Sidebar resume template: how to use it, tips & FAQ
Sidebar is best for: Design, startup, studio and junior creative roles where a little personality is welcome.
Use Sidebar — freeAll 46 templates
Live preview with fictional sample content, drawn by the same renderer as the builder.
What the Sidebar layout looks like
A solid accent sidebar on the left holds your photo, contact details, skills and languages; the white main column carries the summary, experience and education.
The photo only appears if you upload one. In the builder, the Show these details? panel lets you show or hide the photo, date of birth, nationality, marital status and visa status — and that single setting applies to the preview, the PDF, the Word file and printing.
Who the Sidebar template suits
Think twice for: Printing on office printers with low toner and conservative industries.
Is Sidebar ATS-friendly?
Two columns with a coloured sidebar. Use the Text PDF or .docx for portals; use the design PDF when you email the resume to a person.
Whatever design you choose, the builder's Application view shows the same content as a simple one-column page, and the Text PDF and .docx downloads keep selectable text in a clear reading order. No tool can guarantee how a particular employer's system reads a file, so follow the job advert's instructions. More in our ATS-friendly resume guide.
Tips for a stronger Sidebar resume
- Use a darker accent so white sidebar text stays readable.
- Keep sidebar entries short — long URLs wrap awkwardly.
- Put your strongest achievement in the first bullet of each role.
How to make a Sidebar resume in 5 steps
- Open Sidebar in the free builder — no account needed.
- Enter your details in the form, or import a JSON backup from another device.
- Click any text on the page to edit it in place; press Enter to finish or Esc to cancel.
- Check page flow with the page markers, then look at Application view for portals.
- Download a Text PDF, a Word .docx, a Design PDF or print.
Sidebar template FAQ
Will the sidebar colour print?
Yes when you use the design PDF or Print with background graphics enabled. The Text PDF and .docx are plain for easy parsing.
Can I use Sidebar without a photo?
Yes. The sidebar simply starts with your contact details.
Is the Sidebar template free?
Yes. Sidebar is free to edit and download as a PDF or Word (.docx) file, with no sign-up and no watermark.
Can I switch from Sidebar to another template without losing my content?
Yes. Your details are stored once and every template reads the same content, so switching designs never deletes anything. You can also undo a change.
Which file should I send to an online application portal?
Use the Text PDF or the Word (.docx) download. Both keep your content in a simple reading order with selectable text. Use the Design PDF when you email the resume directly to a person.