Resume Layout Examples, Templates and Tips
Your resume layout goes a long way to making your resume stand out. Use our resume layout examples, templates and tips to create an effective resume.
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Your resume layout goes a long way to making your resume stand out. Use our resume layout examples, templates and tips to create an effective resume.
A professional resume is key to a successful job search. A big element of any great resume is a layout that effectively showcases your skills and previous work experience. But how do you decide which resume layout will work best for you? We’re here to help!
On this page, we’re going to:
ResumeHelp has dozens of beautiful resume templates that you can use as inspiration for your resume layout. We have many resume designs available, from modern resume templates to simple resume templates and minimalist resume layouts. The best part? You don’t have to edit it alone! You can use our Resume Builder to customize the resume layout of your choosing and truly make it your own.
The resume layouts below are some of our user’s favorite designs. Consider the job you’re applying for and how you want to present yourself to the potential employer before choosing a professional resume template.
Build my resumeThere are three main resume formats to choose from for your resume layout and each has its strengths and weaknesses to consider.
The chronological format is the most commonly used format and is suitable for most job seekers with at least nine years of professional experience. This format requires you to list your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your current or most recent position. This format is popular because it’s ATS-friendly but can hinder your performance if you have employment gaps or lack work experience.
A functional resume format prioritizes and emphasizes the skills and qualifications you have rather than your work history. The main strength of this resume layout is the way it showcases your skills and training for potential employers, making it ideal for job seekers with less than two years of experience. If you want to emphasize linear career progression, however, it may not be the right choice.
As the name suggests, a combination resume layout draws slightly from the other two formats. A combination layout lets you balance your work history and skills section. This format is best for those changing careers or candidates with three to eight years of work experience.
Formatting your perfect resume after you have chosen a layout that suits you is one of the most important steps.
The right margin size will ensure you have the most space to play while retaining a professional appearance and reducing white space. Whether you have a basic or creative resume, your margins should never be less than a half-inch. One inch all around is preferable in most cases.
The header of your resume should be eye-catching and contain your name and contact information. Ensuring it is placed at the top of your resume and stands out will ensure that recruiters don’t have to look too hard for your number.
Choose a font that is legible, clear and professional if you want your resume to be ATS-friendly. You don’t have to stick with the default but you should stick with sans serif fonts like Arial or Times New Roman and keep the size at 10.5 or above for your main resume text.
Even a basic resume will need a summary statement, as well as skills, education and work experience sections. Follow the lead of our resume samples on where to place each section and for standardized headings that are familiar to recruiters.
While a CV will typically be longer, your resume should be one to two pages at the most (one is preferable), as it represents a singular snapshot of your qualifications. Make use of bullet points and short, punchy phrases to stand out.
Build my resumeResumeHelp has hundreds of articles with career advice and expert resources to make the best of your resume layout.
Have questions? We’re here to help.
Technically, there is no single resume layout that is best. There are only resume layouts that are best for specific purposes. Deciding which layout is best for you requires that you know which format you want, based on what you want to prioritize. Then choose from our best resume templates to use as a guide and put together your resume.
Ideally, your professional resume and cover letter should be stylish and functional but the importance of your resume design and appearance can vary. If you are applying to a role in a creative industry, for example, the design of your resume may be more important than it would be for a more traditional job.
While many people use the terms interchangeably, there is a difference between a single-page resume and a CV. A curriculum vita or CV, represents a full history of your academic and professional credentials, while a resume is a concise snapshot of specific skills and qualifications. Resumes are geared toward informing hiring managers of your suitability for a singular role and they tend to be shorter than CVs.
If you wish to see examples of popular resume layouts and formats, ResumeHelp has a library of example resumes you can browse for ideas (as well as a range of resume templates you can work with).
Our resume examples are created by resume experts who know the best resume layout practices. We have dozens of samples for numerous jobs, from nursing to customer service and marketing.
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