Your resume is your first contact with an employer and makes an instant impression of you as a job candidate.
Since recruiters spend only six to seven seconds analyzing resumes, there isn't much time left once they've looked into what first catches their eye.
So, with only a few seconds of the reader's scrutiny, having a professional and eye-catching resume is a must for attracting attention and interest from employers.
However, resumes are more than words on paper.
They are not only about what you say, but also about how you convey your message, and how it comes across. Considering that the structure and design of a resume greatly affect its readability, they are the first things that get noticed that can either help or hinder your resume's effectiveness.
When presenting the information on a resume, two main options are available: one-column or two-column resume format.
In the next 10 minutes, you'll find out more about one-column resume layout, including:
OK, buckle up and let's get into it!
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What Is a One-Column Resume?
A one-column or single-column resume is a job application document with all information presented in one full-width horizontal column.
It's the standard resume layout that provides a lot of space for content, allocating enough real estate for the must-have resume sections, including a career summary, work experience, and education.
This resume design is straightforward and simple. With a layout that follows the natural eye movement from left to right, this resume format is easy and intuitive to read.
As such, it's a popular layout commonly used by job seekers and preferred by recruiters and hiring managers.
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Best Single Column Resume Templates
A professional and polished resume can make all the difference in landing that perfect job.
So, if you're about to create your resume, starting the resume writing process with a professionally designed resume template can save you time and ensure that your experience is presented in the best possible way.
Browse through our selection of single-column resume templates below and select the best one for your needs!
1. Clean and Professional Resume Template
Resume template Olivera—a clean and professional resume template is the best option for experienced professionals who want to highlight their expertise.
With an easy-to-read layout, clean design, classic typography, and strategic use of white space, this single-column resume template is perfect for traditional industries and corporate jobs.
What's more, its formatting is optimized for the applicant tracking systems (ATS), so you can be sure your resume will pass the ATS screening.
2. Modern ATS Resume Template
Resume template Cooper is an ATS-compliant design with a minimalist yet modern aesthetic.
A single-column layout combines neutral color, professional graphic elements, and easy-to-read fonts to make it visually appealing without being too design-heavy.
This ATS resume is perfect for corporate professionals with experience in creative fields, such as marketing or advertising, looking to showcase their qualifications and skills to a potential employer without sacrificing the visual appeal.
3. Corporate Resume Template
For anyone looking for a professional resume with a modern twist, resume template Alex is a perfect choice.
With classic fonts, clear structure and minimalist graphic elements, this ATS-friendly resume is designed with corporate professionals in mind to help them impress any hiring manager at first glance.
It comes with a matching one-, two- and three-page resume, cover letter and reference list template, providing everything you need for a successful job application.
4. Simplistic Resume Template
If you'd like to keep things simple, go with the ATS-friendly resume template Harper.
Single-column layout, clean structure and classic typography - these are the perfect features for a resume of any professional looking to emphasize their expertise and get noticed in their industry.
This minimalist resume design is an ideal option if you want to keep your resume clean while still displaying work history, education and relevant skills in an efficient manner.
5. Hybrid ATS Resume Template
With the overview of skills and expertise at the top, the hybrid resume format Catherine is perfect for anyone who wants to highlight relevant skills before listing the work history.
Its ATS-compliant resume design makes it easily readable by any ATS, while its clean and professional visual appeal also grabs the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.
Looking for more? Explore our library of resume examples and write a perfect resume with a step-by-step writing guide and sample resume tailored to your target job!
What are the pros of a one-column resume design?
The main pros of a one-column resume layout are:
it's a standard resume format
it puts the emphasis on the content
it's ATS-compatible
It's a standard resume format.
Despite a variety of creative resume templates available online, single-column resumes are still the hiring standard, and for a good reason.
For decades, HR professionals have received job applications in this easy-to-read resume format.
Due to its intuitive structure and readability, it's still the preferred choice by many recruiters and hiring managers because it allows them to quickly scan your documents and find key information that helps them decide whether or not to move forward with your job application.
It puts emphasis on the content.
The single-column resumes put the focus on the content rather than on design.
With the easy-to-read and intuitive structure without distracting design elements, these resume formats are perfect for job seekers who want their content to stand out.
The one-column resume layout is ideal for people whose aim is to impress readers with their expertise, i.e. job seekers with several years of specialized experience in the relevant field.
It's ATS-compatible.
Considering that companies nowadays receive dozens or even hundreds of job applications per day, most of them use ATS (applicant tracking systems) - recruiting software that processes, scans, and reads job applications.
ATS have historically been bad at reading advanced resume formats, such as resumes with a creative layout and multiple columns, so one-column resumes work best with this technology.
One-column resume formats are ATS-compatible and optimized for most HR systems. As such, this resume design gives you the best chances to pass the first screening filter if a company uses resume-screening software to scan all job applications.
Remember -- an ATS resume is more than its layout. For ATS optimization, it's essential to match the resume keywords with a job description. Read the complete ATS resume guide to learn how to write a resume that beats any applicant tracking system.
What are the cons of a one-column resume layout?
Even though a one-column resume layout has significant pros, there are also specific cons to be aware of:
it provides less flexibility
it may be less visually appealing
it may not provide enough room for all information
It provides less flexibility.
Single-column resumes typically follow the most common resume format - the reverse-chronological format.
Due to its traditional resume formatting and the fixed structure that comes with it, they can lack much-needed flexibility in resume structure, design and formatting some candidates may need.
In case you want to use more advanced formatting techniques or need more space and flexibility for any additional information, the one-column format may limit your options.
It may be less visually appealing.
A one-column format follows a classic layout that may not be as visually appealing or attention-grabbing as two-column resumes.
With its emphasis on the content, the one-column format may take away from the resume's design, so the document may come across as more plain and simple than multi-column resumes.
Considering this, this resume format works well for corporate jobs in traditional and conservative industries, such as finance, banking and law.
On the contrary, professionals from creative industries often opt for two-column resumes that are more suitable for their fields. For example, the modern style of two columns may be better for graphic designers, social media experts or other creatives.
It may not provide enough space for all the information.
One-column resumes provide plenty of space for the essential resume elements, including contact information, work experience, educational background and skills.
However, they can also leave little room for other details relevant to your application, such as publications, affiliations, awards, memberships and other relevant information that employers want to know about but that can't necessarily be incorporated into your work history.
The one-column resume format limits your ability to include more detailed information in other sections of the document, which is why it's not a good choice if you want to highlight specific skills or achievements that don’t fit into the work experience section.
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Final Thoughts
Despite a variety of creative resume designs available online, single-column resume design remains the industry standard.
With the straightforward and intuitive structure, they are preferred by most employers, easy to read and compliant with applicant tracking software.
If you want to put your best foot forward in the hiring process and make a great impression on potential employers, a resume template can help. To put your best foot forward, use one of the resume templates featured in this article.
You May Also Be Interested In:
If you're now creating your resume, you may also be interested in:
Your Perfect Resume Awaits
Explore the professional collection of over 40 one- and two-column resume templates designed for job candidates looking to impress employers right from the start. From minimalist and traditional to modern and creative, we've got a perfect resume template for any job seeker!
Plus, each template comes with a matching cover letter template and a detailed resume writing guide so that no detail in your resume is left to chance.
If you're looking for additional support with crafting a resume, read through our step-by-step resume writing guides, explore the library of resume examples or find a professional resume writer to perfect your resume. We wish you a lot of success in landing your dream job!
Ana Colak-Fustin
Hi—I'm Ana! A recruiter, HR consultant, and founder of ByRecruiters.com. My career advice and job search tools have been featured in Yahoo News, The Muse, Jobscan, A Better HR Business, and other global media. Over 8,000 professionals have used my resume templates to land new jobs and power up their careers. Ready to join them? Your success story starts here.