Is it OK to use a resume template?

Yes! A resume’s appearance plays a major role in the impression it makes. A clean, attractive and legible document is necessary if you want to land a job. Plus, bad alignment or excessive graphics can hinder an ATS program from scanning your resume correctly. A high-quality, professional template lets you put in your content and make adjustments without worrying about spacing, tabs and other common issues. Resume Now’s instant builder offers a choice of templates appropriate for a wide variety of industries and companies.

How do I choose a resume template?

Consider your industry and employer. If you’re applying to a library or a medical clinic, for instance, opt for a subdued design; however, if you’re applying for a role in an art gallery, then you might want to show off your creative side with a more colorful look. Also, focus on selecting the template that works best with your content. For example, if you lack experience, choose a layout that plays up your skills and education while balancing out the extra white space, such as a simple resume template. Conversely, if you’ve got a lot of experience, pick a template that helps you showcase your achievements without a lot of extra text.

How do you set up a resume?

Select a suitable format, then use one of our industry-specific resume templates along with our free, easy-to-use Resume Builder to set up a professional, HR-approved document in no time.

What is the best resume template for students?

Students with little or no experience would do best with a simple, clean design, such as one of our Popular templates, that excludes pictures, excessive font colors and other intricate formatting details. The template you choose should be organized in either a functional or a combination format because they emphasize education and skills over work history.

What's the best resume template?

No single template is best for every applicant. When you browse through our collection, choose an option that will draw attention to your strengths, keeping your experience, industry and goals in mind. All of our templates can be customized.

2021's Best Resume Templates by Category

Resume templates are useful tools that help job seekers:

Save time.
Fill out their resumes correctly.
Provide appropriate font types and sizes.

Job-winning resume templates

Create a well-organized, professionally formatted resume in minutes with Resume Now’s customizable resume templates. Choose from 31 recruiter-approved designs.

Unique

Elegantly stylish, the Unique category of templates is the top choice of job seekers in creative industries such as graphic design, photography and cosmetology.

Modern

Applicants who work in technology, architecture and real estate often lean toward the sleek and sophisticated Modern resume template designs.

Classic

Job seekers who work in traditional fields such as law, medicine and finance often choose these templates for their timeless and straightforward appeal.

Creative

Candidates going into creative fields such as culinary, entertainment and film choose Creative template designs because of their versatility and eye-catching use of color.

Professional

Individuals in administrative and health care professions often select Professional templates for their straightforward and organized layout.

Simple

Simple templates are a structured approach to resume design; it is a good option for every industry and is easily read by applicant tracking systems.

Basic

Attorneys, lawyers and accountants prefer the practicality of a Basic template due to their direct presentation of accomplishments and career development.

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Resume templates by industry

Key differences between templates, formats and examples

Resume templates are sometimes confused with resume examples and formats, but they are all used differently, as this graph shows:

When used with resume formats and examples, resume templates can set the stage for an interview-winning resume.

Benefits of using a resume template

To get a job interview, your resume must first get past two obstacles: applicant tracking system (ATS) software — which screens and either rejects or accepts resumes based on keywords, formatting, organization and layout — and the discerning eyes of recruiters. A well-designed resume template goes a long way in getting you beyond these application barriers because:

They provide scannable layouts and professional designs that ATS systems are programmed to scan and impress recruiters and hiring managers.
They are created and tested by experts to ensure proper information placement, correct file formats, proper use of headers and footers, and appropriate fonts.
They provide necessary details such as suitable margins, spacing, alignment and colors.
They organize information into sections that are easy to parse and read.

What to consider when choosing a resume template

There’s no one-size-fits-all style for a resume. How you structure your resume depends on where you are in your employment history, your industry and the job you want.

Take a moment to assess the following aspects of your career when choosing a resume template:

Your industry.

Your resume template should align with your industry. For example, hiring managers in the financial, legal and medical industries usually prefer Classic templates because they have a conventional layout and are easy to read. A design associate applying for a job at a new creative agency, on the other hand, might choose the Unique template for its distinctive flair.

Your employment journey.

If you’re applying for your first job, the Popular template can showcase your education and technical skills in a timeless style. But if you have many years of experience, the Modern or Classic templates will focus on your top achievements and soft skills, such as leadership.

Your desired job.

Are you applying for the same type of job you’ve always had but at a different company? The Classic template will get your strengths across with a clean, no-frills presentation. Maybe you are trying to move to a marketing role when you’ve always worked in accounting. In that case, the Modern template will show off your accomplishments in a bold but professional way.

How to best use a resume template

How do you make the most of a resume design after you’ve chosen one? The following six tips will help you use your template to create a professional resume that gets results every time:

Start with a clean layout.
Ignore templates with heavy graphics, photo placeholders and a lot of colors. Your resume has to pass the ATS and be easy for a recruiter or hiring manager to skim. Go for simple lines, fluid organization and standard fonts.
Fill out each section.
Sometimes you’re not sure which words to use or how to explain your achievements. Use a resume example to inspire you and then fill out the clearly defined sections of your resume template with your professional details.
Customize it.
You have to create a new resume for every job. A customizable template helps you move quickly from one application to another.
Use the editing tools provided.
A template with editing tools can be a lifesaver when you want to make changes on the fly or if you need to correct any mistakes you find when proofreading your final resume. Taking the time to make sure your resume is polished can make all the difference.
Save your finished document.
You must save your resume in the appropriate file format. Check the job description: Some employers specify which format they prefer, but others leave it open.
Save a second copy in Microsoft Word.
No matter what file format you use for the employer, save a second copy as a Word document (.doc) that you can tailor multiple times for other jobs (just remember to save it with a new file name each time).

CREATE YOUR RESUME

FAQ

Is it OK to use a resume template?
Yes! A resume’s appearance plays a major role in the impression it makes. A clean, attractive and legible document is necessary if you want to land a job. Plus, bad alignment or excessive graphics can hinder an ATS program from scanning your resume correctly.
A high-quality, professional template lets you put in your content and make adjustments without worrying about spacing, tabs and other common issues. Resume Now’s instant builder offers a choice of templates appropriate for a wide variety of industries and companies.
How do I choose a resume template?
Consider your industry and employer. If you’re applying to a library or a medical clinic, for instance, opt for a subdued design; however, if you’re applying for a role in an art gallery, then you might want to show off your creative side with a more colorful look.
Also, focus on selecting the template that works best with your content. For example, if you lack experience, choose a layout that plays up your skills and education while balancing out the extra white space, such as a simple resume template. Conversely, if you’ve got a lot of experience, pick a template that helps you showcase your achievements without a lot of extra text.
How do you set up a resume?
Select a suitable format, then use one of our industry-specific resume templates along with our free, easy-to-use Resume Builder to set up a professional, HR-approved document in no time.
What is the best resume template for students?
Students with little or no experience would do best with a simple, clean design, such as one of our Popular templates, that excludes pictures, excessive font colors and other intricate formatting details. The template you choose should be organized in either a functional or a combination format because they emphasize education and skills over work history.
What's the best resume template?
No single template is best for every applicant. When you browse through our collection, choose an option that will draw attention to your strengths, keeping your experience, industry and goals in mind. All of our templates can be customized.

Create a Professional Resume in Minutes!

Get noticed

Choose from more than a dozen eye-catching professional design templates that will help you create a unique resume employers will notice.

Find the right words

Writing your resume is a snap — just use our pre-written text bullet points to showcase your skills and accomplishments.

Get step-by-step advice

We’re there for you, every step of the way. Our professional resume tips and guidance will save you time and help your resume stand out from the competition!

Format your finished resume

Our simple editing tools make it easy to get exactly the resume you want. Download in your choice of formats, then print and send as many copies as you need.