How to Choose a Resume Template

Start with how the resume will be read

Before looking at designs, decide where the resume is going. That one question settles most of the choice.

What an ATS rating actually tells you

Applicant tracking systems pull the text out of your file before anyone reads it. If your name, headings, job titles and dates come out in the wrong order — or split into pieces — the profile it builds is wrong.

Every M2Toolkit template shows a rating from 1 to 5. It comes from exporting the layout to PDF and reading the text back with several PDF readers, then checking that the name, headings and each job's details come out whole and together. It tells you about readability, not whether an employer will shortlist you.

• 5/5 — reads cleanly everywhere we test: the safest choice for online applications.
• 4/5 — reads well, with a minor quirk such as a sidebar read before the main column.
• 3/5 — fine for people; some systems may misplace sidebar content.
• 1–2/5 — a design-led layout. Send it to people, not portals.

Match the style to your field

Each template in the gallery comes with example content for a specific profession and level. Filter by your profession to see how a layout handles your kind of experience before you choose.

Columns, length and photo

One column or two?

One column is the most reliable for ATS and the easiest to read on a phone. Two columns fit more on a page and suit skills-heavy roles — choose a two-column layout with a 4/5 rating if you're applying through portals.

One page or two?

One page for students, graduates and most people with under about ten years of relevant experience. Two pages are normal for senior professionals, academics and anyone in the UK, Europe or the Gulf where a two-page CV is standard. Don't shrink the font to force one page.

Photo or no photo?

In the US, UK, Canada and Australia, leave the photo out — many employers prefer it, to reduce bias. In the UAE, Saudi Arabia and parts of Europe a professional photo is common. Use the country filter to see templates set up for each market.

Customize it without breaking it

1. Replace every line of example text with your own — the examples are illustrations, and the numbers in them are not yours.
2. Rename sections only if your field expects it ("Clinical placements", "Publications"). Keep standard names like Experience, Education and Skills.
3. Change the accent colour if you like, but keep body text dark on light for contrast and printing.
4. Use one typeface pairing. The editor's pairings are chosen to read well and export cleanly.
5. Reorder sections for your story: education first if you're a student, skills first if you're changing career.
6. Check the result in the editor's Check tab and preview the PDF before you send it.

Customizing for different professions

The structure of a good resume changes more by profession than by design. A few examples:

• Developers and data roles: a grouped skills block near the top, a projects section with links, results with numbers (latency, users, accuracy).
• Nurses and allied health: registration and life-support certificates easy to find, clinical settings and caseload in each role.
• Accountants and finance: qualifications in their own section, systems by name, close times and audit outcomes.
• Designers: a portfolio link in the header and outcome-focused bullets rather than tool lists.
• Teachers: subjects, age groups and results; qualifications and safeguarding training up front.
• Executives: scope in the first line of each role (budget, headcount, markets) and a short executive summary.