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Modern Resume Templates — six two-column designs with a sidebar

A modern resume template trades the traditional top-to-bottom page for a contemporary two-column layout. Contact details, your objective and education sit in a sidebar, while your work experience gets a wide main column where recruiters look first. Color banners, shaded panels and clean type make the page memorable without turning it into a design project.

All six designs use real, editable text, and you decide which sections go in the sidebar. Because two columns can trip up some applicant tracking systems, modern templates work best when a person reads your resume first: emailed applications, referrals, networking and interviews. For online portals, switch to one of our ATS-friendly templates before you upload; it takes one click.

Every modern template is free to build with.

Choosing between the six modern designs

  • Modern I runs a dark name banner across the top, with a left sidebar for contact details, objective and education. Bold without being loud.
  • Modern II sets your details in a full-height color sidebar with white text. The most eye-catching of the six.
  • Modern III keeps the same structure with a soft gray sidebar, for a modern look that stays understated.
  • Modern IV uses shaded heading bars, with your experience on the left and a sidebar on the right. Sections are easy to spot at a glance.
  • Modern V moves a light gray sidebar to the right, so your name and experience lead on the left.
  • Modern VI places a color block behind your name above the main column, with a sidebar on the left.

Making a two-column layout work

  • Keep the sidebar short. Contact details, education, certifications, languages and a compact skills list belong there. Paragraphs do not.
  • Put your strongest material in the main column. Recruiters read the wide column first, so lead with work experience and results.
  • Decide where each section goes. On the Download tab, open Two Column Layout to place any section in the main column or the sidebar, or let the builder choose automatically.
  • Balance the columns. A sidebar that runs much longer than your experience leaves an awkward gap. Trim until both columns end close together.
  • Stay readable. Keep body text at 10 pt or larger; the builder's Small setting is 10 pt.

When to choose a single-column template instead

If you are uploading through a large employer's careers site or a job board, a single-column layout is the safer choice. Some applicant tracking systems read straight across the page, which can blend sidebar text into your job history. Our ATS-friendly templates avoid that, and conservative fields such as law, finance and government often prefer the professional or simple styles anyway.

Your content is not tied to a design. Build it once, then switch between modern and single-column templates on the Download tab whenever an application calls for it.

Getting the content right

A striking layout gets attention; what is in it wins the interview. Look through sample resumes for your field for strong bullet points, follow our guide to writing a resume, and check your draft against a real job posting with the free ATS Resume Checker.

Build your resume in any template — free

Pick a design, fill in each section with step-by-step writing tips, and switch templates whenever you like. Nothing needs retyping.

  • All 12 templates, with font, font size and page margin controls
  • Writing tips for every section, plus AI help on a free daily quota
  • Download your finished resume as a text (.txt) file, free
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Modern Resume Templates — FAQ

What is a modern resume template?

A modern template uses a contemporary layout: usually two columns, a sidebar for contact details, objective and education, and accents like a color banner or shaded panel, while your work experience keeps a wide main column.

Are modern resume templates ATS-friendly?

They are a trade-off. Our Modern templates use real text, but a two-column layout can be read out of order by some applicant tracking systems. For online portals, an ATS-safe single-column template is the lower-risk choice. Modern designs shine when you email a hiring manager, network, or bring copies to an interview.

Can I choose which sections go in the sidebar?

Yes. On the Download tab, the Two Column Layout settings let you place each section in the main column or the sidebar, or leave it on automatic.

Can I switch from a modern template to a simpler one later?

Yes. Your content is stored separately from the design, so switching templates on the Download tab takes one click and nothing needs retyping.

Which jobs suit a modern resume?

Modern designs fit marketing, design, technology, startups, hospitality and other fields where presentation matters and a person often reads your resume first. In conservative fields such as law, finance and government, a classic or professional template is usually the safer choice.

Sample resumes for ideas

Browse sample resumes by industry ›

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