9 Best Resume Templates to Make You Look Like a Pro
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Basic professional resume
Microsoft Word is the first tool that comes to mind for creating resumes. But you don’t have to start from a blank page. Save time and make a great first impression with a professionally designed Microsoft Word resume template.
Resume Genius’ chronological resume template is an excellent choice if you have a consistent work history in your industry. This elegant design represents your professional journey, with the most recent position listed first, followed by previous roles in reverse chronological order.
Your name and contact details are prominently displayed in the header, making it easy for recruiters to get in touch. The body of your resume uses sharp formatting and bold headings to organize your work experience, education and skills – so your qualifications are clear and scannable.
You should optimize your skills section by incorporating job description keywords to increase your chances of passing applicant tracking system (ATS) checks.
If you’re applying for a job at a large company, there’s a good chance your resume will have to go through an applicant tracking system (ATS) before it gets to a recruiter. The ATS Bold Classic resume template is designed to do just that.
With a clean, straightforward layout and plenty of white space, this template makes it very easy for ATS software to read and understand your information. Bold, universal section headings—like “OBJECT,” “EXPERIENCE,” and “EDUCATION”—act as clear indicators to help ATS algorithms and recruiters quickly find key details.
You can use an online resume scanner to create an ATS-friendly resume. These resume scanners will help you identify the changes needed to make your resume compatible with applicant tracking software.
To get the most out of this template, use bullet points to highlight your most impressive accomplishments in each role, and don’t forget to adjust your skills section to match the requirements of the job description.
For a resume template that balances professionalism and personality, try the CraftCrest template by Freesumes. This design features a bold header with space for a headshot. It is ideal for areas such as sales, real estate or other customer-facing roles where relationship building is key.
One of the standout features of CraftCrest is the Professional Profile section. Use this space to highlight your most important skills and experience and tailor them to the specific role you are filling.
For a simple and straightforward resume design, look no further than the Basic Professional Resume Template from Microsoft Word. This minimalist layout puts the emphasis squarely on your qualifications, making it a solid choice for job seekers in traditional fields such as finance, law or healthcare.
One of the strengths of this design is its versatility – with a few tweaks it can be adapted to suit a wide range of industries and experience levels. For example, if you’re a recent graduate, you can expand the Projects and Extracurriculars section to showcase relevant coursework and leadership roles. At the same time, if you are a seasoned professional, you can use the space to highlight your most impressive career achievements.
Freesumes’ minimalist template keeps things simple. It has a classic black and white color scheme and enough white space to make your qualifications stand out.
To make this template really effective, take some time to write a customized resume summary that directly relates to the position you’re seeking. In the Professional Experience section, highlight your most impressive and relevant achievements – those that demonstrate the unique value you would bring to the role.
Like a well-written cover letter, a great resume is all about knowing your audience and giving them exactly what they’re looking for.
6 Simple and basic
For job seekers who prefer a traditional, straightforward approach, Resume Viking’s Simple and Basic resume template is a solid choice. This design forgoes flashy elements in favor of a clean and easy-to-read layout that puts your professional experience at the forefront.
The template’s minimalist aesthetic is reminiscent of a classic typewritten resume with a sharp black and white color scheme and standard fonts. While the design may be basic, that doesn’t mean your content has to be.
Use strong action verbs and specific examples to highlight your accomplishments in each role, and be sure to tailor your skills section to the job description. With a well-written and targeted resume, even a simple template can have a powerful impact.
If you’re looking for a job with diverse skills or a complex work history, Resume Genius’ functional resume template could be your ideal choice. Unlike traditional chronological resumes, this format emphasizes your skills and accomplishments over an employment timeline.
A functional resume template begins with a professional summary that highlights your most important qualifications and expertise. This is followed by an extensive “Relevant Skills” section where you can detail your key competencies and achievements with specific examples and quantifiable metrics.
This template allows you to tell a more complete story about your career path by focusing on your transferable skills rather than your work history. It is particularly suitable for career changers, returning to the workforce after a break or professionals looking to move into a new industry.
While work history is still included, it is presented in a more concise format, with job titles and company names taking a back seat to your impressive skills. If you want a resume that puts your skills in the spotlight, the Functional Resume template is definitely worth considering.
If you’re a creative professional looking to make a bold first impression, look no further than the Vikings’ Flamingo resume template. With its striking two-column layout and vibrant color scheme, this design is sure to catch the eye of any hiring manager.
The template’s sidebar displays your contact information, education and key skills, while a professional headshot adds a personal touch. In the main section, you’ll have plenty of space to highlight your experience and achievements, while clean typography will ensure your content shines.
If you’re looking for a job with a diverse skill set and a diverse work history, the Combination resume template from Resume Genius offers the best of both worlds. This format strikes a balance between showcasing your professional experience and highlighting your most important skills and accomplishments.
The combination of functional and chronological elements makes this template particularly suitable for professionals looking to move into a new field or those with gaps in their employment history. The Combination Resume template will help you write an application that will catch the attention of any hiring manager.
Now that you have these free resume templates in Microsoft Word, you should write an ATS-friendly resume. But if you’re still looking for more options, you might want to use one of these free resume templates for Word to take your resume to the next level.