
Choose a resume template that matches the job for which you are applying. Research the company culture and job function to guide your choice.
This functional template emphasizes skills, making it a good choice for career changers or those with gaps in their work history.
The template includes space for a strong summary and plenty of white space to highlight your important information. It's also ATS-friendly.
Style
While it may be tempting to make your resume as visually attractive as possible, the first impression a decision-maker makes of your application will likely be determined by your document's general look and feel. A well-designed template is aesthetically appealing, easy to read, and offers a clear structure for the information you want to include.
If you're looking for a clean and concise design, consider resume templates that allow you to easily create and customize your application for professionals who need to keep their text-heavy documents as small as possible. The template also features a subtle pop of color that adds a touch of personality to an otherwise bare-bones layout.
A simple, ATS-friendly template with classic section headings, this downloadable option is the perfect way to present your experience in an organized manner. Its streamlined layout and use of font colors are sure to catch the eye of an employer. This is an excellent choice for job seekers who want to emphasize their skills over their work history but need more time to be ready to ditch the details entirely.
Format
Aim for a format that allows you to highlight your work experience and skills. This is an excellent option for professionals who want to switch careers or have gaps in their employment history. The structure prioritizes your career accomplishments, putting them at the top of the resume.
A double-column layout is spacious and accommodates more information than single-column templates. It also provides enough space for visuals like a photo or skill charts to increase your credibility.
Aim for a design that is software-friendly. Certain design elements can make an ATS read your resume out of order or drop it altogether. Some of the most ATS-friendly templates are minimalistic, while others incorporate a bit more style. They also ditch any elements that might be difficult for an ATS to parse.
Keywords
When choosing a template, make sure you use keywords that recruiters and hiring managers will find relevant. These can include phrases like "leadership," "problem-solving," or "initiative." You can also customize your resume by using different formatting for sections, such as adding bold headers or varying the spacing between paragraphs.
ATS-Friendly
If you're applying to traditional jobs in the corporate sector, look for ATS-friendly templates. These feature a simple, compact design that won't cause issues with applicant tracking systems. They usually use grayscale color schemes with a clean layout. They also avoid images, graphs, and other designs that could cause problems for ATS software.
These templates place section headers on the left and details on the right, creating ample white space. They're ATS-friendly and offer optional sections for hobbies, projects, volunteer work, and more. Use these to highlight your skills and show that you're more than just a resume. This is especially important for entry-level applicants or those switching careers.
Having an elegant resume template is one thing, but it can only be helpful if your content and formatting are ATS-friendly. ATS software can reject up to 70% of resumes before they even reach the hands of hiring managers, so you must take steps to ensure your template and content are ATS-friendly.
The most ATS-friendly format is the reverse-chronological resume format, where your most recent job is listed first. Including keywords in your work experience and skills sections is also a good idea. Ensure you use the most common fonts, and avoid using colors or designs that ATS programs may not recognize.
This ATS-friendly template uses initials for the section headers and large accent bars to highlight dates in the experience section. It also includes a visual scale for the skills section to give the reader an idea of your proficiency level. The rest of the template follows a more traditional design, so this ATS-friendly template is best for jobs in more conservative industries.