New Grad Resume Template: Top 10 Picks
Find the best new grad resume template and learn exactly what to include with limited experience, from education to projects.
Graduation season rewards clarity, not creativity for its own sake. If you need a **new grad resume template**, the best choice is usually the one that makes your education, projects, internships, and early results easy to scan in six seconds. Below, I rank the top 10 options from weakest to strongest, explain why each sits where it does, and show exactly what to include when your experience is limited. If you want a faster starting point, browse [premium resume themes](/themes) to see polished layouts that do the hard part for you. ## 10. The infographic-style template This ranks last because it looks interesting but performs badly where new grads need help most: readability, ATS parsing, and quick recruiter scanning. ### Why it ranks here An infographic layout often uses sidebars, icons, charts, and visual rating bars for skills. That sounds modern, but most hiring teams do not need a pie chart that says you are “80% Excel.” They need evidence. ### What usually goes wrong - Skills become decoration instead of proof - Important details get buried in columns - ATS systems may parse content inconsistently - The design makes you look less serious for traditional roles ### When it can work Rarely. Maybe for a student applying to visual design roles and sending a resume directly to a human, not through a large applicant system. Even then, a portfolio usually carries more weight than a stylized resume. If you are tempted by visual flair, keep it restrained and use one of the cleaner [premium resume themes](/themes) instead of an infographic format. ## 9. The skills-heavy template This format ranks low because it overreacts to limited experience by turning the resume into a list of tools and traits. ### Why it ranks here A skills-heavy layout puts technical skills or competencies near the top and pushes context lower on the page. For a new grad, that can seem helpful. In practice, it often reads like keyword stuffing. ### What to include if you use it If you choose this type of **entry level resume template**, keep the skills section short and specific: - Software: Excel, SQL, Figma, Python - Methods: financial modeling, user research, data cleaning - Platforms: Salesforce, HubSpot, Tableau Do not add soft skills like “hardworking,” “team player,” or “fast learner.” Recruiters assume those claims mean nothing unless supported by bullets elsewhere. ### Better fix for limited experience Instead of expanding the skills section, add proof through: - class projects - capstone work - internships - student leadership - part-time jobs with measurable outcomes ## 8. The creative portfolio template This ranks eighth because it can work for a narrow group of candidates, but it is too specialized to be the default **resume template for students**. ### Why it ranks here For design, media, marketing, and content roles, a visual resume can complement a portfolio. But the resume still needs to be structured around evidence, not aesthetics. ### What to include If you use a creative template, include these **resume sections for new grads**: - Contact information - Short summary or headline - Education - Relevant experience - Projects - Skills - Portfolio link ### What not to do - Do not replace bullets with paragraphs - Do not use logos and graphics that crowd the page - Do not let your portfolio do all the explaining A hiring manager should understand your fit without clicking away. ## 7. The functional resume template This one ranks seventh because it hides chronology, which often creates suspicion. ### Why it ranks here A functional resume groups experience under categories like Leadership, Communication, and Analysis instead of listing roles in order. New grads sometimes use it to cover for thin work history. Recruiters often read that as a signal that the candidate is avoiding something. ### Why employers dislike it They want simple answers to basic questions: - Where have you worked? - When did you do it? - What did you achieve? Functional resu