"I applied to 200+ jobs with a fancy resume template. Zero callbacks. Switched to Jake's template—3 interviews in a week."
Sound dramatic? It's not. This exact story plays out in r/EngineeringResumes and r/jobs every single day. The template you choose isn't just about aesthetics—it can literally determine whether a human ever sees your application.
Resumes rejected by ATS
Before reaching human recruiters
Source: TopResume Study, 2024
Two templates dominate every "which resume template should I use?" discussion: the Harvard Resume Template and Jake's Resume. Both are legendary for getting past ATS systems. Both have devoted Reddit fanbases. But they're built for different people.
TL;DR: Harvard vs Jake's Template
- Jake's Template: Best for tech/engineering roles, high content density, projects-first
- Harvard Template: Best for traditional industries, clean professional look, education-prominent
- Both are ATS-proof—the real difference is who you're trying to impress
- Our recommendation: We offer versions of both—pick based on your industry
The Origins: Why These Two Templates Dominate
Before we compare them, let's understand why these templates became the gold standard.
Jake's Resume: The Tech Industry Darling
Jake's resume template was created by Jake Gutierrez as a LaTeX document and shared on Overleaf under the MIT license. It exploded in popularity on Reddit's r/EngineeringResumes—a community obsessed with optimizing resumes for FAANG companies.
The FAANG Connection
Jake's template is often called "FAANG-oriented" because its clean, high-density format mirrors what Amazon, Google, Meta, and Apple recruiters actually prefer: tons of content, zero fluff, no distracting graphics.
What makes it special:
- Single-column layout that ATS systems parse perfectly
- High content density—fits more achievements per page
- Projects section prominence—critical for new grads
- No wasted space on decorative elements
Harvard Resume Template: The Business School Standard
The Harvard template comes from Harvard Business School's Office of Career Services (OCS). It's been refined over decades based on feedback from recruiters at Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, and Fortune 500 companies.
This isn't a "pretty" template—it's a strategic one designed for industries where conservatism signals competence.
What makes it special:
- Education-first layout (ideal for students and MBAs)
- Ultra-clean with generous white space
- Universally accepted across traditional industries
- Recruiter-familiar format they've seen thousands of times
Head-to-Head: Jake's vs Harvard Template
Let's break down how these templates compare across the factors that actually matter.
| Jake's Template | Harvard Template |
|---|---|
| High density, compact spacing | Generous white space, airy |
| Projects section prominent | Education section prominent |
| Originated on GitHub/Overleaf | Developed by Harvard OCS |
| Tech/engineering focus | Business/consulting focus |
| Maximizes content per page | Prioritizes readability |
| LaTeX-based (originally) | Word/PDF formats |
ATS Compatibility: It's a Tie
Here's the good news: both templates pass ATS systems with flying colors.
ATS parse rate
For both Harvard and Jake's templates when properly formatted
Source: AI ResumeGuru Internal Testing
Both templates share the characteristics that ATS systems love:
- Single-column layout (no multi-column confusion)
- Standard section headers (Education, Experience, Skills)
- Clean fonts (no decorative typefaces)
- No graphics, icons, or images
- Plain text that parses cleanly
The template choice isn't about beating ATS—it's about impressing humans once you're through.
When to Use Jake's Template
Jake's template is your best bet if:
Jake's Template Is For You If...
- You're targeting software engineering or tech roles
- You have significant projects to showcase
- You want maximum content on one page
- You're applying to FAANG or tech startups
- You don't need a formal/conservative look
Industries That Love Jake's Style
- Software Engineering (the template's home turf)
- Data Science & Machine Learning
- DevOps & Cloud Engineering
- Product Management (tech companies)
- Tech Startups (any role)
Why Tech Recruiters Prefer It
Tech recruiters spend their days reviewing resumes from engineers. They've seen every resume style imaginable—and they've developed strong preferences.
"Just use Jake's template. We don't care about your design skills unless you're a designer. We care about your projects, your tech stack, and what you built."
The high-density format works because:
- More bullet points = more keywords (better ATS matching)
- Projects section stands out (what new grads lack in experience, they make up in projects)
- No visual noise (recruiters can scan in 6 seconds or less)
When to Use the Harvard Template
The Harvard template shines in completely different contexts:
Harvard Template Is For You If...
- You're targeting finance, consulting, or law
- You're a student or recent graduate
- Your education is a major selling point
- You want a conservative, trustworthy appearance
- You're applying to traditional corporate roles
Industries That Prefer Harvard's Style
- Investment Banking & Finance
- Management Consulting (McKinsey, BCG, Bain)
- Law Firms
- Healthcare & Medical (traditional settings)
- Government & Public Sector
- MBA Applications
Why Conservative Industries Love It
In industries where trust and professionalism are paramount, a flashy resume can actually hurt you.
The Goldman Rule
A former Goldman Sachs recruiter once said: "If your resume has color, I assume you don't understand our culture." For finance and consulting, the Harvard template's conservative design is the point.
The Harvard template works because:
- Familiar format recruiters have seen for decades
- Education prominence signals academic credentials
- White space suggests confidence (you don't need to cram)
- Professional restraint matches industry expectations
Our Templates: Harvard and Jake's, Rebuilt for 2026
Here's the thing: the original Jake's template requires LaTeX coding. The original Harvard template is just a Word doc. Neither is optimized for modern resume building.
That's why we rebuilt both from scratch—same proven layouts, but with features that make them actually usable:
Jake's Template
1-col layout
Harvard Template
1-col layout
What We Improved
Over the original Jake's template:
- No LaTeX required (builds in your browser)
- Real-time ATS scoring as you edit
- AI-powered bullet point suggestions
- Export to PDF that ATS can actually parse
Over the original Harvard template:
- Dynamic formatting (adjust spacing as you add content)
- Built-in keyword optimization
- Multi-language support for international applications
- Professional print formatting
Build with a proven template
Start with Harvard or Jake's layout. Get AI suggestions. Export an ATS-perfect PDF. No downloads, no coding, no friction.
Start Building FreeThe Real Secret: Content Matters More Than Template
Here's what Reddit debates often miss: the template is just the container. What's inside matters more.
Recruiters prioritize content over design
When evaluating qualified candidates
Source: LinkedIn Hiring Report, 2024
Both templates work because they get out of the way and let your achievements shine. Neither will save a resume with:
- Generic bullet points ("Responsible for...")
- No quantified achievements
- Keyword mismatches with the job description
- Spelling or grammar errors
The Formula That Works With Either Template
- 1
Choose based on industry
Tech = Jake's. Finance/consulting = Harvard. When in doubt, go minimal.
- 2
Quantify everything
Turn "handled customer support" into "Resolved 150+ tickets/week with 98% satisfaction score".
- 3
Mirror the job description
Use our keyword scanner to find the exact terms recruiters are looking for.
- 4
Test with ATS
Run your resume through an ATS checker before submitting. We'll score it for you.
Hybrid Approach: When You Can't Decide
What if you're a software engineer applying to a bank? A business grad pivoting to tech? Here's our take:
When to Go Jake's Anyway
- Tech role at any company (even banks have engineering teams)
- Startup culture at a traditional firm
- Your projects are your strongest selling point
When to Go Harvard Anyway
- Client-facing role at a tech company
- Traditional culture even in tech (enterprise software)
- Your education/credentials are your strongest selling point
The hybrid answer: think about who will actually review your resume. A recruiting coordinator at Goldman will expect Harvard-style. An engineering manager at the same bank will prefer Jake's style for technical candidates.
Common Mistakes With Both Templates
What NOT to Do
Don't pick a template and assume you're done. These templates are popular—which means recruiters have seen thousands of resumes using them. Your content is what differentiates you.
Jake's Template Mistakes
- Filling every pixel just because you can (white space helps readability)
- Skipping the summary (tech resumes often benefit from a one-liner positioning statement)
- Generic project descriptions ("Built a website" vs "Built a React e-commerce platform handling 10K daily users")
Harvard Template Mistakes
- Too much white space when you have real achievements to include
- Burying work experience under education when you have 5+ years of experience
- Being too conservative for creative roles at traditional companies
Final Verdict: Our Recommendations
After analyzing thousands of successful resumes, here's our definitive take:
| Your Situation | Our Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Software engineer, any experience level | Jake's Template |
| Data scientist or ML engineer | Jake's Template |
| MBA student or graduate | Harvard Template |
| Finance, consulting, or law | Harvard Template |
| New grad, unsure of industry | Harvard Template |
| Career changer into tech | Jake's Template |
| Targeting startups | Jake's Template |
| Targeting Fortune 500 (non-tech) | Harvard Template |
Jake's Template
1-col layout
Figure: Jake's Template – Maximum density for tech professionals. Use This Template
Harvard Template
1-col layout
Figure: Harvard Template – Classic elegance for traditional industries. Use This Template
Ready to Build Your Resume?
Both templates are available in our builder—no LaTeX coding, no Word formatting headaches. Just pick your layout, drop in your content, and let our AI help you polish every bullet point.
Your resume, built right this time
Pick Harvard or Jake's. Get real-time ATS scoring. Export a perfectly formatted PDF. Takes 5 minutes.
Create My ResumeRelated Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jake's resume template?
Jake's resume is a LaTeX-based template created by Jake Gutierrez that became wildly popular on Reddit's r/EngineeringResumes. It features a clean single-column layout with high content density, making it ideal for software engineers and tech professionals. It's now available in Word, PDF, and online formats.
Is the Harvard resume template ATS-friendly?
Yes, the Harvard resume template is highly ATS-friendly. Developed by Harvard's career services, it uses a simple single-column structure, standard fonts, and clear section headers—all characteristics that ATS systems parse without issues.
Which is better: Harvard or Jake's resume template?
Neither is universally 'better'—it depends on your situation. Harvard works best for traditional industries (finance, consulting, law) and recent graduates. Jake's template excels in tech and engineering roles where you need to showcase projects and technical skills densely.
Can I use Jake's resume without knowing LaTeX?
Absolutely. While Jake's template originated as a LaTeX document, modern resume builders like AI ResumeGuru offer similar ATS-optimized single-column templates that don't require any coding knowledge.
Why do software engineers prefer Jake's resume template?
Software engineers love Jake's template because it maximizes space for projects and technical skills—the sections that matter most in tech hiring. The minimal design also signals that you understand what recruiters in tech actually want: clean, scannable content.
