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5 best resume templates to get hired in 2024.

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Within seven seconds, the content, quality, and look and feel of your resume gives the recruiter a ... [+] first impression

When you are applying for jobs with your resume, it's essential to never overlook the fact that there's more to applying for a job than merely the content which showcases your work experience.

The layout, design, font, number of pages, and the sections that you decide to include or omit are all critical to increasing your chances of being placed in the interview pile by the recruiter and ultimately successfully securing the job offer.

With recruiters spending as little as between six to seven seconds scanning over each resume before making an initial decision, you have a very narrow window to make a good first impression.

Therefore, both the content, quality, and overall aesthetic of your resume matter. But what are the best resume templates to use in 2024? How do you know which resume template will hit the sweet spot and tick all the recruiter's and hiring manager's boxes?

5 Resume Templates To Use In 2024

Let's begin by undertaking a brief overview of the various types of resume templates that currently exist, and what purposes they are commonly used for (the first three are the foundation of all other templates):

1. Chronological Resume Template

This style is the most common resume format people tend to think of when they attempt to write a resume; you know the kind—it starts with a brief professional summary at the top (although not always) and typically lists work experience in reverse chronological order. In this resume template, there is a strong emphasis on your job titles and roles, and the education follows your work history.

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Who this is best suited for: Professionals with a steady career path

2. Functional Resume Template

Functional resume styles place the emphasis on your skills and competencies for the job, and related achievements, followed by a shorter section for your supporting work experience. While this format can be helpful in some cases, most recruiters and hiring managers prefer the chronological resume as it is easier to read through, while a functional resume can appear as if you are hiding something.

Who this is best suited for: Career changers and those with large employment gaps

3. Combination/Hybrid Resume Template

This template is most ideal, as it includes a section for your relevant skills at the top, followed by your employment background in reverse chronological order. This is called combination or hybrid because it has the best of both worlds—a perfect mix of the functional resume template and the chronological resume template.

Who this is best suited for: Most professionals, and those with a unique mix of experiences and skills

4. Creative Resume Template

If you work in the creative industry or are applying for creative roles such as artist, designer, photographer, or even a marketing professional in an agency, perhaps a more eye-catching visual might be best (of course, using one of the templates or formats listed above).

Creative resume templates utilize fonts, color schemes, blocks, and icons as design elements, which allows you to demonstrate your creativity, personality, and flair, while keeping it looking professional and easy-to-read.

It's essential to note that icons, graphics, and some column layouts may hurt your chances of the ATS being able to easily parse through your resume, in varying degrees.

Therefore, you might want to consider having two versions of your resume—one which is more minimalist by design (which you use when applying for jobs online), and another which is more creative (which can be used to apply for jobs directly over email).

Who this is best suited for: Creative professionals in creative industries

Hybrid resumes highlight skills and work experience and are the preferred option

5. Minimalist Resume Template

A minimalist template is clean, simple, and easy to read, does not contain unnecessary design elements, and emphasizes clarity with a focus on the substance and content over style and design. This format usually is combined with a chronological or hybrid resume (can also be used for functional resumes) and has clean lines, simple fonts, while being ATS-friendly. Look out for minimalist templates or even find or create your own on Microsoft Word.

Who this is best suited for: Executives, consultants, and management professionals, and for industries such as technology, finance, and law.

How To Choose The Right Resume Template

Below are a few considerations when deciding on a resume template:

• Think about what is viewed as acceptable in industry of the company you are applying to. Fashion, advertizing, and design will have different resume standards than law, finance, or education, for example.
• Regardless of the template you choose, it should always be your goal to prioritize readability, keep the resume short and concise (no longer than 2-3 pages and aim for one page if possible), and use standard, clear headings, bullet points, and consistent formatting throughout.
• Consider your experience level—for example, as a graduate you might benefit from opting for graduate templates which are usually either combination/hybrid templates, or functional resume templates, since you will have less years of experience.

Where To Find Free (And Not-So-Free) Resume Templates

Whether you're more of a design-savvy individual or are after something modern yet traditional, here are seven of the best places to find a resume template:

• Microsoft Word
• ResumeGenius

Consider industry standards before selecting a resume template

Ultimately, choosing the right resume template is a critical step, but only the first step out of many, so you don't want to spend so much time on the design features that you lose the quality. The focus should be on showcasing your skills, experience, and achievements in a way that aligns with your career goals, and industry expectations. Select the right template, include all the necessary information tailored to the role you are applying for, and present your best self to the world so you can get hired in 2024.

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Resume templates

Put your best qualities on display with professional, customizable resume and cv templates. no matter your line of work or length of professional history, you'll find resume and cv templates that'll help you get the gig..

Download free resume templates

Land your dream job with free, customizable resume templates. Showcase your potential to recruiters and stand out from other candidates with a professional template. Whether you're applying to corporate positions or creative roles, go with a sleek design or show your creativity with bold colors .

Resumes don't need to look boring—add flair to your professional experience with a creative resume template. There are plenty of resume designs to choose from, like simple resume templates and modern resume templates. Each resume template is fully customizable in Microsoft Word , so you can personalize each design element and add your own text. Using a template also makes it easier to customize your resume for each position you apply to.

Print out as many copies as you'd like or download the template for free to share digitally when applying online. These professional resume templates are perfect for any stage of life or career. Whether you're a high school student, actor, or seeking a career in nursing, you can find any format for any job type.

There are also a variety of free CV (Curriculum Vitae) templates to choose from. A CV is often longer than a resume and contains an in-depth look at your education and professional accomplishments. Like our resume templates, these CV templates are also customizable in Word.

Remember, your next job is only a template away! Once you've customized your resume, explore free cover letter templates to help you land the job.