Basic resume templates
Plain, no-nonsense designs with no colour blocks, no sidebars and no surprises. The safest thing to send.
Basic resume templates
4 designs
Is a basic resume template still acceptable?
A basic resume template is the right default when you do not know how your CV will be read. It prints on any office printer, parses in any screening system, opens correctly on a phone, and never looks out of place. Choosing something plainer is almost never the reason an application fails.
Other styles
- Professional resume templatesDesigns that read as considered and credible in an ordinary hiring process, without asking the reader to admire them first.
- ATS-friendly resume templatesLayouts built to survive applicant tracking software: no colour fills behind text, a clean reading order, and standard section headings.
- Simple resume templatesUncluttered designs that put the writing first, for when a plain, easy-to-read CV is exactly what the job asks for.
- Modern resume templatesContemporary layouts that look current without looking like a novelty, using colour and space rather than ornament.
- Minimalist resume templatesWide margins, hairline rules and a lot of air. Designs where the space is doing as much work as the type.
- Student resume templatesLayouts that work when education is the strongest section and work experience is still short.
- Graduate resume templatesDesigns for the first proper job: enough structure to look serious, enough space that a short history does not look thin.
- Academic resume templatesFormats built for publications, teaching, funding and the longer record an academic application needs.
- One page resume templatesDenser designs that fit a full career onto a single page without dropping to an unreadable type size.
- Two column resume templatesSide-by-side layouts that keep contact details, skills and languages visible while experience runs full length.
- Executive resume templatesFormats for senior appointments, where the record is long and the tone needs to carry authority.
- Classic resume templatesTraditional structures done properly: serif type, small-caps headings and fine rules, without looking dated.
- Creative resume templatesDistinctive designs for when a person is definitely reading first and visual judgement is part of the job.
Frequently asked questions
Is a basic resume template still acceptable?
Yes, and for many applications it is the strongest choice. Public sector roles, graduate schemes, large-employer portals and most professional services expect a plain CV, and some explicitly ask for one. A basic template removes every possible objection to the format and leaves only your experience to be judged.
Are these resume templates free?
Yes. You can fill in a template, preview it and download a PDF without paying. A JobSprout account is free, and some of the designs are marked Pro, which unlocks with a subscription. There is always a free design available in every style.
Can I edit a resume template after I download it?
Yes. Your CV stays in your account, so you can change the content, switch to a different design, adjust the colour, font size and spacing, and download a fresh PDF whenever you need one. Switching design never loses your content, because the content and the layout are stored separately.
Will these templates pass an ATS?
The designs marked ATS-friendly are built for it: no colour fills behind text, a clean reading order and standard section headings. Any CV you build can also be checked against a real parser with our free ATS resume checker, which shows you exactly what a screening system extracts.
What file format do I get?
A print-quality PDF, which is what nearly every employer and application portal asks for. The PDF keeps a real text layer rather than being an image, so screening software can read it and so can a screen reader.
Should I put a photo on my resume?
In the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada and Australia, no. Employers there usually prefer no photo, and some screening processes strip them to reduce bias. In much of continental Europe and parts of Asia a photo is still conventional. Check the norm where you are applying, and leave it off if you are unsure.
How long should my resume be?
One page if you have under roughly ten years of relevant experience, and always for students and graduates. Two pages are normal for senior, academic or highly technical roles. An academic CV is the exception and runs as long as your publication and funding record requires.