What resume template should I use?
The resume template you should use depends on your industry, career level, and personality. It’s not just about making things look pretty. The right template sets the tone for how hiring managers see you. This happens before they even read your experience.
Resume templates help you organize your strengths in a way that feels real. They also pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS). Your resume should show who you are and where you want your career to go.
Let’s break down the types of resume templates that actually work, look at some resume template examples, and learn how to pick one that helps you stand out.
What are the best types of resume templates for different careers?
The best types of resume templates for different careers are professional, modern, creative, and simple templates. Each one works better for specific industries and career goals.
Professional resume templates
Best for: Finance, law, healthcare, government, or traditional corporate roles
Professional resume templates use clean lines, standard fonts, and conservative layouts. They focus on your experience and skills without flashy design. These templates work well for industries that value structure and tradition.
What makes them work:
- Clear section headers for contact info, summary, experience, and skills
- Easy-to-scan formatting that stays the same throughout
- Neutral colors (usually black, white, and gray)
- Standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman
Modern resume templates
Modern resume templates balance professional style with current design. They use updated layouts, smart white space, and subtle design touches. These feel current without being distracting. These work best for tech, marketing, digital agencies, startups, or creative-adjacent roles.
What makes them work:
- Clean but visually interesting layouts
- Smart use of color or design touches
- Easy-to-read sections with clear order
- Professional but not stuffy
Creative resume templates
Creative resume templates let you show your design skills and personality. They use bold colors, unique layouts, or visual elements. They’re great for graphic design, advertising, arts, media, or portfolio-based careers.
Warning: These can be risky for ATS systems and traditional industries. Use them when creativity is part of the career requirements.
Simple resume templates
Simple resume templates focus on readability and content over design. This makes them great for entry-level positions, career changers, or traditional industries. Content matters most in these fields.
What makes them work:
- Very few design elements
- Easy to customize
- ATS-friendly formatting
- Works for any industry
Your personality affects your template choice. Some people naturally organize information in detailed, structured ways. They often prefer professional templates. Others think more visually and creatively. Modern or creative templates feel more real to them.
How do I choose the right resume template and resume format for my career goals?
You choose the right resume template and resume format for your career goals by matching your template to industry expectations first. Then consider your career level and personality. Research companies in your target field. Look at their websites, LinkedIn pages, and job postings. Traditional industries usually prefer standard formatting. Creative or tech companies often like modern design.
Consider your career level:
- Entry-level: Simple or professional templates that highlight education, skills, and any relevant experience.
- Mid-level: Modern or professional templates that show growing responsibilities and achievements.
- Senior-level: Professional templates that emphasize leadership, results, and strategic impact.
Think about resume formats too:
- Chronological: Lists work experience in reverse order (most common and ATS-friendly)
- Functional: Focuses on skills rather than work history (good for career changers)
- Hybrid: Combines chronological and functional elements
Your personality plays a bigger role than you might think. If you enjoy details and order, a tidy template can help you feel more confident. If you’re creative and visual, a template with design elements may better show who you are.
Tools that analyze your personality can suggest template styles. These match how you naturally present information. They also match what feels real to your work style.
How do I customize any resume template to stand out and pass ATS?
You customize any resume template to stand out and pass ATS by starting with the job description and using targeted keywords throughout. Start by reading the job description carefully. Pull out key skills, qualifications, and keywords that appear many times. Your customized resume should use this language naturally. Put it throughout your experience and skills sections.
Make these specific customizations:
1. Adjust your professional summary. Rewrite your opening paragraph. Make it directly address what the employer is looking for. Instead of generic statements, connect your background to their specific needs.
2. Reorganize your experience section. Lead with accomplishments that match the job requirements. Use numbers and specific results whenever possible.
3. Optimize for ATS-friendly formatting.
- Use standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills)
- Stick to common fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica
- Avoid tables, graphics, or complex formatting
- Save as both PDF and Word formats
4. Include relevant keywords naturally. Don’t just stuff keywords in. Weave them into your actual experience descriptions where they make sense.
Keep your visual appeal simple but polished. Use the same formatting throughout. Use adequate white space. Make sure everything is easy to read. Your resume layout should lead the reader to your key details first.
What makes personality-based resume templates different from free resume templates?
Personality-based resume templates are different from free resume templates because they suggest templates based on your work style and target career. Most free resume templates are universal. They don’t think about how different personalities naturally organize information. They also don’t consider what industries value different types of thinkers.
Personality-based resume builders work differently:
- They suggest templates based on your work style and target career
- They help you identify and describe your natural strengths
- They recommend how to position your experience for maximum impact
- They ensure your resume feels real to who you are
ATS optimization gets smarter too. Instead of generic keyword suggestions, personality-informed tools help you understand something important. They show you which of your natural strengths to emphasize for specific roles.
This approach helps you avoid generic AI-generated content. This type of content sounds like everyone else’s resume. Your experience and strengths are unique. Your resume should show that.
Choose smart, build fast, stand out
Your resume template is the foundation, not the whole story. The best resume templates give you a professional structure. You can customize this to show your real strengths and career potential.
Remember: Hiring managers spend about 6 seconds scanning your resume at first. Your template needs to make those seconds count. It should present your information clearly. It should highlight what makes you the right fit.
The smartest approach combines the right template with personality insights. These insights help you position your experience well. When your resume shows your skills and work style, good things happen. You’re more likely to land interviews for careers where you’ll actually do well.
Your next career move starts with the right resume foundation. Choose a template that feels right for your industry and personality. Then customize it to show why you’re exactly what employers are looking for.
FAQs
What resume format should I use?
The resume format you should use is the chronological format for most careers. This format lists your work experience in reverse order and is the most ATS-friendly. Choose a functional format if you’re changing careers or have gaps in work history. Hybrid format works well if you want to highlight both skills and experience.
Which resume templates are best for 2025?
The resume templates that are best for 2025 are modern and simple designs that pass ATS filters. Professional resume templates work best for traditional industries. Modern resume templates are great for tech and creative fields. Simple resume templates are perfect for entry-level positions or career changers.
What are the best resume templates for recent grads?
The best resume templates for recent grads are simple resume templates and modern resume templates. These highlight education, skills, internships, and projects. Avoid creative resume templates unless you’re applying to design or creative fields. Focus on ATS-friendly formatting that showcases your potential.
What is the best resume layout for career changers?
The best resume layout for career changers is functional or hybrid resume formats with professional or simple templates. These layouts focus on transferable skills rather than work history. Use a strong professional summary that connects your past experience to your new career goals.
What resume templates do hiring managers prefer?
The resume templates hiring managers prefer are clean, professional resume templates that are easy to scan. They like standard fonts, clear section headers, and consistent formatting. Modern resume templates work for progressive companies. Professional resume templates are safest for traditional industries.
What sections should be in a resume template?
The sections that should be in a resume template are contact information, professional summary, work experience, education, and skills. Optional sections include certifications, projects, volunteer work, or languages. Keep sections clearly labeled with standard headers for ATS compatibility.
Should I use a creative resume template?
You should use a creative resume template only if you work in design, arts, advertising, or media. These fields value creativity and visual skills. For most other careers, stick with professional or modern resume templates. Creative templates often don’t pass ATS filters and can hurt your chances.
What are the top resume templates that pass ATS filters?
The top resume templates that pass ATS filters are ones that use simple formatting, standard fonts, and clear section headers. Simple resume templates and professional resume templates work best. Avoid tables, graphics, text boxes, or unusual fonts. Save your resume as both PDF and Word formats for best results.