Formal Resume Template
A traditional two-column resume template designed to pass every major applicant tracking system. Edit any section, switch colours, and download a polished PDF in under 3 minutes - completely free.
Best for
- ✓ATS-friendly - passes Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, Taleo
- ✓two column layout, 5+ colour variations
- ✓Editable in our builder - rearrange sections, switch fonts, customise
- ✓Export as high-quality PDF, no watermarks
Designer note: why Formal exists
Formal is for finance and law. The margins are tight, the type is serif, and there's exactly one accent colour. I don't recommend it for anyone outside those two industries because the conservatism reads as outdated in tech, healthcare, or consumer roles. But for an associate at a Magic Circle firm or an analyst at a bulge-bracket bank, this is the template.
Why these colours work
Navy or charcoal. Pick one. A 'pop' of colour on a finance or law resume reads as not having sat at a deal-team table, which costs you the interview.
Bullets that read well in Formal
These are the kind of lines this template's spacing and typography were built for. The note under each explains why the rhythm fits.
Closed $2.4B leveraged buyout. Led a six-person deal team, built three capital structure scenarios, presented final recommendation to the PE sponsor's investment committee.
Formal's tight bullet spacing makes scope-led prose readable in two glances.
Project Horizon (carve-out), $1.1B, sell-side, 2023. Advised Pinnacle Holdings.
Five-clause transaction lines stay readable on Formal. Most templates break this kind of dense reference content.
JD, Columbia Law School, 2018, magna cum laude. BA, Yale, 2015, summa cum laude.
Two-degree academic line with Latin honours, no wrapping. The serif handles it; sans-serif templates struggle.
How Formal compares to similar templates
Cross-links to the closest siblings in our library, with the actual differences spelled out - not just visually similar templates.
vs Professional
Professional is the safer middle-ground choice. If you're outside finance or law, Professional fits better. Formal is opinionated about its audience.
vs Authority
Authority is for partner-track and senior associates. Formal can hold up at junior associate too. Same audience, different career stage.
Questions about the Formal template
Is Formal too dated for fintech or modern finance roles?
For fintech, yes — pick Modern Two. For traditional banking and corporate law, Formal still reads as appropriate. The cutoff is roughly 'does the firm have a typography opinion'. If yes, stay traditional.
Can I add a photo on Formal?
No. US/UK finance and law CVs don't carry photos. For markets where photos are expected (UAE, parts of EU), switch to a photo-ready template.
Does it pass ATS at law firm portals?
Yes. Workday, iManage, vi-Recruit, all the law-firm parsers. Single-column logical order, standard headings, no problems.
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