Nova
Free planA geometric two-column resume with a strict, deliberate grid
Nova is a free modern resume template with a strict two-column geometric layout. The header always sits in the sidebar, which can be placed left or right and carries a coloured background. Its fixed structure suits technical and product roles where clear information hierarchy matters more than layout flexibility.
Layout
- Strict two-column layout — single column not available
- Header always in the sidebar
- Coloured sidebar background
- Sidebar can be placed left or right
- Up to 3 pages
- No photo
Who Nova suits
- Software engineering and data roles
- Product management and product design
- Consulting and strategy
- Anyone with a dense skills section
Consider something else if: People who want to experiment with layout — Nova is deliberately rigid. Use Flux if you want to move the header and switch between one and two columns.
About this template
Nova is built around a constraint rather than an option set. It only renders as two columns, and the header only ever sits in the sidebar. That rigidity is the feature: the resulting grid is consistent, and the sidebar becomes a reliable home for the short, scannable content that technical resumes accumulate — languages, frameworks, tools, certifications, links.
This solves a real problem for engineers and data people. A long skills list in a single-column layout either eats a third of your first page or gets compressed into an unreadable comma-separated run. In Nova, that content lives in the sidebar where it is scannable in a glance, and the main column stays dedicated to what actually differentiates you: what you built, what changed as a result, and at what scale.
The geometric styling is more neutral than Orbit's soft palette or Volt's high-contrast treatment. It reads as considered rather than expressive, which is the correct register for most technical and product applications — you want the layout to demonstrate clear thinking, not to make an aesthetic argument.
Because the header lives in the sidebar, your name sits above your contact block in a vertical stack rather than spanning the page. Pair this with a sidebar on the left and the recruiter's eye lands on your name first, then travels down through your contact details and skills before entering your experience — a sensible reading order that matches how a first-pass scan actually works.
Nova is free, which makes it the strongest no-cost option for technical roles. If you later want the same density with a movable header or an optional photo, Prism and Mosaic are the closest paid equivalents.
Questions
- Is Nova free?
- Yes. Nova is available on the free plan, alongside Element and Orbit.
- Can Nova render as a single column?
- No. Nova is strictly two-column by design. For a single-column layout, use Element or Zenith.
- Why can I not move the header in Nova?
- Nova fixes the header in the sidebar to keep its grid consistent. If you want to reposition the header, Flux supports the header at the top, in the main column, or in the sidebar.
Use the Nova template
Build your resume with an AI career coach and real-time ATS scoring. This template is available on the free plan — no card required.
Start building