
Struggling to get interviews?
This article shows you the best way to lay out each section of your resume based on your background, and then covers resume formatting details like spacing and fonts.
If you’re looking for downloadable templates to use, we provide hundreds of free resume templates for your convenience.
- Format your resume in whatever way makes you the strongest candidate for the job.
- If you have relevant work experience, use the chronological format because employers prioritize experience when vetting candidates.
- If your experience is spotty or nonexistent, use a resume format built to highlight your skills (functional format) or educational background (student format).
- Follow these general style guidelines for formatting a resume:
- Use readable fonts (Arial, Times New Roman, etc.) and font sizes (no smaller than 10 points).
- Maintain 1″ margins.
- Use clear section headings.
- Keep your information on one page.
Best resume format: chronological
The chronological resume format is widely considered the best resume format by employers because work experience is the focus, and work experience is what they’re looking for on your resume.
Chronological resumes list your most recent role first, with older roles below in reverse-chronological order. This layout helps you illustrate your career progression and quickly lets employers see if you’re a good fit.
How to structure a resume chronologically
Include the following sections in a standard chronological resume:
1. Resume heading
Include your name, contact information, and links to relevant professional profiles, such as LinkedIn, a portfolio, and/or a personal website to give employers quick access to your prior work and professional background.
2. Resume summary
Write a brief overview of your career, including your years of experience, key achievements, and job-relevant skills. Keep this summary concise — 2–3 sentences is ideal.
3. Experience section
List your work experience starting with your most recent job. For each position, include the:
- job title
- employer name
- location
- dates of employment
Under each position, use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments, emphasizing measurable results and relevant achievements.
4. Skills section
Clearly list any technical skills you have that align with the job description. These skills are what employers (and the ATS software they use) are screening your resume for.
5. Education section
List your highest degree first, including the institution’s name, its location, and your graduation date.
If you’re a recent graduate, you can move this section higher on your resume, and add additional details to help your application stand out, including:
- relevant coursework
- honors and awards
- extracurricular activities
- GPA (if 3.5 or higher)
How to choose the best format for you (infographic)

Resume formats by section layout
Functional (skills-focused)
The functional resume format highlights your professional skills instead of your work experience.
This format is perfect if you’re changing careers or have large employment gaps because the layout downplays the timeline of your past jobs. The focus is shifted from your work history to your best professional skills, and how you’ve used them throughout your career and life.
Example layout
Combination (skills + experience focused)
A combination resume balances your chronological work history with an equally large skills section. This format works well when your technical skills are just as important as your work history (think engineering, IT, healthcare, and skilled trades like carpentry).
If this sounds like your background, a combination resume will not only show you have the necessary work experience but also ensure your skills are immediately apparent to employers.
Example layout
Student (education-focused)
Most students and recent college graduates don’t have much formal work experience. If that’s you, your education section should be the highlight of your resume, and be moved above your work experience and skills sections.
Because your academic background is a major factor in the employer’s decision-making process, include sections in your resume layout for your GPA (if it’s 3.5 or higher), Latin honors, and awards or distinctions like making the Dean’s List.
You can also create a relevant coursework or projects section, depending on what you studied and if it’s tied to the job you’re applying for.
Example layout
Resume formats by experience level
Entry-level
You don’t need experience to write a resume (we all need to start somewhere).
When applying for an entry-level job, try adding these details — if relevant to the role — to convince employers you’re a good fit:
- internship or volunteer experience
- online courses you’ve taken
- certifications you’ve received
- relevant skills you’ve developed throughout your life
Emphasize these details by placing them higher on your resume so they’re seen first.
Example layout
Executive
Your executive resume must be thorough, and span multiple pages to cover the extent of your work experience. To get an idea of what this format looks like and the details it covers, scroll through the resume example below.
Example layout
[Your Name]
[Your Address], New York, NY
[Your Email Address] | [Your Phone Number]
[LinkedIn Profile] (optional)
Professional Summary
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Company management
- Capital raising
- Strategic oversight
- Product development
- Leadership & team building
- Market insights
- Sales development
- Public relations
- Client outreach
- Research & development
- Budget management
- Negotiation
EXECUTIVE Experience
Century Industries
Chairman/CEO | Kansas City, MO | May 2018 – Present
- Provide visionary leadership for $10.5 million technology company offering cloud-based Platform as a Service (PaaS) for natural gas industry in the Midwest
- Determine strategic direction and spearhead technological integration for array of services platforms to ease database burdens on labor intensive gas companies
- Lead long-range planning with industry leaders, product management, and software development processes
- Oversee web browser, mobile app, terminal emulator technical development
Key achievements
- Present field demonstration for products and connect with natural gas executives in North Dakota, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas, resulting in high sales and 30 percent command of market share in three years
- Grew personnel from 50 to 250 and delivered revenue growth from $6 million to $10.4 million
Intraserve, Inc.
President | Kansas City, MO | August 2013 – April 2018
- Brought on to deliver and manage market growth for cloud and logistics consultancy firm for warehouse industry companies
- Spearheaded overhaul of numerous departments and focused on recruiting key market players, while providing functional management and establishing performance metrics
- Determined profit impact of market strategies (PIMS) of existing products and advised on the creation of higher quality products with quicker go-to-market implementation
- Implemented high quality product development with designated sales pipelines
- Advised on balancing short-term and long-term holding strategies to maximize foothold in dynamic technology market
Key achievements
- Oversaw the development of a new line of higher quality services by hiring a team of technologist and experts to guide new product development, resulting in fully integrated team with products as new core business
- Expanded market share from 30 percent to 45 percent in two years, and increased profit margins by 40 percent
BOARD POSITIONS & ADVISORY ROLES
MidAmerica Energy Technology Consortium
Board Member | Kansas City, MO | 2019 – Present
- Advise on strategic initiatives for regional energy technology accelerator supporting 40+ startups
- Chair technology commercialization committee evaluating emerging solutions in natural gas and renewable energy sectors
- Mentor early-stage founders on product-market fit, fundraising strategy, and go-to-market execution
CloudScale Partners
Strategic Advisor | Remote | 2021 – Present
- Provide guidance on platform architecture and market positioning for SaaS infrastructure startup
- Support executive team in securing $4.5 million Series A funding round
- Connect leadership with enterprise clients and strategic partners across energy and logistics industries
education
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Stranet Group – Investor in Midwest Technology Companies, 2020 – Present
- Kansas City Chamber of Commerce – Member of Leadership Circle, 2022 – Present
Academic CV
If your experience is primarily academic, use a CV template that maps out your scholarly contributions, such as:
- publications
- teaching experience
- dissertations/theses
- research experience
- presentations and conferences
- affiliations
CVs cover the full course of your academic career, so there’s no page limit. Use the space available to you to show university hiring committees and research institutions the breadth of your knowledge and experience in your field.
Example layout (first page)
Resume templates (using different formats)
After you select a layout that highlights your top qualifications, determine what style of resume gives you the best shot at landing interviews.
ATS-friendly resume template
A one-column, no frills resume design works best in most industries because it lets your experience do the talking and is more easily parsed by applicant tracking system (ATS) software like Workday or Greenhouse.

Creative resume template
For jobs in creative industries (graphic design, video editing, art, etc.), demonstrating visual creativity on your resume can give employers a quick glimpse of your skills.
If you plan to design your own resume, make sure your skills, work experience, and relevant details (like your name, contact information, and portfolio link) are still clear to the reader.
Here’s an example of a creative resume template to give you an idea of how your own resume could look:
Picture resume template
In the US, employers don’t expect a photo on your resume unless you’re applying for an appearance-based job like modeling or acting. However, resume headshots are standard in some countries (e.g. Spain, Italy, and most of Europe except the UK).
Here’s what a resume template with a professional picture looks like:
Resume formatting advice
Your resume’s content is ultimately what earns interviews, but formatting makes it easier for employers to absorb that content. Clean resume margins, consistent line spacing, and readable fonts ensure your resume is professional and keeps the focus on what matters: your qualifications.
Follow these resume formatting rules to make sure your resume looks good before you apply:
Resume formatting guidelines
| Rules to follow | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Alignment: When in doubt, left-align your resume | Left-aligning text makes your resume easy to scan. Center or right-alignment are okay if they don't hurt your resume's readability. |
| Margins: Use ½" to 1″ margins | ½”–1″ margins keep your resume from looking too empty or too cluttered. |
| Font style: Select a professional, easy-to-read font | Fonts for your resume like Times New Roman, Arial, and Calibri are common and easy to read across devices. |
| Font size: Use 10 to 12-point text size (except headings) | A 10–12 point font keeps your resume readable and space-efficient. Use larger sizes for your name and section headers. |
| Date formatting: Keep dates consistent across your resume | Consistency shows attention to detail. Most job seekers list the month and year they started and left a job, e.g., January 20XX – November 20XX. |
| Experience section: Use bullet points | Bullets make your key professional accomplishments easy to read. |
| Verbs: Present tense for current job, past tense for past jobs | Good grammar won't earn you the job, but poor grammar could lose you the job. |
| Pronoun use: Avoid first-person pronouns like "I" and "me" | Leaving out "I" and "me" saves space and keeps the focus on your achievements |
| Page length: Fit your resume on one page unless you have 10+ years of relevant experience | Hiring managers are busy — show them you're qualified quickly or lose out on the job opportunity. |
Run your resume through our free ATS resume checker to quickly confirm it follows standard formatting conventions and is easy for hiring software to parse.
Five resume formatting mistakes to avoid
Poor resume formatting can distract from your experience and skills. Avoid these common errors to ensure your resume gets attention for the right reasons (like your experience and skills):
- Inconsistent formatting: Switching between font styles, sizes, date formats, or spacing makes your resume look messy and unprofessional.
- Overly designed: Graphics, borders, and multiple columns can distract and take attention away from your content, and make your resume harder for ATS software to scan.
- No clear section hierarchy: If your headings aren’t clear, recruiters can’t quickly assess your qualifications and may lose interest in your application.
- Overcrowding the page: Filling every inch with text leaves no white space, making your resume overwhelming and hard to scan.
- Inappropriate font or font size: Fonts that are too small, too large, or hard to read can make your resume difficult to navigate and appear less professional.
Additional resources
Here are some extra resources to help you get started:

Build your resume in minutes
Resume format FAQs
Now that you know a bit more about how to format your own resume, here are some frequently asked questions about resume formats:
What is the best resume format for 2026?
A chronological resume format is the best choice for most job seekers.
The chronological format’s clarity and familiarity make it the safest and most effective choice for the majority of job applications.
Its straightforward timeline helps recruiters quickly assess your experience level and growth, while its traditional structure ensures that applicant tracking systems properly parse your resume.
@resumegenius Wondering which resume format you should be using? Here’s an explanation of the 3 main resume formats, and which kind of job applicant each format is suitable for. To increase your chances of getting hired, it’s important to choose a resume format that highlights your strengths and minimizes your weaknesses/career red flags! #resumeformat #resumehelp #resumetip #jobsearch ♬ original sound – Resume Genius | Career Tips
Should I use a template or format my resume from scratch?
Using a template can be a great shortcut to creating a well-organized, professional-looking resume. Many resume templates offer a clear structure with consistent formatting, which helps highlight your experience, education, and skills effectively.
On the other hand, formatting your resume from scratch allows for complete customization. This can be useful if you want to create a unique layout that better reflects your background or target industry. If you choose to format your resume from scratch, take extra care to make sure everything looks consistent.
How do I format a resume in Google Docs?
Google Docs provides free templates you can copy and use. Here’s how to format a resume in Google Docs:
- Open Google Docs and go to Template Gallery
- Choose a resume template or create a blank document
- Follow our resume formatting guidelines above
- Download your final version as a PDF or .docx file
How do I format a resume in Word?
To format a resume in Word:
- Start with a Microsoft Word resume template
- Set 1″ margins and use a clean, professional font (e.g., Calibri or Times New Roman)
- Use built-in styles for headings and bullet lists to keep formatting consistent
- Download your final version as a PDF or .docx file
How do I format a resume for ATS?
To format a resume for ATS, follow these simple guidelines:
- Use a simple, single-column layout
- Avoid tables, text boxes, images, and icons
- Stick to standard section headings (e.g., “Work Experience” not “Career Story”)
- Include relevant keywords from the job description
- Submit your resume as a PDF or .docx file
What file format should my resume be in?
Use the file format requested in the job posting. If the application specifies PDF or .docx, submit that format. When no format is specified, choose based on company size:
- PDF resume for smaller companies:
- Preserves your formatting across all devices and ensures hiring managers see your resume exactly as designed
- Word resume for larger companies:
- Optimizes compatibility with applicant tracking systems (ATS) that parse and analyze resume content
In short: create your resume in Word, then export as PDF when needed.
How do I format references on a resume?
In general, we advise against including references on a resume as it’s no longer the norm. However, there may be some circumstances where it’s appropriate or required (for example if you’re writing an academic CV). Here’s how to format references on your resume:
References
Laura Jimenez
Marketing Director, BrightWave Media
laura.jimenez@brightwavemedia.com
(555) 298-1447
Relationship: Former Supervisor
Click to rate this article
4.8 Average rating























Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin
Pinterest
Reddit
Copy link