Executive
Dark sidebar for contact and skills, main column for experience.
Best for: Managers, Directors, Consulting
ATS fairUse this template
Executive CV Templates
Senior resumes need to communicate scope quickly: the size of the team, the budget, the markets and the outcomes. The executive templates give the summary room, keep the typography calm and put key facts where they are found first.
Some use a sidebar for contact details and skills; others use a coloured band or centred headings. Sidebar layouts look distinctive but are less predictable for ATS, so use them when you are sending directly to a person or recruiter.
Aim for two pages at most, and spend the space on the last ten to fifteen years.
Tailor my resume free
Boardroom
Light right-hand sidebar with serif type. Senior and calm.
Best for: Directors, Board roles, Finance
ATS fairUse this template
Director
Charcoal band header with centred section titles.
Best for: Directors, VPs, General management
ATS goodUse this template
Chairman
Burgundy accents on a light sidebar, with room for a photo.
Best for: Executives, Public sector, Law
ATS fairUse this template
Principal
Merriweather body, heavy rule and a generous summary.
Best for: Principals, Partners, Heads of department
ATS excellentUse this template
Tips for choosing and using these templates
- →Open with a summary that states scope, sector and what you are known for.
- →Quantify teams, budgets, revenue and outcomes, truthfully.
- →Trim roles older than 15 years to one line.
- →Use a serif or neutral sans-serif for gravitas.
- →Add board or advisory roles in a short separate section.
Questions
How long should an executive resume be?
Two pages is normal. More than that rarely helps, because readers skim to the recent roles.
Are sidebar layouts a problem for ATS?
They can be. For online portals use a single-column executive template such as ATS Executive or Principal. Use sidebar layouts when sending to a person.
Should I include a photo?
Only if it is customary where you are applying. In the US and UK it is usually left out.