Choosing the perfect resume format when starting your career can make all the difference when submitting applications for entry-level roles. A sleek, well-structured layout helps you stand out without requiring design skills. Here are the best free resume designs for newly minted grads in 2025 that are intuitive and user-friendly, ATS friendly, and specifically designed for beginners.

First is the Minimalist Modern CV by Canva. It uses strategic breathing room, gentle highlight tones, and a well-structured layout that shines a spotlight on your academic background and hands-on experience. It suits imaginative industries and is completely customizable via browser.

Second is the Clean and Professional Template from Google Docs. This one is ideal for traditional business environments. It features a classic format with bold section headers and a priority on qualifications and grades. It exports in.docx format with one click.

Overleaf’s Two-Column Academic Template. Designed for those applying to technical or academic positions, it separates skills from experience side by side. It assumes some familiarity with LaTeX but many universities provide templates to get you started.

Fourth choice: Zety’s Polished Design. It offers a clean, harmonious structure with icons for contact info and a timeline for your education. It is mobile responsive and instant downloadable PDF output.

Fifth pick: Novoresume’s Design-Focused Resume. Ideal for arts and communications majors, it includes a compact showcase area and a QR code linking to your LinkedIn. The limited plan allows one monthly export.

Microsoft Word’s Timeless Resume. Often overlooked, this template is reliable and widely accepted. It works well for traditional industries like banking and legal where established norms prevail.

Seventh pick: Resume.io’s ATS-Friendly Template. Engineered to pass applicant tracking systems, it avoids graphics and uses standard headings like Professional Experience and Degrees. It’s great for applying to large companies.

Eighth is the Academic CV from LaTeX Templates. If you are pursuing research or graduate studies, this template emphasizes scholarly achievements and peer-reviewed work. It is free for personal use.

Template.net’s Linear Career Timeline. This striking layout places your education and internships along a horizontal line. It stands out immediately but should be used only in design or media fields.

Hloom’s Concise Grad Resume. Designed specifically for new grads with sparse resumes, it emphasizes transferable skills, coursework, and extracurricular activities. It comes with intelligent tips to strengthen your content.

You can access and personalize all ten templates without charge. Remember to adapt your CV for every application, https://pubhtml5.com/homepage/knlhu use keywords from the posting, and review carefully before submitting. Your CV is your first impression—let it speak volumes.