--- title: "Harvard Resume Template Template (ATS-Friendly)" description: "Classic single-column format from Harvard Career Services. Single-column, standard headings, no tables or text boxes. Parses cleanly in all major ATS systems. New graduates, interns, and professionals in business, finance, consulting, or a" canonical: https://www.jobfinder-ai.com/resume-templates/harvard updated: 2026-10-14 --- Word · Single-column · Public (Harvard Career Services) # Harvard Resume Template Template Classic single-column format from Harvard Career Services. ATS-Friendly — tested in Greenhouse, Lever, Workday [Download .docx from Harvard](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/bullet-point-resume-template/) - **Format**: Word (.docx) - **Columns**: Single - **ATS-safe**: Yes — tested in Greenhouse, Lever, Workday - **Font**: Calibri or Times New Roman - **License**: Public (Harvard Career Services) - **Page length**: One page - **Difficulty**: Easy — Word, no special tools - **Cost**: Free ## What is Harvard Resume Template? The Harvard resume template is a classic single-column format provided by Harvard College Career Services. It uses a bullet-point structure with Education leading, followed by Experience, Activities, and Skills. The template is distributed as a Word document (.docx) and is designed to be ATS-friendly with standard headings and no complex formatting. It is widely recommended for undergraduate and graduate students applying to internships and full-time roles in business, finance, consulting, and academia. ### Who it's best for New graduates, interns, and professionals in business, finance, consulting, or academia who need a traditional, conservative resume format. ### When to avoid it Software engineers who want a Projects section, or creative professionals who need visual design. ## ATS compatibility Single-column, standard headings, no tables or text boxes. Parses cleanly in all major ATS systems. The Word format is universally accepted. ## Structure Harvard Resume Template uses a single-column layout with the following sections, in order: #### Header Name in bold, centered. Contact information (email, phone, LinkedIn) on separate lines below. No photo. #### Education Harvard College, degree, concentration, graduation date. GPA if 3.5+. Honors and relevant coursework listed. #### Experience Organization, role, location, dates. 3-4 bullet points per role using action verbs and quantified results. #### Activities Leadership roles, volunteer work, extracurriculars. Shows personality and initiative. #### Skills Languages (including programming), certifications, and technical skills grouped by category. ## Why Harvard Resume Template works - Conservative, professional format expected by traditional industries (finance, consulting, law). - Education-first structure ideal for students and recent graduates. - Word format is universally accepted and easy to edit without special software. - Standard headings ensure ATS compatibility. - Bullet-point structure forces concise, quantified achievements. ## How to customize it 1. Swap the font to Calibri or Arial for a more modern look while staying ATS-safe. 2. Move Experience above Education once you have 3+ years of full-time work. 3. Add a Summary section at the top for senior-level roles. 4. Replace Activities with a Projects section for technical roles. 5. Adjust margins to 0.75 inch (default is 1 inch) to fit more content. ## Harvard Resume Template at a glance | | | | --- | --- | | Format | Word (.docx) | | Columns | Single | | ATS-safe | Yes — tested in Greenhouse, Lever, Workday | | Font | Calibri or Times New Roman | | License | Public (Harvard Career Services) | | Page length | One page | | Difficulty | Easy — Word, no special tools | | Cost | Free | ## Frequently asked questions **Is the Harvard resume template ATS-friendly?** Yes. It is single-column, uses standard headings, and contains no tables, text boxes, or images. It parses cleanly in Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, and Taleo. **Should I use the Harvard template or Jake's Resume for software engineering?** Jake's Resume is better for software engineers because it includes a Projects section and is designed for technical roles. The Harvard template is better for business, finance, and consulting roles where a traditional format is expected. **Can I use the Harvard template if I didn't go to Harvard?** Yes. The template is publicly available from Harvard Career Services and can be used by anyone. Replace Harvard's branding with your own university name. **What font should I use with the Harvard template?** Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman are all acceptable. Calibri is the most modern. Times New Roman is the most traditional. Avoid decorative fonts. **Should I include a photo on the Harvard template?** No. The template does not include a photo, and you should not add one for US, UK, or Canadian applications due to anti-discrimination laws and ATS incompatibility. **How long should my Harvard-format resume be?** One page for students and early-career professionals (under 10 years of experience). Two pages are acceptable for senior professionals with extensive relevant experience. ### Download Harvard Resume Template [Word Download .docx from Harvard](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/bullet-point-resume-template/) ### Related templates - [**Jake's Resume** LaTeX · ATS-safe](https://www.jobfinder-ai.com/resume-templates/jakes-resume) - [**Stanford Resume Template** Word · ATS-safe](https://www.jobfinder-ai.com/resume-templates/stanford) - [**MIT Resume Template** Word · ATS-safe](https://www.jobfinder-ai.com/resume-templates/mit) - [**Deedy Resume Template** LaTeX · Not ATS-safe](https://www.jobfinder-ai.com/resume-templates/deedy) ### Tailor your resume with AI Upload your resume and a job description. Jobfinder AI tailors your resume to the role, scores it like a recruiter, and helps you reach the hiring manager directly. [Start my free hunt](https://app.jobfinder-ai.com/signup?utm_source=jobfinder_web&utm_medium=resume_template&utm_campaign=resume_templates)