether you have plenty of experience in people management or you’re trying to get your first managerial role, these professional resume templates will help you stand out.

Senior-Level Resume Templates

When you start getting more experience under your belt, you need to have a resume that allows for you to showcase your career highlights. These senior level resume templates are designed to help you do exactly that.

Mid-Career Resume Templates

A mid-career resume should demonstrate an increase in the level of responsibility you’ve taken on throughout your career. These resume templates will help you draw focus to these responsibilities.

Entry-Level Resume Templates

As a new grad you need to convince the hiring manager you’re capable of performing the role you’re applying to without having past experience to draw on. These new grad resume templates will help you accomplish that.

Resume Templates by 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. These resume templates are meant to make that selection process easier for you.

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.

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.

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:

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

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.

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.’)

One page—plain and simple.

While you might get away with a two-page resume if you’ve got 10-plus years of experience under your hat, keep in mind that recruiters and hiring managers aren’t giving your resume the time of day it deserves anyway.

The most painful part of building a resume is editing yourself. How can your entire career fit into four or five bullet points for each job you’ve had? Here’s some good news: if you’re a senior engineer, it’s totally cool to drop from your resume the server job you had in college.

Even if you whittled the jobs you’d include down to three or four, try starting with a basic  resume outline . Fill it to your heart’s content; then, review every job experience bullet point individually and ask, “Does this point show my expertise and say something new?” If the answer’s no, exclude it. Before you know it, you’ll have a polished one-page resume.

Modern & Professional job-ready free resume templates

Each of Resumod’s templates is designed keeping in mind the modern HR recruiter. Our resume templates are unique, HR tested, and make you stand out from the crowd.

A clean two-column resume template, very easy on the eye, yet professional. A bold top bar to add colour and give a more personalised appeal. Best suited for senior management roles.

A modern approach to resumes for professionals. Graphic elements make this resume template stand out while making it suitable for all profiles. One of the top choices for creative professionals.

The pop of colour makes this resume template eye-catching as well as aesthetic. The provision to add a photograph makes it a preferred choice of professionals in customer-facing roles.

A modern free resume template best for entry-level or junior professionals with up to 5 years of experience. Well laid and spaced out, it works best if you don’t have tons of data to fit into your resume.

A great option for a single-page resume with just a few sections. A resume template that works best for lawyers and finance professionals who don’t want to go for a classic resume format.

A format created for a glance by the recruiter. The two columns of this free resume template let you emphasise your skills and experience.

A classic, spacious, no-brainer single-file resume format widely accepted by recruiters. Also our most used free resume template, especially by CXOs, VPs and Directors.

The bold header instantly draws attention and inspires recruiters to read through. A universal resume template that works across all industries and makes you stand out.

The professional appeal of the skills bar allows you to highlight your skills. This resume template is loved by tech professionals and engineers.

A minimalistic and refined resume template. With a clean structure, it is ATS-friendly and suitable for HR, Tech and other traditional roles.

Our most popular resume template. A creative twist to two columns with the header. A visually striking resume template that is suitable for any industry.

A popular choice for its no-fuss appearance. This free resume template is easy to follow and best suited for chronological resumes.

A spin-off of Apollo 1 with a different design option. This resume template entices the recruiters with its high readability and clean formatting.

Best choice for senior professionals as it can house multiple sections easily. This resume template can easily condense data into one page.

A creative take on the traditional one-column format. Great resume template for creating a high-impact experience section with multiple achievements and roles.

You will not run out of space with this resume template. The symmetry of this format makes it easy to read for both ATS and the human eye.

A spin-off of Venus, we designed this resume template, especially for students and young professionals. The graphic makes this resume template eye-catching and modern. It’s slowly becoming our most loved template.

Resume Templates by Job

A carefully curated selection of job-specific resume templates to help you stand out in a pool of similar-looking resumes. Feel free to browse through our collection and find the perfect template that resonates with your professional identity. Each template is fully customizable, allowing you to add your personal touch while maintaining a polished and professional appearance.

Resume Templates by Experience

Whether you're just starting your journey, a seasoned professional, or somewhere in between, our templates cater to your unique career stage. Elevate your resume and showcase your skills with designs tailored to highlight your experience effectively.

Resume Templates by Format

Discover the perfect resume template for your dream job, Each template is meticulously designed to capture the essence of various roles, helping you present your skills and qualifications in the best light. Elevate your job application process by choosing a template that resonates with your career aspirations.

Reviewed by the community. Trusted by professionals.

4.7 out of 5, resumod is perfect.

Resumod is one website which is perfect if you want your resume to be created with utmost perfection. All we have to do is upload information and it will prepare the resume automatically with proper format in the PDF form. It gets super easy. And this website is super useful. I’ve already recommended all my post graduation friends to definitely try this. With all the final placements coming, I’m sure this will be the most useful for all of us.

Chirag Gupta

Outstandingly Genuine

I had only previously used the old builder of resumod and there was some problem when it shifted to the new builder and I contacted the team. Nikita was the person who walked me through the 24 yards of Resume writing and I am immensely thankful to her. I was allowed only 3 calls but she stuck with me for 6 atleast and told me all I needed to know. She was patient and very genuine throughout our interactions and that's what I liked the best. I'd recommend them to anyone who's having any issue with their resumes irrespective of where they are in their career. Absolute top notch team.

Anamitra Bhattacharyya

A great application

I found Resumod through a friend when I had to apply for an internship. Created my Resume within 30 minutes. The formats on the site are appealing and the samples on the site helped me write the content. Highly recommendable :)

Nikita Kalra

Free Modern Resume & CV Templates, download in PDF & Word

There are mixed opinions about the usage and effectiveness of resume templates and formats online. Many job seekers find free resume templates difficult to use while for others, resume templates are a “go-to” solution when in need of a new Resume.

But what should you do? Let us clear the air.

At Resumod.co, our resume templates are developed to make your life easier. You just need to enter your information and your resume is ready in minutes. Here are a few other reasons to opt for Resumod’s online resume builder:

• Created by experts: Our resume templates are created by resume writing experts who understand recruiters’ psychology, ATS, and job seekers’ requirements. With so much thought put into a template, there is no way you can go wrong with any of Resumod’s curated CV templates.
• Properly structured: An important aspect of nailing a resume is getting its structure right. When you use a template, you don’t need to fret over the structure and placement of sections. Our Resumes have clearly defined sections so that you only have to enter your information.
• Comprehensive and Universal: Resumod’s modern resume templates are designed to ease your work. They contain all the sections that you might need to describe your career. We also provide you with additional custom sections, just in case you have some more info!
• Time-Saving: With everything in place for you, Resumod.co’s resume templates are big time savers. With just minor edits, you can create multiple versions for various job openings and send as many resumes as you want.

The Best Resume Format and Template for Job Search

Resumod.co offers resume templates that are modern, effective and can fit most of your information in one page without the clutter. Below is a quick guide that tells you all about how a good resume should be structured. (The format is reference is Venus).

Resumod’s Simple, Creative, Modern and Professional Resume Templates

Here’s our quick introduction video to show you how easy it is to build your resume for free on Resumod.co

Tips to Create Free Resume Using Resumod's Online Resume Maker

We’ve told you why free online resume templates work, and you know where you can find the best resume templates online, but you have to make sure that your resume stands out.

Here are some things to remember when you use online resume templates.

• Avoid misspellings and grammatical errors: This part often gets missed once you have a format and entered the data. Proofread your entire resume once it is complete as misspellings and grammatical errors portray carelessness.
• Use reverse chronological order: This means that your resume showcases your most recent activity i.e. education or experience first. Recent education or experience on the top makes your resume much easier to glance at.
• Incomplete contact information: Include your complete name, phone number, address, and email Id. If available, also add links to professional platforms like LinkedIn.
• Do not use overrated and cliché words: Your resume should be easy to read and understand. Keywords and important industry terms must be included but without making your resume look verbose.

A top-notch resume serves as a benchmark in the selection procedure. Our suggestion - while you build your resume using resume templates online, ensure simplicity, avoid being too fancy, and present your resumes with complete information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a resume template.

A resume template is a pre-designed format that outlines the structure and arrangement of a resume. It includes all sections in a resume like personal information, work experience, education, skills, and other relevant details. A pre-designed format, a resume template helps you create your professional resume in just a few clicks. Resumod has professional resume templates for over 500 profiles starting from freshers through to industry veterans and CXOs.

Why should I use a resume template instead of a Word doc?

Unlike a resume you build from scratch on MS Word, our free resume templates are designed by experts. Therefore they are widely accepted by recruiters across all industries globally. Further, resume templates are time-saving, are ready to use, and maintain a professional appeal. Resumod’s free resume templates guide you through the process and help you focus on the content of your resume rather than spending excessive time on formatting.

Are resume templates customizable?

Yes, all templates on Resumod are customisable including our free resumes templates. You can customise font and font size, resume colour, section headings, as well as placement of sections. With so many customisation options, resumes built using our free AI-powered builder are as good as personalised resumes, built by professionals.

Where can I find free resume templates?

Resumod offers free resume template(s). Our free resume template(s) are universal and can be used by anyone and downloaded in PDF form.

Can I use a resume template if I have limited work experience?

Our resume templates are created for all professionals at all levels of their careers. Therefore they are adaptable. If you are someone with limited work experience, you can focus on showcasing your skills, education, volunteer work, and any relevant projects to make your resume stand out. Our templates have dedicated sections for all of these.

Are there specific templates for different industries?

Although resume templates on Resumod are universal, we have segregated them as per industry to help you pick a format faster. Some templates are tailored to emphasise skills and experiences relevant to specific fields, such as healthcare, technology, or creative industries.

What sections should a standard resume template include?

A standard free resume template on Resumod includes all the important sections of a resume including name, contact information, summary, work experience, education, skills as well as additional Sections (such as Certifications, Awards, and Volunteer Work). Further, all resume templates are fully customisable, you can add and delete sections as per your profile.

Can I use a template if I'm applying for a creative job?

Yes, you can use our resume templates for creative roles. Our sample pages have resumes of creative professionals like fashion designers, video editors, photographers, and graphic designers among others. You have the option to edit fonts and colours in each of our templates including the free resume templates to give a more creative flavour to your resume.

Are there templates for entry-level positions?

Yes, there are templates designed for entry-level positions. These templates focus on highlighting your education, skills, internships, and any other relevant experiences. We are partners with many leading universities and their students use our templates for applying to internships and their first jobs.

Are there mobile-friendly resume templates?

All resume templates on Resumod are mobile-friendly. You can create your resume using our templates on both your mobile and desktop. Further, we offer PDF download which automatically makes our templates accessible and responsive across all operating systems and devices.

What file format should I save my resume template in?

It's best to save your resume in a universally compatible format like PDF. This ensures your formatting remains intact across different devices and software, along with making it ATS compatible.

Can I use a template if I'm changing careers?

Yes, resume templates on Resumod can be adapted for career changers. We have a career change category on our samples page where you can see samples of professionals with career breaks and career changes. Bonus tip: Emphasise transferable skills and experiences that align with your new career path.

Are there free resume templates suitable for executives or senior-level positions?

Yes, there are templates suited for executives and senior-level positions. These templates often emphasise leadership skills, accomplishments, and strategic thinking.

Try our Professional Resume Builder

User our content suggestion engine or upload your LinkedIn profile to create a brand new CV within minutes.

Convert Your LinkedIn Profile Into a brand new CV. Get content and skill suggestions based on your tittle and designation.

Copyright Resumod Made with in India for the world

Resume Templates

Email Delivery

A resume template is used by prospective employees to apply for a role in a company. The fillable form allows the candidate to market their skills to the employer. As a first step in the hiring process, the business or firm reviews the information to learn about the applicant. It helps them decide whether to offer the person a formal interview.

The type of job determines the format of the resume. Each outline has a unique design or structure. Basic templates use one or two colors and a simple font. However, more complex options have bright, bold, or detailed text and images. The applicant should choose a resume that best represents the role. Reading the job description and responsibilities helps to determine the most appropriate choice.

Download: PDF | WORD

What is a Resume?

A resume is a form that allows applicants to list the reasons a company or business should hire them. On average, a job recruiter spends 7.4 seconds reading a resume. For this reason, prospective employees should keep the outline short, ensuring that they do not go beyond two (2) pages. If the candidate needs to include more information, they should wait until the first interview with the employer. The individual can also use the cover page to write additional details.

Each template has a unique style and/or theme. Nonetheless, the resume should have the following categories:

• Full Name: Middle name and suffixes (Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.).
• Professional Title: Official titles acquired through education (Ph.D., M.A., MBA, M.Sc., etc.).
• Contact Information: Address, phone number, and email.
• Objective or Summary: A powerful statement telling the employer what makes the candidate stand out from the rest and/or what would make them a good fit for the role.
• Education: High school(s) and college(s) attended.
• Job or Leadership Experience: Previous role(s) that make the applicant qualified for the position.
• Qualifications, Training, or Awards: Relevant volunteer work, certifications, or recognitions.
• Skills and Interests: Hobbies, talents, masteries, etc.

• Simple Resume Templates

Use a foolproof, simple resume template that focuses on your skills and strengths. To begin, select a resume design, type over the text and replace it with your own.

A modernized Harvard template featuring a sleek design favored by recruiters and an optimized structure for enhanced ATS performance.

Double Column

A popular two-column resume template, free of charge, ideal for various roles, such as programming and marketing.

Single Column Refined

A traditional, simple resume template perfect for someone who's just starting out their professional career.

Single Column

The well-known single-column template with a traditional, yet time-tested layout. Perfect for conservative industries.

A resume template that neatly shows your experience and education in a timeline fashion. Great for experienced people with lots of experience.

The classic resume that everyone loves. Simple, yet effective layout that's perfect if your resume will go through an ATS.

In This Guide:

What is a simple resume, when to use a simple/basic resume, what sections to include in a simple/basic resume, tips for building a simple/basic resume, basic resume formatting tips, teacher simple resume, new grad simple resume, customer service representative simple resume, accountant simple resume, content writer simple resume, administrative assistant simple resume, legal assistant simple resume, pharmaceutical sales simple resume.

If you're looking for a timeless, evergreen template, the simple or basic resume is your top choice. Candidates can use this clean, minimalist format to curate what matters most to the job - their relevant experience.

One of the biggest benefits of using the basic template is that your resume becomes easy to scan.

What is more, simple resume formats are an ideal choice for candidates, regardless of their experience level.

This organized layout offers industry professionals an efficient and streamlined approach to:

• present their experience, especially for industries where your professional track record speaks for itself;
• highlight basic skills that are important for new to the workforce candidates (e.g. students, interns, etc.).

The simple resume template is a clear and concise way to format your resume .

The basic design aims to draw attention to your professional qualities and achievements. Thus presenting them in a systematic and easy-to-read fashion.

This minimalistic and orderly approach should help you stand out in a crowd of professionals who have invested in fancy design, instead of relevant content (in the form of their experience).

What characterizes the simple resume is the lack of clutter in intricate formatting.

This specific resume design excludes over-the-top elements; bright and energetic colors; and fancy, unreadable fonts.

By keeping the design simple, you'd cut to the chase to provide recruiters with a simple, yet very effective overview of your experience.

Speaking of your professional expertise, the basic resume template works perfectly well with all three best-practice formats.

Select the one that fits your experience best:

• reverse chronological - arranging your experience in a chronological manner, starting with your latest role;
• functional/ skill-based - shifting the focus from your experience to your strengths and unique skill set;
• hybrid - balancing both skills and expertise.

Usually, candidates opt to present their professional experience via a double-column, simple resume that includes their:

Dedicate some resume space to highlight the specifics of your experience - awards, strengths, and accomplishments.

This would also help you to make a more personable impression on the recruiters.

Use the simple resume template to:

• save time - creating and updating your resume within the blink of an eye;
• highlight your experience - your content and essential information take center stage;
• create an easy-to-read experience - thus following a structured, clean logic and presentation;
• leave a more professional impression.

Use the basic resume formatting to organize qualifications with a focus on your career.

The minimalist, simple resume presentation hints at a variety of soft skills you possess, e.g. organization and presentation.

The basic design offers endless opportunities for professionals across different industries and niches.

No matter the job you're applying for, your experience level, or the competition for the role - a simple resume could allow you to stand out .

What is more, this basic template is perfect for both:

• recruiters - as the format is easy to scan over;
• ATS (or Applicant Tracking System) - the software, used to assess candidate profiles, could easily match different sections of your resume to job criteria.

So, when should you use this easy resume template?

Use the simple resume format when your experience is self-explanatory and relevant to the role

You have all the relevant skills that just don't need a fancy presentation.

With basic resume formatting, you'd show recruiters that you have what it takes for the job.

Candidates within these two fields benefit the most from a simple resume template:

• labor-focused - e.g. construction; transportation and logistics; maintenance and repair; etc.
• traditional or technical roles - e.g. automotive and aviation; education; law; medicine; etc.

Use the simple resume format to show how your experience aligns with basic job requirements

Just about to kick off your career , you’re a student, intern, or entry-level professional.

With your application, you'd like to show that you cover the core requirements of the role.

Utilize the simple resume format to spotlight your professional work ethic and your unique skill set.

The basic resume template allows you more time to get creative and perfect your resume content.

Make sure your resume includes at least six of the below sections to curate the specifics of your experience.

Ensure that your simple resume header is clear, professional, and includes up-to-date information, like your:

Your headline is the perfect opportunity to communicate your current role and expertise.

E.g. "AI developer perfecting the code of ChatGPT"

Alternatively, you could keep your headline simple and include the exact job position you're applying for.

Career summary or objective

Let's build up your resume further with a minimalistic approach to your summary or objective statement .

Write a resume summary when applying for more traditional roles where experience and skills are key.

Use the resume summary as an overview of your key qualifications, qualities, and achievements - and how they'd match the job.

Meanwhile, the objective statement is one of the best choices out there for entry-level professionals.

Candidates can align their best skills to the job while offering a more long-term perspective of their career goals.

Whichever option you choose, make sure to keep it concise (up to three sentences) and to use active language .

Professional experience

​​When writing your resume experience section , always make sure that it's easy to read (and is clear for recruiters).

You can do so by aligning your work history to the job advert and selecting only the most relevant items.

The resume experience is basically your proof - it's what backs up your credentials, career goals, and success.

Using the basic resume template, list all relevant roles, followed by:

• company name
• location (city/ state or city/ country)
• start-end dates
• achievements.

Opt to organize your experience items based on how applicable it is to the job.

Also, instead of creating a never-ending list of responsibilities, curate items that detail your success backed up by hard / soft skills and outcomes.

Bullet points that correspond the most with the advert should be listed closer to the top.

One of the best ways to ensure that all relevant job keywords are part of your resume is via the skills section to showcase:

The education section is especially important for entry-level candidates, who may not have as much experience that ties them to the industry.

We suggest you use it as a coherent bridge: between the role you're applying for and your professional capacities.

List the most recent or advanced degree first, working in reverse chronological order, and include:

• name of the institution
• degree obtained (pursuing)
• location (city/ state)
• graduation dates.

A simple rule of thumb: always consider the relevancy of your education to the role.

Take for example the following scenario: you are applying for a job in operation management and logistics.

But, after high school, you decided it was not the best time to continue your education.

You should definitely leave your high school diploma out of your resume.

Instead, focus on all certificates you happen to have that pertain to the job.

Achievements / Awards

A clear basic resume template also curates your career highlights with either your achievements (strengths) or awards .

These two (or three) specific sections bring recruiters’ attention to:

• achievements/ strengths - the array of skills (you have grown over time) that make you a strong candidate;
• awards - unique accomplishments within your industry or field that help you stand out.

The first tip to achieving a timeless, classic feel of your simple resume is this - be consistent all through.

The basic template shifts the focus from design to the actual resume content. So, be mindful of even the smallest design elements you decide to include.

Furthermore, when building your next simple resume, consider these four aspects.

Simple Resume Design

The design needs to be clean and straightforward.

All sections need to be efficiently organized while avoiding cluttered layouts , many decorative elements (e.g. icons ), and excessive use of graphs.

Within your basic resume, include the five standard sections that allow hiring managers to determine whether you qualify for the job. Those include:

• Summary (or Objective)

Basic Resume Fonts

The end goal of your resume is for you to land the job - that's why you should prioritize legibility over creativity.

The simple template allows you to do just that.

Use classic, easy-to-read fonts (e.g. Bitter and Oswald), as they are more widely accepted for professional presentations.

The font size of your basic resume content should be between 10 - 12 points. You should use a bit larger font size for your name (14 - 16 pt); resume section headings, like Experience and Education, and headline (12 - 14 pt); and subheadings like job titles, company names, etc. (11 - 12 pt).

If you decide to spice up your simple resume with text in bold, italics, or underlined - do so to emphasize vital information.

Make sure that no matter the font you select, it does not take away the focus from your expertise.

Simple Resume Colors

Including colors on your resume that are too bright and contrasting may distract the recruiters. Thus, making your profile seem cluttered and unprofessional.

Simple resume templates avoid any over-the-top color combinations by sticking to a limited palette.

Most often, basic resume colors are neutral with:

• one primary color - this is usually in the grayscale, and
• one accent color - highlighting key information, like achievements.

If you decide to use different colors throughout your resume, do so sparingly and ensure that there is consistency all through your design.

Basic Resume Layout

The simple resume layout should be clean, easy to read, and polished.

How you order different resume sections is key to achieving a minimalistic and professional resume.

First off - stay clear of complex layouts.

As, when your resume is scanned by the ATS , a fancy layout could deceive the software. Hence, misaligning job requirements with, let's say, your education or hobbies section.

Next, select between a single- or double-column format to effectively utilize resume space. The single column can be an excellent choice if you happen to have less professional experience.

Your resume shouldn't be longer than two pages . In most cases, the one-page format is entirely sufficient. But, if you happen to have more than a decade of relevant experience , curate it via the two-page format.

Now that we've laid out the basics of the simple resume template design, let's dive deeper into the rabbit hole with four more key tips.

Find out more about the importance of white space, active language, simple fonts, and the right colors.

Use white space

Keep your resume easy to scan and orderly by avoiding large blocks of text.

By incorporating plenty of white space, you would:

• create a clean and uncluttered layout;
• draw attention to separate resume sections;
• structure the resume with clear boundaries;
• emphasize essential information.

The white space of your simple resume should be used to achieve an aesthetically pleasing, timeless, and professional design.

Focus on short and quantifiable sentences for your experience sentence

Have you heard of the KISS principle: keep it short and simple?

Apply KISS when listing the experience bullets within your resume.

Curate short sentences that include:

• action verbs - to better pace your resume;
• hard skills - competency using particular software;
• soft skills - to display personal skills;
• results of your efforts.

Whenever possible, use numbers to show the more tangible outcomes of your success.

Choose simple fonts

Clean and timeless fonts sustain your simple resume's readability and order.

Generally, hiring managers have high regard for these professional fonts:

• Times New Roman

A simple font could help you accent what makes your experience unique.

Use the right colors

An effective, simple resume format presents your qualifications using subtle and consistent colors .

Some popular color combinations for your basic resume template include a white background with

• navy blue, dark red velvet, or dark green text - to create a sense of sophistication;
• text in earth tones - adding a sustainable twist to your resume;
• black text combined with a pop of color - use a lively, energetic color (e.g. orange or pink) to highlight key elements;
• text in the monochromatic color scheme - different shades of the same color (e.g. red) to emphasize important resume sections.

When in doubt if colors would shift the focus away from your experience, stick with the grayscale palette.

The classic, timeless black text on a white background provides a clean and professional look.

Meanwhile, having gray text on a white background is a subtle and elegant design.

This simple, elegant one-column design provides hiring managers with the right amount of information to better understand the teacher's experience.

The top one-third of the resume includes all mandatory information:

• all relevant, professional contact details in the headline ;
• industry keywords and an array of soft skills listed in the summary .

The focus is then shifted to the teacher's experience . Each role offers an overview of the key skills and results achieved, e.g.:

• interdisciplinary collaboration - higher student engagement;
• data-driven interventions - improved student proficiency;
• personalized approach - increased performance.

If recruiters are looking for the unique value this professional offers, they need to look no further than strengths.

This resume section clearly pinpoints the areas in which the individual excels.

Other relevant sections are used to showcase the teacher's academic background ( education and language skills ).

Finally, hiring managers can discover even more relevant skills, listed at the bottom of the resume. They are included as keywords to ensure that all job requirements are covered.

This new grad resume shows what you could do if you don't have much professional experience .

The basic resume uses bright colors to accent key information (headline, roles) and design elements (icons).

After the resume musts (headline and summary), the candidate curates the following information to fill in the lack of experience:

• strengths - what is the unique value of working with this newly graduate person;
• internship - to highlight relevant industry know-how;
• education and languages - to showcase how the candidate has grown professionally in the last few years.

The skills section is built on technical ones that are relevant to the industry.

Achievements are added for a more personalized element to the application.

A single-column, grayscale colors, not a single graphic in sight. The basic candidate resume's main superstar is the professional narrative or experience.

Within the example, we find industry buzzwords within the headline, followed by the candidate's life philosophy. This approach is to help the customer service representative show more personality.

The resume summary offers a quick snapshot of experience, achievements, and skills.

If you want to further highlight your skill set, the strengths section could be subsequent. The candidate uses it to spotlight industry skills (e.g. communication, problem-solving, and organization).

Note how each experience bullet is formatted with active language to demonstrate success.

Languages and soft skills play a vital role in the customer service world. They should thus have a prominent role in your simple resume.

Achievements (e.g. promotions, awards, and higher education degrees) feature more noteworthy information to support the candidate's application.

This accountant resume is another excellent example of the basic resume template design. The candidate has listed all information with colors in the grayscale, while section names stand out in blue.

The top one-third of the resume may be short but offers insights on candidate certifications , skills, niche areas of expertise, and success.

The quote is a bit more outside-the-box approach, giving a bit more character to the candidate's resume.

This simple resume is split into two columns , curating specific information to answer why employers should hire this candidate.

Within the left-hand column, they'd find listed:

• experience - short bullets that demonstrate achievements;
• education - all relevant higher education degrees;
• language proficiencies - to show a breadth of communication skills;
• awards - as proof of work success.

The simple resume right-hand column lists:

• strengths - focusing on key soft skills that boost the candidate's performance;
• skills - both hard and soft skills to match the job requirements;
• achievements - tangible results, proven with numbers.

Who says you have to go all out with your resume design if you're applying for a role within a creative field?

The design of this basic content writer resume features:

• headline, icons , companies, and institutions highlighted in electric blue;
• key resume sections organized in a double-column format;
• plenty of white space to ensure the resume's readability .

Notice how the strengths, skills, and achievements sections are curated. In the left-hand column, you'll discover a snapshot of the candidate profile with tangible outcomes and industry keywords.

Moving on to the experience bullets - the resume uses a "skill + results" formula to create a further sense of credibility. If the candidate lists “wrote 300 articles” - this won't provide context to anyone assessing the resume.

Finally, the two awards listed in the resume celebrate the candidate's success within the industry.

The basic resume colors are in a monochromatic scheme with:

• dark purple highlighting key information (name, skills, past roles);
• lighter purple is used for secondary elements (headline, quote, company names, institutions, icons).

After assessing the initial information, at the top of the resume, recruiters' attention is immediately drawn to the strengths and experience sections.

Both are formatted to feature skills and perceptible achievements - vital for organizational success and/or professional growth.

This double-column simple resume goes on to spotlight other relevant sections like

The candidate's achievements are once more backed up with tangible results.

The simple resume ultimately reveals the unique value of working with this candidate and her professional interests.

There's nothing better than a quick summary that gets to the point in two sentences. The simple resume allows recruiters to have a quick overview and understand if the candidate's profile aligns with the job requirements.

What is more, the legal assistant builds up her case by investing in different resume sections like:

• strengths - hinting at success within a particular skill;
• experience - proving niche, industry knowledge into how a legal firm works;
• skills - including other job requirements as listed in the advert;
• languages - showing an ability to communicate internationally.

The resume achievements section can be a nice feature of how you go above and beyond in your day-to-day work.

Finally, let's talk about the design. Its key elements include legibility, one-column formatting, and vital elements (skills and company names) in pink. This minimalistic approach helps the candidate stand out .

This simple pharmaceutical sales expert resume has a clean and orderly approach to presenting the candidate profile.

It kicks off with the headline, summary, and life philosophy - which align industry buzzwords with the candidate's mindset.

What is more, the double-column resume offers recruiters insights into the candidates':

• specific skill set - most prominent in the experience and strengths sections;
• academic background - listing relevant higher education degrees and languages;
• career highlights - achievements and awards spotlight the candidate's soft skills and professional bests.

The basic resume format achieves the perfect balance in the design, with ample white space to highlight key career moments.

The resume helps specific information stand out in an ocean blue color while sticking with the timeless black-and-white combination for the rest of the text.

Frequently asked questions about simple resume templates

How do i make a simple and attractive resume, how do i format a basic resume template, how to download a free simple resume template.

• Resume Examples

What Should A Cover Letter Say? Here's What You Need to Know

24 best curriculum vitae (cv) tips for 2024 [tricks, advice, help], how to send an introduction email to a recruiter (sample included), how to list a double major on your resume, how to show you're a phi beta kappa student on your resume, updating your linkedin profile: why, when, and how to add your new job.

• Create Resume
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Preferences
• Resume Templates
• AI Resume Builder
• Resume Summary Generator
• Resume Formats
• Resume Checker
• AI Resume Review
• Resume Skills
• How to Write a Resume
• Modern Resume Templates
• Cover Letter Builder
• Cover Letter Examples
• Cover Letter Templates
• Cover Letter Formats
• How to Write a Cover Letter
• Resume Guides
• Cover Letter Guides
• Job Interview Guides
• Job Interview Questions
• Career Resources
• Meet our customers
• Career resources
• English (UK)
• French (FR)
• German (DE)
• Spanish (ES)
• Swedish (SE)

© 2024 . All rights reserved.

Made with love by people who care.

Free Professional Resume Templates

Jobscan’s free Microsoft Word compatible resume templates feature sleek, minimalist designs and are formatted for the applicant tracking systems that virtually all major companies use.

Classic Format Resume Templates

Chronological

These are the three standard resume formats : chronological, hybrid, and functional.

The chronological resume template offers a classic, no frills format. Consider this template if you work in a formal industry or want to bring attention to the impressive companies on your resume. Hybrid resume templates are versatile and the most popular format in today’s job search. Functional resume templates are popular for people changing careers or masking holes in their resume. Jobscan doesn’t typically recommend the functional resume format because recruiters may be suspicious of them .

Fill out your resume faster with our resume builder

Write your resume the free and easy way with the only resume builder designed specifically with ATS-compliant resume templates.

Senior Level and Executive Resume Templates

Once you begin applying to senior level positions, a greater emphasis is placed on the results your organizations have achieved and executive soft skills like leadership , innovation, and entrepreneurial drive. At the executive level, technical skills aren’t as important as they were earlier in your career. Fill out your executive resume template with accomplishments , measurable results, and examples of leadership .

Management Resume Templates

When it comes to writing a management-level resume, try to demonstrate a trajectory of growth along with a combination of deep industry knowledge and interpersonal skills. You need to prove that you’re an expert in your field who is able to delegate tasks and lead your team.

Mid-Career Resume Templates

When you’re no longer entry-level but still working as an independent contributor (vs a manager), your resume needs to focus on your ability to execute. A strong emphasis should be on the hard skills found in the job description. Back these skills up with context to demonstrate your level of expertise.

Recent Grad Resume Templates

When you’re looking for an entry-level job right out of college, your resume is going to look a little different. Your education section is moved up above your work experience and you’re expected to expand upon your college experience. Go into detail with honors, clubs, coursework, etc.

The Importance of ATS-Friendly Resume Templates

If you’re uploading your resume into an online form as part of your job application, it is critical for your resume template to be compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS) . An expertly written resume complete with a sleek design and optimized resume keywords and action verbs could still fall short if the formatting isn’t ATS compliant.

When you upload your resume , applicant tracking systems parse out the text to make it searchable for a recruiter. They may also transfer the information from our resume to a uniform digital candidate profile. Even if you’re perfectly qualified for the job, your chances of getting a job interview are much lower if an ATS can’t accurately parse your resume.

ATS-friendly resumes are often similar to minimalist resume templates but go a step further to account for ATS algorithms and behaviors. Among other considerations, ATS-friendly resume templates account for the fact that:

• Many ATS can’t handle tables or images.
• Parsing accuracy is dependent on heading names and correctly sequencing your work experience information.
• Certain resume fonts might not be displayed properly in all ATS.
• PDF and docx file types work better than others.

Find out if your resume is ATS-optimized with Jobscan’s resume optimization tool . It will help you write the perfect resume so that you stand out from the competition.

How to Use a Resume Template

Be Selective

Finding the right resume template for you is the first step. Select a template that is ATS-friendly and includes space for all the elements you need to tell your story.

Customize Your Template

Not finding the perfect resume template? Select the best one and make some adjustments. For example, you can remove a hobbies section if you need more room for your work history, add a space for key certifications that don’t fit in the template or add a skills section to better highlight your technical skills.

Resume templates are meant to be a guide to a better resume, not an unbreakable set of rules.

Tailor Your Resume to the Job Every Time

Recruiters and hiring managers are more likely to respond to a resume that is carefully tailored for the specific position .

This means using the job description to focus on the skills and keywords that are most important to the job. Showing that you are results-oriented is another great way to show you are the best candidate. Including relevant measurable results and accomplishments on your resume help demonstrate that you understand what is most important to the company’s success.

After you’ve tailored your resume information within the template, run it through Jobscan’s resume optimization tool to see how well it matches the job. In fact, more than 1 million job seekers have used our tool to help them find the next step in their career—see how it can help you!

Are you still tracking jobs in Excel or Google Sheets? Track and manage your job applications and interviews all in one place with Job Tracker . With the click of a button add a job to Job Tracker. From there you can organize your resumes and job descriptions, keep track of important interview dates and details, and manage multiple job opportunities in one place.

Resume Template FAQs

What is the best resume template for me?

The best resume template is the one that provides room for you to showcase your relevant skills and tell the complete story of your relevant work experience. If you are an entry-level or mid-career applicant, look for a template that highlights your hard skills. For executive-level applicants, a template that focuses on your executive summary and work experience will be best.

Which resume format is best?

Recruiters prefer chronological or hybrid formatted resumes. All of the templates above are great choices! We do not recommend using a functional template, which focuses primarily on skills and downplays work history.

Read more: Why Recruiters Hate the Functional Resume Format

What is the difference between a resume template and a resume builder?

A resume builder is a tool that prompts you to enter your information into input fields and formats a resume for you. Resume templates are typically editable Microsoft Word files that are already formatted. Prefer the ease of a builder? Jobscan’s resume builder is 100% free!

More Resume Resources

Google Docs Resume Templates

ATS Resume Templates

Simple Resume Templates

Resume Builder

Ready to put your resume to the test?

What jobscan customers are saying.

Admission Types

Academic Resources

Other Campus Resources

Find Offices

Other News Sources

More Resources

Home Office of Career Services Student & Alumni Services Build a Resume Resume Rules for Students & Alumni

Downloadable Resume Templates

• Office of Career Services
• Students & Alumni
• Division for Student Affairs
• Handshake Pop-Up Events
• Map Your Career
• Build a Resume
• Ace the Interview
• Professionalism
• Applying to Grad School
• Resume Guide for Students & Alumni
• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.