Resume Icons: 12+ Free Symbols & How to Use Them

Free downloadable resume icons

Here are some free icons for your contact information (including social media icons) and your resume section headers, with no attribution necessary:

Contact information icons

Click the buttons below to download our resume icons, which are perfect for emphasizing your contact information like social media profiles, address, phone, and email:

Download Resume Contact Icons

Resume section header icons

Click the button below to download resume icons for highlighting the following resume sections:

Download Resume Section Header Icons

Where to find more free resume symbols

Pixabay‘s 110,000+ vector graphics include many symbols that will work as icons on your resume (for best results, use targeted search terms like “gears” rather than broad terms like “skills”).

Build My Resume

Our resume builder can make you a resume in as little as 5 minutes. Pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.

When & how to use resume icons

Icons help your resume stand out, but be careful to use them correctly. Here are 5 tips for enhancing your resume with symbols:

1. Only use icons when appropriate

For most jobs, simple icons in your section headers are fine, but there are some exceptions:

Don’t use any icons in traditional fields like law, government, or academia, where a text-based resume without color is the standard. You also shouldn’t use icons when applying for a senior manager position, because these design touches make your resume appear less formal.

However, when you write a creative resume for a position at a youthful, informal company, icons work especially well and help you showcase your relevant skills. Check the company’s website and the job ad to gauge the company’s tone.

2. Don’t make them too big or too small

Icons should be small so they don’t take room away from your qualifications or make your resume file so large it’s difficult to open. However, your icons should be big enough that readers can clearly see what they are.

Here’s an example of perfectly sized resume icons:

3. Keep icons simple

Don’t put complex images on your resume. Intricate designs distract the hiring manager from the achievements on your resume.

Ensure your icons share a consistent design language with the same line weight, color scheme, and shape style. Inconsistent visuals look disorganized and signal a lack of attention to detail.

Our most recent resume statistics showed that 40% of recruiters were put off by overly flashy design elements that were distracting or made the resume harder to read.

4. Pick clear icons

Choose symbols that readers will immediately recognize.

For example, a simple image of a phone clearly labels your phone number, but using an image of a cell tower confuses the hiring manager and reflects poorly on your judgment.

5. Find a resume template with embedded icons

The easiest way to add icons to your resume is by using a resume template with built-in symbols. Here are three resume templates preformatted with attention-grabbing icons:

Use This Template

Everest resume template

Use This Template

Stylish resume template

Use This Template

Clean resume template

Should you use logos on your resume?

Yes, you should use logos on your resume if you have a logo for your personal brand or website. Using your logo in your resume header is a great way to catch the hiring manager’s eye.

Even if you don’t have a personal logo, you can create a simple one with your initials, like this:

Don’t use the logos of companies you’ve worked for previously on your resume. The various logos could have clashing colors that make your resume messy and hard to read.

Also, if the company you’re applying to competes with companies you’ve worked for, the hiring manager may transfer negative feelings associated with the competitor logos to your application.

Are resume icons ATS-friendly?

While most modern Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) can handle basic symbols and characters, some systems still struggle with image-based elements or intricate formatting.

If an icon is placed too close to essential text, it could interfere with the software’s ability to read your contact information or section headers, potentially causing your resume to be parsed incorrectly.

When you apply via an online portal at a large company, use an ATS-friendly resume template as the company is likely using ATS software.