
Struggling to get interviews?
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:
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Resume section header icons
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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”).
Watch out for graphics websites that offer free resume icons but require attribution if you don’t purchase a license. If you don’t mind paying for icons, though, we recommend The Noun Project, which has millions of symbols to choose from.
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:
Are icons appropriate for your resume?
| Traditional fields | Senior manager roles | Creative fields | Other roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| No ❌ | No ❌ | Yes ✅ | Yes ✅ |
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.
Unsure whether icons are appropriate for your industry? Reference resume examples to see what they look like in your industry.
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:
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.
If you want to check whether ATS software can read your current resume, run it through a free ATS checker.
About the Author
5
Years of Experience
1
Articles Written
Yolaine Amaro is the Social Media Lead at Resume Genius, where she creates and manages content that empowers job seekers. She frequently collaborates with other career industry experts to bring new perspectives to her audience and provide valuable career advice.
Yolaine graduated from the University of Angers in France with a Master’s Degree in Tourism – easily impressing with her people skills and ability to thrive in multicultural environments.
When she’s not brainstorming content ideas, she channels her creativity into art and craft projects or plans her next travel adventure with her knack for organization.
For any partnership or media-related query, don’t hesitate to contact her via LinkedIn or yolaine [at] resumegenius [dot] com.
Please note that Resume Genius does not accept guest posts, and all such requests will be ignored.





























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