Whether you’re just starting in the workforce or you’ve been at it for years, Resume Now has the best professional resume templates for you.
We have resume styles to cover most industries and job titles. Pick from our selection of Popular, Unique, Modern, Professional, Classic, or Simple and Basic resume templates to match your goals. Download, customize it for the job you want. You can also use our Resume Builder to easily write a resume that wows employers.
These one-page resume templates can help you put your best foot forward because they:
- Save you time.
- Are professionally designed.
- Are applicant tracking system (ATS)-friendly.
- Ensure you use the correct resume format and file types.
- Provide appropriate font types and sizes.
- Offer professionally written text examples and optimal keywords.
- Organize your information into easy-to-read sections.
Great resume templates for every type of job
Create a well-organized, polished resume in minutes with Resume Now’s free downloadable resume templates! Our professional resume templates work with all three resume formats — chronological, functional and combination, so just about anyone can use them for any job application. Choose a resume template example below to get started.
Free Popular resume templates
These resume styles work well for just about any industry and job title. No wonder they’re popular! The following example resume templates are free to download.
Premium Popular resume templates
Free Unique resume templates
Our Unique resume designs are the top choice of job seekers in social media, entertainment, cosmetology, entertainment and fitness. Find one you like? Download for free!
Premium Unique resume templates
Free Modern resume templates
Download these Modern resume templates free to see for yourself why architects, real estate brokers and IT professionals often lean toward these sleek and sophisticated resume layouts.
Premium Modern resume templates
Free Classic resume templates
These clean resume templates have a timeless and straightforward appeal for job candidates in various fields — from retail to child care, marketing to banking, and health care to law. Download a Classic resume template example for free to see why.
Premium Classic resume templates
Free Creative resume templates
Job applicants in industries such as art, design, photography, film and media download our Creative job resume templates because of their versatility and eye-catching colors. Try one of these free downloadable templates to see if it’s right for you.
Premium Creative resume templates
Free Professional resume templates
Social workers, financial analysts, librarians, medical assistants, teachers and legal aides favor our clean and sophisticated Professional-style resume templates. Pick a sample resume template below and download for free!
Premium Professional resume templates
Free Simple resume templates
Our Simple resume designs are far from boring! Not only are they colorful and contemporary, but they are also easy to scan, so they are ATS-friendly. Find the right fit with one of our free downloadable templates.
Premium Simple resume templates
Free Basic resume templates
Download one of our Basic resume templates if you want a resume layout that’s as stylish as it is practical. Our free resume template examples include colorful layouts, options to add your photograph, and stylish headers. Whether you’re a nurse, software engineer or construction worker, you’re sure to find a resume style that suits your qualifications.
Premium Basic resume templates
See What People are Saying About Us
Professional resume templates for every industry
Key differences between resume templates, resume formats and resume examples
They all have their own purpose for job seekers, but they work best when used together.
Here’s a closer look at each:
Resume Templates
Good resume templates organize your job qualifications into a professionally designed framework using appropriate fonts and formatting.
Resume Formats
There are three standard resume formats. The one you use will determine how your professional information will come together within the resume template you download.
Resume Examples
Resume examples are practical, real-world illustrations that can provide inspiration and insight for using one of our professional resume templates to write a great resume.
Resume templates and applicant tracking systems (ATS)
Before it gets to a prospective employer, your resume must get past an applicant tracking system (ATS) which will screen and either reject or accept your resume based on keywords, formatting, fonts, organization and resume layout. A good resume template can go a long way in getting beyond an ATS because:
- They ensure proper information placement, correct file formats and appropriate fonts.
- They provide necessary details such as acceptable margins, spacing and alignment.
- They organize information into sections that are easy for the software to parse and scan.
- They provide ATS-friendly resume layouts and professional resume designs.
4 tips for choosing a great resume template
There’s no one-size-fits-all resume style. The following tips should help you choose a professional resume template that works best for you:
Go for a one-page resume template.
Generally, a resume should include all of a job applicant’s qualifications on one page. That’s because most ATS programs are designed to scan only one page and because hiring managers don’t have time to read more than that. A two-page resume or a curriculum vitae (CV) is acceptable if you have more than 15 years of experience and you need the extra room to display the breadth of your work experience. Still, you should set your sights on a one-page resume template and leave some details for the interviewMake sure the resume design is aligned with your industry.
For example, hiring managers in the financial, legal and medical sectors usually prefer a conventional resume style. However, a Web design associate applying for a job at a new creative agency might choose the Unique resume template or Creative resume template for distinctive flair.Consider your employment journey.
Suppose you’re applying for your first job. In that case, our Classic, Popular, and Basic and Simple resume templates make great entry-level job resume templates because they can help you showcase your education and transferable skills so you stand out. But if you have many years of experience, then our Modern resume templates or Classic resume designs will spotlight your key accomplishments and soft skills, such as leadership.Make sure your sample resume template is appropriate for the position.
A good resume template choice should match the job you want and the industry you’re in. Are you applying for the same type of job you’ve always had but at a different company? If so, then try our Popular or Classic resume templates to show off your strengths. Maybe you've been working as a sales associate and you want to apply for a senior marketing role. In that case, our Professional resume templates can play up your achievements and transferable skills.
7 tips for using a professional resume template
Using a sample resume template is not rocket science and a good resume template will do most of the work for you, so all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Still, there are a few things you should keep in mind when using a resume template example. Here are seven of our top tips to help you:
Start with a clean layout.
The best resume templates are clean resume templates. Skip those with heavy graphics, offbeat fonts and a lot of different colors. Your resume has to pass the ATS test and be easy for a recruiter or hiring manager to read. Go for simple lines, fluid organization and standard fonts.Fill in each section carefully.
Sometimes it’s not easy to choose the best words to describe your professional qualifications. Use a resume example for inspiration and guidance and then fill out the clearly defined sections of the resume template with your professional details.Customize it.
You must create a new resume for every prospective employer. A customizable resume design helps you move quickly from one application to another. Our professional resume templates are customizable, so you can build a unique resume every time you apply for a job.Use the editing tools provided.
Taking the time to make sure your resume is polished can be the difference in getting the job or not. Good resume templates like ours will enable you to make changes on the fly and correct any mistakes you find when proofreading your final draft.Save your finished resume properly.
Once you’ve filled in and proofread your sample resume template, it’s crucial that you download and save it as a document in the correct file format. Check the job description, because prospective employers often state their preference for file formats there. Most companies ask for a Microsoft Word Resume file (.docx) or Adobe PDF. If the file type is not listed in the job description, opt for a PDF format because it’s the safest and most common file type used for resumes.Save a second copy of your resume layout in Microsoft Word.
Whether or not you used a Microsoft Word .doc file format, create a second copy of your resume and save it as a .doc so you have a Microsoft Word Resume Template that you can tailor multiple times for other jobs (just remember to save it with a new file name each time).Use Resume Now’s Resume Builder to put it all together.
Want to save even more time and send your resume fast? Our Resume Builder will use your chosen template to create a professional resume that gets results. You’ll be interview-ready in just a few clicks and 15 minutes!
More resume resources
Check out our rich library of free articles to learn how to create resumes that wow employers.
Resume-writing articles:
FAQ
Is it OK to use sample resume templates?
Yes! A resume’s appearance plays a significant role in impressing an employer, so a clean, attractive and legible professional resume template can help you land a job. Plus, poor alignment or excessive graphics can hinder an ATS program from scanning your resume correctly and can turn prospective employers away instantly.
A high-quality, clean resume template lets you add your content and make adjustments without worrying about spacing, tabs and other common issues. Our Resume Builder offers a choice of great resume templates appropriate for a wide variety of industries and companies.
How do I choose from several sample resume templates?
Consider your industry and employer. If you’re applying for a job as a librarian or teacher, for instance, opt for Classic or Professional resume templates. But, if you’re applying for a role as a hairstylist, then our Creative or Unique resume templates might suit your needs.
Also, focus on selecting a resume design that makes sense for your employment history and work qualifications. For example, if you lack experience, choose a one-page resume template that plays up your skills and education while balancing out extra white space, such as our Basic and Simple resume templates. Conversely, if you’ve got a lot of experience, pick a resume template sample, such as a Modern resume template, that helps you showcase your accomplishments without a lot of extra text.
How many pages should my resume be?
A resume should generally be no more than one page in length. Any more than that, and prospective employers could lose interest. Use a one-page resume template to focus on your most valuable skills, achievements and work experience, and when you’ve impressed the hiring manager, they will want to learn more about you in an interview. That said, if you have more than 15 years of experience and have a lot of qualifications to display, then a two-page resume or a CV is acceptable.
How do I set up a resume layout?
Select a good resume design, then pick one of our great resume templates along with our easy-to-use Resume Builder to set up a professional, HR-approved resume in no time. We have several free downloadable templates for you to choose from.
What are the best resume templates for students?
Students with little or no experience would do best with a clear, no-frills job resume template like the Classic template. You could also try one of our Popular, Basic or Simple resume templates. Your resume layout should be organized in either a functional or a combination resume format because they emphasize education and skills over work history.
What’s the best resume template?
No single resume template is best for every applicant. When you browse through our collection of sample resume templates or download a professional resume template for free, choose an option that will draw attention to your strengths, keeping your work experience, industry and goals in mind. All of our templates are customizable.