Resume Design Templates: 15+ Ideas & How-to
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Publishers spend a ton of time choosing a book cover—because, well, that’s how the book’s going to be judged. The same applies to your resume: a good resume design will get recruiters hooked and almost forces them to give it more attention.
Want your resume to be a magnet for employers? Feel like you could use some professional resume design ideas and tips? You’ve found the right place.
This article will show you:
- The best resume design templates you’ll ever find.
- Inspiring ideas for your creative, modern, professional, and simple resume design.
- A step-by-step guide on designing a resume that wins you your dream job.
Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.
Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume samples here.
Resume Design Ideas
Below’s a list of really cool resume designs you can create or take inspiration from. Check them out and see what makes them so eye-catchy.
By the way, if you are a graphic design pro and want to see the best tips on how to make a resume that outperforms 9 out of 10 others, here’s a guide just for you: Graphic Design Resume: Sample & Guide [+20 Examples]
Creative Resume Design Examples
Muse
Muse is a two-column layout that features geometric icons pointing to the most important elements of the resume. This stylish template uses color very subtly to highlight each resume section. The progress bars indicate your mastery of software and language skills. It's a great choice for candidates who want their abilities to stand out from the rest.
Primo
Looking for a highly visual template? Primo is a great example of that. The header catches the glance with the candidate's name and initials; each section is highlighted with a sleek icon. The timeline connecting various parts of the resume helps to show the career progress. This resume layout proves that black-and-white isn't dull.
Diamond
Diamond is a designer resume template for those who like a little something out of the ordinary. Don’t get me wrong: this template is perfectly professional and well-organized. But on top of that, it’s sophisticated and unique, with neat diamond-shaped icons marking skill levels, essential sections, and bullet points.
Floral
Do Anh Nguyet and SHOWY 68 have designed this “Floral Resume Template / CV Template” for those who’d value combining a creative resume design with simplicity and legibility. This one’s an excellent choice for jobs in creative industries.
Here’s the link to this resume design template.
If you’re looking for a creative job, look at our list of creative resume templates that’ll make every recruiter want to interview you: Creative Resume Templates (16+ Examples to Download & Guide).
Iconic
Iconic is a fantastic resume design that keeps a lot of white space on the page while allowing you to keep all the necessary details. Icons are as good-looking as they are informative, the layout is very easy to follow, and you can skim it quickly and not miss a single thing. Recruiters will love it!
Modern Resume Design Examples
Modern
Our “Modern” resume template has been designed to ensure recruiters know where each piece of information about your career is. The section titles include small graphical elements that guide readers’ eyes to where you want them to go.
Vibes
Vibes is a resume template that embraces modernity. This layout uses stylish icons to highlight each resume section and features a touch of color that proves professional doesn't equal black and white. The two-column format helps to keep the reader engaged. This resume template is great if you want your work experience to stand out.
Cascade
Cascade is a resume template that makes great use of space. The colored sidebar breaks up the page to fit every single section you need to include while keeping it aesthetically appealing. Sleek progress bars let you add a visual representation of your skills, creating a nice dynamic between text and graphics.
Enfold
Enfold will work great for you if you enjoy structure and logical planning. It’s broken down into clear, self-sufficient parts, each containing a set of data on a separate topic. The sidebar stands aside, too, making sure that no matter how much information you add, it will still be easy to digest.
Modern Professional
EgoType brings you one of the most minimalistic yet eye-catching resume templates. It’ll be an effective resume design for virtually all industries, from creative to traditional, and for academic purposes. Use this resume design if you want your resume to highlight your high level of professionalism.
Here’s the link to this resume design template.
Initials
Initials is a template that looks modern, fresh, and original. If you’re looking for a resume template that will focus on your skills, this one will do a great job and let you put your best foot forward. The left side displays your various skills and their levels, while the right provides just enough room to showcase your professional experience and education. Everything will fit!
Professional Resume Design Examples
Influx
Zety’s “Influx” template is a perfect business resume design. The dark shade sharply separates the header from the body of your resume, making your contact information easy to scan and hard to miss. We recommend it for corporate positions, especially those in the US.
Valera
Can a black-and-white resume be truly eye-catching? Valera proves that it's possible. While following the classic resume format, this template uses unique typography to make the candidate's name and resume sections pop. The skills sections' progress bars help keep the reader engaged to the end. This resume layout can show that you're not only professional but also laid back.
Concept
Concept is something like Cascade’s older brother. It has the same sidebar structure but uses it a bit differently. The color block creates contrast and prompts a path for the eye to follow. This, together with a line running down the page, ensures that the recruiter’s attention stays undivided.
Vintage
This vintage resume design has a header that immediately signals professionalism and strong attention to detail. You can purchase it on Etsy and get a matching cover letter template editable in MS Word and Pages.
Here’s the link to this resume design template.
Cubic
Cubic is another two-side resume template that cleverly shifts focus from one resume section to another. It has a separate header that transitions into the central part, with the side section highlighted in subtle gray. This arrangement keeps everything separate and clearly visible so the hiring manager can instantly see what matters.
Simple Resume Design Examples
Simple
As the name suggests, Simple is a resume template with no unnecessary frills. A subtle color highlights the resume sections, and the skills and language proficiencies pop thanks to minimalist progress bars. This professional layout can make your name and career profile stand out.
Crisp
We’ve designed our “Crisp” resume template to satisfy all those who appreciate a clean resume design without too many graphics. Use this one if you expect recruiters to print out your resume. It will look as stunning on paper as it does on screen.
Minimo
The name Minimo speaks for itself---it's a minimalistic resume design. It's a great choice if you want to focus on your work experience and have a strong career summary to boost your candidature. All important sections are gathered on the top half of the page, making them very easy to spot. The progress bars in the skills section help keep recruiters' attention until the end.
Bright and Light
This one, named “Free Minimalistic Resume,” was created by Behance’s Fay Zodiac. It’s a great example of how mixing a classic, basic resume design with a large, eye-catching header can give your resume a dynamic yet professional touch.
Here’s the link to this template.
Your resume's design should always fit the job you're applying for. See our list of hand-picked templates you can customize in no time: Good Resume Templates (14 Examples to Download & Use Right Now)
Nanica
If colors and visuals are not your thing, then Nanica can be your perfect choice. This simple resume design follows the traditional resume format to help the reader focus on your career summary and work experience. The black-and-white layout ensures great readability and makes this resume template look great on-screen and in print.
Newcast
The Newcast template proves that the traditional resume design isn't over yet. The minimalist icons adorning each section catch the reader's attention, and the subtle use of color provides a contemporary look for this chic layout. It's a great choice for candidates who want their work experience to speak for itself.
Making a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide, use ready-made content tailored to your job and have a resume ready in minutes.
When you’re done, our easy resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.
How to Design a Resume in 9 Simple Steps
Whether you design a resume in Word or use more advanced graphic design software, such as InDesign or Photoshop, there are some golden resume layout rules you should play by if you want to get your foot in the door.
Have a look at our top resume design tips and transform your ordinary resume into a killer one:
1. Choose the Right Font
Imagine reading Madame Bovary printed out in Comic Sans. However monumental and meticulously crafted, the novel would seem ridiculous.
The font you choose for your resume design should be professional and elegant to avoid coming across as a trivial joke.
Unless you’re very confident about your typographic skills, stick to one font throughout your resume. If you're a design pro, you might pull off different fonts for the header or section headings, but otherwise, it would probably make your resume look like an eight-year-old’s scrapbook.
Going for the wrong font can ruin your chances of landing the interview. I mean it. If you’d rather avoid this scenario, here’s a dedicated guide: What's the Best Font for a Resume?
2. Set the Margins
Another cornerstone of every well-designed resume template.
For every professional resume design, borders should be identical for all four edges.
One-inch resume margins are your safest choice. If you feel like choosing a slick resume design with smaller fonts and no bold, feel free to extend your margins to an inch and a half. It’ll give your resume a nice, minimalistic touch.
3. Divide Your Resume into Sections
Depending on your resume format, you'll need to divide it into different sections, each focusing on a different aspect of your career. Usually, the sections will be organized in the following order:
- Contact information
- Resume summary or resume objective
- Work experience
- Education
- Skills
- Additional sections
If you want a unique resume design, you can add other sections or re-order the above ones. Make sure you read this guide for inspiring resume redesign ideas: Resume Sections to Include on Your Resume: Guide (+20 Examples)
4. Make the Resume Header Pop
Even the most elegant resume design will be futile if you have no professional resume header. Think of it as your business card. It makes as much of an impression as your appearance.
Pro Tip: The design of your resume header is critical, but don’t forget about the contents. Include all the basics: your full name, professional title, email address, and telephone number. Then add some extra details: your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or a link to your online portfolio. And unless explicitly asked to include one, don’t use a photo in your resume.
Getting started with your resume design is challenging; worse yet, messing it up at the very beginning might ruin your chances of impressing your prospective employers. Don’t fret. Here’s a guide that will tell you how to design a resume correctly: How to Start a Resume: A Complete Guide With Tips & 15+ Examples
5. Use Clear Section Headlines
For an eye-catching resume design, make your headlines stand out from the rest of the text. Make them slightly larger than your resume body. You can also use boldface type or type the headlines IN ALL CAPS.
This way, you’ll save recruiters’ time. They’ll know where to look for what interests them on your resume.
6. Make Smart Use of White Space
Recruiters have to review hundreds of resumes every day. They’re tired of looking at heaps of information crammed into as little space as possible.
How to make sure you’ve used white space to your advantage?
Don’t go for single-line spacing unless you want your resume to look like yellow pages. Set the spacing for 1.15 or 1.5. Make sure it’s consistent across your whole resume design. Add a space before and after every section heading, as well as after every entry.
7. Don’t Overuse Bullet Points
Bullet points are a good idea for breaking up the text and making it easier to read. Use them when describing your professional achievements or listing details about your education.
Limit yourself to five bullet points underneath each entry. Feel like it’s not enough? It is. Remember to only write about your career details relevant to the position you’re aiming for.
Recruiters don’t read your whole resume. They skim it for certain information and keywords. If you want this job, you need to know how to give the recruiter exactly what they’re looking for. It’s called tailoring your resume. Learn how to do it here:6 Tips on How to Tailor Your Resume to a Job Description (Examples)
8. Make Your Resume as Long as It Needs to Be
Don’t obsess over trying to make your resume design one page. Be brief and relevant, but don’t omit any important details.
Most candidates don’t know how long a resume should be. And often, that’s why they struggle to find a job. We know it’s confusing, so we’ve put together this guide to clear up all of your doubts: How Long Should a Resume Be? Everything You Need to Know
9. Save Your Resume in PDF Format
Sending your resume in the wrong file format can spoil your chances of getting the job. If you don’t get it right, your resume might not pass the Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) test.
Before sending out your resume, check the job description to ensure resumes in PDF are accepted. PDF files help you keep your resume layout intact. Also, PDFs are a safer choice for infographic resume designs or others made with advanced graphic design software than JPG or PNG files because the latter do not extract raw text. If not, send a resume in Word. Either way, having two resume file formats is always better.
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
Key Takeaway
Remember to keep these points in mind:
- Even if you’re not a graphic designer, you can have a unique, elegant resume design in no time. You can either use online resume builders that offer downloadable resume design templates or design a resume by yourself to reflect your individuality.
- If you choose to DIY, keep the layout simple and uniform. Stick to one font, make an eye-catchy header and divide your resume into easily identifiable sections.
- Don’t try to cram too much text into too little space. Use bullet points for work experience descriptions and go for an extra space before and after every section heading and each entry.
Apply those strategies, and I guarantee you’ll have a killer resume design that sells your candidacy to every employer.
Do you have more questions about designing a resume to impress recruiters and get more job interviews? Want to share your resume designer experience? Give us a shout in the comments, and we’ll get back to you!
About Zety’s Editorial Process
This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.
