Harvard Resume Template
The clean, one-page, ATS-friendly format recommended by Harvard's career office. Copy the plain-text template below and make it yours.
The Harvard resume template (copy & paste)
Paste this into a blank Word or Google Docs file and replace the placeholders. Keep it to one page and one font.
YOUR NAME City, State · email@example.com · (555) 555-5555 · linkedin.com/in/you EDUCATION University Name, City, State Degree, Major — GPA (if strong) Grad. Month Year - Relevant coursework, honors, or a notable project (optional) EXPERIENCE Company Name, City, State Job Title Month Year – Month Year - Action verb + what you did + measurable result (e.g. "Increased X 30% by doing Y"). - Action verb + what you did + measurable result. - Action verb + what you did + measurable result. Company Name, City, State Job Title Month Year – Month Year - Action verb + what you did + measurable result. - Action verb + what you did + measurable result. LEADERSHIP & ACTIVITIES Organization, Role Month Year – Month Year - Action verb + contribution + result. SKILLS & INTERESTS Technical: list tools, software, and technical skills Language: languages and proficiency Interests: a short, human line
The rules that make it work
- ✓One page, single column — no tables, text boxes, columns, or graphics that break ATS parsing.
- ✓Standard sections in order: Education, Experience, Leadership/Activities, Skills & Interests.
- ✓Reverse-chronological: most recent first within each section.
- ✓Bullet points that start with a strong action verb and show a measurable result.
- ✓Consistent dates on the right, no photo, no objective statement, no references line.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Harvard resume template?
It's the clean, one-page, single-column resume format recommended by Harvard's career office (Harvard OCS). It leads with Education, uses reverse-chronological sections, and relies on action-verb bullets with measurable results — no columns, graphics, or photos. That simplicity is exactly what makes it parse cleanly through an ATS.
Is the Harvard resume format ATS-friendly?
Yes. Because it's a single column of plain text with standard section headings, applicant tracking systems read it reliably. The fancier two-column, graphic-heavy templates are what usually get garbled by ATS parsers.
How do I use this template in Word or Google Docs?
Copy the plain-text template above into a blank Word or Google Docs document, then replace the placeholders with your details and keep the formatting simple (one font, clear headings, right-aligned dates). If you specifically want a Google Docs version, see our Google Docs resume template guide.
Does a Harvard-format resume guarantee I'll pass the ATS?
A clean format helps you parse, but passing also depends on matching the job's keywords and showing real impact. Paste your finished resume into our free ATS resume checker to see your score and the exact gaps before you apply.
More formats: all resume templates · Google Docs resume template · check your resume's ATS score
A template gets you started. Tailoring gets you interviews.
The Harvard format parses cleanly, but each job still needs its own keywords and emphasis. JobTailored rewrites your resume for any listing with an honest match score. Your first tailored resumes are free.
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