Best Resume Layouts 20+ Examples (from Idea to Design)

Best Resume Layouts 20+ Examples (from Idea to Design) Welcome to the only resume layout guide youll ever need.Read it, apply the advice, and your resume will make a great first impression.And first impressions matter: employers dont read resumes, they scan them.The right resume layout will help them find what they need to decide youre the right person for the job.Make the process hard for them and theyll simply move on to the next candidate..Just look at the two resume layout examples below.Same contents, different layout. Which will attract more attention?Sample Resume Layout Made With Our Resume BuilderWant to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample resume made with our builderSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the sam e stuff.Create your resume nowAlright, so youve seen two resume layouts:The first one: generic. A bit sloppy.The second: professional. Easy to scan.Time to learn how to lay out a resume that gets read.It will take no longer than 7 minutes.Heres what youll get in this guide:Table of ContentsBasic Resume Layout Design Rules: Margins, Spacing, Fonts, and MoreThe Best Resume Layout Examples and Templates for 2020 (Gallery)What Goes Where on a Resume (Infographic)The 3 Main Formats of a Professional Resume Layout (Infographic)BONUS: Extra Resume Layout Tools and IdeasOkay. Time to dive in!1Basic Resume Layout Design Rules: Margins, Spacing, Fonts, and MoreLets walk through creating a good resume layout step by step.Set the MarginsMargins on your resume should be one inch on all four sides.You need balance between white space and text. Your resume layout shouldnt feel cramped.Pick the Right FontYour font should be clean and easy to read.For an easy resume layout, choose one of the standar d resume fonts and stick to it throughout your resume. Use a 10-12 point sans-serif or serif font.If you prefer sans serif fonts, go for Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Helvetica, or Verdana. Serif fonts are your usual picks? Choose Garamont, Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, or Bookman Old Style.For ideal readability, keep the font size consistent. The exception is increasing the font size for your name, job title, and section headings.In the end, its less about specific typefaces and all about how easy to read they are.For more details on the best font for simple resume layouts, see: Ideal Fonts for a Resume in 2020Choose Proper Line SpacingGo for single or 1.15 line spacing (double line spacing after subheadings.)Create a Resume Header That PopsMake the header layout of your resume visually distinct. Include your name, job title, and contact information.Learn more here: Resume Header Layout: Examples Full GuideDivide Your Resume Layout Into Proper SectionsResume Layout StructureHeader with Contact InformationProfessional Summary or ObjectiveWork ExperienceEducationSkills(Optional) Additional SectionsMake Smart Use of Bullet PointsUse resume bullet points in your experience section. They make the layout easier to skim by pointing out your most relevant achievements.6 bullet points per job, tops.You can also use resume bullets for your education details or skills.How Long Is Too Long? Know the Ideal Resume LengthYour resume layout should be succinct. ButYou dont have to cram everything into a one-page resume layout if that would mean omitting important information about your work history.If you have enough experience to go for a two-page resume layout, its 100% fine.Not quite sure what length is the optimal solution for you? Here are our best resources on the topic:One-Page Resume Layout: How to Make a Resume Single-PageTwo-Page Resume Layout: Will It Break You Chances?When Is a Resume Too Long? Proper Resume Length2The Best Resume Layout Examples and Templates for 2020 (Gallery)Getting the resume or a curriculum vitae layout right in word processing software is a challengeYou make one change and the whole layout breaks.You dont have to struggle to create the best resume in the pile.You can simply pick a well-formatted, neat template and just fill it in with your information.Our resume builder offers 20+ beautiful blank resume layouts you simply update with your details and download in PDF.Check them out!(Note: Each of the resume layouts below is easily customized. You can change fonts, colors, add, remove, and re-order sections.)Professional Resume Layout SampleCreate my resume nowWe called this resume layout Crisp, and crisp it is indeed. The resume side column on the left is for your personal information and skills, allowing you to save space. Big section headings draw recruiters eyes to whats important.This resume layout design is very universal: will work for candidates in traditional, conservative fields, as well as those applying to mo re relaxed companies.Creative Resume Layout SampleCreate my resume nowCubic is one of our takes on creative resume layouts and designs.With a three-tone background depending on the section, different areas of your resume stand out easily from each other. The header is sharply distinct from the rest of the template, making your name and job title more prominent and, thus, memorable.A perfect resume layout for tech, graphic design, and creative jobs.Simple Resume Layout SampleCreate my resume nowThis ones called Vibes. And what sort of vibes does it send, huh?Simplicity, they say, is the ultimate sophistication and here you can witness simplicity at its finest.Tiny, elegant icons next to section headings are eye-catching but not too invasive. Simple bar charts for your skills let you describe your proficiency level easily.A fantastic resume layout for corporate jobs, as well a good CV layout for academic positions.Basic Resume Layout SampleCreate my resume nowNanica by Zety.Nanica is a basic resume layout using a lot of white space. It allows space on the left side to serve as a timeline for the work and education sections. A full-width area for your heading statement allows you to grab the recruiters attention with a captivating resume summary or resume objective.Elegant Resume Layout SampleCreate my resume nowLast but not least, heres Concept.A very dynamic and unique resume layout with a dark stripe for the timeline on the left-hand side. Recruiters will love this one, no doubt!But hey! We have plenty more. See all the templates weve got to offer, pick your favorite, and create your resume in our builder now.3What Goes Where on a Resume (Infographic)For most candidates, the reverse-chronological resume layout is best.The structure of this simple resume layout comprises:Contact InformationSummary or ObjectiveWork ExperienceEducationSkills(Optional) Additional CategoriesHeres an infographic to illustrate the proper layout of a resume:The Best Resume Layout, Out linedIf youre ready to start working on the contents of your resume, check out How to Write a Resume That Gets Jobs4The 3 Main Formats of a Professional Resume Layout (Infographic)There are three standard resume layouts for you to choose from:ChronologicalFunctionalCombinationThey differ slightly in their setup and purpose.Heres how to structure sections in each of the main resume formats:Again, the reverse-chronological resume format is common standard. This professional resume layout is easy to scan and compare to other resumes.The two main sections in a reverse-chronological resume layout are education and experience. Either can come first.You will list both your jobs and degrees in reverse-chronological order. This means you start with the most recent position.If you have relevant job experience, lead with the work history section.Fresh out of school? Your education comes first.The functional resume layout has a detailed skills summary at the top.If takes the pressure off of you r work history and emphasizes your skills.The combination layout also focuses on skills but its main purpose is to link those skills with your work history and verifiable achievements.Below the summary of your skills, you also list work history in reverse-chronological order. This layout combines the best features of the reverse-chronological and the functional resumes, hence the name.Learn more about each of the 3 standard resume layouts:Reverse-Chronological Resume Layout Writing GuideFunctional Resume Layout Writing GuideCombination Resume Layout Writing GuideOr, see this overview of all the 3 resume formats and get tips on how to pick the right one for you: Resume Format: How to Pick the Best One5BONUS: Extra Resume Layout Tools and IdeasTo get inspiration for designing your resume layout, see: The Best Resume Design Ideas and ExamplesWed love for you to give our builder a try, but if you insist on messing around with MS Word layouts, at least pick the best of the best: Free MS Word Resume Templates and Layouts (15+)Want to give Google Docs resume layout a shot? Weve got you covered: Google Docs Resume Layout TemplatesGoing to an interview or a job fair and need to print a resume? Make sure your layout will look good on paper: Resume Paper: How to Choose The Best One (10+ Photos)Finally, see some of our galleries and compilations of the best resume layouts youll ever find online:Creative Resume Layout TemplatesInfographic Resume Layout TemplatesSimple Resume Layout TemplatesProfessional Resume Layout TemplatesKey TakeawayHeres how to have the best resume layout out there:Use professional fonts, single line spacing, clear section headings.Pick one of the three standard resume formats.Divide your resume into sections in the correct order.Make your resume brief and relevant.Follow the above strategies, and youll soon set your sights on any job you want.Got further questions? Need assistance? Let me know in the comments, Ill get back to you double-quick!