ATS-safe template
Classic resume template
A one-column resume template with plain headings and rules, in the order a recruiter and a parser both expect. See a filled-in example.
Free to write and edit. You pay only when you download.
Who it suits
Classic is the safe answer for most applications. If you are applying through an online portal, to a large employer, or into finance, operations, healthcare, administration or government, it gives the reader a name, a headline, contact details and then your sections in the order you chose. The only decoration is a thin rule under each heading and a deep red accent on your name, so the content does the work.
How the layout works
- One column from top to bottom, with your name, headline and contact line in the header.
- A thin rule under every section heading and a serif and sans pairing that stays quiet.
- A single accent colour on the name and headings; change it to suit your field.
- Optional photo slot at the top right, off by default.
ATS notes
Classic is labelled ATS-safe because it is one column, in reading order, with no text boxes or tables. That is the layout that most parsers handle best. No tool can promise how a particular employer’s software will treat a file, so keep your headings plain (Experience, Education, Skills) and check the text copy after you export.
When to pick something else
You want the page itself to show personality, as in a design or creative-industry application. Pick Editorial, Marquee or Cards instead.
Tips for filling it in
- Keep the section order short: Summary, Experience, Skills, Education is enough for most people.
- Use the accent colour sparingly. Navy or ink looks more conservative than the default red.
- If your resume runs just over a page, shorten bullets before shrinking the margins.
Classic template questions
Is Classic the best template for ATS?
It is one of the single-column layouts labelled ATS-safe (Classic, Modern, Academic, Ledger, Band, Margin, Atlas, Quill, Brief and Ward). They share the properties that parsers handle best. None of them is a guarantee, because every employer’s software differs.
Can I put a photo on Classic?
There is a photo slot, off by default. In the US, UK and Canada employers generally do not expect a photo; in some other countries they do. Follow the norm for where you are applying.
Resume examples that use this layout
Each example is a fictional person, with a summary, bullets and skills written for the role.
Accountant
Accuracy and close timelines matter more than adjectives; name the standards and software you worked in.
Read the exampleAdministrative Assistant
Show the scale of what you coordinate, and the systems you improved rather than just maintained.
Read the exampleData Analyst
Lead with the decision your analysis changed, then name the tools, in that order.
Read the exampleHuman Resources Generalist
Cover the whole range lightly, and put numbers on hiring, retention and employee-relations work.
Read the exampleCustomer Service Representative
Use satisfaction, resolution time and volume figures, and show how you handled difficult calls.
Read the example
Related templates
Try the Classic layout with your own details
Open the editor with this template, replace the sample text, and watch the page update as you type.
Free to write and edit. You pay only when you download.