Accomplishments for a Resume: Key Achievements & Awards
On your resume, listing your skills, duties, and responsibilities won’t do. To land that dream gig, you need to highlight your achievements. Here’s how.
You might be complaining about being born in the wrong era. Or maybe you thrive in the 21st century and can’t imagine living without Google. The thing is—Your personal preferences don’t matter when it comes to the world of work. To fit in the contemporary job market, you need a modern resume.
Not sure what a modern resume template looks like? Don’t worry! Continue reading and learn everything about modern resumes. With our templates, you can prove you’re a contemporary employee, even if you specialize in ancient history.
This modern resume guide will show you:
- Modern resume examples better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
- How to write a modern resume that will land you more interviews.
- Tips and examples of how to use modern elements on a resume.
- Samples of the best contemporary resume templates to use.
Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.
Sample modern resume created with our builder. See more resume examples here.
Here you can find more specific resume examples:
- Minimalist Resume Example
- Creative Resume Example
- Eye Catching Resume Example
- Word Resume Example
- Google Doc Resume Example
- One Page Resume Example
- Academic Resume Example
- General Resume Example
- American Resume Example
- Resume Examples for All Jobs
18 of the Best Modern Resume Examples
We’ll soon go over how to make a resume modern, but first, let’s see some great modern resume examples from around the web.
Together with my colleague, Luiza, with her discerning eye and flair for creative modernity, we set out across the internet in search of the most current and stylish resume examples out there. Some are ours, some are others’, but all are modern.
1. Cascade by Zety
Check out all of our resume templates here.
Note: all of our designs are ATS-scannable templates.
This is one of our pride-and-joys here at Zety - the super-modern Cascade resume template made using our resume builder.
Check out the nifty bar graph for your skills and language sections. Also, a sidebar! Furthermore, it’s got subtle shading differences in the green but distinct black and white for the text for readability.
2. Concept by Zety
Check out all of our resume templates here.
How about this modern template? Perfect for those who love the reverse-chronological resume format, this resume leaves a thin sidebar to the left vacant for all but dates. To increase its modernity, its got icons for both resume sections and each item in the contact info section.
It uses a white background, black text, and a color of your choice for resume heading titles and the sidebar. Or, if you wish, reverse that color arrangement with dozens of color combinations to choose from for this modern resume template.
Being creative on a resume like this one is tough, but our guide and examples make it easy: Creative Resume Templates & 15+ Examples [A Complete Guide].
3. Diamond
Check out all of our resume templates here.
Diamond by Zety is clean but packs a punch. Data is prioritized over infographic resume elements, though some can be found in the skills area. A timeline goes through the left-hand side, connecting education and experience for a resume that works well. A very professional modern resume template suitable for candidates across all industries and professions!
For more of the best resume templates we’ve found around the web, see: Best Resume Templates: 15 Examples to Download & Use Right Away
4. Minimally Modernized "Vibes"
Check out all of our resume templates here.
One of the best-looking resumes, don’t you think? Our "Vibes" template has got all the modern resume characteristics while maintaining a classic, well, vibe: a minimalist design, easy-to-find contact info, and a subtle color palette. Exactly the things that make a resume look good.
It will also work if you're changing careers and writing a funcional resume.
Check out our curated list of free templates to download: Free Resume Templates: 18 Downloadable Resume Templates to Use
5. Modern by Zety
Check out all of our resume templates here.
Looking for modern? Well look no further! Our aptly-named Modern resume template is exactly that.
Modern features include a block rating system for languages and skills, ribbon-style arrows preceding each section title, and an elegant design throughout with many color combinations to choose from on this modern resume template.
6. Iconic
Check out all of our resume templates here.
This modern resume format stands out from the crowd thanks to neat icons that adorn every section. You can add progress bars to show how well you mastered selected computer skills. High contrast helps to ensure the best readability and makes this resume look great on-screen as well as printed out.
7. Enfold by Zety
Check out all of our resume templates here.
Enfold resume template by Zety has a side bar to allow you to fit more into a single page. Bar charts for skills and languages help recruiters grasp your best qualities quick while adding a modernized touch to this template. White space on the left-hand side gives readers some breathing room. It's a perfect modern template for an entry-level resume (for example an internship resume) as well as a senior one.
8. Influx
Check out all of our resume templates here.
You don't need color to make a bold statement. This modern resume template uses black-and-white contrast to make your name stand out. The eye-catching black header screams confidence, while the white background adds harmony to the template. You can choose progress bars for software skills to ensure recruiters read your resume from top to bottom.
9. Cubic by Zety
Check out all of our resume templates here.
Cubic’s one of ours, a clean, elegant take on the modern resume template.
The top header is reserved simply for your name and title for you to stand out. A right-hand sidebar switches it up. Filled-in circles for your languages and skills allow you to showcase your knowledge in style.
10. Zety's Newcast
Check out all of our resume templates here.
Using the two-column resume format, the right side keeps it simple with an outline of your skills visible at first glance. Modern resume icons round it off by subtly informing the beginning of each section.
11. Muse by Zety
Check out all of our resume templates here.
With a name like “Muse,” you know it’s gotta be modern. This is another one of ours, and it combines some of the best features from our other modern resume templates.
It’s got the full-width header for your name, title, and heading statement. A left-hand sidebar promotes your skills and achievements (also as a bar graph). Fashionable icons make it easy for the hiring manager to locate each resume section.
12. Initials
Check out all of our resume templates here.
Bored of black-and-white, but not sure how to add color while keeping your resume professional? This is the perfect choice for you. While your initials adorn the top of the page, each section is highlighted with a touch of color. This layout is split into two columns to make sure all information can fit one page.
13. Minimo
Check out all of our resume templates here.
Looking for a no-frills but modern resume example? This one proves that sometimes, less is more. Each resume section stands out thanks to the elegant color selection. The expert use of white space makes this resume template easy to read. It will look perfect not only on-screen, but also printed out.
14. Nanica
Check out all of our resume templates here.
The perfect choice for those who enjoy keeping things simple. The bold font makes your name stand out, and the header with your contact information makes it easy for recruiters to keep in touch with you. This highly readable layout will present your career highlights and qualifications in a subtle yet effective way.
Basic templates for resumes don’t have to sacrifice quality. Check out more of them: 15+ Easy Resume Templates to Download & Use Now.
15. Primo
Check out all of our resume templates here.
Fan of visuals? Turn your resume into an infographic with this modern two-column layout. Sleek icons distinguish each section, timelines connect various points of your life, and progress bars highlight your software and language skills. The black-and-white palette ensures that your resume is easy to read both on screen and in print.
16. Crisp by Zety
Check out all of our resume templates here.
Another of our favorites here at Zety - the clean Crisp resume template made using our resume builder.
It’s got a left-hand sidebar, but a full-width header area up top for your name, title, and all-important resume summary or objective. In the skills and language sections, colored circles detail your level of each. Icons precede each resume section for a modern feel.
It uses a white background, black text, and a color of your choice for heading titles, or reverse that, if you wish, with many color combinations to choose from for this modern resume template.
17. Simple
Check out all of our resume templates here.
The name of this example says it all. It's a clear template for those who want their achievements to speak for themselves. A subtle touch of color helps the headers of each section pop, making this layout easy to follow. The progress bars help to show off how well you mastered your software and language skills.
18. Valera
Check out all of our resume templates here.
What makes this layout unique is the typography. Forget about the standard Calibri font and go for bold, fancy headings. This layout makes your name stand out. The classic structure makes the information easy to follow, and the balance of text and white space ensures high readability for hiring managers.
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.
1
Contemporary Colors Schemes & Design Elements
Back in the day, hot dogs were a nickel, and resumes were black and white. But you’d be scared to eat a nickel-dog now, and there’s no point in having a black-and-white resume these days. Adding colors on resumes is the most visually-obvious change you can make, according to current resume trends.
Here's how to use color on a resume:
- Use few colors.
- Use colors that pair well.
- Keep text black (or dark) for readability.
- Stick to light backgrounds.
Take a look at this example flight attendant resume:
See that? This modern resume example pairs two shades of the same color with black and white to make it appealing.
Notice other differences from the resumes of your ancestors?
That’s right! We also updated design elements to really modernize it.
Having a two-column resume organizes sections effectively - more readable. Clearly-labeled section titles make it a breeze for recruiters to skim to sections they seek.
Also, since most resumes are sent digitally, you don’t have to worry about the cost of printing these colors out.
Pro Tip: If you have resume content text that isn’t black, make sure it is a great contrast to whatever the background color is: white is good for dark-blue backgrounds, like you can see in the image above. The best colors for resumes are ones that stay clean and professional.
2
Modern Resume Rules: Fonts, Skimmability & Length
Newsflash: the hiring manager won’t read your whole resume. On average, they’ll spend just 7 seconds on each resume, according to our HR statistics report.
How do you make your resume stand out so that you maximize their time on it?
Make it skimmable.
What’s that mean? Look at this fragment of help desk resume example:
See that?
This modern resume is easy to skim, with headings for the different sections in a larger font, bold print, and separated neatly from the text which comes before and after it. Also, white space is optimized.
Speaking of fonts, nowadays, we have unlimited options to choose from. But, it doesn’t mean you can choose just any font.
“With great choice of fonts comes great responsibility.”
How to choose the best font for your resume?
- Avoid script fonts or anything too “fun.”
- Use a universal font for compatibility.
- Choose fonts with readable spacing.
- Don’t shrink font to stuff more text.
Pro Tip: Serif fonts feel old-timey, but the brain can interpret them faster. A popular method to make a resume stand out is to use sans-serif for either the body text or the heading, and then serif for the other - just so long as they pair well, of course.
As for length, our other article said it best:
“Your resume is a miniskirt - it should cover all the important bits and stop before it gets boring.”
A one-page resume is great, but two pages might be necessary, if you have more past experience.
Avoid three pages unless you don’t want any future job experience.
That’s the basics on the length of a modern resume. For a more in-depth look at what number is right for you, see: How Long Should a Resume Be? Everything You Need to Know.
3
Social Media, Websites & Contact Info Version 2.0
You used to list your name, address, phone number, and then cross your fingers.
These days, that won’t fly. A modern resume must include modern details. Take a look at this partial example of a modern resume for painters:
Let’s break this down.
Social Media Profiles
That’s right - nowadays, social profiles are very important. They are public representations of ourselves. And, the employer will search them whether you give them the URL or not.
If you don’t feel like linking to your personal profiles, at least clean up and link to your LinkedIn.
Pro Tip: Get out ahead! Don’t forget to remove or hide any photos or posts on your social profiles that the hiring manager would object to.
For tips on how to check and clean up your online reputation before applying for the job, read this guide: How to Check Your Online Presence Before Recruiters Look You Up.
Websites
Have a personal blog or portfolio page?
Don’t be embarrassed to include it. It’s common practice to add personal websites, but keep these points in mind:
- Make sure they’re relevant.
- Clean up the sites as you did with social media.
- Remember that hiring managers may find them anyway.
Contact Deets the Modern Way
I’m not going to explain to you how to list your address and so on. But I do want to briefly give you a few modern resume tips for contact information:
- Icons are modern and help save space.
- Use professional email addresses - not grade school handles.
- List a cell number, not your home phone.
- Don't add your date of birth. The only dates you need on your resume belong in the work experience and education sections.
- Remove a picture from your resume if you have one. It's considered inappropriate.
This is just a taste when it comes to contact info on modern resumes. For more, see: How to Include Contact Information on a Resume (Examples).
4
A Modern Heading Statement
Remember that you have ~6 seconds to grab the recruiter’s attention?
The heading statement, either resume objectives or resume summaries, on a modern resume is the first thing they’ll see.
Make it powerful.
Back in the day, a resume objective or summary was a generic statement saying that you are looking for a job.
That’s tired. A resume already says that you’re looking for a job.
For a modern makeover, remember these points:
- Personalize it by calling out the company by name.
- Keep it short but sweet; no more than 3-4 lines.
- Include past highlights and achievements to knock it out of the park.
Don’t know which one to use? For more on how to tailor heading statements to your modern resume, check out: How To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See and 20+ Resume Objective Examples - Use Them On Your Resume (Tips).
5
An Experience Section with Achievements
In olden days, resumes used to have experience sections which had a list of responsibilities in bullet points beneath each job.
Today, most hiring managers would reject a resume like this.
For example, on your help desk resume, sure, you were responsible for answering calls in a friendly manner . But, this doesn’t tell them if you actually did it, or how well you performed the job.
Now take a look at this:
See? We shortened the responsibilities and added achievements. Achievements are quantifiable, help to promote your brand, and are a necessary part of the modern resume.
For more examples of achievements on a modern resume, and how to add your own, see this: Achievements to Put on a Resume - Complete Guide (+30 Examples).
6
Adding Skills to Stay Current
You’ve got skills, but so does everyone else.
To add skills to a modern resume, it isn’t enough to just list anything that comes to mind.
Here are tips on the right way to add skills:
- Search the job listing first to find the keywords they’re looking for.
- Tailor it further by adding your skills which match the industry.
- Use an appropriate number of both hard & soft skills.
Want to really modernize your skills section? Take a glance at this:
Back in the day, you’d just list skills in a bulleted list. Modernize it and stand out by listing your skills with a level bar or meter, such as in this example.
This was just the bare-bones on a modern resume’s skill section. Check out our complete guide: 30+ Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips).
7
ATS & Machine Readability
There’s one area where modern design doesn’t matter:
The ATS, or Automated Tracking System, is software that scans your resume and searches for keywords to determine your eligibility for the position. More and more employers are using ATS software now.
Don’t pass the ATS, your resume won’t even make it to a human’s hands. For a truly modern resume, it must be able to be read by the ATS as well as humans.
Here’s what happens when you give it a resume it can’t understand:
See that? It can’t even make sense of the very top heading of this resume.
To be sure, run a simple test for your modern resume: Copy the text and paste it into a text (.txt) file. If the logic, sections, and keywords make sense, it should be fine for the ATS. To feel safer, you can just use our ATS-compliant resume templates.
Pro Tip: Check the job posting to make sure PDFs are OK. A PDF might cause the ATS problems, meaning you’ll be disqualified before you even get considered.
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
Key Takeaway
Modern resumes are a blend of contemporary style, optimal text placement, and readability for both humans and the ATS.
- Meet Modern Needs - A modern resume should list achievements, tailored skills, and a personalized resume summary or objective.
- Less is More - Sometimes, removing items is better for a modern resume than adding extra fluff.
- Modern = Simple - Maximize use of whitespace, make it skimmable, and keep it short and sweet.
- Use Modern Design Elements - Make your resume unique by adding creative fonts, icons, bar graphs, and social media profiles.
- Make it ATS-readable - Don’t forget that ATS software may read your modern resume before a human hiring manager gets the chance.
You’ll now have a modern resume that will be sure to grab their attention and get you the interview.
Do you have any questions on how to write a modern resume? Give us a shout in the comments below, and we will answer your question. Thanks for reading!
