Harvard and Jake’s Resume Templates: why their LinkedIn-like structure wins recruiter attention

Clarity and structure can make or break a resume, especially when recruiters are scanning dozens (or hundreds) of applications and don’t have time to “read” in the normal sense.

Two templates keep surfacing as recruiter favorites:

• The Harvard resume template (a clean, one-column structure that typically puts Education first).
• Jake’s resume template (the well-known format originally shared on Overleaf).

They’re popular because they’re simple, familiar, and easy to scan. But the real reason they work is more specific: their structure feels like a LinkedIn profile, which is the interface recruiters spend their day pattern-matching.

In this article, updated for 2026, you’ll learn:

• Why Harvard and Jake’s resume templates are so effective for recruiter scanning.
• When to use Harvard vs Jake (and when not to).
• How LinkedIn-style resume formats improve your odds with both ATS software and human recruiters.

Why LinkedIn-shaped scanning makes Harvard & Jake’s resume templates feel right instantly

Recruiters don’t just use LinkedIn, they live on it. Every day, they scan hundreds of profiles, training their eyes to spot the right signals fast:

• A sharp headline or professional summary.
• A reverse-chronological list of work experience, with achievement-driven bullet points.
• Skills woven naturally into the experience for real-world context.
• Education and certifications tucked neatly below.
• Side projects or volunteer work that quietly prove passion and expertise.

Over time, this becomes muscle memory. Recruiters aren’t “reading.” They’re pattern-matching.

Harvard and Jake templates lean into that reality: one column, clear headings, predictable section order, and a LinkedIn-like flow. They’re not trying to be creative. They’re trying to remove friction and build instant trust in the few seconds you get during the first-pass screen.

Harvard resume template: best for students and early-career professionals

If you’re a student, recent graduate, or just starting your career, the Harvard Resume Template tends to fit well.

Designed by Harvard’s Center for Career Success, the Harvard-style approach puts Education near the top, right after contact details, because when work experience is limited, Education-related proof carries more weight:

• Relevant coursework (when it’s actually job-relevant).
• Academic achievements that translate into skills.
• Projects, research, internships, and leadership that show capability.
• Certifications that strengthen your positioning.

The Harvard format keeps things clean and recruiter-friendly: a simple one-column structure, text-only design, and bullet points that highlight real accomplishments (think: “Led a research project that secured $10K in funding”), all making it fully ATS-compatible.

What Harvard resume format actually means (and what people misuse)

Online, “Harvard resume template” is often used as a vague label for “any clean one-column resume.” That’s not the strict version.

In the classic Harvard-style structure, Education is intentionally prioritized because it’s the strongest signal for early-career candidates. If you reorder sections to put Experience first, you’re no longer using “Harvard” in the strict sense but a Harvard-like, one-column structure (which is still a good thing).

The point isn’t the label. It’s the job-to-be-done: make your best proof visible first, in a structure recruiters can scan fast.

Get a Harvard-style resume template free with CandyCV

You can create a Harvard-style resume in CandyCV and download it as a clean PDF.

Jake’s resume template: best for experienced professionals

If you’ve been in the workforce for a few years, Jake’s Resume Template may fit better. 

It follows the same clarity principles as the Harvard structure, but it usually prioritizes Experience or Projects over Education. That matches how recruiters evaluate most mid-level and senior candidates: they want to see relevant experience, scope, and impact fast. Then, they’ll glance at Education later.

What Jake’s resume is (and why it became popular)

Jake’s resume template became widely known through technical communities and the Overleaf template ecosystem. It’s often associated with software engineering and tech-savvy professionals (especially in online hubs like Reddit’s r/EngineeringResumes), but the underlying structure works well across many roles because it gets the fundamentals right:

• A clean one-column layout.
• Predictable headings and section order.
• Strong readability for human scanning.
• Low-risk formatting for ATS parsing.

Jake’s resume on Overleaf and LaTeX: what your options are (no coding required)

If you found Jake’s resume through Overleaf, you have three realistic paths:

1. Use the original Overleaf/LaTeX template if you’re comfortable editing LaTeX.
2. Use a resume builder that reproduces the structure such as CandyCV, which makes it accessible to everyone without the need for coding.
3. Use a Harvard-like one-column template and reorder sections to mimic Jake’s experience-first flow (also available in CandyCV for free).

If your goal is “this layout, without the tooling headache,” option #2 or #3 is usually the smarter move.

Create a Jake-style resume in CandyCV

If you’re using a one-column resume template in CandyCV, you can reorder sections so Experience/Projects come before Education, which gives you the Jake-style “what matters first” effect.

Pick your favorite template, customize it and download your resume in text-based PDF.

Drawbacks and when to consider other resume formats

Harvard and Jake templates are strong defaults, but they aren’t perfect for every situation. Here’s where you might want to think twice:

• They can look generic. Because these templates are common, your content has to carry the differentiation. If your resume reads like everyone else’s, you’ll blend in (even if the format is clean).
• They’re not ideal for some creative fields. Minimalism is great for clarity, but in highly visual roles (design, certain marketing portfolios, media…), you may need a format that shows taste and presentation skills.

Also, if you’re choosing between Harvard/Jake style templates because they are ATS-friendly, don’t stop at “one column good, two columns bad.” The real question is whether your resume exports as clean, selectable text and keeps a stable reading order when an ATS parses it. 

When to use other resume formats:

• Creative industries: a two-column or more visual layout can help, as long as it stays readable and structured. Don’t gamble on novelty that makes scanning harder.
• Career changers: consider a hybrid approach that keeps reverse-chronological credibility while making transferable skills visible early. 
• Non-ATS environments: for referrals, small teams, or direct hiring manager submissions, you can take more design risk because the “parsing” step is less likely to be a constraint.

Tips for success with Harvard and Jake templates

A clean template is a container, what you put inside decides whether you get interviews. To maximize your resume’s impact, follow these tips:

• Tailor it to the job: mirror keywords from the job description to boost your ATS score and probability to resonate with what the recruiter is looking for. Here’s a guide on how to tailor your resume to a job posting and rank higher in ATS.
• Quantify your achievements: replace vague statements with specifics. For example, instead of “Managed a team”, say “Led a 10-person team, cutting project delays by 20%”.
• Ensure ATS compatibility: stick to professional resume fonts, avoid tables or graphs, and choose the right file type (.docx or text-based PDF). 
• Add digital links: recruiters expect easy access to your online presence. Include LinkedIn, GitHub, or personal portfolio links where relevant.
• Proofread thoroughly: grammar and spelling mistakes are one of the top 10 common resume mistakes that you must avoid..

How to choose the right resume template

Choosing between the Harvard and Jake templates isn’t about which template is “better”, but what you want the recruiter to see first. By mirroring LinkedIn’s structure and prioritizing clarity, these templates make it easier for recruiters to scan, connect the dots, and call you.

Choose Harvard if:

• You’re early in your career and your education is one of your main selling points.
• Your degree, coursework, or academic projects are directly relevant to the job.

Choose Jake if:

• You have solid work experience or standout projects that prove capability.
• Your professional achievements speak louder than your academic story.

Frequently asked questions about the Harvard resume format (and Jake’s template)

What is the Harvard resume format?

It’s a clean, one-column resume structure designed for fast scanning: standard sections (summary, experience, education, skills), clear hierarchy, and minimal distractions. In its classic version, it often places Education higher, as it’s built to work well for students and early-career candidates.

Is the Harvard resume template better than a “modern” resume template?

Not universally. A Harvard-style one-column resume is usually more predictable and scan-friendly. A “modern” resume (often two-column) can be more compact and visual, which can help in some roles as long as it stays readable and doesn’t sacrifice clarity.

Can I use a Harvard-style resume if I have experience?

Yes, but don’t let it read like you’re junior. Keep the one-column clarity, but reorder sections so Experience (or Projects) is near the top and Education moves down. The structure is the asset; the section order should match your level.

What’s the difference between Harvard and Jake’s resume templates?

The key difference is what they prioritize first:

• Harvard (classic): Education-first (strong for early-career).
• Jake: Experience/Projects-first (strong for experienced candidates).

Both share what makes them effective: one column, clean structure, and fast readability thanks to a layout very similar to a LinkedIn profile.

Is Jake’s resume template ATS-friendly?

In general, yes, because it’s simple and structured. The main risk is when people export it in a way that turns text into images (for instance when you pick a Canva template and download it as an image-based PDF). Keep it text-based and structured, and it’ll be ATS-friendly.

Where can I get Jake’s resume template?

Many people find it via Overleaf, often in LaTeX form. If you don’t want (or don’t know how) to use LaTeX, you can use a resume builder such as CandyCV that reproduces the same experience-first, one-column structure and lets you export a clean resume quickly.

Are Harvard and Jake templates good for career changers?

They can be, if you structure the resume so your most relevant proof shows up first. Many career changers do well with an experience/projects-first flow and a clear summary that frames the target role, while keeping a clean reverse-chronological structure.