How to choose a resume layout
The best template organises your content without hiding or squeezing it. The choice depends on the amount of information, the role and how the document needs to be read.
5-minute readUpdated on 19.10.2026
In this guide
1. Why should you start with the content?
An empty template may look balanced and stop working once it holds five roles, a long skills list and several courses. Before choosing, count the entries and decide what is genuinely relevant to the application.
Emily Carter
Administrative assistant
- London
- +44 7700 900 123
- emily.carter@example.com
- linkedin.com/in/emilycarter
Profile
Administrative assistant experienced in customer service, document management and Excel. Looking to support an operations team with accuracy and clear communication.
Experience
Operations assistant
Northway Logistics · London
2023 — present
- Tracked customer orders from entry to delivery.
- Organised shared documents and spreadsheets.
- Worked daily with a six-person team.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Management
University of London
2022 — 2025
Skills
- Tools:
- Excel · Word · Outlook · CRM
- Languages:
- English (native) · Spanish (B2)
- Tasks:
- Customer service · invoicing · scheduling
Projects
School inventory system
Excel · data validation · presentation
2025
2. One column, two columns or a compact template?
Choose by reading flow
No structure guarantees acceptance by automated systems. When an application goes through a portal and you do not know its processing, simple linear reading is the prudent choice.
3. How do you match the template to the role?
Technical roles benefit from dedicated blocks for tools, certifications or projects. Creative fields may accept more visual personality, but the portfolio stays separate. For internships and first jobs, education and projects should appear before empty experience.
4. What does each template highlight?
ATS Classic
- Who it is for
- Applications through job portals and large companies.
- What it highlights
- Linear reading, one column and sections in the usual order.
- When to be careful
- It has little visual personality: in creative fields it may fall short.
Editorial Premium
- Who it is for
- Established careers where presentation also matters.
- What it highlights
- Strong headings, white space and well-written text.
- When to be careful
- With a lot of content the page gets tight; you have to be selective.
Modern Two Columns
- Who it is for
- People with short lists of skills, languages and contact details.
- What it highlights
- Separating supporting details from the main career history.
- When to be careful
- Long lists unbalance the sidebar and push everything else down.
Compact One Page
- Who it is for
- Long careers that must fit on one page.
- What it highlights
- Many short entries, with roles and dates.
- When to be careful
- It is dense by design: with too much text, reading becomes tiring.
Student / Early Career
- Who it is for
- First job, internships and career changes.
- What it highlights
- Education, projects and courses before work experience.
- When to be careful
- With a long career history, this order stops helping.
Tech / Developer
- Who it is for
- Technical roles with technologies, repositories and projects.
- What it highlights
- Lists of technologies and links to published work.
- When to be careful
- Outside technical fields, its dedicated blocks stay empty.
Industrial / Technical
- Who it is for
- Production, maintenance, construction and logistics.
- What it highlights
- Equipment, certifications and operational responsibilities.
- When to be careful
- Less suitable for office or creative roles.
Creative Minimal
- Who it is for
- Design, marketing and content, with a separate portfolio.
- What it highlights
- Little text, clear hierarchy and one accent colour.
- When to be careful
- It does not replace a portfolio or guarantee automated reading.
5. Can you switch templates after writing?
Yes. In ArrobaCV, content is separate from presentation. You can try another template without rewriting the resume. After switching, review pagination, white space and section order.
6. How do you confirm the template works?
Template review
- The name and contact details are found immediately.
- The most relevant information appears in the first half.
- No column is empty or much longer than the other.
- The type size remains comfortable.
- The sections keep an easy-to-follow order.
- The final PDF opens with the same layout as the preview.
Start your resume.
Apply these tips in the ArrobaCV editor. This guide does not change your data, and opening the editor does not automatically import the examples in this article. A watermarked PDF is free and needs no account. Exporting without a watermark or in Word requires an account and paid access.