![The classic resume template, page one: Name and contact line, Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, with [brackets] to fill in.](/templates/img/classic-resume.webp)
What this template is for
Use it when the people reading your resume value order over flair. A partner at a law firm, a bank's hiring panel, a university committee or a government recruiter reads many resumes a week. A plain serif page with clear rules lets them find your last role, your degree and your skills in seconds.
It suits anyone whose work fits on one page. If your career is long and you are cutting good material to fit, the one-page resume with smaller type is the better choice.
- Fonts
- EB Garamond
- Paper
- A4, one page
- Margins
- 0.7 in top and bottom, 0.85 in left and right
- File
- Word .docx
What is in it, section by section
- Name and contact lineYour name, centred, in large serif. Under it, one line with your city, email, phone and one link, such as a profile or a portfolio.
- SummaryTwo sentences: what you do, for whom, and the result you are known for.
- ExperienceEach role has its title, the organisation and the dates in italics, then up to three points. Each point starts with a verb and ends with a result.
- EducationDegree, institution and year on one line.
- SkillsOne line of skills, separated by commas.
How to fill it in
- Replace every word in [brackets]. Delete any line you do not need, brackets and all.
- Write the summary last. It is easier once your experience is down on the page.
- List roles newest first. Give recent roles three points and older ones one or two.
- Put a number in a point where you honestly can: money saved, people trained, cases closed, days cut from a process.
- Save it as a PDF and read it once on paper before you send it. Check that it still fits one page.
Questions
Should a resume be one page?
For most people early or mid career, yes. Readers skim first, so one strong page beats two thin ones. Senior roles and academic CVs can run longer.
What is the difference between a resume and a CV?
In the US a resume is a short summary of your work and a CV is a full academic record. In India and the UK the two words are often used for the same thing. This template is a resume. For an academic CV, add sections for publications and teaching.
What if my computer does not have EB Garamond?
Word shows a similar serif in its place. EB Garamond is a free font with an open licence, so you can install it. Or select all the text and pick Georgia or Cambria from the font menu.
Is the page A4 or US Letter?
A4. To print on US Letter, open Layout, then Size, and choose Letter. Then check that the last line still sits on page one.
Should I send it as Word or PDF?
PDF, unless the job post asks for Word. A PDF keeps the fonts and the rules exactly as you see them. In Word, use File, then Save As, and choose PDF.
Use it in Supernatural
Supernatural: everything your business runs on, with Blue as your part-time admin. Word is one of its apps. In your workspace, you ask Blue for “a classic resume”. Blue starts from this template, writes in what you give it, and leaves [brackets] where something is missing. Before it makes the document, Blue shows you which template it chose and what it will write. Nothing is made until you say yes.
The beta is free and asks for no card.
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Last updated 3 November 2026.