Simple resume templates
Minimal resume templates that keep the page easy to scan without extra decoration.
Student Starter
FreePolished, early-career, project-led / One-page target
Compare simple layouts
Compare the layouts and available downloads before choosing a template.
Classic ATS
A classic serif ATS resume layout for job applications.
- Layout
- Single column
- Length
- Flexible length
- Downloads
- PDF: Available
Word: Available
Linework ATS
Refined single-column ATS resume template with a centered serif masthead, maroon rules, and structured support sections.
- Layout
- Single column
- Length
- Flexible length
- Downloads
- PDF: Available
Word: Available
Strict ATS
A strict ATS resume layout for job applications.
- Layout
- Single column
- Length
- Flexible length
- Downloads
- PDF: Available
Word: Available
Choose with your actual content
The right layout should leave your experience readable at the length you need. A preview with short sample text cannot tell you how your longer resume will look.
Start with the sections you need
For a first job, check the space for education and projects. For several roles, check how dates and longer bullets read. Classic ATS uses a conventional single-column structure; Linework ATS adds stronger section dividers. Open their previews to compare the treatment.
Try your longest entry
Add a real job title, employer name and a few complete bullets before deciding. Check wrapping, the next page and the space between entries. Remove repetition before reducing text size just to meet a page target.
Check the requested file format
Follow the employer’s instructions. PDF preserves the exported layout; an editable Word file is available only when the selected template supports DOCX. Check its download status and inspect the actual file before submitting.
When another layout may fit better
Minimal decoration is a design choice, not a guarantee of parsing or hiring results.
You need a very compact first resume
Compare the student or one-page categories, then test your education and project details. Do not add employment just to fill a simple template or shrink readable text to force one page.
You have substantial credentials or project work
Compare how the professional layouts organize your supporting sections. A sidebar can separate short information, but it leaves less width for long text. Judge the result with your own content.
An application extracts your resume into fields
Use the accepted format and check the imported name, dates and employment fields. Recognizable headings help the reader, but a simple appearance alone does not prove compatibility with that application.
Before you choose
Does simple mean one page?
No. Simple describes the visual treatment. Check each template’s length and pagination behavior, then use the space your relevant content needs.
Can every simple template export to Word?
No. PDF and Word support are shown separately for each design. Choose a Word-supported template when you need DOCX, and inspect the exported file because an editable document can flow differently from the PDF.
Can I use the same layout in India and the US?
You can choose a simple layout for either market. Adapt the content and file to the actual application’s requirements rather than treating a template as a country-specific application form.
Will a simple layout pass every ATS?
No template can guarantee that. Use the requested file type and verify extracted fields when the application shows them. Parsing a file and deciding whether a candidate meets the role are separate steps.