Harvard resume template
Harvard resume template: the classic one-page format
By Alexander Phillip · Career Coach and Recruitment Expert · Updated November 2026
Quick answer
A Harvard resume template is the classic one-page resume taught in Harvard's career guide: a serif font, your name centered at the top, one contact line, centered section headings, education first for students, and places and dates flush right. CV Chap Chap's Boston template follows that format, on US Letter with no photo.
- Serif, centered, one page
- Education first
- PDF and Word download
What makes a resume Harvard style
The Harvard resume format comes from the resume guide published by Harvard's career office (the Mignone Center for Career Success), which shows sample resumes for students and alumni. Its look has become a byword for a plain, serious resume: black text in a serif font, your name centered at the top, a single contact line under it, and centered section headings such as Education, Experience, Leadership and Skills.
Inside each section the layout is strict and easy to scan: the school or employer in bold on the left with the city and state on the right, then your degree or job title with the dates on the right, then short lines on what you did. There are no columns, icons, photos or colour blocks, so applicant tracking systems read it in the right order.
The Harvard resume format at a glance
| Part | Harvard-style resume |
|---|---|
| Length | One page |
| Font | One serif font, such as Times, 10 to 12 point |
| Header | Name centered; one line with address or city, email and phone |
| Headings | Centered, bold, title case |
| Section order (students) | Education, Experience, Leadership or Activities, Skills and Interests |
| Section order (with experience) | Experience first, then Education |
| Places and dates | Flush right on the same line as the school or employer |
| Leave off | Photo, date of birth, references |
Who the Harvard resume template suits
The Harvard resume template suits students, new graduates and anyone applying to conservative fields: finance, consulting, law, government, research and teaching. Its plain serif look reads as careful and traditional, and putting education first makes a short work history look complete rather than thin.
If you are in tech or engineering and want more on one page, a denser layout such as the Jake's resume style fits more bullet points; see our Jake's resume template page. If you have years of experience, keep the Harvard look but move Experience above Education.
How the Boston template follows the Harvard format
- Times, with your name centered and one contact line joined by bullets (city and state, phone, email, LinkedIn)
- A hairline rule under the header, then centered section headings in bold
- Education first: school and city on one line, degree and graduation date on the next
- Experience with the employer and place on one line, your title and dates on the next, then your bullet points
- Activities and Honors, then one Skills section with labelled lines for skills, languages and certifications
- US Letter paper, no photo, and a PDF named First_Last_Resume.pdf; A4 for applications outside North America
No Word file to wrestle with
Harvard-style templates for Word and Google Docs break when you add a line: the dates drift and the page runs over. In CV Chap Chap you type your details on your phone and the Boston template keeps every date aligned, then you preview it free and download the PDF, plus a plain Word copy.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Harvard resume template?
A Harvard resume template is a one-page resume in the style of Harvard's career guide: a serif font, a centered name and contact line, centered section headings, and places and dates aligned to the right. Students list education first.
Is the Harvard resume format good for ATS?
Yes. The Harvard format is a single column of real text with standard headings, which applicant tracking systems read in order. Avoid versions that put text in tables or text boxes.
Is there a Harvard resume template for Google Docs or Word?
You can rebuild the format in Google Docs or Word, but the right-aligned dates often drift as you edit. CV Chap Chap's Boston template keeps the layout fixed and also downloads a plain Word copy.
Should education come first on a Harvard-style resume?
Education comes first for students and recent graduates. Once you have a few years of full-time work, put Experience first and keep Education short.
Can I use a Harvard resume template if I did not go to Harvard?
Yes. The name describes the style, not the school. Recruiters see a clear, traditional one-page resume; nothing on it refers to Harvard.
How long should a Harvard-style resume be?
One page. The Harvard career guide's samples are one page, and US recruiters expect one page unless you have more than about seven years of relevant experience.
Build your Harvard-style resume on your phone
Pick the Boston template, fill in your details with help on the wording, preview it free and download a one-page PDF.