Recruiters and hiring managers typically spend only a short time reviewing the professional resumes they received to shortlist their candidates. By using a clear, structured format in your resume, you can help them quickly identify your experience, skills and achievements.

Choosing the right resume template is an important first step to make a strong first impression.

The best format depends on your career stage. A chronological resume works well for graduates and early-career professionals, a skills-based resume is often effective for experienced professionals, and an executive resume highlights leadership experience and business results.

Use the examples below as a guide and adapt them to fit your background.

1. Chronological resume template

Best for: Fresh graduates, early-career professionals, and candidates with a straightforward work history.

This is the most commonly used resume format among job seekers. It lists your experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role. Employers can quickly understand your career progression, education and skills.

[Your Name]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [LinkedIn Profile]
[Location]

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY (Optional)
[A short introduction that highlights your background, strengths and career goals].

Example: “Digital Marketing Graduate interested in content, analytics and brand communications. Strong understanding of digital channels, with experience delivering university and internship projects that improved engagement and campaign performance.”

EDUCATION
[Qualification] | [Institution] – [Dates]
[Insert relevant subjects, specialisations, achievements/awards, or extracurricular activities]

TRAINING AND CERTIFICATES
[List down certifications, courses and professional trainings]

SKILLS
[List down languages, software/technical tools, and industry-specific skills]

JOB EXPERIENCE (sort from the most recent role)
[Job Title 1] | [Company] – [Dates of employment]
[State main responsibility]
[Include achievements with measurable results]
[Mention examples of collaboration, leadership or communication skills]

(Repeat for additional relevant roles)

REFERENCES
Available upon request

2. Skill-based resume template

Best for: Mid-level professionals and candidates with a broad range of experience.

This format puts your key skills and achievements near the top of the page, making it easier for employers to see what you can do before reviewing your full work history.

It's particularly useful when applying for roles that require specific skills or experience.

[YOUR NAME]
[Professional Title]
[Phone Number] | [ Email Address] | [LinkedIn Profile]

CAREER PROFILE
[Include a summary of your experience, key strengths and career goals.]

Example: HR Manager with more than 10 years of experience across talent acquisition, employee relations and organisational development. Strong track record of improving recruitment processes and supporting business growth through people-focused strategies.

KEY SKILLS
[List down your current skills relevant to the role applied]

Example:

  • Stakeholder management
  • Employee relations
  • Recruitment and talent acquisition
  • Data analysis
  • Project management

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
[Include measurable evidence in your list]

Example:

  • Improved employee retention by 15%
  • Reduced time-to-hire by 20%
  • Delivered a new HR policy framework across multiple business units

WORK EXPERIENCE (from most to least recent)
[Job Title 1] | [Company] - Dates of employment

  • [Main responsibilities]
  • [Key achievements]
  • [Measurable business outcomes where possible]

Repeat for additional relevant roles.

EDUCATION
[Qualification]
[Institution]
[Dates]

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
[Certifications]
[Professional courses]
[Industry training]

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
[Relevant awards and achievements]

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
[Memberships and industry associations]

REFERENCES
Available upon request

3. Executive resume template

Best for: Senior leaders, directors and executives.

Executive resumes should focus less on day-to-day responsibilities and more on leadership, strategy and business impact. Highlight the outcomes you've delivered and the value you've created for organisations.

[YOUR NAME]
[Insert headline]
Example: Private Equity Leader | Growth Strategy Specialist
[Email Address] | [Phone Number] | [LinkedIn Profile]

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
[A short overview of your leadership experience, career highlights and areas of expertise.]

Example: Senior business leader with extensive experience developing growth strategies across APAC markets. Responsible for multi-million-dollar P&L portfolios and recognised for driving commercial growth, market expansion and operational improvement.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

  • [Major business achievements]
  • [Industry awards]
  • [Leadership recognition]

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
[Job Title] | [Company] – [Dates]

Brief overview
[A short description of the organisation and your remit.]

Key achievements:

  • [Business results delivered]
  • [Revenue growth]
  • [Cost savings]
  • [Team leadership outcomes]
  • [Strategic initiatives implemented]

Repeat for additional relevant roles.

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
[Qualification] | [Institution] - [Dates]

  • Certifications
  • Professional memberships

How to customise your resume template

These templates provide a framework, not a finished resume. Personalise every section to match the role you're applying for.

To make your resume easier to read:

  • Use clear headings.
  • Stick to one or two professional fonts.
  • Keep formatting consistent throughout.
  • Prioritise achievements over responsibilities.
  • Include measurable results wherever possible.
  • Limit your resume to the most relevant information.

Resumes with clean, well-structured and easy-to-read layouts are more impactful as they can be interpreted easily. They are also optimised for applicant tracking system (ATS) that makes the applications discoverable to hiring managers.

The most effective resume design also uses up space efficiently. Make sure to avoid clutters in your resume, such as:

  • Graphics
  • Rating scales
  • Visual skill bars

Ask a trusted colleague, mentor or friend to review your resume before applying with it. Proofing tools such as Grammarly can also help catch spelling and grammar mistakes.

How to showcase transferable skills on your resume

Transferable skills are skills you can apply across different jobs, industries and career paths. They're especially important if you're changing industries, moving into a new role or returning to work after a break.

Examples include:

Technical skills

  • Software proficiency
  • Data analysis
  • Programming languages
  • Project management tools

Communication skills

  • Presentation skills
  • Writing and reporting
  • Stakeholder management
  • Client relationship management

Leadership skills

  • Team management
  • Coaching and mentoring
  • Delegation
  • Decision-making

Problem-solving skills

  • Process improvement
  • Research and analysis
  • Strategic planning
  • Risk management

Rather than simply listing these skills, show how you've used them to achieve results.

Instead of:

Responsible for writing press releases.

Write:

Wrote press releases for a product launch campaign that secured coverage across 12 media outlets.

Instead of:

Managed a team.

Write:

Led and developed a team of five marketing professionals supporting campaigns across eight markets.

Specific examples help employers understand not only what you did, but the impact you made. Whenever possible, tailor those examples to the skills and experience requested in the job description.

Explore available opportunities today

Once your resume is ready, you can confidently move forward in your job search. Explore the latest opportunities in your market and find a role that matches your skills, experience, and career aspirations with Michael Page.