Resume Templates That Work: Formats, Examples, and How to Choose

Choosing a resume template shouldn't be a matter of personal preference, but a strategic, structural choice. Four things determine whether a resume template performs well, and they aren't related to color choices or to a universal rule on font weight. The best resume examples are those that match your experience level, field, work well with applicant tracking systems (ATS), and export properly in the format the employer expects. This guide will help you choose the best resume template for your needs by providing and explaining different resume template examples, their purposes, and targeted layouts. We'll show the same content using three real Toptal Resume's professional resume templates, so you can clearly see what actually changes in them before deciding.

How to Choose a Resume Template for Your Experience

The resume template you use determines what is emphasized in your document, which varies depending on your career goals and level of experience. The table below covers five different candidate profiles to help you make an informed choice. While no specific template can guarantee exact ATS or interview outcomes, all the recommendations are based on years of experience working with job seekers across industries and at all career levels.

If you're unsure which one to use, the safest choice is a clean template with a chronological resume format, a one-column structure, and no excessive graphic or design elements. To learn more about the differences between chronological, functional, and combination (hybrid) resumes, see our complete guide on different resume formats.

Three Resume Template Examples, Compared

The three resume examples below use the same resume content in three real Toptal Resume templates: Entry-level, Modern Professional, and Creative. All the facts remain the same, but the templates' structures serve different purposes. Before diving deeper into each, the table below summarizes their main features and how to use them at a glance.

Although Word resume templates are the easiest for editing, resumes are most often expected to be submitted as PDF files, and you should always verify that all the content is parsable and that the file isn't image-based. If the job posting requires sending your resume as a .docx file, that overrides the common practice, and you should keep your resume template in Word.

Entry-level Resume Template: Best for Students and Junior Candidates

The resume template shown in the image below works well for entry-level resumes and as a student resume template.

Here's what and when makes it a good choice:

• It leads with education and skills, which typically provide the strongest evidence for candidates with little professional experience.
• There's no professional summary, which is a good choice when there's not much experience to summarize.
• Clean, single-column layout that uses standard section headings.

Modern Professional: Standard, Simple Resume Template for Most Professionals

The Modern Professional resume template shown in the image below is a prototype of a standard, ATS-friendly resume template with a clean, clear structure.

Here's what works well in this resume template:

• It's a chronological resume template with a clear hierarchy and career progression from most recent to oldest work experience, followed by supporting sections.
• The professional summary at the top serves as an introduction, highlighting the most relevant details (strongest skills and achievements).
• One-column layout, which is the safest option for ATS and recruiter readability.

Creative Resume Template: Combines Visual Identity With ATS Compatibility

The Creative resume template shown in the image below uses more design elements while remaining compliant with ATS software.

The main advantages of this resume template are:

• Allows for a touch of personal identity by including a photo and a bit of color.
• The content is organized in two columns, with the sidebar being reserved for secondary and supporting sections.
• The main work experience column is still prominent and easily readable by both humans and machines.

Besides Toptal Resume’s free resume template gallery, all of the templates are incorporated in the AI resume builder, and its preview option makes it easy for you to switch between the different resume templates and decide which one works best for your situation.

ATS Resume Templates: What Makes a Resume Template ATS-Friendly?

When we talk about an ATS-friendly resume template, it's not about its visual quality or appearance. Compatibility with ATS software means its scanners can easily read your resume and sort the information it contains. A resume template that looks minimal can still have graphic elements that cause parsing problems or non-standard section headings. Here's what really matters:

• Standard headings: ATS match content to expected fields, so you should always use "Work Experience" and "Professional Summary" rather than inventing labels such as "My Journey" or "Who I Am."
• Selectable text: You should be able to copy and paste the text in your resume, which indicates that all ATS systems will be able to read it. Image-based documents require technology based on optical recognition.
• Reading order: In some multi-column layouts, the ATS scanners reading from top to bottom can mix content from different sections. Always make sure that the text copied from your document appears in a logical order when pasted into a plain text editor.
• Contact details in the body: Avoid placing your contact information in the document's header or footer, as some ATS systems may skip it.
• Clean file output: Exporting the resume you've created as a PDF will keep its original structure or layout. Submit a resume in Word only if it's required.

To make sure your resume is ATS-friendly, run it through Toptal Resume's ATS resume checker, which provides a detailed analysis of its formatting, structure, readability, and more. All Toptal Resume templates have been tested with the tool and against all major ATS systems to make sure you get a reliable, professional resume template.

How to Customize a Resume Template in Five Steps

Choosing the best resume template for your situation is the first step, and customizing it for your job application is the second. Here are the five steps to follow in the listed order:

1. Choose the right format for your background. Use the guide in the table at the top of this page to make the most appropriate choice. If you're still unsure, use a safe, simple resume template with one column and a chronological format.
2. Adapt the sections to your experience. You don't have to use all the sections found in a resume template. A graphic designer most likely doesn't need a languages section, and a driver doesn't need a publications section.
3. Rewrite the experience to match the job description. A professional resume template offers a well-structured format, but the resume's content is your job. Emphasize the most relevant details and cut or condense the others.
4. Tailor the skills section. You should tailor your resume for each application, especially the skills section. Always include all the skills that reflect the job requirements, as long as they reflect your actual experience.
5. Check the exported file. Whether you're editing your resume template in Google Docs or Word, always make sure that the exported PDF file keeps its original structure (can be copied and pasted without losing a logical order).

Common Resume Template Mistakes

There are several common resume template mistakes that we see in practice, and the guide below can help you avoid them and create the best resume template for your needs.

Too small font

Problem: Using a font that is barely visible to fit more content on the page.
Fix: Trim the content by removing anything that doesn't strengthen your application.

Inappropriately designed template

Problem: Choosing a highly creative resume template for a conservative field, such as legal or finance.
Fix: Match the industry expectations.

Non-standard section titles

Problem: Inventing creative section labels that recruiters don't expect and ATS can't link to the appropriate field.
Fix: Use standard headings, such as "Professional Summary," "Work Experience," "Education," and "Skills."

Wrong section order for the role

Problem: Leading with a wrong section, such as educational details before work experience in an executive resume (or any resume for an experienced candidate).
Fix: The most important parts that prove your fit for the job should be prominent and that recruiters expect to see first.

Untested file output

Problem: Submitting a resume before checking if the content in the exported file will be parsed correctly.
Fix: Copy and paste the content into a plain-text document. If everything looks as it should, your resume is ready to go.

Conclusion

The best resume templates are those that make your most relevant and most effective content easy to find. In addition to choosing the right one for your career stage, field, and experience, your resume template must be easy to read by both machines and humans. Explore Toptal Resume's gallery of professional resume templates and find a resume template that suits you best. After making that decision, you can use the AI resume builder to customize it for your job application, as all the resume templates are already incorporated in the tool.