Classic Resume Template
A centred serif header and ruled section headings, in the tradition of a printed CV. It signals care and seriousness, and it is the safest choice where conventions are strict.
- PDF and Word
- US Letter or A4
- No watermark
Good for
- Finance, law and accounting
- Academia and research
- Public sector applications
Layout
- Single column, centred header
- Source Serif throughout
- Thin rules between sections instead of colour blocks
In other colours
Ocean
Burgundy
Forest
More free templates
ModernClean sans-serif with a colour accent. Right for most roles.
ProfessionalAccent bar by the name, serif headings, skills in a tinted panel.
Two ColumnFull-width header over a tinted side column for skills and education.
CompactSection labels in a margin column. Fits a lot on one page.
SidebarSkills and education in a tinted side column.
BannerA bold colour band across the top. Stands out in a pile.
ElegantDisplay serif name, quiet sans-serif body. Design, marketing, leadership.
Are the templates really free?
Yes. All 8 templates and every design option (colour, font, size, spacing, paper, date format and section order) are on the Free plan, with PDF and Word downloads. There’s no watermark.
Will an applicant tracking system (ATS) read my resume?
The PDFs contain real text in reading order, and the Word files use real headings and lists. Single-column templates are the safest choice for any system. Two-column templates read well to people; some older systems read columns out of order, so the Word version of those is single column.
Can I switch templates later?
Yes. Your resume is stored as content, not as a design, so switching template changes the look without retyping anything. Colours and fonts you picked carry over.
US Letter or A4?
Both. New resumes start on the paper used where you are: Letter in the United States and Canada, A4 elsewhere. You can change it at any time.
Resume or CV?
Every template works for both. In New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Ireland, “CV” and “resume” usually mean the same two-to-three-page document; in the United States and Canada a resume is usually one or two pages.