Basic Resume Templates and Examples for 2025
General (Universal) Resume Templates and Examples for 2025
By Andrew Stoner
, Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
Andrew Stoner
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Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
Last Updated:
July 10, 2025
Professional Resume Template
Editorial Resume Template
Clinical Resume Template
Education Resume Template
Tech Resume Template
Science Resume Template
Traditional Resume Template
Basic Resume Template
Bold Resume Template
International Business Development Manager
Professional Resume Template
This resume template is built for professionals in international strategy, partnerships, or business development. With a bold top header and a clean two-column layout, it presents global experience, leadership achievements, and multilingual capabilities in a polished, professional format.
Best for:
- Business Resume Examples
- Business Development Manager Resume Examples
- Business Manager Resume Examples
Format and styling details:
- Two-column design with left sidebar for contact info, skills, and location
- Professional photo and centered name header help establish a strong personal brand
- Full-width summary section provides space for a clear, high-level value statement
- Experience section emphasizes strategic expansion, negotiation, and global growth
- Excellent for highlighting measurable impact, team leadership, and cross-cultural fluency
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International Business Development Manager
Executive Editor
Editorial Resume Template
This resume template combines professional styling with editorial clarity, perfect for leaders in publishing, content strategy, and media production. A balanced two-column layout supports detailed accomplishments while a photo and bold header add a personal, approachable touch.
Best for:
Format and styling details:
- Two-column layout with left sidebar for contact details, education, and core skills
- Bold navy header introduces the candidate’s name and summary with strong visual presence
- Right-hand content area prioritizes clean formatting and quantifiable editorial outcomes
- Works well for showcasing leadership in digital product launches, international publishing, and team management
- Includes certifications and advanced degrees clearly without overcrowding the design
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Resume Templates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.
Executive Editor
Senior-Level Social Worker
Clinical Resume Template
This resume template is tailored for professionals in social work, nonprofit leadership, and public advocacy. The clean two-column layout and green-accented headers reflect compassion and structure — ideal for candidates whose roles bridge direct service, policy, and program management.
Best for:
- Social Work Resume Examples
- Licensed Practical Nurse Resume Examples
- Nurse Practitioner Resume Examples
Format and styling details:
- Two-column layout with high-visibility section headers for fast scanning
- Education and certifications are prominently featured for licensed professionals
- Left-hand sidebar keeps skills and academic credentials organized and accessible
- Right-hand column provides space to highlight client impact, team supervision, and policy development
- Uses action-oriented bullet points to emphasize program outcomes, compliance improvements, and leadership
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Resume Templates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.
Senior-Level Social Worker
Preschool Substitute Teacher
Education Resume Template
This resume template is designed for professionals in early education, with a nurturing, structured layout that reflects the values of patience, routine, and care. The soft earth-toned palette and clean sectioning make it ideal for teachers, assistants, and support staff working with young children.
Best for:
Format and styling details:
- Two-column layout with soft brown and beige accents to evoke calm and stability
- Sidebar features contact info and key skills that reflect early education priorities
- Full-width header clearly displays the name, title, and a warm, experience-focused summary
- Experience section uses action verbs and gentle language to reflect work with toddlers and preschoolers
- Perfect for showing a mix of classroom support, parent communication, and developmental guidance
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Resume Templates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.
Preschool Substitute Teacher
IT Infrastructure Project Manager
Tech Resume Template
This resume template is designed for IT professionals working in infrastructure, cloud services, and network engineering. With strong red accents and a highly organized layout, it communicates technical expertise, leadership, and the ability to manage complex enterprise-level projects.
Best for:
- Information Technology Resume Examples
- Full Stack Developer Resume Examples
- Front-End Developer Resume Examples
Format and styling details:
- Two-column layout with a bold red sidebar for contact information and credentials
- Top section includes a clear name header and technical title with a concise, impact-driven summary
- Right-hand column highlights career achievements using quantifiable results and action verbs
- Ideal for resumes that need to show certifications, budgets managed, migrations executed, and team leadership
- Modern formatting supports clarity without sacrificing technical detail
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Resume Templates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.
IT Infrastructure Project Manager
Agricultural Scientist
Science Resume Template
This resume template is tailored for science-driven professionals. The soft color palette and organized layout make it approachable while clearly emphasizing field experience, data analysis, and collaborative research impact.
Best for:
- Science Resume Examples and Templates
- Engineering Resume Examples
- User Experience Researcher Resume Examples
Format and styling details:
- Two-column design with a pink-themed sidebar for contact details and technical skills
- Bold name header and scientific summary showcase years of research and applied fieldwork
- Experience section highlights peer-reviewed publications, trials, and measurable outcomes
- Left column efficiently organizes skills, location, and education to keep the layout clean and balanced
- Ideal for research professionals applying to universities, government programs, or agricultural innovation teams
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Resume Templates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.
Agricultural Scientist
Substitute Teacher Aide
Traditional Resume Template
This resume template is designed for professionals working in educational support roles such as teacher aides, classroom assistants, and student supervision staff. With a calm lavender color scheme and accessible layout, it highlights empathy, structure, and service—all essential qualities for support staff in schools.
Best for:
Format and styling details:
- Two-column layout with left sidebar for contact information, education, and key skills
- Full-width name header and bold job title immediately convey the candidate's role and experience level
- Right-hand content area emphasizes daily responsibilities and student support contributions
- Uses clear bullet points to show the candidate’s role in academic support, classroom behavior, and 1:1 accommodations
- Clean and structured design appeals to school administrators hiring for dependable, student-centered team members
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Resume Templates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.
Substitute Teacher Aide
Heavy Haul Truck Driver
Basic Resume Template
This resume template is purpose-built for logistics professionals and commercial drivers with experience in heavy equipment, long-haul transport, and regulatory compliance. The strong blue color scheme reflects professionalism and reliability, while the bold section headers make scanning easy for hiring managers in the transportation industry.
Best for:
Format and styling details:
- Left-hand column highlights contact details, skills, and education in a compact, organized space
- Right-hand column allows plenty of room for route types, load specs, and compliance expertise
- Bold, all-caps section headers provide structure without overwhelming the page
- Bullet points are optimized to show key strengths: safety, load coordination, and permit navigation
- Ideal for drivers applying to logistics firms, construction contractors, or state-regulated hauling companies
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Resume Templates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.
Heavy Haul Truck Driver
Senior Manager
Bold Resume Template
This resume template is crafted for professionals in operations, manufacturing, and process improvement roles. The warm golden-brown accent gives it a grounded, reliable feel—perfect for experienced candidates applying to leadership positions in production, logistics, or industrial management.
Best for:
- Operations Manager Resume Examples
- Management Resume Examples
- Director of Operations Resume Examples
Format and styling details:
- Dual-column layout with clean division between contact info and experience
- Compact sidebar displays education, skills, and certifications in a concise block
- Emphasis on quantifiable results like cost savings, capacity growth, and on-time delivery rates
- Bullet points keep achievements sharp and measurable
- Excellent fit for professionals with Six Sigma, lean, or process optimization experience
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Resume Templates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.
Senior Manager
General (Universal) Resume Templates
While this template style doesn’t work well for every job opportunity, it can be effective in specific scenarios. Ideally, every resume you submit should speak directly to that specific company’s needs, job requirements, and work values. However, this may not always be a practical option, especially if you’d like to hand out resumes at a job fair or networking event.
A general resume template design should be simple and well-organized to appeal to various industries and potential employers. Avoid anything with bold colors or intricate fonts, which can distract from your qualifications and make it harder for a hiring manager to skim.
What makes a general (universal) resume template?
When you think of what to put on a standard resume template, what comes to mind? A reverse chronological list of work experience will likely take up most of the page, along with a small skills list and a section to display your educational and professional training.
In most cases, it should include all the basic resume sections, presenting your past success with a clear focus on your unique value as a professional. The layout is often organized like this:
- Contact information
- Profile
- Professional experience
- Key skills
- Education and certifications
General resume templates are referred to as “universal” for a reason: they should apply to a wide range of industries, occupations, and experience levels. With a solid structure that includes all the essentials, your professional information is presented clearly and concisely. The 10 main components of a general resume template are:
- Simple and clean design that’s easily adaptable
- Classic color scheme for printing and photocopying
- Timeless feel that outlasts design fads and trends
- Professional fonts that are simple to read and bolded for emphasis
- Name in bold letters at the top of the page
- Traditional layout arranged in a clear hierarchy of information
- Lines or adequate white space to separate sections
- Clear headings to define each part of the resume
- Chronological format prioritizing career progression
- Simple bulleted list of key skills and proficiencies
When to pick a general (universal) resume template
A general resume template isn’t for everyone, but it can be a practical solution in certain situations. For example, imagine you’re a college student or recent graduate planning to attend a job fair on campus. Realistically, you can’t tailor every resume you distribute because you need your document ready to go. This is where a general resume can shine, highlighting your strengths and overall work experience.
Or, suppose you’re a food service worker, such as a barista or server. If you have experience, you know what hiring managers are looking for and that your skills will often transfer well from one cafe or restaurant to the next. Creating a general resume focused on your service achievements makes distributing among local establishments you’d like to work for easy.
Here are the top five reasons to choose a general resume template:
- Convey a sense of professionalism and competence
- Present a simple, straightforward resume
- Save time and effort so you can apply to more jobs in less time
- Translate industry experience from job to job
- Have your resume easily read by applicant tracking systems (ATS)
For those seeking flexibility, our guide on best resume formats can help you refine your general resume templates for different opportunities.
Expert tip:
How to get the most out of this template
Even though general resume templates are a universal option, they should still be used with a strategy in mind. Simply listing your job duties and education won’t be enough — you must demonstrate that you’re well-qualified for the role. Next, we’ll discuss how you can maximize your potential with this template style:
- Categorize your job search efforts: Make a few versions of your general resume. For example, if you’re applying for positions in both sales and marketing, create two versions highlighting relevant skills and experiences in each field.
- Focus on your value proposition: The profile section should clearly articulate what you offer as a professional. Emphasize key strengths and qualifications that are valuable, compelling, and transferable to any employer.
- Quantify your work history: Hiring managers want to know the scope and impact of your work. Use action verbs and numbers to describe how many people you led or how much you increased sales. This illustrates the type of results employers can expect from you.
- Highlight relevant skills: If you’re using a general resume template to apply for multiple positions, proactively research the types of skills hiring managers are looking for. Study and compare job descriptions to understand better how current skills might transfer.
Versatility is key in today’s job market — remember, our comprehensive approach to general resume templates ensures you’re always ready to impress.
Frequently Asked Questions: General (Universal) Resume Templates
How do you start a general resume?
After you provide your contact information, start with a resume profile. This brief paragraph is two to four sentences long. It describes who you are and the unique value you can bring to potential employers. For example, suppose you have experience in hospitality, and you're applying for positions as a front desk attendant for hotels in your area. You might write something like:
"Customer-focused hospitality professional with three years of experience in front desk operations at luxury hotels. Known for handling guest complaints with a positive attitude, receiving positive survey feedback, and maintaining a 95% guest satisfaction rating."
What is the difference between general and tailored resumes?
The key difference between the two lies in the level of customization. General resumes are only customized to the typical requirements of the job title you're applying for.
Alternatively, a tailored resume requires deeper research on the job opening, company, and industry. It uses specific language in the job ad throughout the document to show how an applicant aligns with that unique employer's needs.
While a tailored resume takes more time, it usually pays off by establishing you as a well-qualified candidate. However, you can explore a broader range of opportunities with a general resume, pursuing multiple openings simultaneously.
For those who prefer a one-size-fits-all approach, our general resume templates provide a strong foundation, while our professional resume templates offer industry-specific customization.
Is a general resume good?
This can be answered with both "yes" and "no." General resumes are suitable for select circumstances. This option can save you time and energy but may lack the specificity to land an interview. While a general resume may be versatile, its impact on hiring managers may be reduced if it doesn't adequately address the position's needs.
A general resume template can be a good starting point for your job search. Use it to create a master copy of your most relevant experiences, skills, and training. Then, make new copies and adjust them as you apply for different opportunities.
How do professional resume templates help me land my dream job?
Professional resume templates offer a structured, polished design that showcases your skills and experience. Using these templates, you can ensure that your resume is well-organized and tailored to meet the expectations of hiring managers across industries. Many sample resume templates provide general resume examples that you can adapt for your specific career path, helping you highlight achievements with quantifiable results. This approach not only saves time but also enhances your application's visual appeal, increasing your chances of securing interviews and ultimately landing your dream job.
What are the advantages of using general resume templates?
General resume templates offer a straightforward layout that works across many industries. They provide a plug-and-play format that lets you quickly fill in your details, making the resume creation process fast and efficient. Many websites even offer free resume templates, so you can experiment without cost. Using these templates helps ensure your resume is clear and well-organized, which is essential when you're sending out multiple applications. They serve as a solid starting point that you can further customize to better match the job requirements.
What is the difference between creative and general resume templates?
Creative resume templates use unique design elements and layouts to help candidates in artistic or innovative fields stand out, while general resume examples focus on clarity and traditional structure suitable for a wide range of industries. Both types of sample resume templates are effective when tailored to the job description. Creative templates allow for more personalization with colors and graphics, whereas general templates emphasize straightforward, professional content.
More Resume Templates
Looking for a different resume template? Check out this list:
| Hybrid Resume Templates and Examples | Minimalist Resume Templates and Examples |
| Resume Templates and Examples For Microsoft Word |
Check out Related Examples
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