The Best Resume Templates for Software Engineers (2026)
Jake's Resume is the best resume template for software engineers: a clean, single-column, ATS-friendly LaTeX layout (MIT-licensed) that has become the industry standard. Overleaf hosts it for free if you know LaTeX; a visual builder gives the same output without code. Deedy and the Harvard/Faangpath templates are strong alternatives for specific cases.
How we ranked them (methodology)
We evaluated templates on ATS-parseability (single-column, standard fonts, no text-in-graphics), density (fitting real projects and impact on one page), engineer-recruiter familiarity, and ease of editing. Tech recruiters skim fast and ATS parsers are unforgiving, so plain, dense, single-column layouts win. We note where you can use each template free and where a no-LaTeX builder helps. ResuMax (this page's publisher) ships several of these as editable, ATS-checked templates; we call that out honestly rather than ranking a template above what it deserves.
The ranking at a glance
All of these are free to obtain in their original form; the cost is usually your time editing LaTeX.
| Rank | Template | Format | Best for | ATS-safe? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jake's Resume | LaTeX (Overleaf) / no-code builders | Most SWEs, new grads to senior | Yes |
| 2 | Deedy / Deedy-Resume-Reborn | LaTeX | Two-column fans, lots of skills | Mostly (watch columns) |
| 3 | Faangpath single-column | Word / LaTeX | Word users wanting Jake-style | Yes |
| 4 | Harvard / classic single-column | Word / Google Docs | New grads, internships | Yes |
| 5 | Rezi / Teal SWE templates | Web builder | No-LaTeX, ATS-scored editing | Yes |
| 6 | Enhancv tech templates | Web builder | Design-forward portfolios | Risky if multi-column |
1. Jake's Resume — the industry standard
Created by Jake Gutierrez and released MIT-licensed on Overleaf and GitHub, Jake's Resume is the de facto standard for software engineering resumes. It is single-column, uses readable Computer Modern fonts, and packs experience, projects, and skills densely onto one page, which is exactly what ATS parsers and tech recruiters want.
The catch is LaTeX. Editing the source on Overleaf is free but fiddly if you do not write LaTeX, and most engineers do not. A visual or AI builder that outputs the same layout removes the compilation and debugging pain. ResuMax ships Jake's Resume as an editable, ATS-checked template, so you get the standard layout without touching LaTeX, plus a recruiter-panel score on the result.
- Pros: ATS-safe, dense, recruiter-familiar, free, MIT-licensed
- Cons: raw LaTeX editing is unfriendly to non-LaTeX users
2. Deedy / Deedy-Resume-Reborn — dense two-column
Deedy is a popular two-column LaTeX template that fits a lot of skills and coursework into a tight space, favored by candidates with many technologies to list. The maintained 'Reborn' fork modernizes it.
Two columns can trip some older ATS parsers, so it is a calculated risk. Best for candidates with heavy skills/coursework who are confident their target ATS handles columns.
- Pros: high information density, clean look
- Cons: two-column layout can confuse some ATS, LaTeX editing
3. Faangpath / single-column Word templates
For engineers who prefer Microsoft Word, single-column templates in the Faangpath/Jake style deliver the same ATS-safe structure without LaTeX. Editing is familiar and exports are reliable.
Best for those who want the Jake layout but live in Word or Google Docs.
- Pros: no LaTeX, ATS-safe, easy to edit
- Cons: less polished typography than LaTeX, manual formatting
4. Harvard / classic single-column — best for new grads
The classic Harvard-style single-column resume (education first, then experience and projects) is ideal for internships and new-grad roles where coursework and projects carry weight. It is plain, parseable, and widely accepted.
Best for students and early-career engineers with limited work history.
- Pros: extremely ATS-safe, new-grad friendly, free in Docs/Word
- Cons: plain, less optimized for dense senior experience
5. Rezi / Teal SWE templates — no-LaTeX with scoring
Rezi and Teal offer web-based, ATS-friendly SWE templates (Rezi even adapts Jake's layout) with live editing and keyword/score feedback. You trade some typographic control for convenience and built-in checks.
Best for engineers who want a Jake-style result plus inline ATS scoring without code.
- Pros: no LaTeX, live ATS/keyword feedback, fast
- Cons: less control than LaTeX, some features behind paywalls
6. Enhancv tech templates — design-forward
Enhancv's tech templates look striking and suit engineers who also do design or developer-relations work. The risk is the same as elsewhere: multi-column, graphic-heavy versions can break ATS parsing, so choose a single-column variant if you go this route.
Best for portfolio-style resumes where visual polish helps and ATS risk is acceptable.
- Pros: standout design, good for hybrid design/eng roles
- Cons: ATS risk on multi-column layouts, paid downloads
ResuMax tailors your resume to each role, scores it like a recruiter, and preps you for interviews.
Get started freeFrequently asked questions
What resume template do most software engineers use?
Jake's Resume, an MIT-licensed single-column LaTeX template by Jake Gutierrez, is the industry standard. It is ATS-friendly, dense, and recruiter-familiar, available free on Overleaf and GitHub.
Do I need LaTeX to use Jake's Resume?
No. The original is LaTeX on Overleaf, but no-code builders (including ResuMax, Rezi, and rejectless) reproduce the same single-column layout so you can edit fields and export a PDF without writing or compiling LaTeX.
Are two-column resume templates ATS-safe?
Not always. Templates like Deedy look great but can confuse older ATS parsers that read left to right. If your target uses modern parsing (Workday, Greenhouse) you are usually fine; when unsure, choose single-column.
Which template is best for a new-grad software engineer?
A classic single-column or Jake's Resume with education and projects near the top. New grads should lead with coursework, internships, and substantial projects, all of which these ATS-safe layouts handle well.