Fact: You have six seconds to make an impression on a recruiter. That's how long
a study found they spend scanning each resume they receive. So, what's a jobseeker got to do to make an impression?
Recruiters want to be able to assess your abilities quickly, so a great resume design is critical to getting noticed. But make no mistake: A great resume doesn't have to be busy or complicated to sway a hiring manager. In fact, too many bells and whistles could distract from your accomplishments.
We've chosen 13 resume designs created for 2018 that will put the focus where it belongs, which is on your skills, work experience, and education. Each of these tried-and-true designs has helped other jobseekers get into the interview chair.
Regardless of your industry and personal style, we have a resume template that's right for you.
13 Best Resume Designs of 2018:
Professional Resume Design
What makes this resume design unique:
- The larger font and double line rule in the header makes your contact information stand out.
- A crisp, clean black and white design keeps the focus on your accomplishments.
- The liberal use of white space allows the eye to fall solidly on your Professional Summary and Skills sections, allowing a recruiter the time and space to absorb what you'll bring to the table.
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Who this resume design works best for?:
No fuss, no muss would be this resume design's motto. The simple black and white design brings clarity to the important information contained in the document, enticing recruiters to read more based on the quality of your accomplishments without getting distracted by design elements.
This resume design works well for professionals across industries but is especially useful for those in more conservative fields, such as law or finance.
Refined Resume Design
What makes this resume design unique:
- Highlighted by lines above and below, having your name in a larger font makes your contact information pop.
- This design is not afraid of using white space. A crowded resume is difficult to read, while plenty of white space allows the eye to rest on your significant accomplishments.
- Free of color, images, and other distractions, this simple design makes your accomplishments the star of the show.
Who this resume design works best for?:
Chic and simple are how we describe the Refined resume design. The straightforward black and white text compels recruiters to keep reading, while the quiet simplicity of the design speaks volumes about your experience. No need for distracting design here; you're the real deal.
Artistic Resume Design
What makes this resume design unique:
- The bold black and red in the header grabs the attention of the hiring manager, while the white font highlights your contact information.
- The use of red section dividers shows a splash of personality while keeping the design simple and clean.
- Sections are well defined, which helps recruiters to find the information they need quickly.
Who this resume design works best for?:
Our Artistic resume design is by no means just for artists. This resume design works for any professional who wants to show that they are daring enough to be different from the competition.
The pops of red throughout are eye-catching but don't distract from the critical information contained in the resume. In fact, the Artistic resume design's use of color helps define its individual sections to make it easy for the reader to deduce that you are the right person for the job.
Pacific Resume Design
What makes this resume design unique:
- The solid block of this resume design's header will catch the eye of a recruiter in seconds.
- The use of soothing blues shows that you want to be noticed, without being aggressive.
- Well-organized sections that utilize a capitalized font make it clear where a recruiter will find the information they need.
Who this resume design works best for?:
Professionals in creative fields will love the look of the Pacific resume design, which adds a touch of artistry to an otherwise straightforward document. Its combination of bold section headers and plenty of white space make this resume design incredibly easy to read.
Jobseekers looking for work in fields such as advertising, design, or the arts consider this one of our most well-loved designs. Get the job you want by choosing this resume design today.
Modern Resume Design
What makes this resume design unique:
- Making the contact information right justified and the use of a large blue font help this resume design announce your application.
- The incorporation of blue in the otherwise simple black and white design keeps the focus on your accomplishments but touts your personal style.
- A darker blue font in the Work Experience section draws the eye to your past titles, showing recruiters at-a-glance that you have the experience they seek.
Who this resume design works best for?:
Our Modern resume design announces the arrival of your application materials with aplomb. Blue against black makes a style statement without distracting from the important elements of your resume: your Professional Summary, Skills, Work History, and Education.
Unless you are in a very conservative industry, such as the accounting or legal spheres, this resume is suitable for professionals in a variety of fields. If you are looking to make a statement with your resume without distracting from your accomplishments, this resume design is the right choice for you.
Executive Resume Design
What makes this resume design unique:
- Using a simple header keeps the resume design polished, neat, and perfect for all types of jobseekers.
- The clean black and white design keeps the focus on your accomplishments, with no distracting design elements.
- The use of lines to differentiate section titles helps the eye find the information it needs.
Who this resume design works best for?:
Chic. Elegant. Understated. These words all describe the Executive resume design. It sends the message that you don't need bells and whistles to get noticed. Your accomplishments stand on their own.
Fitting for any jobseeker, this resume design is particularly powerful for those who aim to take the helm of a major organization. It's one of the best resume designs of 2018 and will get you the attention you seek.
Pinstripe Resume Design
What makes this resume design unique:
- Like seeing your name in lights? A burst of bright blue brings your name and contact information into focus instantly.
- The use of blue headers, combined with a clean black and white design, shows off your fun side while drawing the eye to your accomplishments.
- Keeping the bullet points in the Work History section in black makes your past responsibilities easy to read.
Who this resume design works best for?:
This resume design has personality to spare, just like you. It's perfect for those in creative industries, such as UX design, journalism, or fashion. The use of color in this resume serves two purposes: first, it draws the eye directly to your most critical accomplishments, while showing employers that you have pizazz.
Whitespace Resume Design
What makes this resume design unique:
- The left justified header in a larger font helps your contact information stand out.
- The double line rule – thicker above and thinner below – adds style and definition to the document.
- White space abounds in this clean black and white design, which keeps the focus on your accomplishments.
Who this resume design works best for?:
Who says white space is boring? This versatile resume design uses it to pack a punch and help the reader focus their attention on the critical elements in your document. Further, the well-organized sections utilize all caps in the headers to lead the way to the critical information.
Traditional yet sassy, this resume design is perfect for almost any jobseeker. From copywriters to CPAs, the Whitespace resume design will help you land the job you want.
Blueprint Resume Design
What makes this resume design unique:
- The black and blue font in this crowd favorite will help you beat out the competition.
- Show off your accomplishments and your fun side.
- Bright blue section headers draw the eye to your critical information to help recruiters decide quickly that you are the right candidate for the job.
Who this resume design works best for?:
It's the Whitespace resume on a sugar high! The Blueprint resume uses blue font to make your accomplishments pop. You'll leave an indelible mark on recruiters with this eye-catching resume design.
Best for entry-level workers or those in more creative fields, this attractive design is well organized, upbeat, and easy-to-read. Just like you.
Square Resume Design
What makes this resume design unique:
- The large decorative block containing your first initial draws an employer's eye to your name.
- For those seeking a more decorative design that remains clean and easy to read.
- Black and white palette keeps your accomplishments the focus of the resume.
Who this resume design works best for?:
For those seeking a resume example with a bit more personality, the Square resume design might be just the ticket. The straightforward black and white design gets a boost by being right justified to allow room for a decorative contact section on the left.
Best for those new to the workforce or jobseekers in creative fields, the Square is one of our favorite resumes designs of 2018.
Flair Resume Design
What makes this resume design unique:
- Larger font and left justified contact information add interest to this otherwise simple design.
- The use of white space throughout allows the eye to land with ease on individual resume sections.
- Best for those in less conservative industries who want to add some panache to their resume.
Who this resume design works best for?:
For students, recent grads, or those seeking work in creative fields who often want a resume that is easy to read but that has a bit of personality. Enter the Flair resume design, which will meet these needs.
The eye-catching header doesn't sacrifice the readability, making it one of our favorite resume designs of 2018.
Bold Resume Design
What makes this resume design unique:
- The bold white on black header helps this resume design live up to its name.
- The Work History section draws attention to your past roles by utilizing grey squares to highlight company names.
- Well-organized sections are easy-to-read thanks to the sections names in all caps.
Who this resume design works best for?:
Are you a jobseeker whose attitude is, "Hey world, check me out!" If so, that's the message that the Bold resume design will send to potential employers.
Chosen as one of our favorite resume designs of 2018 for its cool look and feel, the Bold resume design will showcase your skills, work history, and accomplishments while sending the message that you are sure of your value.
Emphasis Resume Design
What makes this resume design unique:
- The Emphasis resume design stands out by accentuating the Professional Summary.
- With the Education section up top, it flaunts your educational accomplishments.
- Best for new grads and those with limited work experience.
Who this resume design works best for?:
With your professional summary right under your name, the Emphasis resume design tells employers right off the bat what you will bring to the table. Further, with the Education section prominently displayed, this resume design is terrific for new grads or those looking for summer internships.
Since the emphasis is on Education and the Professional Summary sections, this resume design will also work well for jobseekers who are new to the workforce or who have limited work experience.
Bad Resume Designs: What Not to Choose
We've shown you our 13 favorite resume designs for 2018. Now let's take a look at three resumes that are problematic. Read on to learn the dos and don'ts of resume creation before you design your next resume.
Bad Resume 1: The Photo No-no
The main problem with this resume is its inclusion of a photo. Including a photo on a resume – of yourself or anything else — is a major no-no.
Why? Photos can invite unintentional discrimination from recruiters and hiring leaders. Furthermore, they can distract readers from the real meat of the matter: your unique value. The way you look has nothing to do with whether you are qualified to do the job.
Bad Resume 2: Big Busy Border
By using a busy border such as the one in this resume, you run the risk of being eliminated from the running. That's because the Automated Tracking Systems (ATS) that employers use to review resumes often get confused by graphics that are too fancy.
Further, the funky font is difficult to read, which means that even if this resume made it past an ATS, a recruiter might move on to the next candidate whose resume was easier to read. Always stick to easy-to-read fonts such a Times New Roman when writing a resume to avoid this
Bad Resume 3: Overly Ornamental
This resume design has several problems. There are two images, a variety of icons, and an unusual layout that many ATSs – not to mention human recruiters – will find difficult to read.
Further, the jobseeker has used unusual names for his section titles, which could also confuse an ATS. Stick to conventional names for your resume sections – Professional Summary, Skills, Work History, Education. If an ATS doesn't recognize the words you use, it could get your resume tossed out of the running.
