Resume templates
Serif Resume Templates
A serif resume template reads established before a word is read. These pair a classic serif for names and headings with clean body text, so the page feels like a well-set document rather than a web form — and still parses cleanly in an ATS.
Best for: Law, finance, consulting, academia, publishing and senior candidates in traditional industries.
When a serif template is the right choice
- Your industry still prints resumes and reads them on paper.
- You want gravitas without decoration.
- A sans-serif template feels too casual for the role.
6 serif templates to choose from
Who a serif resume suits
Serif typography suits fields with a tradition of formal documents: law, finance, academia, publishing, architecture, diplomacy and senior roles in established organisations. It also works for writers and editors, for whom the page itself is a small sample of their sense of type.
How to lay out a serif resume
Use the serif for your name and headings, and either the same serif or a clean sans-serif for body text at 10.5–11.5 pt; serifs set too small look cramped on screen. Keep line length moderate and leave a little more space between paragraphs than you would with a sans-serif. A single dark accent (navy, burgundy or forest green) suits the traditional feel better than a bright one. Serifs reward careful details: italics for the titles of publications, one consistent style for headings, and proper en dashes in date ranges.
What to emphasise
- Education and qualifications, which carry more weight in traditional fields.
- Publications, matters, deals or cases, listed in one consistent style.
- Professional admissions and memberships.
- A concise profile that sets out your specialism and seniority in measured language.
Common mistakes
- Mixing two different serif typefaces on one page.
- Using decorative or script fonts, which hurt both readability and parsing.
- Setting body text at 9 pt to fit more in.
- Pairing a traditional serif with emoji, icons or bright colours that clash with its tone.
Keywords that suit a serif resume
Build your serif 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.