Resume Templates for
Every Job

There’s no perfect one-size-fits-all resume template. The key is considering what message you want to send to the recruiter evaluating your resume. Are you more creative, serious, or professional — or somewhere in between? The font, design, and colors (or lack thereof) will all affect how a template is seen. Let’s break down how to evaluate each of these elements.

If you’re choosing a resume template with colors, be mindful of choosing brighter or louder colors. While adding some color to your resume can make it more visually appealing and reader-friendly, garish design elements can be off-putting for a recruiter hiring for a more professional position.

You’ll also need to choose between a single or double-column resume template. Generally, breaking a single section into two columns can be confusing for the reader. However, if you have lots of different kinds of information to convey, our two-column layout can help you do this in an organized way that makes it easy for the reader to digest all the information.

Lastly, consider how other resume template elements like font and text size affect its readability. In general, you want your resume to be as easy to read as possible.

Obviously, there’s a lot to consider when finding your perfect resume template, but here at resumebuild.com, you can easily find the ideal template to send the perfect message. If you’re unsure, use our resume builder to compare multiple templates and see which looks best.

There’s no denying that the classic chronological resume remains the most popular format in 2020. This should be your go-to format. There are advantages to functional and combination formats (discussed in more detail below), but those are best reserved for when you have a specific reason to go for one of them.

Nearly every job applicant wonders about this at some point. There’s no universal answer, but in most cases, a single-page resume is preferred simply because it saves the recruiter time. Single-page resumes also can be superior because they force you to edit your experience down and focus on what really matters. The result is often a more focused and punchy resume, which is therefore more effective.

That said, if you have more than 10 years of experience in an industry or your industry has its own standard for resumes (e.g. you’re in academia), then you may want to move beyond the one-page rule. So, always research the standards and norms for your industry and the place you’re applying (different countries will also have their own standards).

A related question you’ll need to consider is what to include so your resume can hit the right length. In most cases, your resume should cover your experience back to slightly before the period the job offer asks about. But beyond this, no matter how long your resume is, you need to ensure all the information is highly relevant. For example, if your first job was in the hospitality industry, and now you’re applying for a graphic design position years later, you likely can leave out your restaurant experience.

All in all, forcing yourself to slow down and evaluate everything individually should lead to a more streamlined, deliberate, and effective resume.

In a world where more and more companies are using an ATS, in most cases the most important information on your resume will be the information matching the job description. ATS and recruiters alike will always check whether you meet the criteria listed in the original job ad, so making sure you clearly show that you meet those requirements is essential. After all, if your resume gets rejected by ATS, none of the other information on it really matters.

In particular, look for requirements which are listed as “must haves.” For example, if a job ad states that all applicants must possess a specific certification or number of years of experience, it’s best to put that information in your resume. This way it’s immediately clear to a recruiter that you’re a serious candidate worth spending time on.

Otherwise, this will vary a lot depending on your industry, experience, etc. For example, if you’re a fresh graduate, information about your education is very important. If you graduated more than 10 years ago, on the other hand, recruiters are unlikely to focus very much on the details of your degrees. Like with choosing the best length and resume template, deciding what information to emphasize should be done after thoroughly researching the standards and norms of your specific industry.

There are two initial ways you want your resume to stand out: the overall design and the information at the top. You want your resume’s design and top information to quickly tell them that you’re a candidate worth focusing on.

For the design, simply using our resume builder to access one of our quality resume templates will differentiate your resume from the more generic competition. A good layout will tell the recruiter that you went the extra mile to make your resume look better, which makes their job easier.

But getting the opening information of your resume right takes more skill. We recommend using a resume objective or summary. These short sections allow you to quickly form a strong first impression by focusing the recruiter’s attention towards your best attributes. When you can form a strong first impression like this, you’re more likely to get the benefit of the doubt down the line.

But that alone isn’t going to get you hired. You then want to stand out with the rest of your resume’s content, ensuring it’s well-written and precisely targeted for that specific job. Getting a trusted friend or colleague to help you review your resume to look for small mistakes or improvements is key. After all, a single small mistake can dramatically affect how a recruiter views you. They may immediately decide that you’re sloppy and aren’t good with details. Considering the risk, you need to ensure your resumes are flawless before they’re submitted.

The overall lesson here is that you can’t rely on any single element for your resume to stand out. Recruiters weren’t born yesterday and won’t be so impressed with one well-done element. You need to impress them early and often, demonstrating you know how to do a job well.