Classic ATS Resume Template

The Classic template is a traditional serif resume with ruled section headings — the safe default when you are unsure which design to use. It suits any role and any experience level, from first job to executive. It is single-column, uses real Word heading styles, and is free to download as DOCX or PDF with no sign-up and no watermark.

Free Classic template — blank .docx + PDF

No sign-up
No payment
No watermark

Download blank .docx
classic.docx, 9 KB, single-column with real heading styles, opens in Word / Google Docs / LibreOffice.
Download blank PDF
classic.pdf, 4 KB, ATS-safe with live selectable text, US Letter.

Use this design in the builder → edit it in your browser — nothing leaves your device.

Classic template preview

The blank-but-structured sample below — set in Georgia — shows exactly where each section lands. Traditional serif résumé with ruled headings — the safe default for any role.

Your Name

Professional Headline

(555) 010-0000 · you@example.com · City, ST · linkedin.com/in/your-name

Professional Summary

Results-oriented professional summarizing your strongest qualifications in two or three balanced sentences, leading with the value you bring to a hiring team.

Experience

Your Job Title — Most Recent Employer

2022 – Present

Describe an achievement and quantify it with a number, percentage, or dollar figure.
Start each line with a strong past-tense verb such as led, built, reduced, or delivered.
Name the tools, systems, or methods you used so applicant-tracking systems match keywords.
Show scope: team size, budget, caseload, or volume handled over a stated period.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Your Field — Your School or University (2018 – 2022)

Skills

Project coordination · Stakeholder communication · Data reporting · Process improvement · Time management

Why it parses cleanly

Single-column flow, so a parser reads your sections top to bottom in the right order.
Real Heading 1 and Heading 2 styles mark Experience, Education, and Skills — not hand-sized bold text.
Set in Georgia, a standard system serif that embeds and extracts cleanly on every machine.
Ruled headings are drawn as paragraph borders, never as layout tables or text boxes.
Your contact block is body text, not a header or footer that an ATS might strip.

Is Classic the right pick?

Best for	Choose another design if
Anyone unsure which design fits — the lowest-risk default	You want a modern sans-serif look (choose Modern instead)
Traditional fields like law, finance, healthcare, and government	You need to cram a long career onto one page (choose Compact)
Mid-career applicants with a steady, linear work history	You are a student leading with education (choose Entry-Level)
Resumes a human recruiter will read closely on paper or screen	—

Where the Classic design fits — and where another design serves you better.

FAQ

Is the Classic template too old-fashioned for 2026?

No. A clean serif resume reads as professional and timeless, not dated. Recruiters and ATS parsers care about clear structure and readable text far more than trend-driven styling, and Classic delivers both.

Will a Georgia serif font cause ATS problems?

No. Georgia is a standard system font that embeds and extracts reliably, which is exactly why it is on the ATS-safe list alongside Calibri and Arial. Decorative or downloaded display fonts are the ones that cause parsing failures.

Can I switch the Classic example to a different design later?

Yes. Open any resume in the builder and use the design switcher to move between all eight templates instantly. Your content stays put; only the typography and headings change, and every design exports the same ATS-safe DOCX and PDF.

Does the Classic template work for an executive resume?

It can, though Executive is tuned for senior leaders with larger headings and more formal spacing. Classic stays neutral, so it works for a director-level resume that you want to read as understated rather than grand.

Resume examples that use the Classic design

See all eight templates or start in the free builder.