Does the right resume design really change from one industry to another?

Yes, the tone of the design changes, even though the basics stay the same. Every industry values a clear, readable resume, but what looks appropriate varies.

A broad picture:

• Most conservative: banking, law, audit, government and many healthcare employers. Plain layouts, minimal colour, traditional structure.
• Clean and practical: IT, engineering, logistics and manufacturing. Simple layouts with strong skills, tools and project sections.
• Friendly and tidy: hospitality, retail and customer service. Easy to scan, with languages and availability easy to find.
• Most flexible: design, advertising, media and some marketing roles, where a more visual resume is common and a portfolio carries the real weight.

When you are unsure, choose a clean single-column template and adjust only the accent colour and section emphasis. Then look at how people in your target role present themselves, for example on professional networking profiles and company career pages, to fine-tune the tone.