Modern Resume Template 2017

In today's competitive job market, a modern and well-designed resume is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Your resume is often the first impression you make on a potential employer, so it needs to be visually appealing, easily scannable, and effectively highlight your skills and experience. Ditch the outdated formats and embrace a contemporary look that speaks to your professionalism and ambition. Our modern resume templates for 2017 are designed to help you stand out from the crowd and land that dream interview.

We understand that creating a resume from scratch can be daunting, especially when you're focused on tailoring your content. That's why we've curated a collection of professionally designed templates that are both visually appealing and ATS (Applicant Tracking System) friendly. These templates are fully customizable, allowing you to easily input your information and personalize the design to reflect your unique brand and career goals. Spend less time wrestling with formatting and more time focusing on showcasing your achievements.

These templates offer a clean, modern aesthetic with a focus on readability and visual hierarchy. They are designed to highlight your skills and experience in a clear and concise manner, ensuring that your qualifications are easily understood by hiring managers. So, browse our collection of modern resume templates for 2017 and take the first step towards landing your next great opportunity. Start creating a resume that truly represents you!

Key design elements of modern 2017 templates

Modern resume templates in 2017 shifted away from overly complex designs towards cleaner, more streamlined layouts that emphasized readability and efficient information presentation. A key element was the strategic use of white space to create visual breathing room, preventing the resume from feeling cluttered and overwhelming. This enhanced readability allowed recruiters and hiring managers to quickly scan the document and identify relevant qualifications.

Another defining characteristic was a focus on clear and concise language. Bullet points were used extensively to highlight key accomplishments and responsibilities, making it easier for recruiters to understand the candidate's contributions. Quantifiable results were heavily emphasized, showcasing the candidate's impact in previous roles. Templates often incorporated strategically placed keywords related to the target job, enhancing the resume's visibility in applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Finally, modern 2017 templates often incorporated subtle design elements to add visual interest without sacrificing professionalism. This included the use of subtle color accents, strategic line breaks, and carefully chosen fonts to create a visually appealing and memorable resume. The emphasis was on functionality and readability, ensuring the resume effectively conveyed the candidate's qualifications and skills in a compelling manner.

Essential sections for 2017-era resumes

A modern resume template for 2017 required several essential sections to effectively showcase a candidate's qualifications. These sections focused on conveying relevant skills, experience, and education in a clear and concise manner, optimized for both human readers and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

The key sections included a strong professional summary, a detailed skills section, a robust work experience section, and an education section. The professional summary acted as a brief introduction, highlighting the candidate's key strengths and career goals. The skills section typically listed both hard and soft skills relevant to the targeted roles, often incorporating keywords identified from job descriptions. Work experience was presented in reverse chronological order, emphasizing accomplishments and quantifiable results over simply listing responsibilities.

Here's a breakdown of these essential sections:

• Contact Information: Name, phone number, email address, LinkedIn profile URL, and optionally a personal website or online portfolio.
• Professional Summary: A brief overview of your skills and experience, highlighting your value proposition to a potential employer. Tailor this to each job you apply for.
• Skills: A list of your relevant technical and soft skills, including software proficiency, languages spoken, and industry-specific knowledge. Ensure the skills are ATS-friendly keywords.
• Work Experience: A detailed account of your previous jobs, including your responsibilities, accomplishments, and quantifiable results. Use action verbs and focus on your impact.
• Education: Information on your degrees, certifications, and other relevant academic achievements.

Optional sections such as projects, volunteer experience, and awards could further enhance a resume, especially for candidates with limited work experience or those seeking to highlight specific achievements. However, in 2017, the emphasis remained on clarity, conciseness, and relevance to the specific job being applied for. The overall goal was to create a resume that was easy to read, visually appealing, and optimized for ATS screening.

Keywords and optimizing for ATS in 2017

In 2017, optimizing your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) was crucial for getting past the initial screening process. While resume parsing technology has evolved since then, the foundational principles remain largely the same. Focusing on relevant keywords extracted directly from the job description is paramount. Analyze the requirements and responsibilities outlined in the posting and integrate those terms naturally into your resume's experience, skills, and summary sections.

Beyond simple keyword stuffing, contextual relevance matters. ATS algorithms are becoming increasingly sophisticated and can identify synonyms and related concepts. However, it’s safer to use the exact terminology specified in the job description when possible. Think about how you can demonstrate your expertise in those areas through quantifiable achievements and specific examples. Use action verbs to describe your responsibilities and showcase the impact you made in previous roles. For example, instead of simply stating "Managed social media accounts," try "Managed social media accounts, increasing engagement by 30% within six months through targeted content strategies."

Choosing the right file format is also key for ATS compatibility. Generally, a Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) file is still considered the most universally compatible, followed by a plain text (.txt) version, although formatting will be lost. Avoid PDF files unless explicitly requested, as they can sometimes be misinterpreted by older ATS systems. Finally, ensure your resume has a clear and logical structure. Use standard section headings (e.g., "Summary," "Experience," "Skills," "Education") and avoid overly complex formatting or graphics that might confuse the parsing software. Simple, clean formatting is always preferable for ATS optimization.

Action verbs and quantifiable results

In today's competitive job market, a modern resume needs to showcase not just what you did, but how well you did it. This means moving beyond generic descriptions of responsibilities and focusing on impactful action verbs and quantifiable results. Utilizing strong action verbs demonstrates initiative and leadership, while incorporating metrics provides tangible evidence of your contributions to previous employers. When crafting your resume using a modern template, strategically integrate these elements to highlight your achievements and catch the eye of recruiters.

Start by replacing passive phrases with dynamic action verbs. Instead of "Responsible for managing social media," try "Managed social media campaigns resulting in a 30% increase in follower engagement." Choose verbs that accurately reflect your level of involvement and the complexity of the task. Examples include: Led, Developed, Implemented, Optimized, Analyzed, and Streamlined. Furthermore, tailor these verbs to align with the specific requirements outlined in the job description. This demonstrates that you understand the role and possess the skills necessary to succeed.

Quantifiable results are the cornerstone of a compelling resume. Whenever possible, use numbers, percentages, and specific data to illustrate the impact of your work. Did you increase sales by 15%? Reduce costs by 10%? Improve customer satisfaction scores by 5 points? These metrics provide concrete evidence of your accomplishments and allow hiring managers to easily assess your value. Even seemingly non-numerical tasks can often be quantified. For example, instead of "Improved customer service," try "Improved customer service response time by 20% by implementing a new ticketing system."

To effectively integrate action verbs and quantifiable results, consider using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for each bullet point describing your experience. Briefly outline the situation, describe the task you were assigned, detail the actions you took, and most importantly, highlight the quantifiable results you achieved. This structured approach ensures that your accomplishments are presented clearly and concisely. Remember, your resume is a marketing document designed to showcase your value, so make sure your achievements are prominent and easily understood by potential employers.

Resume Example: modern resume template 2017

Below is a simple and clean resume example tailored to modern resume template 2017. Replace placeholder details with your own achievements.

FAQs

Choosing the right resume template can be daunting, but understanding the purpose and features of a modern template helps. Modern resume templates, like those popular in 2017, prioritize readability, visual appeal, and ATS compatibility. They often feature clean lines, strategic use of white space, and a clear hierarchy of information. This ensures recruiters and applicant tracking systems can easily scan and understand your qualifications.

A common question is whether a modern template will work for all industries. While generally applicable, it's essential to tailor the template to the specific industry and role. For creative fields, you might opt for a template with more visual elements, while a more conservative industry might benefit from a simpler, more traditional design. Regardless, ensure the core elements like work experience, skills, and education are presented clearly and concisely.

Another frequent question revolves around ATS (Applicant Tracking System) compatibility. Modern templates are typically designed with ATS in mind. To maximize compatibility, avoid using excessive graphics, tables, or columns. Use standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman, and save your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting while remaining readable by most ATS. Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description throughout your resume, especially in your skills section and experience descriptions, to improve your chances of being identified by the system.

Updating a 2017 resume for today's market

While a "modern resume template 2017" might have been effective then, the job market and applicant tracking systems (ATS) have significantly evolved. Simply using the same template won't cut it. The core update needs to focus on optimizing your resume for both human readability and ATS compatibility. This means emphasizing quantifiable achievements, incorporating relevant keywords naturally, and ensuring the format is clean and easily parsable.

Several key areas require attention when updating a 2017 resume. Firstly, your summary should be concise and impactful, highlighting your most relevant skills and experience for the roles you're targeting *now*. Secondly, focus on quantifiable achievements rather than just listing responsibilities. Use action verbs and numbers to demonstrate the impact you made in previous roles. For example, instead of "Managed social media accounts," try "Increased social media engagement by 30% in Q2 by implementing a new content strategy." Finally, ensure your skills section is up-to-date and includes keywords that are frequently used in job descriptions for your desired roles. Use tools like job scan websites to analyze your resume for keyword gaps.

Beyond content, consider the visual presentation. While the template itself might still be relatively clean, ensure it's ATS-friendly. Avoid using excessive graphics, tables, or unusual fonts that can confuse the system. Stick to standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, and use clear headings and bullet points to structure your information. Also, save your resume as a PDF unless the job posting specifically requests a Word document. A PDF preserves the formatting and ensures your resume appears as intended, regardless of the recruiter's operating system or software. Remember to proofread carefully for any typos or grammatical errors before submitting.

Resume Example: modern resume template 2017

Below is a simple and clean resume example tailored to modern resume template 2017. Replace placeholder details with your own achievements.

Ready to Land Your Dream Job?

We hope this modern resume template has given you a strong foundation to showcase your skills and experience. Remember, your resume is a living document, so continue to refine it based on your career goals and the specific requirements of each job you apply for.

Don't hesitate to revisit our site for more templates, tips, and resources to help you stand out from the competition. Good luck with your job search!