Cvs format in word

Direct, on-page, download links to free-to-use Microsoft Word Resume Templates. Freely editable, useable for, you, the jobseeker!

Download and start editing!

Microsoft Word Resume Templates Download Best 12

Functional Format

The minimal styling keeps its focus on the content. A great fit for job candidates targeting experienced (management), and specialized (technicians) jobs.

• All Word versions
• Functional (Executive) format.docx

Chronological Format

Impressive and professional resume design. A clean and effective template. Readers can quickly scan and identify its sections. A safe and sound choice for any job and career stage.

• All Word versions
• Chronological format.docx

Chronological Format

Impressive and professional resume design. A clean and effective template. Readers can quickly scan and identify its sections. A safe and sound choice for any job and career stage.

• All Word versions
• Chronological format.docx

(commercial use is not allowed) and will be legally prosecuted

Purple & Pink

A clean and modern resume design that allows you to customize all of its elements. Even the colors!

• Best for Word 2018+
• ResumeViking 26.docx

Green & Green

Impressive but subtle green resume design to show are your essentials. A resume for starters and mid-career workers.

• Best for Word 2018+
• ResumeViking 22.docx

Georgia Fleck

Basic, minimal design with the option of adding a photo to your resume. Personal use only.

• Best for Word 2018+
• ResumeViking 21.docx

Professional Word Resumes Templates

The free resume templates made in Word are easily adjustable to your needs and personal situation.

Modern Word Resumes Templates

John Smith

A peculiar type of green design. This resume lets you create a one and two-page pager with all your essential data.

• ResumeViking 1.docx

Andrea Rowland

Basic, minimal design with the option of adding a photo to your resume. Personal use only.

• ResumeViking 18.docx

Charlotte Anderson

Your Rose Resume design, complimentary with cover letter and business card. Personal use only.

• Rose Resusme.docx

Sales and design resume

A sales resume? A designer resume? This template you can use in many industries. Personal use only.

• Experience format
• Chronological
• ResumeViking 10.docx

Connor Green

Modern resume design. Visualizing your track record or the charts out. It’s up to you. Personal use only.

• Experience format
• Chronological
• ResumeViking 8.docx

Charlotte Webb

Basic, minimal design with the option of adding a photo to your resume. Personal use only.

• Experience format
• Chronological
• ResumeViking 17.docx

Creative Word Resume Templates

In this word there are many wonderful things. So are our free creative resume’s. Only for personal use.

Therapist

Basic, minimal design with the option of adding a photo to your resume. Personal use only.

• Experience format
• Chronological

• ResumeViking 5.docx

Sunset

Basic, minimal design with the option of adding a photo to your resume. Personal use only.

• ResumeViking 3.docx

Spring

Tight green, modern resume design with the option of adding your photo. Personal use only.

• ResumeViking 9.docx

Moss

Basic, minimal design with the option of adding a photo to your resume. Personal use only.

• ResumeViking 19.docx

More Resume’s!

Andrew Furness

Basic, minimal design with the option of a photo. Keep it black and orange or change it all up. For personal use only.

• Experience format
• Chronological

• ResumeViking 6.docx

Orange Resume

Orange Resume with graphs and a photo option. Edit all details to your personal situation. Personal use only.

• Experience format
• Chronological

• ResumeViking 12.docx

Yellow Resume

A yellow resume with a timeline design and graphic pies. Download and edit freely. Personal use only.

• Experience format
• Chronological

• ResumeViking 11.docx

Golden Brown Resume

Golden Brown and Dark. Personal use only.

• Experience format
• Chronological

• ResumeViking 13.docx

Venice Beach

Happy, retro, feminine, and vintage resume template. It’s a description that doesn’t do justice it’s the design. Personal use only.

• Experience format
• Chronological

• ResumeViking 14.docx

Thomas Earland

Basic, minimal design with the option of adding a photo to your resume. Personal use only.

• Experience format
• Chronological

• ResumeViking 16.docx

You can make your resume easier!

Getting tired of Microsoft Word, and it’s design formatting? Use the resume tool, which is the ideal help to spin out 18 different resume designs with a one-click download. Edit at any time. Perfectly scalable. Downloads in Word & PDF.

One Week access is only $2.95(!)

Oh, and it includes cover letters too!

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Free Word Resume Templates by ResumeViking.com

Average rating:

 

45 reviews

Apr 3, 2023

 by Marvella

The template was beautiful and was everything I wanted, but it was a complete nightmare to make even the slightest change in MSFT Word. I couldn’t get rid of the generic picture in the template without altering key components of the resume. I’m about to bite the bullet and pay $24 for a resume I pre made because that was much easier than dealing with these templates.

Mar 10, 2023

 by Kellyv Vugt

word docs without ads. perfect

Mar 3, 2023

 by Gael Breton

Super

Feb 1, 2023

 by Tanya Lotus

You are such amaizing souls! Merci

Jan 25, 2023

 by Ale

My word is from 2013 and not always work well

Jan 21, 2023

 by Melissa Grenados

Thanks you so much!!

Jan 11, 2023

 by Alfred Peacock

Increible! Graci!

Dec 13, 2022

 by mahmoud alnajjar

thank you very much

Nov 23, 2022

 by Ali Baba

very good

Aug 25, 2022

 by Dinith Sithunaash

Easy to download. Interested in your templates. Thank you.

Using a CV template in Word has come a long way. You don’t have to put up with that annoying Clippy thing anymore for a start.

But trying to sift through all the low-quality Word CV Templates to find a good one? Like the lady says, ain’t nobody got time for that.

But now you can rest easy. I’ve done all the hard work for you and carefully curated a collection of CV templates for Word that have all the necessary ingredients to land you a job.

So make a coffee, sit back and enjoy. You’re going to love them, you have my word—template that is!

Pay special attention to the Zety templates, they’re fully optimized to appeal to recruiters and be easy to use. Read on to find out more.

Want to save time and have your CV ready in 5 minutes? Try our CV builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ CV templates and create your CV here.

Create your CV now

Sample CV made with our builder—See more CV examples here.

Before you choose the perfect template, find out how to make the perfect CV. See how: 

• How to Write a CV 
• CV Format: 20+ Examples & Tips
• What is a CV?
• CV Examples for All Professions

1

Valera

We begin with one of our own templates. It’s a personal favorite of mine. Deceptively simple, but with a real touch of flair in the way it makes use of fonts for a CV. The pairing of cursive headings with simple body text looks stylish and youthful, but remains readable and professional. It has a matching cover letter template too, like all of our CVs.

All of our templates are downloadable in Word format, but the best format to save your final CV copy is PDF. With our builder it’s easy, you get three download options PDF, MS Word document and plain text.

2

Cascade

Another Zety CV template for Word. With our builder, you just enter all your details then save the final result as a DOC file. No messing around in Word while you’re writing. 

(You know what it’s like, move an image a fraction of an inch and suddenly everything shifts, four new pages appear, smoke comes out of your keyboard and you hear police sirens in the distance.)

All the layout pain is on us with Cascade. The two-column CV format is visually appealing and gives lots of room to max out your credentials as the perfect candidate. Nice use of color, too. 

The blue column to the left uses two different shades and the right side nicely picks out the blue in the titles. The health bars for software and language skills are the cherry on top. A great choice of Word CV template.

Blue looks great but as with all of our templates, you can effortlessly choose from a rainbow of colors. 

3

Blue Grey

This modern CV template is a Word free download. Just click on File, then New and search for “blue grey”, if you don’t see it right away. I love the color scheme of this one, very calm and professional. The gently rounded curves of the grey column are also a very nice touch. Nice looking health bars for the CV skills section ,too.

The original version of this template did have a problem. It had a photo of the candidate. I replaced it with a set of initials and you should do the same. If you’ve ever wondered “should I put a picture on my CV,” the answer is a definite no.

4

Columns

Columns is a free CV template in Word. Just search for it when you create a new document. It has all the neat rectangular arrangement of a Mondrian painting. Your CV summary, work experience section, everything is neatly boxed off so it can be read in turn.

Thankfully it doesn’t go with Mondrian’s bold primary colors, opting for smooth blue and taupe instead. A great choice to show you can leverage the best layout for a CV.

5

Contemporary Purple

I know, it sounds like one of those weird names for interior paint colors. It sure is eye-catching though. Sometimes small changes make all the difference and this one adds white chevrons to the purple left-hand column. It’s a clever visual trick to draw the eye down and make sure everything gets read. 

Even better, it’s another free CV template in Word. As with any native Word template, click on File, then New, and search for “Contemporary.”

6

Modern

This Zety CV template for Word keeps the promise of its name. It really is a modern CV Word template. The way the bars on each column balance each other is very pleasing on the eye. 

This also helps draw the reader’s gaze across all the content. That’s a good thing because the average recruiter takes just 7 seconds to scan a CV and you want them to see as much as possible. 

Like many of our Microsoft Word CV templates, it features a health bar for software and language skills. Health bars originate in the world of gaming and they’re an effective way to power up your CV. 

Like all of our templates, you can change font types, sizes and spacing. Plus you will also get a matching cover letter template. 

7

Iconic

Another aptly named Zety CV template for Word. We’ve made good use of icons throughout. Each one functions as a little infographic explaining the information it accompanies. Infographics are another powerful upgrade to your CV as they make the content more persuasive. 

That said, the best CV templates for Word always keep any graphic touches subtle. If you have a heavily infographic CV you risk it not being ATS compliant and that means it’ll never get read.

As with all of our templates, our builder makes writing your CV quick and easy. No need to mess around with formatting and layout. Just type in your text and we do the rest.

8

Blue Suede Template

If in doubt, the best approach in choosing a free CV template for Word is to KISS. That’s the classic design principle of keep it simple stupid. 

This template follows a basic single-column format, lots of room to fill in your details. It still manages to look sophisticated though, simply through the sky blue accents to the top and bottom of the page. The look is like a slick corporate letterhead. Classy indeed. This one comes from Cool Free CV.

Here’s the link to this CV template for Word.

9

Manon

A very modern looking CV template that you can download from Template Monster. The golden color highlights hint that you’re as high value as the precious metal. Then the layout takes a different approach from most others, using a combination one and two-column style. 

Make sure you remove the photo though, replace it with a solid fill in the same color as the background or your initials. 

Here’s the link to this CV template for Word.

10

Daniela

We’re now half-way through our list. See any you like yet? If not, don’t worry, there’s 10 more to come. 

This is another Word CV Template from Template Monster. Its unique selling point isn’t the layout, that’s pretty standard. It’s the colors! So tastefully chosen. This is the sort of color scheme you’d expect to see in a five-star hotel room. A template to show you’re a candidate of distinction.

Here’s the link to this CV template for Word.

11

Diamond

Diamonds are forever, but your current job doesn’t have to be. Get a new one with this Zety Word CV template. The diamonds are the icons, the bullet points, and the health bars. 

Look to the left and you’ll see there’s even a “diamond necklace” to help pull the recruiter’s eye all the way down to CV certifications. The sharp angles and monochrome color scheme also look great on CV paper. Great for if you need to print out your CV.

Like all of our CV templates this one is guaranteed ATS scannable. If you choose a free CV template download you risk using one that’ll be rejected before it gets read.

12

Initials

A distinguished-looking CV Word template from Zety. Two columns with plenty of white space and that’s a good thing. What you leave out can be as important as what you put in and white space gives a big boost to readability. 

Check out how your initials feature in a circular stamp to the right of the CV header. It looks just like a seal of quality, confirming you as a top-grade candidate for the job. Great for more experienced candidates as there is so much room for job-winning content.

If you’re less experienced don’t worry, as with our other templates you can add, remove and rearrange sections to suit your needs. Then the builder ensures the formatting stays intact.

13

Black Tie

This template looks just like an invite for a fancy social event or even a menu for an expensive restaurant. Classic elegance, just like its name. In this format, it’s a good choice for a new graduate as it puts the CV education section above experience.

Here’s the link to this CV template for Word.

When making a CVin our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your CV here.

When you’re done, Zety’s CV builder will score your CV and tell you exactly how to make it better.

14

Flower Power

Another free CV template from Word’s own repository. A floral theme this time for a fresh, youthful and feminine feel. It’s probably not the best choice if you’re applying to a more conservative organization, but would be perfect for more creative CVs. 

With a motif like that, you can almost feel a spring breeze when you read it. Though whoever wrote this obviously hasn’t read our guide on what to include in a CV. Take a look and get the section titles right. To access this CV template, search for “pink floral” when creating a new document.

15

Dark Elegance

If you want a unique CV template this is the one for you. A word of warning though, this won’t look great on paper unless done with a high-resolution printer. Best to test it out if you ever plan to print it. Still, if dark and brooding is your thing, this is your go-to template.

Here’s the link to this CV template for Word.

16

Ray of Sunshine

A very cheery template from Freesume. Simplicity itself, but a great example of what fashionistas call a color pop. That yellow is so bright and eye-catching. It’s a joyful color too, and certain to bring a ray of sunshine to anyone reviewing a stack of dull, predictable CVs. They’ll be happy to give you a call after seeing this mood-lifting layout.

Here’s the link to this CV template for Word.

17

Bubble Gum

This is also a free CV template for Word created by Freesume. In color theory, pink is seen as feminine, nurturing and caring, but don’t be limited by that. It’s a great choice for men too, if you want to stand out, but still stay tasteful. 

There’s another nice color trick here, too. If this template featured bright pink on black, it’d be over the top. Dusty pink on dark grey ensures it stays soft and tasteful.

Here’s the link to this CV template for Word.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your CV will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here’s what it may look like:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

18

Concept

We finish with a trio of Zety Word CV Templates. First up is Concept. The dark sidebar is in the form of a timeline. It adds visual interest while staying simple and uncluttered. 

Then to the right is a spacious single-column layout with discreet CV icons. You can see that the icon for each section joins with the bullet points to form a string of beads. 

Another template that cleverly keeps the eye going down the page.

19

Cubic

Cubic is a great name for a CV template for Word. Huey Lewis was right, it’s hip to be square. This template starts off strong, your name’s in lights in white text on a dark header. Moving down it goes for the familiar two-column format, but look closer. 

The left side is a two-column within a two-column. The timeline to the left emphasizes the classic chronological CV format. Then the right-side column is a calming pale blue. Perfect to soothe an overworked hiring manager.

Planning to use another CV format like functional or combination? Our builder lets you adapt the layout to any format you choose.

20

Nanica

Let’s finish with a Zety CV template for Word. A CV doesn’t always need colors and icons to look good. Nanica is an exercise in Marie Kondo minimalism. There’s just a tasteful use of health bars to stop it being too plain. 

This one is a reassuringly traditional CV template and a great choice for when you’re targeting something more conservative. 

That’s it! Have you got an incredible CV template for Word you want to share? Need any help with creating a Word CV template yourself? We’ve got a comments section just for you so please ask.

Sobhan Mohmand, Career Expert          23 May 2021

A CV template provides a framework and vital guidelines for writing a CV.

Benefits of using our professional CV templates:

• Completely free to download and utilise for personal use
• Free from any forms of watermarking and branding
• Easily editable and customisable using Microsoft Word
• You don’t have to reinvent the wheel; be more time-efficient by using a CV Template

Tip: always customise the templates to fit your personality and the job you are applying for!

Step 1: Select a CV Template

Please note: the above CV templates are presented in the UK format and layout.

Step 2: Decide on the type of CV you require

It’s true that all CVs adhere to a certain standard and guidelines. It would be quite bizarre finding a CV that doesn’t contain the candidate’s name and contact details!

A typical CV format consists of the following eight sections:

1. Personal information (name, contact details and address)
2. Personal profile
3. Achievements
4. Education and Training
5. Employment and Work Experience
6. Skills
7. Hobbies and interests
8. References

There are, however, different CV formats that enable the candidate to fully tailor the CV for maximum impact. These formats, while containing most of the fundamental sections, are sometimes worded different or some sections are presented in different orders.

The following are the three popular formats:

• STUDENT CV – As the name suggests this CV is suitable for school leavers, college or university graduates and for people who write their first CV.TIP: Put emphasis on your qualifications since that is usually the biggest selling point you have. You should expand on the different subjects or modules you are/have studied and highlight any competencies/skills gained during your studies.
• PERFORMANCE-BASED CV (STANDARD) – This CV format is the most popular and is suitable for job seekers from any background.TIP: Put emphasis on your achievements and performance throughout the CV. The entries in this format should be in chronological order (most recent jobs, education or training first) and you should use your past achievements and performance to tell the hiring manager: “I have done great things before, for someone else, and I can do the same things – or even better- for you and your company.”
• SKILLS-BASED CV – Also known as a functional CV and this format is the best suited for candidates who want to change careers, have career gaps in their employment history or have no experience at all in the field.TIP: Put the most emphasis on your transferable skills and competencies as opposed to qualifications or relevant work experience. Reassure the hiring manager that while you may not have the appropriate education or experience, you do have all the skills required for you to do your job well!

With all of this in mind, let’s start working on your CV!

Step 3: Fill in the blanks (with examples!)

Please follow this step-by-step, section-by-section guide to write a good CV:

Personal details

Completed preview:

Tips:

• You don’t have to include any or all of your middle names (first and surname is a must)
• For presentational purposes, it isn’t required to put “address” as a prefix
• Ensure that you use a professional email address (preferably with your name included)

Check out Personal Details for more information on this section.

Personal Profile Statement

Completed preview:

Tips:

• Your personal profile shouldn’t be more than 4 or 5 sentences long.
• It should only contain relevant and positive information about you and your abilities
• Try to back up any claims on this statement with real-world examples (where possible). For example, if you claim to have a “proven track-record in business administration” have you SHOWN any examples of this in your Employment and Work Experience section?

Check out Personal Statement Examples for more guidelines and examples.

Achievements

Completed preview:

Tips:

• Always try to include this section on your CV because as a well-known saying goes: “if you want to predict someone’s future, look at his past.” What better way to grab the attention of a prospective employer than by highlighting your past achievements?
• Try to include at least two achievements that you are particularly proud of and which are going to be an interest to the prospective employer.
• Keep the bullet points short and to the point (e.g. do not write long sentences).

Check out Achievement for more information on this section.

Education and qualifications

Completed preview:

Tips:

• If you are a student or recent graduate, then your education is probably your main selling point. Try to make this part as clear, compelling and comprehensive as possible.
• Remember to always, always include the RELEVANT subjects or modules that you have studied (and not simply mention your course title with a few dates).
• It’s recommended to include grades, particularly when they are at least good or excellent. Any bad grades? Forget about them!

Check out Education and Qualifications for more information on this section.

Employment and Work History

Completed preview:

Tips:

• Dedicate a lot of your thoughts on this section because this is the most important section of your CV and the one which can make or break your chances of securing an interview.
• Try to tailor the previous jobs to the job that you are currently applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a Marketing Assistant job, you might have a lot of experience in marketing-related activities from your Office Assistant job – mention them!
• Completely omit any irrelevant or out-dated work experience from your CV

Check out Employment and Work Experience for more information on this section.

Professional Training and Qualifications (optional)

Completed preview:

Tips:

• Any additional training qualifications you may hold, especially the ones that are relevant to the job, should be included in this section.

Skills

Completed preview:

Tips:

• You should always include a Skills section on your CV because a prospective employer usually spends less than 30 seconds skimming through your CV. That isn’t enough time to work out all your skills from your CV’s other sections.
• Only mention skills that are RELEVANT to the job and which make you better at performing your CV. Your amazing ballet skills will have zero impact on you performing your day-to-day duties as Business Analyst (well, at least I hope so!).

Check out Skills for more information on this section.

Hobbies and interests

Completed preview:

Tips:

• Use the Hobbies and Interests section to demonstrate that you’re well-rounded person who is engaged in extracurricular activities and in the community.
• Also mention any plus points about yourself such as volunteering, taking care of your health and always engaging in social activities.

Check out Hobbies and Interests for more information on this section.

References

Completed preview:

Tips:

• Your references should be two people who know you well and have worked with you in one way or another and who can vouch for you to the prospective employer.
• If you decide not to include references on your CV you can simply write “references available upon request.”
• ALWAYS ask permission when disclosing your referee’s personal contact details

Check out References for more information on this section.

BONUS: Check out this popular article for some good and bad CV examples.

Step 4 Customise your template design using Microsoft Word

Filled in all the sections?

Great! But, you’re not done yet…

It’s now time to look at the appearance and presentation of your CV. The following are some of the areas that can have a major impact on your CVs visual presentation:

• Alignment
• Font
• Headings
• Bullet Points
• Use of white space
• Colour

You could have a quick read through these articles for additional tips to further make your CV stand out.

Step 5: Double check EVERYTHING

Before you climb your rooftop and scream: “I have finished writing my CV!!!“, which I am sure you were thinking of doing, it is important that you double check your CV to make sure that everything is perfect.
That includes:

1. Proofreading for mistakes (spelling AND grammar)
2. Checking that all your education/employment details are accurate and up to date
3. The visual presentation of the CV is perfect and is nicely fitted into 2 A4 pages.

Step 6: Downloading and exporting tips (DONE!)

This is the final step. Hooray!

You should by now have a nice CV template that you selected, filled in, customised and double-checked for any mistakes. It’s now time to export your CV so that you can start printing your CV and using it to apply for jobs.

Follow these steps to export your CV:

1. Open your CV document
2. Click on “File” (top left-hand corner of the screen)
3. Click on “Save As”
4. Under “File name” give the document a name
5. Just below it under “Save As Type” click on the drop-down menu and you can select one or more of the following formats to save your CV into:

• Word Document (will export as .docx – compatible with the new versions of Microsoft Word)
• Word 97-2003 Document (will export as .doc – compatible with old and new versions of Word)
• PDF (will export as .pdf – recommended if you want to keep the format of the CV exactly the same on any device or platform)

6. Click on Save and you’re done!

FAQ:

Question: Is it recommended to use a CV Template?

Answer: We have found that many people find it very useful to have a clear set of guidelines that they can follow when writing their own CV. It is no secret that structuring a CV, let alone perfecting it, can be a daunting task and anything that can make this process easier and time-efficient is, of course, worth giving a try.

Question: What are some things to be aware of when using CV Templates?

Answer: One of the biggest mistakes, which should be considered a mortal sin, is for job hunters to use templates without customising them to suit their own ‘brand’ and personality! There are thousands of examples where people have simply stuck blindly to templates – sometimes even forgetting to remove the tips written on them! – and thereby selling themselves short.

Question: What are some of the ways in which I can customise CV Plaza’s Templates?

Answer: All the Templates that we have made available can be fully edited and customised using Microsoft Word. The following are some editing tips which you can make the most of:

1. Double click on the header area of the document to resize/reshape the graphics
2. Experiment with different font types, font sizes and spacing
3. Reorder the CV sections to meet your individual needs

FINALLY: please remember that CV Templates are simple and restrictive by nature, so use your creativity and initiative to write your own perfect, personalised CV!

MS Word

Here is the most popular collection of simple resume format in word (.doc) file format. This collection includes basic, classic, creative, modern and simple professional curriculum vitae/CV, resume and cover letter templates with an instant free download option. All these modern cv templates with word format have a modern layout structure designed by professional designers around the globe. These are very easy and simple to customize or edit by just following a few simple steps which are in the documentation. You can also check out our other collection of Free InDesign Resume Templates, Free Indesign Resume Templates, and Free Photoshop Resume Templates.

When it comes to resumes, presentation is just as important as the skills and experience that the resume itself spells out. Trying to design a resume from scratch can be a challenge, especially with few design skills.

Need a little help? Check out these 51 free (yes, FREE!) Microsoft Word resume templates that you can easily download to your computer, edit to include your experience, and hand in with your next job application. No recruiter or hiring manager will be able to say no.

Can’t wait to view them one by one? We’ve put together a selection of the best free resume templates in one easy download below.

Why use a resume template?

Resume templates are handy tools for job seekers for a number of reasons. Firstly, it allows you to spend more time polishing up the content instead of worrying about the layout and design.

Secondly, it gives first-time job applicants a better idea of how much to write and the sections to focus on. This also applies if you’ve been out of the job market for a while and haven’t had to edit your resume recently.

Before you sprint ahead to the templates, here are some resume dos and don’ts you should know.

Resume dos and don’ts

Do

• Tailor your resume to each job you apply to
  • Highlight your most relevant experience, skills, and accomplishments
• Optimize your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
  • Include keywords from the job description in your resume where it fits organically
  • Triple check your resume for grammar, punctuation, and spelling
• Use data specific examples where possible (e.g. “increased sales by 30% by doing x”)
• Include non-academic and non-professional experiences, such as volunteer work or side projects
• Use powerful verbs to describe your work (e.g “amplified”, “executed”, “maximized”)
• Include your contact information
• Keep your bullet points to under two lines  
• Ask someone you trust to go over your resume with you
• Create a master resume. This will make it easier to tailor your resume to any job
• Include all your relevant credentials
• Save your resume file as something with your name on it. This will make it easier for managers and HR folk to locate your files
• Be consistent throughout your application. This means using the same fonts, styles, and naming conventions on your file.
• Showcase your soft skills
• Print out copies of your resume for interviews

Don’t

• Include obvious skills (e.g. gmail)
• Include irrelevant hobbies or interests. That space can be better utilized for highlighting your achievements and skills
• Include work experiences during high school unless you’re a recent graduate
• Use an objective sentence. These are widely considered to be outdated, and only relevant if you are changing careers
• Hide gaps in your resume. Be confident when explaining the gap and speak on the skills you learned during that time
• Use cliches or too much jargon. Oftentimes, the first person reading your resume will be from HR
• Write overly complex sentences. Keep it straightforward and easy to understand
• Use more than two fonts 
• Include photos (unless you’re applying for a role in the arts)
• Include your salary history. Save that for the negotiation process

How to optimize your resume for ATS

If you’re applying for a job, there is a very high chance that the resume will first be seen by some software before it makes its way to a pair of human eyes. This software is called an Applicant Tracking System and it sorts, scans, and ranks job applications that come through to a recruiter or employer.

ATS helps recruiters filter through candidates by scanning for relevant information and keywords in an application. Writing a resume that is ATS optimized is imperative, as you could potentially miss out on opportunities even if you’re qualified. 

Here are some ways to ensure your resume is ATS-friendly:

• Keep graphics to a minimum
• Incorporate keywords and phrases used in the job description. Don’t overdo this, as resumes with a high match can be flagged for gaming the system
• Save your resume as a PDF (you can easily export as PDF once you’ve edited your Word resume template)
• Some ATS software can’t read data in the header or footer. Ensure all your important information is in the body of your resume
• Avoid using too much formatting
• Make your resume easy to read, for robots and humans. This means avoiding overly wordy sentences and abbreviations where appropriate

Customizable Word resume templates

Turning a blank document into an attractive, well-designed resume is hard work, especially when you’d rather put that time to use in your job search. That’s where these free Word resume templates come in. You can choose from a range of ready-made designs, whether you’re looking for something classic, minimalist or colorful. All of the templates are easy to customize with your personal details, and you can even change the colors and themes if you’re so inclined.

When you’re done filling out your template, make sure to save your file as a Word .docx file (or .doc for older versions of the program), so you can always come back and make changes. When you’re ready to send your resume, be sure to attach it in the requested format, for example PDF or .docx. To export as a PDF from Microsoft Word, go to the File menu —> Export —> Create PDF.

You can browse the free resume templates below, and get a selection of the best templates delivered straight to your inbox.

1. The basic resume template

Want a basic resume to get yourself started? This is a great one for inputting your objective statement, experience, and skills. Download

2. Skill-based resume template

What makes this resume template great is that it has a little color but it’s also perfect for any industry. Download

3. The chronological resume template

Want a resume that makes it easy to put your jobs in chronological order and send it off? This is the straightforward template you’re searching for. Download

4. Another traditional resume template

Want to spruce up your resume without changing too much of the formatting? Try putting either your headings or subheadings in a different font. Download

5. The black-and-white resume

This black block will stand out amongst a sea of white resumes. Download

6. Orange resume template

This resume layout is actually optimized for applicant tracking systems, so you’ll be able to pop in keywords for the position you’re applying for and get yourself to the next round. Download

7. Peach resume template

Adding in colorful lines to your subheadings or your personal logo can add special touches to your resume without taking away from the content. Download

8. Creative resume template

Borders are an easy way to add more color to your resume and also take up space without being distracting. Download

9. Formal resume template

If you’re working in a more formal industry, resumes like this one give you the ability to add color while still being professional. Download

10. Profile resume template

This resume is another universal option that’ll help you look great no matter the field you’re applying for opportunities in. Download

11. Colorful resume template

You can add a little color on your resume without making it the color of a highlighter. Download

12. Grey and white resume template

This resume template is made for professionals who want an elegant yet modern resume. Download

13. Newspaper resume template

Journalists and copywriters can lean on this template to both showcase management experience and also their skill sets. Download

14. Monogrammed resume template

Want to stand out? This template is great for catching the eye of hiring managers. Download

15. Technical resume template

Technical resumes can be difficult to format, but they don’t have to be impossible. Download

16. Pink resume template

Elle Woods isn’t the only one with a pink resume; if you work in an industry where creativity and color can get you a long way, why not try it? Download

17. Visual resume template

You can use visuals to show your expertise, which might come in handy when you’re applying for jobs where you need to flaunt what you’ve got. Download

18. Creative peach resume template

Adding a few icons can be a nice touch to a resume, especially one for creative or design positions. Download

19. Minimal resume template

Want a more minimalistic resume design but don’t have a ton of experience to show? This template makes your resume look a little more chic. Download

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20. Light pink resume template

Pastels are your thing? Then you’ve found your perfect resume. Download

21. Bold resume template

Feeling bold? Submit a black resume and see what happens. Download

22. Long profile resume template

Want to add a longer profile about yourself to your resume? This template lets you do it. Download

23. Plain, but trendy resume template

This resume is called “plain but trendy,” and it’ll make you look put together. Download

24. Green resume template

A little splash of bright green color can’t hurt, especially if you’re applying to more creative positions. Download

25. Light pink resume template

If you’re applying to jobs where showing off your personality more is an asset, this resume template could do the trick in landing you that perfect gig. Download

26. Colorful blue resume template

This resume is colorful, straightforward, and easy to read. What’s not to love? Download

27. Unconventional resume template

You’ll wake up a drowsy recruiter with this red and black template. Download

28. Fancy emerald resume template

Feeling blue? A hiring manager sure won’t after checking out this resume template. Download

29. Simple resume template

Don’t let this simplistic resume fool you; it can help you go far in your job search. Download

30. Splash of blue resume template

This template flips the typical resume setup on its head, which could work in your favor during the application process. Download

31. Creative resume template

The color’s a little unorthodox, but now’s not the time to bore recruiters. Download

32. Mint resume template

This resume is so cool, recruiters will be stunned with amaze-mint (get it?). Download

33. Purple resume template

Purple is an unconventional resume choice, but it may serve you well in some professions. Download

34. Yellow resume template

This resume’s surprise is the pop of color at the bottom. Download

35. Classic resume template

This design’s a little more classic than others but still has an interesting neutral color scheme. Download

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36. Simple pink resume template

This resume template includes a summary section, which is ideal if you are changing careers or have recently graduated. Download

37. Creative profile resume template

This template is particularly customizable – the header image, activity icons, and fonts can be changed fairly easily (especially if you’re proficient in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop). Download

38. Dark sidebar resume template

This sleek design keeps your personal branding consistent across the board. It comes with both a resume and cover letter template. Download

39. Light resume template

If you want a creative resume that isn’t too colorful, look no further. This light resume template features clean lines and ample white space to let your credentials shine. Download

40. Colorblock resume template

This colorblock template is ideal for creatives who want their resume to stand out. Download

41. Minimalist resume template

If you’re looking for a role in a more formal industry, this template is ideal. Its text-centric layout coupled with colored headings makes it professional, but not too serious. Download

42. Bold Blue resume template

Ideal for jobseekers who have a myriad of information to present. There is a section for a summary, education, experience, awards, skills, social media, and contact details. Download

43. Appleseed resume template

This clean template has a section to chart your skillset. Download

44. Timeless resume template

It’s named the ‘Timeless’ template, and it’s easy to see why. The understated, yet elegant, layout is something you can use throughout your career. Download

45. Modern resume template

The large heading font and logo makes your name stand out more. Download

46. Colorful infographic resume template

Best suited for jobseekers in less formal fields. Download

47. Mint block resume template

This stylish resume features a calming blue header and comes with a matching cover letter template, too! Download

48. UX resume template

You can use icons and progress bars to visually demonstrate your skill set, language ability, and hobbies. Download

49. Venn diagram resume template

This template features a unique way of presenting your professional skill set – a Venn diagram! It also comes with an accompanying portfolio and cover letter template. Download

50. Monochrome resume template

This comes with an accompanying cover letter template – perfect for design-minded employers and jobseekers. Download

51. Organic shapes resume template

This word resume template walks the line between funky and professional. Ideal for those who intend on applying to a creative role. Download

Download your free Word resume templates

Need a variety of resumes at your fingertips? We’ve put together a selection of the best free resume templates in one easy download below. And don’t forget to check out our handy cover letter template too!

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