Who the Serif template is for

Full serif setting with classical proportions and roomy leading. Because it uses a single column with no tables, text boxes or graphics, it is a safe default for applications submitted through an employer's online portal — the situation where a layout problem quietly costs you an interview you would otherwise have got.

Applicant tracking systems parse your document before a human reads it, and the most common cause of a garbled parse is a layout the extractor cannot follow. Multi-column designs, tables and contact details hidden in a header are the usual culprits. This template avoids all three by design, so you can focus on wording rather than formatting risk.

Where this one fits

Best for: Publishing, academia, law and editorial roles.

Getting the most out of it

• Lead every bullet with a verb — Led, Built, Launched, Grew, Reduced — and close it with a number wherever you honestly can.
• Mirror the job description. Pull the actual tools, certifications and job titles from the posting you are targeting, and spell out abbreviations once.
• Keep it to one page under ten years of experience, two beyond that. Academic CVs are the exception and run longer.
• Run it through the checker. Our free ATS resume checker scores the finished document against any job description and lists the exact terms you are missing.