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As much as we tell others not to judge a book by its cover, that’s exactly what we do when it comes to resume templates.
You want to put together an organized, engaging resume, but making one from scratch can be a real hassle. Do you really have time to copy and paste every section of content and then spend hours trying to get the formatting right, only to have it break on you right before you’re ready to export?
That’s why you should use a blank resume template. Starting with a template will make your resume look professional and help you organize your resume much faster.
Do you need to make your resume today? Check out our Resume Maker, where you will have your pick of industry-appropriate resume templates proven to help in the job hunt.
5 best blank resume templates for any industry
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a fresh graduate hitting the job market for the first time, choosing a blank resume template is a big step in making your resume. Here are five of our favorites.
Iris
This blank resume uses a simple one-column structure and a full-width solid-color header for a professional, organized look. You’d do well to use this template for any job or industry.
Spotlight
For a bolder choice, select a blank resume template like Spotlight. Because it includes a photo, Spotlight is best for those who work in industries like entertainment and real estate.
Contemporary
This blank template is sleek and easy to use. It’s organized with the header on the left-hand side of the page and the content on the right to give each section some breathing room.
Logo
For a unique spin on a blank template, try the Logo template. This style includes a logo with the candidate’s initials in the top left corner. When you use this template, you can fill in your own initials.
Crisp
This blank resume template is a great example of using lines to effectively organize your resume. The lines here divide the page into clear sections, one after another, making this a resume layout applicable to a range of industries.
Blank resume formats
When you’re writing a resume, start with a blank format.
Resume formats are how resume sections are organized on a page. They come in three styles:
- Chronological – focuses on work history.
- Functional – focuses on skills.
- Combination – balances work history with skills.
You can find blank resume templates in all three formats.
Let’s look at each one more closely. Then, choose a downloadable blank resume template to start filling it in today.
Chronological blank resume format
The chronological resume emphasizes work history, putting the work experience section at the top of the resume and beginning with the most recent job. Skills play a role, but that section is often secondary or off to the side.
Who should use this blank resume format?
Use the chronological resume format if:
- You have at least five years of relevant work experience.
- You have a consistent employment track record.
- You can show a steady career progression.
Functional blank resume format
The functional resume, or skills-based, does exactly what it promises — makes your skills the resume’s focus. Many functional resumes emphasize your capabilities and include a second or third skills section. Work experience is off to the side if it’s included at all.
Who should use this blank resume format?
Use the functional resume format if:
- You have lengthy gaps in your employment history.
- You have very limited or no work experience.
- You are switching to a new career.
Combination blank resume format
The combination resume format takes the best of both worlds — giving equal balance to your skills and professional experience.
Who should use this blank resume format?
Use the combination resume format if:
- You’re in the midlevel of your career.
- You have at least two years of relevant experience.
- You don’t have any huge gaps in your work history.
More downloadable blank resume templates for 2024
Blank resume templates come in many different styles. Browse the list below to find a look that matches your industry or personal preferences.
Modern
Modern resumes are perfect when you want a versatile design that works for virtually any industry. These blank templates are attractive but minimalist, so they never distract from your credentials, skills and experience.
Professional
If you work in a conventional field like law, medicine or finance, you may want to give a professional resume a try. Fill in this resume template when you want to project a put-together, buttoned-up image.
Simple
Choose a simple resume to keep the focus squarely on your qualifications. These blank resume forms take a bare-bones approach to design, and they are perfectly suited for no-nonsense industries like construction, logistics and transportation.
Creative
Looking for something that’s a little more fun? Job seekers in creative industries like photography, entertainment and graphic design show their personality when they choose a creative resume template to download or fill in.
If you’re looking for something different, we also offer templates for Microsoft Word and Google Doc resumes.
How to fill in a blank resume template
Ready to fill out your resume outline? Following these instructions, you’ll be one step closer to the perfect resume. We will walk you through section by section.
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Contact information
Naturally, you want your contact info in your resume header. Include your name, phone number, email address and location. Consider adding your LinkedIn profile and professional website or portfolio if you have them.
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Career summary
The one-paragraph resume profile at the top of your document might take on many forms, whether a professional summary that functions as a highlight reel or a resume objective that lays out your goals. Ultimately, you want it to be engaging and full of action words.
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Work history
Always list your work experience beginning with your most recent job. Use bullet points to draw the eye to your most impressive achievements. This section will help hiring managers see your professional highlights at a glance.
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Skills
The beating heart of your career is your skills. From the soft skills that make you an excellent co-worker to the hard skills that make you a technical genius, you’ll want to devote at least one resume section to cataloging your skills.
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Education
This is a perfect example of how to list education on a resume. You’ll want to include your degree and educational institution first and foremost. Please note — if you have any advanced education (associate’s or beyond), you can drop your high school education.
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Optional sections
There are many optional sections to consider including based on your unique experience. One popular section is honors and awards, which gives you the opportunity to showcase any accolades you’ve earned over the years.
7 ways using a blank resume template can help your job search
You may be wondering — “Why do I even need a blank resume? Can’t I just whip up my resume in a Word doc?”
Sure, that’s an option, but blank resume templates save you from the headaches and hassle of starting from scratch. Here are seven reasons why it’s best to start with a template instead.
- You’ll save time. Rather than painstakingly learn every step of how to make a resume, templates lay out the basics so you can just fill them in.
- Your resume will be more structured. Temples are already structured, so you don’t have to impose a brand new, never-before-tested organizational structure you came up with on the fly.
- You can adapt a template to different job applications. Once you have a template you like, you can make a copy of it and change some details to tailor your resume for every role you apply to.
- You’ll look more professional. A well-designed template gives your resume a more professional look appealing to recruiters, who only spend 7 seconds reviewing a resume before they make a decision.
- Your template will be more customizable. Once you download one, you can easily make it your own by customizing each section.
- You’ll make fewer mistakes. Templates already include the basic resume sections, making it less likely you’ll make a mistake or leave out critical information.
- You’ll be more consistent. Formatting is important. Proper formatting can improve readability and make a good impression on hiring managers.
Blank resume template FAQ
Last Updated: January 26, 2024
Absolutely! Depending on your industry and role, a plain resume design can even be preferable. While colorful designs with flashy images seem great on the surface, they might include design features that aren’t readable by applicant tracking systems (ATS), the software that sorts resumes for employers.
At the same time, you should try to strike a balance. You still want your resume to be attractive and have personality. Just be thoughtful about the expectations of the role you’ll be applying to.
Yes, templates are absolutely okay to use! Millions of job seekers use templates every year.
Using a template can reduce the time it takes to make a resume. They also make you look more professional. After all, unless you’re a graphic designer, you may want to outsource organizing and beautifying your resume.
Finally, templates are field-tested. This means when you’re using a template, it’s been vetted by professionals and used by a job seeker in the real world.
Downloading a blank template is a simple process. Here’s how you do it:
- Search for resume templates using your web browser and search engine of choice.
- Find a reliable source by browsing the first page of the results. Click the link you prefer.
- Browse the templates. Once you’ve found a reliable website, see what they offer.
- Choose a template. Decide which makes the most sense based on your industry or personal preferences.
- Save the file by clicking download. On some sites, you can download the template as a Word doc or PDF.
- Locate the template on your computer. Open it by double-clicking.
That’s it! You’ve successfully downloaded a blank resume template.
Don is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than 10 years’ experience creating digital content, including four years helping job seekers develop their careers. He holds an M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University.
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