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Professional Resume Templates — polished layouts for experienced candidates

A professional resume template signals experience before a recruiter reads a word: consistent fonts, headings that line up, dates that are easy to follow, and nothing on the page that does not need to be there. It is the look hiring managers in corporate, finance, healthcare, legal and government roles expect.

These three templates are built for candidates with a solid work history to show. Professional I and Professional II place section headings in the left margin, so even a detailed two-page resume stays easy to navigate, and both are ATS-safe. Elegant centers its headings between fine rules for a more formal, polished finish.

Build your resume free in any of them, and switch between designs at any time without retyping.

Choosing a professional template

  • Professional I sets headings and job dates down the left margin, with your details in a wide column beside them. Your career timeline reads at a glance, which suits long, steady histories.
  • Professional II keeps the margin headings, puts your dates in line with each employer, and right-aligns your name for a crisp, corporate header.
  • Elegant centers your name between fine rules and centers each section heading. It suits senior, client-facing and executive roles where a formal finish matters.

What makes a resume look professional

  • One font, used consistently. Pick a clean font such as Calibri, Cambria or Garamond on the Download tab and let the template handle headings and spacing.
  • Results, not duties. "Cut month-end close from eight days to five" says far more than "responsible for month-end close".
  • A summary that earns its space. Two to four sentences with your role, years of experience and strongest achievements.
  • Tight, parallel bullet points. Start each with an action verb, keep the same tense within a role, and keep each to a line or two.
  • White space. Normal margins and a Medium (11 pt) font size look polished; tighten them only if you need the room.

How long should it be?

One page is standard early in your career. Once you have around 10 or more years of relevant experience, two pages are normal, and the margin headings in Professional I and II keep a second page as easy to scan as the first. Whatever the length, cut anything that does not support the job you want. For practical ways to trim, see our one-page resume templates guide.

Professional and ATS-ready

If most of your applications go through online portals, choose Professional I or Professional II. Both keep every detail in the main body of the page and are on our ATS-safe list. Elegant is a single-column design too, but its decorative centered headings keep it off that strict list, so it is best for resumes you send directly to people.

To see a finished professional resume in your field, browse our sample resumes by industry, then check your draft against a real 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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Professional Resume Templates — FAQ

What makes a resume template look professional?

Consistent fonts and spacing, clear section headings, neatly aligned dates, and a restrained design that lets your results stand out. Professional I, Professional II and Elegant are built around those basics.

Which professional template should I choose?

Professional I and Professional II both place section headings in the left margin, which keeps a long, detailed resume easy to scan; Professional I also lines your dates up down that margin. Elegant centers its headings between fine rules for a more formal look. Professional I and II are also on our ATS-safe list.

Is the Elegant template ATS-friendly?

Elegant is a single-column design, but its decorative centered headings keep it off our strict ATS-safe list. If you are applying through online portals and want the lowest risk, choose Professional I or Professional II.

How long should a professional resume be?

One page suits most early-career candidates. Two pages are normal once you have around 10 or more years of relevant experience, as long as everything on them relates to the job you want.

Should a professional resume include a summary?

For most experienced candidates, yes. Two to four sentences at the top that state your role, years of experience and strongest results help a recruiter decide quickly to keep reading.

Sample resumes for ideas

Browse sample resumes by industry ›

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