Is the Deedy resume better than Jake's?

It fits more on the page, but two columns parse less predictably. For applications that go through an ATS, Jake's single column is the safer pick.

What's the best resume template for software engineers?

A single-column, text-based layout with standard headings. Jake's template is the one engineers use most, and any template that follows the same rules works.

Alternatives to Jake's resume template

By Mubeen Jawed, founder of ResumeForDev · Updated October 31, 2026

Short answer

The main alternatives to Jake's resume are other LaTeX templates (Deedy, which uses two columns, and Awesome-CV, which adds styling and color), tools that render a resume from a data file (RenderCV and JSON Resume), single-column Google Docs or Word templates, and builders like ResumeForDev that use the Jake layout without LaTeX. For software engineering jobs, single-column options are the safest for ATS parsing. Pick based on how much formatting work you want to do yourself.

Key points

Single-column layouts parse most reliably.
Deedy's two columns fit more in, but can confuse parsers.
RenderCV and JSON Resume keep your resume as a data file.
Builders take the formatting work off your hands.

The options

Alternatives to Jake's resume template
Option	What it is	Columns	What you need
Jake's resume (LaTeX)	The common single-column engineering template	One	LaTeX or Overleaf
Deedy resume (LaTeX)	A compact two-column template	Two	LaTeX or Overleaf
Awesome-CV (LaTeX)	A styled template with color accents	One	LaTeX or Overleaf
RenderCV	Open-source tool that renders a resume from a YAML file	Depends on the theme	A command line
JSON Resume	An open JSON format with community themes	Depends on the theme	A command line and a theme
Docs or Word template	A single-column template you edit by hand	Usually one	Manual formatting
ResumeForDev	A builder with a port of Jake's layout	One	Answering questions; it writes and formats

Which to pick

Comfortable with LaTeX and want full control: Jake's template or Awesome-CV in Overleaf.
Want your resume in version control as data: RenderCV or JSON Resume.
Want a normal editor: a single-column Docs or Word template. See Jake's template in Google Docs or Word.
Want the layout and the writing done for you: ResumeForDev.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Deedy resume better than Jake's?: It fits more on the page, but two columns parse less predictably. For applications that go through an ATS, Jake's single column is the safer pick.
What's the best resume template for software engineers?: A single-column, text-based layout with standard headings. Jake's template is the one engineers use most, and any template that follows the same rules works.