40+ Professional Resume Templates
Create a professional resume in a few simple steps with our popular Resume Builder. Choose from dozens of the best and free resume templates, add pre-written content from Certified Professional Resume Writers (CPRW), download in the file format you need, and send.
Last Updated: May 10, 2023Our customers have been hired at:*Foot Note
Emphasized
This resume layout provides a streamlined look with an attention-grabbing color header.
Strong
As the name implies, this professional resume template conveys energy and confidence with its bold fonts and solid borders.
Refined
One of our most popular professional resume layouts, this organized design is a good fit for virtually any job.
Insightful
Level up your resume with this resume outline featuring a bold font for the header.
Bold
This resume design has a unique appearance, thanks to a two-color font in the header. Section headings on the left make it easy to read.
Impactful
This resume template wows with its strong block fonts and colors, leaving plenty of room to elaborate on skills and work history.
Accentuate
A subtly shaded header helps this resume design stand out, while the two-column layout provides a crisp look.
Charismatic
This ATS-friendly resume template uses thin color lines to divide sections, creating a streamlined, organized presentation for your professional resume.
How our free resume templates help job-seekers
Professional designs for all industries
From creative resume designs to more straightforward, modern and professional resume templates, we’ve got the right “look” for any job.
Readable layouts that will pass ATS
We’ve got the best resume templates free to download, so you can be confident that hiring managers and applicant tracking systems can scan your resume.
Easily customize to any experience level
You can adjust the layout and design of your resume template to fit your resume format and specific needs.
Expert tools do the heavy lifting for you
Select your favorite resume template, and our Resume Builder will assist you in creating your resume every step of the way. Or pick a free resume template and edit it to fit your needs.
Free modern
resume templates
Choose a modern resume design when applying to organizations with strong brands and for jobs where you need up-to-the-minute knowledge of business, technology, or cultural trends. We have lots of great resume templates free to download.
Acclaimed
A monogram graphic for the header and standout color fonts for section headings create a professional resume with a unique look.
Cool
Give your resume a new presentation with this resume template, which features a main header and duotone columns.
Essence
This resume outline offers a choice of sharp colors for its header while preserving an organized, professional appearance.
Managerial
This free resume download creates a memorable impression without sacrificing readability, thanks to a striking header and italicized section headings.
Free professional
resume templates
A professional resume template will always make your resume look sharp. These straightforward resume templates are timeless and can be used for a wide variety of industries and roles.
Professional
Use this resume design for a classic, streamlined look: Clean lines and a crisp typeface project efficiency and competence.
Distinguished
This free resume template proves that all you need for a compelling resume is a crisp layout with color fonts for essential headings.
Whitespace
This clean resume layout features a simple top border and elegant fonts to present your credentials with style.
Executive
Go with this polished design for a professional resume that communicates your abilities and work history with style.
Free creative
resume templates
Use a job resume templates when you want to impress employers with an artistic look, particularly for creative professions. Find free resume templates for creative jobs by clicking the button below.
Fresh
Make a bold statement with this stylish, professional resume template which offers customizable colors, solid fonts and a colorful layout.
Original
Thanks to its unique four-quadrant layout, this free resume template download turns heads with plenty of room to elaborate on skills and work experiences.
Standout
With a fun “connect the dots” graphic scheme, this resume design makes it easy to navigate each section while preserving an organized layout.
Emphasized
For a clean, professional resume with an artistic touch, use this creative resume template, which elevates the skills section to the top of the resume in the right column.
Free basic
resume templates
Sometimes simple is the way to go, and our no-fuss, no-muss basic free resume templates communicate all your essential information effectively, without the need for extra flourishes.
Knowledgeable
This layout adds flair with color headers, yet this resume outline offers an elegant appearance.
Qualified
This resume template breaks up its black-and-white design with small pops of color in the header for a sophisticated look.
Deluxe
Dividing lines separate each section, enabling quick navigation without sacrificing simplicity in this resume layout.
Contempo
In a subtle twist on standard resume templates, this resume layout presents the job seeker’s name and contact information on the right.
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Resume resources
How to choose the best resume format for a professional resume
Resume formats and templates go hand-in-hand. Your resume format will determine your resume’s organization and help you choose the best one. For example, if you’re a first-time job seeker, you’ll want to create a resume that emphasizes your skills and training rather than your work experience (or lack thereof).
Choose your resume format based on these guidelines:
- Functional format: This format emphasizes skills by breaking them into subcategories. It’s perfect for jobs that rely on skills more than experience or if you lack experience. Good resume templates for the functional format should include different skills sections, such as the “Summary of Qualifications” and the “Professional Skills.”
- Combination format: If you have a few years of experience or are changing careers but can point to essential skills, use this resume format, which balances skills with work experience. A resume template download for the combination format should feature the “Summary of Qualifications” and a skills list.
- Chronological format: If you can show substantial progression in your career field, or are aiming for a senior position, use this format, which gives you plenty of space to describe your work history. Chronological resume templates have the work history section directly below the resume summary.
Download some of our resume format templates on this page and create a professional resume easily.
How to write a resume using a professional resume template
Think of a resume as a summary of your career and professional qualifications. In the space of one to two pages, your business resume template should communicate your strengths as an employee and what makes you the best fit for the job.
When filling in a blank resume template, focus on customizing it for the specific job: highlighting your skills and work experiences that match the job’s needs. Include keywords that show employers (and the ATS systems they use to scan resumes) that your background aligns with their needs. Use strong action verbs, short phrases and bullet points, and keep your resume concise. Our free downloadable resume templates are all created with these crucial points in mind, so use them as a guide.
For a complete guide on using a resume template to write your resume from top to bottom, visit our page on How to Write a Resume.
How to write a resume summary
The summary in a professional resume template is your first chance to make a good impression with your resume. Think of it as an “elevator pitch” that’s a few sentences long and answers these questions:
- What makes you a good employee? Think in terms of notable skills or achievements.
- What makes you suitable for the job? Emphasize abilities that fit the job.
For more tips on how to write an effective resume summary, visit our How to Write a Resume Summary page after downloading resume templates for your job application.
How to write your work history
Avoid listing everyday duties in the work history section of your resume template. Instead, emphasize special projects or achievements that set you apart and quantify your accomplishments using numbers (e.g., “Managed schedules for 50 employees” or “Headed media campaign that resulted in 23% increase in user subscriptions”).
Our How to Write Your Work History Section page provides more pointers to summarize your work experience in your job resume template effectively.
How to list skills on a resume template
Your resume format will determine how you put your skills section together. If you’re displaying more than a handful of skills, organize your skills section by skill categories (e.g., administrative skills, software skills). Be sure to include:
- Hard skills: abilities you can learn through study and training, such as knowledge of specific software programs or the ability to perform medical procedures.
- Soft skills: intangible traits that tell employers how you can interact with others and approach work, such as attention to detail, communication, or teamwork.
Visit our How to Write Your Skills page for recommendations on using a work resume template to highlight your skills.
Good resume templates for different file formats
There are four acceptable file formats for professional resumes. Sometimes a job description will state which one to use, but if you’re unsure, you’ll find free resume templates to download for all of them on the pages listed below.
PDF resume templates
Employers often prefer resumes in PDF format because they’re readable on any browser and can be submitted “as is” for many job applications. You can download our free resume format templates as PDFs. Check out our PDF resume template page for tips and good resume templates to get you started on a polished PDF resume.
Microsoft Word resume templates
Microsoft Word is one of the most common file types for professional resumes. Get your resume looking its best in Word by following our tips on our Microsoft Word resume templates page.
Google Docs resume templates
For document sharing and flexibility in format downloads, Google Docs resume templates are another excellent choice for your resume. See our Google Docs templates page for the pros and cons of using these templates.
Plain text resume
A professional resume in plain text format can come in handy for several job application situations, such as submitting your resume online or in the body of an email. For a step-by-step guide for using resume templates for jobs in plain text (yes, there are a few rules), visit our plain text resume page.
What do customers think about our resume templates?
“Need a professional resume template? MyPerfectResume.com is the way to go! It is simple, beautiful and effortless to use. Great product!”
Resume template FAQ
Why should I use a resume template?
Some might argue that using a resume layout template shows a lack of creativity, but we disagree. As long as the template is professionally designed with a solid resume layout that passes muster with hiring managers and ATS scans, there’s no downside to using them. If anything, having an employer-ready and ATS-friendly resume template saves you from creating one of your own and worrying about whether your resume will be easy to read.
How can I use a resume template to my advantage?
Think of a blank resume template as the foundation on which you can build your resume. Once you choose the best resume template for your needs, you can update the content with your job qualifications to fit your target job. Use your resume template download with our Resume Builder for helpful job-specific suggestions to fill out your resume.
What is an applicant tracking system (ATS)?
Many employers use ATS to screen resumes before they reach human eyes. A professional resume with the right keywords to match the job requirements will have a better chance of passing applicant tracking systems. We have templates for resumes that are designed to be readable by ATS. All you need to do is adjust the content for the right keywords.
Which template is best for ATS systems?
All of our 40+ resume templates on this page, as well as our free resume templates, are designed to pass the most popular ATS used by employers today.
Where can I get resume templates for free?
We offer dozens of free resume templates to download on the following pages:
What is the best free resume template?
The best resume templates depend on the job seeker’s experience and skills and the target job. For example, suppose you’re looking at a senior role that relies heavily on experience. In that case, our free resume templates are a good bet, as they make the right impression with a company that values steadiness and efficiency.
If you’re eyeing a job that focuses on creativity and cutting-edge work, go with a creative resume template that shows off your imagination and credentials. But if you’re a first-time job seeker or lack experience, use a basic resume template that can show off your job-ready qualifications and training without resorting to visual bells and whistles. Try our sample resume templates free to find the right one for you.
Can you download resume templates for Word?
Yes! My Perfect Resume offers free and premium templates to download for Microsoft Word. Choose from professional, creative, modern or basic resume template styles.
Do employers prefer one-page resume templates?
Employers typically only spend a few seconds scanning an individual resume, so we recommend keeping your resume to one page if you can include all of your most crucial job qualifications. However, a two-page resume is acceptable if you’re applying for a job that favors lots of experience. Try one of our great resume examples free of charge to see if one or two pages work better for you.
What should I include in my resume?
Every professional resume must include the following sections:
- A header with the job applicant’s contact information.
- A professional summary or an objective statement.
- A work history section focused on accomplishments.
- At least one skills section highlighting a mix of relevant hard and soft skills.
- The job seeker’s education history.
A professional resume template will contain all of the resume sections you need and allow you to customize your resume to include optional qualifications such as awards.
How do you write a cover letter?
Many job applications will ask you to submit a cover letter along with your resume. Remember that your cover letter should complement your resume, not simply repeat it. Hit these points in your cover letter:
- Explain why you’re interested in the job and think you’re a good fit.
- Give more details about an achievement or skill you have that’s relevant to the job.
- Communicate your enthusiasm for the opportunity.
We design our cover letter templates to match our premium and free resume templates for consistent job applications. For step-by-step guidance for writing your letter, visit our How to Write a Cover Letter page.
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Resume Templates
Kellie is the content strategist for My Perfect Resume. She has more than 20 years of experience in digital media and is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She has a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.
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