Resume templates
Black and White Resume Templates
A black and white resume template gets hierarchy from weight, size and spacing instead of colour, which is why it prints cleanly on any office printer and reads the same on every screen. These are the layouts to choose when the content should do all the talking.
Best for: Conservative industries, public sector, legal and finance roles, and anyone who prints and hands in resumes.
When a black and white template is the right choice
- The resume will be printed or photocopied.
- You want the most neutral possible presentation.
- Colour would look out of place for the employer.
6 black and white templates to choose from
Who a black and white resume suits
Black and white layouts suit conservative and formal employers (law, finance, government, defence, insurance) and any application that will be printed, photocopied or scanned, as well as anyone who simply wants the most neutral presentation possible.
How to lay out a black and white resume
Build hierarchy from size, weight and spacing alone: a larger name, bold section headings, regular body text, and a little more space above each heading than below it. A thin black rule under the name or headings guides the eye without colour. Align dates and locations consistently, since nothing else on the page guides the reader. Choose one typeface with several weights, so bold headings and regular text feel related, and keep body text at 10.5–11 pt so it prints cleanly.
What to emphasise
- Clear headings, since there is no colour to separate sections.
- Tidy alignment of dates and locations in a single column.
- Strong verbs and numbers that give a plain page its energy.
- A concise summary that gives the reader a reason to keep going, since there is no colour to pull them in.
Common mistakes
- Grey text that disappears when the page is printed or photocopied.
- Too many bold and italic styles competing for attention.
- Heavy borders or boxes that make the page look like a form.
- Text set too small or too light to survive a photocopier.
Keywords that suit a black and white resume
Build your black and white resume now
Pick a template above, fill in your details, and the live preview updates as you type. Building is free; download as PDF or Word with Pro — or run it through the optimizer to match a specific job.