2023’s Best Resume Templates for Landing Your Dream Job

In 2023, the professional job market is more competitive than ever, and a well-crafted professional resume can make all the difference in securing your dream job.

With the right resume template, you can showcase your skills, experiences, and accomplishments in a way that captures the attention of recruiters and hiring managers and leaves a lasting positive impression. But if you choose the wrong resume template, there is a possibility that your application could be disregarded or rejected completely.

In this article, we will share our top picks for the best resume templates of 2023, as well as tips on choosing the perfect template for your needs.

When it comes to selecting a quality resume template, there are several factors you should consider. Here are some tips to ensure you choose the best resume templates to effectively showcase your strengths and fit the type of job you are applying for.

Consider the industry you are applying for. Industries vary in their expectations for resume design and formatting. Choose a template that aligns with the norms and preferences of your target industry.

One smart way to do this is to choose a resume template designed specifically for the industry you are applying for. Some examples include:

This Bartender Resume Template from the Barcraft Collection includes space to call out the skills and credentials most important for a bartending job. The entire design is reflective of the bartending industry.

A CV format is often more appropriate than a resume for people who work in academia or research positions, and this contemporary CV blends the best of modern resume design with a traditional curriculum vita format.

Everything about the legal resume template that is part of our Barristers Collection speaks to the legal industry. It is a perfect resume template for lawyers and attorneys, paralegals, legal secretaries, mediators, court reports, and others who work in law careers.

Consider your experience level. Your resume template should reflect your career stage and experience level. For example, recent graduates or entry-level job seekers should choose a resume template that strongly emphasizes education and relevant coursework. Examples include the following:

From the Talent Rising Collection, this resume template for a first job guides a new job hunter in documenting experiences and knowledge developed outside of the workforce.

Job hunters pursuing an entry-level job in technology may find this entry-level IT resume template from the Technical Pursuits Collection to be perfect for their needs. A sister template provides a resume format for more experienced IT professionals.

Another popular student resume template provides an attractive high school student resume format for documenting education and other experiences that graduating high school students bring to the job market for landing their first job. This template is part of our Bright Entry Collection.

On the other hand, mid-career professionals or more experienced job seekers may benefit from a resume template highlighting achievements and professional skills gained throughout their careers. Examples include the following:

Experienced professionals may with to include social media accounts on their resume, and this resume template from our Social Links Collection provides the perfect format for that.

The perfect resume template for a professional job can be found in our Maverick Collection. This is one of our most popular resume formats for experienced professionals.

The traditional resume template from our Paisley Performance Collection provides an attractive design with timeless appeal for mid-career professionals.

Executives and senior-level professionals may want to choose a more sophisticated and elegant professional resume template that reflects their higher level of experience and expertise. Examples of such templates include:

This sophisticated template for a resume is a popular choice for executive resumes from the Zenith Collection.

Another popular sophisticated resume template for executives can be found in our Abundance Collection.

The traditionally formatted resume template that is part of our Alluring Luxury Collection provides a sophisticated look for executives with an upscale brand.

Select a template that highlights your specific skill set and accomplishments. If you have a diverse range of skills, consider a template with a strong resume summary and dedicated skills section, such as one of these templates:

The AI resume template that is part of the Brainlink Collection provides dedicated space for detailed technical skills at the beginning of the resume.

This eye-catching executive resume template from the Captivating Collection includes a space for documenting “Core Executive Competencies,” showing how a popular way for including a skill section on executive resumes.

A skills-based resume template is a key part of our Core Skills Collection. This resume emphasizes skills, with the work history appearing on page two of the resume.

Another option is to choose a resume template that showcases your accomplishments and experience in specific areas, such as leadership, technology skills, or project management. Or, you may choose a template with a supplementary resume addendum section for those skills.

A crucial aspect of selecting the best resume template for your needs is finding one that effectively conveys your professional story and highlights your accomplishments.

Your resume should showcase your career progression and demonstrate how your experiences have shaped your unique skillset. Here are some tips for choosing the best resume template that helps tell your professional story and accentuates your achievements:

Focus on Your Career Narrative: The best resume templates provide a format that allows you to highlight your most significant accomplishments. This could include promotions, successful projects, or notable awards. Ensure the template you select allows you to present this information in a clear and compelling manner.

The STAR format is a common resume builder technique used by professional resume writers that describes your accomplishments in terms of the Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

Another modern resume design technique is using a “Snapshot” callout box to emphasize the highlights of each professional experience. We use this technique in many of our resume templates. The classic resume template from our Morning Glory Collection, shown here, is just one example.

Quantify Your Achievements: Choose a template that encourages you to quantify your accomplishments. By providing concrete numbers and statistics (e.g., the percentage increase in sales, number of clients acquired, or funds raised), you can demonstrate your work’s impact and showcase your professional value.

When choosing your resume template, look for a straightforward layout that includes space for bulleted achievements for each employment experience. The achievements-filled resume from our Achievements Accelerated Collection is a great example of this.

Include Relevant Keywords: Your resume should include relevant keywords that align with the job description and reflect your key skills and experience. Opt for a template that includes multiple options for including keywords.

This is especially important for ATS-optimizing your resume, which we will discuss in a future section. Applicant tracking systems allow employers to store applicants’ resumes in a database, then recall them based on keyword searches. The more relevant keywords in your resume, the better your chances of your resume matching a search.

The professional resume template in the Power Play Collection is an example of a resume template that includes multiple ways to include keywords in your resume. It includes a qualifications summary at the top of the resume and also includes space to categorize each achievement bullet with a keyword phrase.

Incorporate Testimonials or Endorsements: Consider a template that allows you to include testimonials or endorsements from previous employers, clients, or colleagues. This can help to reinforce your professional story and provide social proof of your accomplishments.

We’ve used this technique in a number of our Distinctive Resume Templates, but a good example of how to create a resume with references is the template from our Credalise Collection.

Overall Resume Layout: It is especially helpful to consider what you want to convey in your resume and how you might use design and formatting to support that message. For example, if you have three key accomplishments that you really want to highlight, you might choose a hybrid resume template that allows you to showcase them prominently in the resume summary, such as in this stylish resume template from our Alignity Collection.

Your resume should be an extension of your personal brand. Choose a template that complements your unique style and helps communicate your professional identity.

For example, consider the differences between the two resumes below. One resume template uses bold red color and design while the other resume template has clean lines and uses muted, professional tones. Each conveys a very different personal branding message.

Look for a template that offers a variety of customization options, including font choices, color schemes, and layout adjustments. This flexibility allows you to tailor the template to your specific needs and preferences.

A problem with many resume templates is their lack of flexibility and customization options. The best resume templates, such as those offered by Distinctive Resume Templates, have been created with customization in mind, offering a wide range of design options to ensure your resume is a perfect fit for you.

Even if you are a new college graduate and decide a one-page resume would be best, ensure the resume template you choose allows you to easily expand into a two-page resume template. This might sound like common sense, but many resume templates make it difficult or impossible to expand your resume this way.

All of our picks for best resume templates make it easy for you to rename resume sections, change the order of sections, add or remove sections, adjust fonts, and customize colors to fit your needs.

The resume layout and format must also be considered when choosing the best resume templates for your unique situation. For example, if you are making a career change, you might want to choose a functional resume format that allows you to highlight relevant transferable skills or experience in a clear and concise way.

If you are returning to work after a hiatus, you might also choose a functional resume or hybrid format template that emphasizes your skills and abilities rather than focusing solely on chronological past employment. An example is the resume template from our Modern Transformations Collection, one of our best resume templates for career changers.

Freelancers, consultants, and project managers have unique needs when it comes to creating a resume and may want to choose a format specifically for this.

Or, if your career trajectory has been traditional and you want to highlight your work experience and career progression, a reverse chronological resume template may be the best fit for you.

Differentiating yourself from other candidates is a key factor in standing out from the competition in the job market.

When using a resume template, it’s essential to choose one that doesn’t look like it was created from a generic template.

A customized and unique resume not only captures the attention of hiring managers but also reflects your personal brand and professionalism.

By opting for a template that sets you apart, you demonstrate your attention to detail, creativity, and commitment to presenting yourself in the best light possible.

Remember, a one-of-a-kind resume can be the difference between blending in with the crowd and making a lasting impression on potential employers. So, invest time and effort in choosing a resume template that showcases your uniqueness and helps you stand out in the competitive job market of 2023. When you choose one of our picks for best resume templates, you can be sure that nobody will even guess you started with a template.

Finally, no discussion of best resume templates is complete without mentioning the importance of ATS (applicant tracking system) compatibility. When selecting a template, it’s important to make sure that the resume is compatible with ATS software.

These systems are used by many employers to streamline the hiring process by scanning resumes for specific keywords, experience, and qualifications before they reach the hands of a hiring manager. By choosing an ATS-friendly template, you can significantly increase your chances of making it through the initial ATS screening process and securing an interview.

There are a lot of myths about how ATS works and how to ATS-optimize your resume, so it’s important to work with a resume template creator who understands the nuances of ATS compatibility. While Canva resume templates or resume templates created for Google Docs or other systems might look attractive on the surface, many of them are not ATS compatible. All Distinctive Resume Templates have been created to be ATS-friendly, giving you the peace of mind that your resume will make it through initial screenings.

This sleek and contemporary business executive resume template is perfect for those looking to showcase their skills and experience in a clean, easy-to-read format. With its modern design, the Businesswise Collection of templates allows your accomplishments to shine, making it an excellent choice for executive job seekers in fields like operations, finance, and human resources.

Designed as a resume template for the healthcare industry, this design combines classic design elements with modern touches, creating a sophisticated and timeless look that appeals to a wide range of hiring managers. With just minor changes, this template is perfect for job seekers in a wide range of fields where a more conservative design may be preferred. In fact, we offer two similar resume templates: one for industrial engineering jobs and one for agricultural jobs.

While it was created as a resume template for sales professionals, with minor modifications, this template could be ideal for job seekers in creative industries like design, photography, and writing, this resume template incorporates eye-catching visuals and unique formatting to help your resume stand out from the competition.

This template allows you to showcase your accomplishments and personal brand while presenting your professional experience in a clear and organized manner.

Specifically designed for job seekers in the technology industry, the Computerworks resume template highlights your technical skills and accomplishments in an easy-to-read format. With a focus on programming languages, software, and hardware expertise, this template is perfect for professionals in fields like software development, data analysis, and IT management.

For those who prefer a clean and simple design, the Minimalist resume template offers just that. With its understated aesthetic, this template is perfect for job seekers in a wide range of industries, from finance to healthcare.

In conclusion, finding the right resume template is crucial for showcasing your skills, experiences, and accomplishments in the most effective way possible.

By considering factors like your industry, experience level, skill set, and personal brand, you can select the perfect template to help you stand out in the competitive job market of 2023.

Remember that a well-crafted resume is the key to unlocking new opportunities and propelling your career forward. So, invest time and effort in choosing the best resume templates that will showcase your uniqueness and help you stand out in the competitive job market of 2023.