Format of resume in word format

It can’t be that hard to write your resume in Word, can it? Then why are you stuck? Overwhelmed with hundreds, no, thousands of pages and videos on how to make a resume in MS Word? Who has the time to sift through that mountain of informational junk to find the hidden gems?!

Worry not. We’ve left no stone unturned, and condensed down all you need to know about how to make a resume in Word.

In this guide you’ll learn:

• How to access a ready Microsoft Word template design and make it your own.
• How to create a resume in MS Word from scratch faster than you can say Microsoft Office, even if you’re totally new at it.
• How to format a resume to make it look better and more professional than most other resumes.

But instead of reading through all this, you can just swing on over to our resume builder which will do it for you. Not only is it more user friendly than MS Word, you can download your finished resume in a .doc file which will make writing your resume a sinch.

Let’s get started!

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

Create your resume now

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

First, you might want to check if submitting a resume in *.doc is a good idea: Is a Resume in PDF the Best Option?

Check out our resume templates to choose the best for you:

• Free Resume Templates
• Best Resume Templates
• Apple Resume Templates
• Blank Resume Template
• Simple Resume Templates
• Functional Resume Templates
• Student Resume Templates
• Recent Graduate Resume Templates
• Entry Level Resume Template
• One Page Resume Template
• Google Docs Resume Templates
• Creative Resume Templates
• Cool Resume Templates
• Modern Resume Template
• Minimalist Resume Templates
• Plain Text Resume Templates

How to Make a Resume in Word

Now get comfortable, we’re going to go through, step by step, how to make a resume in Word from scratch.  

Access MS Word Templates

Accessing MS Word templates may seem complicated, but it really is just a few simple steps that we’ll show you them below.

1. Open a new document.
2. Click on the “more templates” option.

1. Choose “Resumes and Cover Letters.”

1. Choose the resume template that suits you best and click on it.
2. Click “Create.”
3. Your chosen resume template appears as a Word document and you’re ready to edit it with your personal information and experience!

Not sure which resume template packs the most punch? Browse through our selection and tips here: 25 Resume Templates for Microsoft Word

Make a Resume Header in Word

Going top-down, we start first with the resume header (and the Captain Obvious award goes to…). 

The resume header should include the following:

• your name
• current job title
• phone number
• email
• links to any online profiles or professional online sites that you have. 

It should end up looking like this:

But hey, how did that nice line get there? 

It’s simple so let’s leave that for later, once you’ve finished all your sections. If you’re super impatient, jump down here to learn how to add a line in a Word resume.

How to Format a Resume Header in Word

As your name is both important and the first thing the hiring manager sees, make sure it’s bigger than the rest of your text (14-16 pt).

Depending on the font you use, decide whether bold will make it look better and draw more attention. 

Feel free to bold the titles of the information that you’re listing (like in the above example) to make it a little clearer to read.

Add a Resume Objective/Summary

Double space from the last line in your resume header.

Write “Objective” or “Summary” depending on which one you’re using. As it’s a section title, make it a little larger than the rest of the text (14-16 pt). Also, depending on the font you’re using, make it bold.

Beneath the section title, write a couple of sentences concerning your resume summary or objective. 

Unsure whether a resume objective or summary is right for you? These two handy guides will help solve that problem: Resume Summary Examples and Resume Objective Examples

Your resume objective/summary section should look like this:

Write Your Experience Section in Word

Now we’re diving into the bigger sections of your resume that will take a bit more time and effort to get just right. 

Again, double space from the last line and add the section title “Experience” in larger text like the previous section titles.

Next, add the date, title of your job position at the time and then the name of the company.

Next, add a few lines describing your relevant job responsibilities in bullet points.

If you have key achievements that you’d like to include, add “key achievements” after your job responsibilities and also list them in bullet points. Since “Key Achievements” is a sub section header, remember to make it bold, underlined, or slightly larger than the surrounding text to help it stand out more.

Need more pointers on how to add work experience to your resume? This guide will point you in the right direction: Resume Work Experience, History, & Example Job Descriptions

Your finished work experience section should look something like this:

Add Your Education Section

The hardest part of your resume is over and done with, phew! Now on to your education.

Follow the same rules as before so double space and enlarge the font for the resume section title “Education.”

Next, add the date you graduated (or plan to graduate), the name and location of the school, and the title you acquired.

Simple!

If you’re feeling a little lost on how to add your education to your resume, you’ll definitely find these guides super helpful: How to Put Education on a Resume and How to List Continuing Education on a Resume

Your education section should look like this:

Add Skills to a Resume in Word

You’re already at your skills section now!

This section is an easy one as you won’t have to do much other than list.

Again, double space from the last line and use the same format for your “Skills” section header as you did for the rest.

Now simply list your skills. You can do this as a simple list or just some kind of formatting like bullet points. That’s all there is to it!

When you’re done, your resume skills section should look something similar to this:

It’s important to remember that you can’t just mention every skill you have including competitive bubblegum chewing. It needs to be relevant. 

This guide will tell you exactly which professional skills are key to getting your dream job: Key Skills to Put on a Resume

Add Additional Sections to Your Resume

You’re already near the end, yay!

The additional section isn’t mandatory in your resume, but it is a great place to show off your achievements, certificates, interests, languages, and other things that don’t really fit elsewhere in your resume.

Add the relevant section headings, i.e. “Achievements”, “Certificates”, “Languages”, “Interests”, etc. and then form a simple list beneath.

Here’s an example:

That’s it!

Afraid that your resume doesn’t have enough impact? Check to see if it’s optimized to the job description with this handy guide: 6 Tips on How to Tailor Your Resume to a Job Description

When you’re all done, if you pull all the pieces together, your complete resume should look more or less like this:

Unsure if your resume is complete? Double check that you have all the crucial pieces: Parts of a Resume: What are the Important Elements?

Now, that looks okay, but it’s not exactly something to write home about. Want a resume in Word that will really stand head and shoulders above the rest?

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

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

How to Format a Resume in Word

You’ve already learned a little about formatting a resume in Word throughout this guide, but let’s recap and add in some new tips for good measure.

Resume Fonts in Word

It may seem like something not really worth the worry, but a bad font can tank your resume faster than an unnoticed iceberg.

Use professional, modern fonts and stay away from fonts that are overly creative, hard to read, or simply comical (I’m looking at you, Comic Sans!).

For more in depth knowledge about what fonts are a “go” and which are a “no,” check out this great guide: Best Fonts for a Resume

Resume Margins in Word

Word usually has neat margins set up by default so you’re probably good to go from the start.

Just in case, though, remember that the standard margins for resumes are 1 in. on all sides.

Want to muse more over measuring your margins? This guide will do just that: Proper Resume Margins

Resume Line Spacing in Word

Again, Word will usually have you covered by default, but it’s good to know that 1.15 line spacing is best in a resume. 

If you want to see what your line spacing is set to in a Word document, go the toolbox in the Home tab and select the icon that looks like a paragraph with arrows on the left side. A drop down menu will appear with different spacing options.

Resume Headings in Word

As we’ve already covered, the resume headings should stand out in some way. They definitely should be slightly bigger (14-16 pt) to set them apart from the rest of the 12 pt text. 

If the legibility of the font allows, feel free to underline or bold the resume section headings as well.

Don’t go overboard though. This does not look good on a resume: WORK EXPERIENCE

How to Make a Line in Word for Your Resume

Making a line is one of those things that seems simple, but ends up giving you an aneurysm and a half when you try to do it.

There are actually three ways to create a line in Word—via hyphens, borders, or horizontal lines. 

1. Use hyphens.

Type in three hyphens (—) and then press “Enter.” Viola! You have a line!

1.  Use Borders.

Go to the Borders option in the Home toolbox and click on the drop down menu. Choose the first option “Bottom Border” and Word will automatically insert a line.

1. Use Horizontal Line.

Go to the borders in the Home toolbox and click on the drop down menu. Choose “Horizontal Line”. Click and Word will insert a line.

Now you know more than one way to make a line in Microsoft Word!

Lines, like other format options, should be used once in a while to emphasize the main points. You don’t want to turn your resume into a web of lines created by drunken spiders.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume 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.

Key Takeaway

If you’ve ever wondered how to create a resume template in Word, well you just have! Now you can create several different tailored resumes for your dream jobs!

Wasn’t all that bad, was it?

Creating a resume in Microsoft Word may not be super easy, but it doesn’t need to be a complicated design or be a nightmare to format. You can definitely create a resume in one, relaxed sitting.

Just keep in mind to:

• Keep your resume sections in order.
• Format your resume section headings a little larger than the rest of the text.
• Double check if your font, margins, and line spacing are professional and legible.
• Use lines and format design sparingly in your resumes to emphasize instead of clutter.

Have you found this guide helpful? Any options or templates we’ve left out that you think could be useful? Let us know!

1. Go to File > New.

2. In the search box, type Resume or Cover Letter.

   

3. Double-click the template you want to use.

4. Replace the placeholder text with your own information.

1. On the File menu, select New from Template.

2. In the search box, type Resume or Cover Letter.

   

3. Double-click the template you want to use.

4. Replace the placeholder text with your own information.

See also

Create and use your own template in Office for Mac

Making a resume like this while you’re online is quick and easy.

Note: This template comes with a cover letter, so you’ll have everything in one document.

Choose one of our resume templates, and open it in Word for the web to make it yours.

Tip: If you’re already in Word for the web, get to the resume and cover letter templates by going to File > New, and then below the template images click More on Office.com.

You’ll be on the Templates for Word page. In the list of categories, click Resumes and Cover Letters.

As you work on the resume, you’ll probably want to rename it.

The template uses a table to line everything up. If you need to add more lines for job experience or education, add rows to the table by going up to Layout under Table Tools and clicking Insert Below (or Insert Above).

For tips on writing your resume, check out Six steps to developing a great resume.

Print it

When you’re finished, print it out or share it online. You can do this with the resume still open in Word for the web. No need to save it first (that’s already done for you).

To print it, press Ctrl+P, and wait for the Print dialog box.

Note: If you don’t see a Print dialog box, click the link for opening a PDF version of your resume. From there, use the PDF program’s Print command.

Share it

To share it online, send a link:

1. Near the top of the screen, click Share.

2. Under Share, click Get a Link.

   

3. Under Choose an option, click View only.

   

4. Click Create Link.

5. Click on the web address to select it, and then copy and paste it into an email, message, or post.

Способов создать резюме сегодня существует достаточно много. От обычной ручки и листа бумаги, до адаптивного онлайн-конструктора.
И, конечно, вы можете использовать любимый Microsoft Word.
Только учтите, что, как и у любого другого инструмента, у «.doc» файлов есть как положительные, так и отрицательные стороны.

---

Чтобы у вас не оставалось вопросов, предлагаем краткое руководство «как составить резюме в word и скачать его, чтобы работодатель получил идеально составленную анкету».

Хотя в интернете достаточно информации на эту тему, не все советы одинаково полезны .

Некоторые приводят к обратному эффекту: ваше резюме становится нечитабельным.

Попробуем разобраться, как избежать ошибок и составить достойную конкуренцию на этапе оценки резюме.

Общие рекомендации по составлению резюме в Word

Главная задача резюме – заинтересовать работодателя, произвести яркое впечатление. Чтобы получить приглашение на собеседование, одного содержания недостаточно: вам придется буквально заставить рекрутера обратить внимание на вашу заявку. А потом это внимание еще и удержать.

Хотите создать крутое резюме в ворде с нуля? Тогда посмотрите наше короткое видео. Такой бланк точно понравится рекрутерам, к тому же он легко считывается системами ATS:

Образец резюме в word должен давать самую важную информацию — кратко, но при этом подробно, наглядно и презентабельно.

Большинству рекрутеров все равно, в каком формате создана ваша анкета. Однако некоторые работодатели указывают предпочтительный формат в вакансии.

На биржах по поиску работы, например, hh, собственный инструмент для создания анкеты, но никто вам не мешает отправить ссылку на google-docs или размещенное онлайн резюме.

Совершенно не имеет значения должность, на которую вы устраиваетесь: водитель, бухгалтер, врач, воспитатель, инженер или топ-менеджер.

Правила одинаковы для всех.

Некоторые компании, например, «Газпром», используют автоматические системы оценки ключевых слов.

Учитывайте это при заполнении заявки и не забывайте отвечать на все требования вакансии.

Оптимальный объём бланка резюме в Word

Стандартный размер для резюме word для большинства профессий – 1 страница.

Этого хватит, чтобы передать информацию об опыте, навыках, образовании, достижениях.

А также вставить контакты и краткий рассказ о себе.

Смысл word резюме не в том, чтобы расписать последние 20 лет вашей жизни.

Главное — покажите рекрутеру, что у вас есть все необходимые для вакансии компетенции.

Подробности вы расскажете позже – в сопроводительном письме или на собеседовании.

Если у вас никак не получается вместить весь ваш опыт — например, если вы юрист и вам нужно описать дела, над которыми вы работали — используйте портфолио, а в анкете просто перечислите темы, в которых компетентны.

В конструкторе резюме мы используем 2 колонки. Это позволяет уместить дополнительные блоки на одном листе так, чтобы читающий мог легко найти интересующую его информацию.

Если на вакансию приходит более 10 заявок, работодатели редко читают 3-4 страничные резюме на работу word.

Грамотность и проверка в word

При написании текста в Microsoft Word приложение автоматически подчёркивает ошибки. В том числе на английском языке.

Но не полагайтесь только на этот инструмент.

Ворд плохо работает с пунктуацией – используйте дополнительные онлайн сервисы для проверки, например, загрузите текст в «Орфограммику» и «Тургенев».

Релевантность формата .Doc

Резюме всегда составляется под конкретную вакансию.

Основная часть информации (опыт, навыки, рассказ о себе) подстраивайте под требования вакансии.

Например

Если в компании делается акцент на командной работе, то добавьте соответствующие пункты в личные качества, а также отразите в опыте примеры сотрудничества.

Главную информацию (навыки, обязанности, достижения, пройденные курсы) подавайте в форме списков и таблиц.

Только не используйте таблицы в excel.

Избавитесь от лишних слов, сократите объём анкеты, но при этом сохраните высокую информативность резюме.

Дизайн резюме в Ворд

Резюме должно быть красивым и понятным, чтобы привлекать внимание и запоминаться.

При этом рекрутер должен быстро находить интересующую его информацию.

Чтобы улучшить внешний вид анкеты, придерживайтесь стандартных правил оформления резюме или используйте наш онлайн конструктор.

Избегайте чересчур креативных дизайнов. В большинстве случаев они больше отталкивают, чем обращают на себя внимание.

Готовые шаблоны Word

В MS Word по умолчанию доступно несколько готовых шаблонов резюме.

Для этого выберите «файл» -> «создать» и выберите нужный шаблон.

Преимущества:
Удобство шаблона резюме в word в том, что вам ничего не придется верстать: достаточно просто вписать ваши данные в созданные для этого поля. Шаблон резюме в ворд легко скачать – для этого не нужно никаких дополнительных инструментов.

Недостатки:
Шаблоны не адаптивные, то есть они рассчитаны на определенный объем текста и размеры шрифтов. Если превысить этот объем, дизайн «сползет». Небольшой выбор. У вас не получится настроить шаблон «под себя». То есть добавить фотографию туда, где место под нее не предусмотрено будет достаточно трудно. Также не получится добавить дополнительные блоки и стилизовать их.

Шаблон своими руками

Вы можете создать собственный дизайн резюме, скачать word бесплатно и настроить его «под себя».

Главная проблема ворда в том, что здесь нет адаптивности и не работает абсолютное позиционирование элементов.

То есть вам придётся настраивать расположение блоков, учитывая их количество, длину текста, размер шрифтов и отступы.

Чтобы выстроить элементы правильно, придерживайтесь следующих правил

1

Располагайте блоки по сетке

Расставляйте блоки по сетке, чтобы анкета выглядела аккуратно и гармонично. Выравнивайте колонки по вертикальным линиям.

Так как информация в резюме оформляется в виде списков, то блоки становятся узкими, но высокими. Поэтому разделяйте лист на 2-3 колонки.

Лучший вариант – разбить страницу на колонки с помощью «Разметки страницы», или «Макета» в последних версиях Word 2019 и 2020 и меню «Колонки».

Не останавливайтесь на стандартных настройках, выбирайте «Другие колонки» и настраивайте ширину и отступы самостоятельно.

2

Группируйте

Группируйте информацию в блоки, чтобы рекрутер быстро находил все, что его интересует. Для разделения и выделения блоков используйте границы, цвет и отступы.

Простой способ формирования блока с границами и заливкой – создание таблицы.

Ещё можете добавлять разделители или ставить линию из нижнего подчёркивания «_» или звёздочек «*» между абзацами.

3

Не увлекайтесь цветами и размерами шрифтов

В современном резюме вовсе не обязательно использовать цвет.

Главное правило: если вы не уверены в том, что вы делаете – не экспериментируйте.

В крайнем случае раскрасьте одну из колонок нейтральным тоном. А вот про цветные шрифты забудьте сразу.

Используйте не больше 2-3 размеров шрифта: заголовок каждого блока, обычный текст, ваше ФИО.

Дополнительно используйте выделение «жирным» и «курсив».

4

Используйте стандартные блоки

Резюме — не место для экспериментов. Выбирайте формат, в зависимости от опыта и навыков и выстраивайте блоки соответствующим образом.

«Стандартный» набор – это:

• ФИО, контакты, фото;
• Опыт работы;
• Образование;
• Навыки;
• О себе.

Чтобы повысить вашу ценность, как сотрудника, используйте дополнительные блоки:

• Цель;
• Владение языками;
• Рекомендации;
• Хобби;
• Публикации;
• Личные качества.

Подробнее о составлении и заполнении каждого блока читайте в руководстве MyResume.

Недостаток резюме в word и формата .Doc для работы

У ворда три принципиальных недостатка, из-за которых этот инструмент считается не лучшим выбором для резюме:

1. Сложность верстки.

   В текстовом редакторе не предусмотрено абсолютное позиционирование и адаптивность.

   То есть расположение и размеры элементов на странице зависят от размеров и расположения других элементов.

   Например, добавив текст в блок, следующий за ним съедет на другую страницу. То есть каждый раз, внося какие-то правки, нужно быть готовым к тому, что придется менять расположение блоков, размер отступов или шрифтов.

2. Сложность дизайна.

   Ворд никогда не создавался, как приложение для верстки документов. У него слабые возможности для дизайна.

   Особенно это касается расположения элементов, добавления разделителей, инфографики, цветных блоков и т.д.

   Кроме того, создавая бланк резюме на работу в word, вам придется самостоятельно продумывать и создавать дизайн.

   Как правило, если у вас нет в этом опыта, верстка займет в несколько раз больше времени, чем составление текста.
3. На разных версиях word и на разных компьютерах файлы «.doc выглядят по-разному».

   Еще раз: ворд никогда не предназначался как инструмент для создания унифицированных или стандартизированных документов. В отличие от PDF.

   Кроме того, во многих российских компаниях установлены бесплатные аналоги, например, OpenOffice, LibreOffice и другие. И как откроется ваш файл в таких редакторах – не скажет никто.

   А ведь есть еще десятки версий самого Ворда, MacOS, планшеты, смартфоны и другие устройства…

Совершенно необязательно то, что вы видите на экране, увидит и рекрутер.

Возможно, строчка над которой вы бились 3 часа, на экране другого компьютера съедет на следующую страницу или вообще сползет на другой слой фона. Согласитесь, будет обидно.

И мы даже не говорим про невозможность встроить шрифты, стилизовать маркеры, добавить масштабируемую инфографику и защитить документ от копирования. Об этом, кстати, читайте в статье «.DOC vs PDF».

Заключение

Согласитесь, как составить резюме в word и скачать его — не совсем подходящий вопрос.

Правильный вопрос: «а стоит ли самому создавать резюме в ворде? Или воспользоваться готовым адаптивным конструктором?».

«Ворд» удобен своей простотой. С ним справится даже далекий от компьютера человек.

Однако недостатков у этого инструмента гораздо больше.

Именно поэтому мы и создали конструктор myresume – чтобы избавить вас от необходимости верстки, выбора дизайна и шрифтов.

Так вы можете сосредоточиться на главном – содержании.

Но если вы все-таки твердо решили создать анкету в word – загляните в наше руководство, выбирайте подходящий формат, блоки, их расположение и объём.

Проверяйте текст на грамотность, работайте над дизайном и вставляйте фотографию.

Если не знаете, как заполнить резюме в ворде – образец для вашей профессии ищите в примерах myresume.

Выделяйте заголовки, подбирайте шрифты.

Ценную информацию ставьте вверху.

И не забывайте об основных блоках: личной информации, контактах, опыте, навыках и образовании.

Автор статьи

Светлана Свиридова

Карьерный консультант, хэдхантер, бизнес-тренер.
Сертифицированный бизнес коуч: профилактика выгорания, работа с конфликтными ситуациями на работе

МЕГАподборка компетенций

И что делать, если вы подписали NDA

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!

Submit your review
Name:
Email:
Rating:	1 2 3 4 5
Review:
Check this box to confirm you are human.
Submit       Cancel

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.

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.

At some point or another — meaning, before online resume builders made our lives easier — most of us have had to make a resume in Word. 

Now, making a resume in Word can be tiresome. Not being entirely optimized for the task, it can give you a hard time formatting and styling your resume to your needs — and this is just one of its disadvantages. 

That being said, the use of Word is unlikely to drop only because it’s impractical. This means that knowing how to make a resume in Word is still a good skill to have. And if you’re sitting and thinking: “well, this doesn’t make matters any easier” — we hear you. 

That’s exactly why this article is here — to teach you how to make a resume in Word, in just a few easy steps. 

But before we dive into the nitty-gritty details of how to make a resume in Word, let’s go through the downsides of using it to build your resume, and what other easier alternatives you might have in more detail. 

Should You Make a Resume in Word? 

Microsoft Word might once have been a top resume-building option, but that time is long gone. Although it has ready-made templates, Word in itself was never meant to be a resume builder — this reflects on the end product, which often looks old-fashioned and dull. 

Not to mention that it offers very little space for creativity. Try to make a small change in the layout and see the format crumble in front of your eyes. 

On the other hand, if you simply use the Word template without customizing it, yours might just become another resume in the crowd that won’t even pass the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) — the software most companies use to filter through countless resumes they receive daily. 

Long story short, here are MS Word’s main cons as a resume builder:

Long story short, here are MS Word’s main cons as a resume builder: 

• It can be clunky and outdated — chances are, any Word template you choose to use for your resume will look old-fashioned. Technology has changed what is expected of your resume, just as it has changed job-search over the last decade.
• It is not ATS-optimized — the software that most recruiters use not to waste time looking at the resumes? Well, most Word templates are not optimized for it. This means that you can be the fittest candidate for the job and not even get invited to an interview.
• It’s time-consuming — making changes to the layout of a Word resume template is a nightmare.

Everyone knows what happens when you move an image in Word:

Source: twistedsifter.com

It’s exactly for these reasons, as well as the added efficiency, originality, and time preservation, that online resume builders are the obvious choice for creating your resume. 

Novorésumé’s online resume builder is fast, easy to use, and perfect if you want to land that interview. You can start building your resume immediately just by clicking on the link, or you can pick one of our free resume templates, according to your needs.

Step #1: Pick a Word Resume Template 

The first step in making a resume in Word is accessing its free resume templates. How you access the templates may change depending on the Microsoft Word version you’re using, but what you ultimately need to do is the following: 

Open Word. 

Select one of the Resume templates Word suggests, or simply search for “resume” and you’ll find a bunch more.

Choose the resume template that best fits your qualifications and professional profile.

Click “Create.” 

You’re good to go: the template should appear as a Word document ready to be filled with your personal information and all other relevant sections. 

Step #3. Include a Resume Summary or Objective

Next, you need to describe your professional experience or professional goals (in case you lack the experience) through the resume summary or objective. 

Write a resume summary or resume objective — depending on which one best fits your resume — and try to express yourself in a way that will keep the recruiter’s attention for more than the traditional 7 seconds. 

Quick recap: a resume summary is a 2-3 sentence overview of your career and is used in 90% of the cases. A resume objective is more commonly used among those with little professional experience or those who are changing careers and describes your professional goals. 

Step #4: Create a Compelling Work Experience Section

This is where things get serious. 

The work experience section is the most important part of your resume for obvious reasons and usually plays a decisive part in the recruiters’ decisions. So just filling up the gaps in the experience section of the Word template won’t be enough. You should try to make this section as compelling as possible — following some of the tips provided below. 

But first, the basics. As with any standard format, the experience section should include the following components: 

• Job title and position
• Company name and location
• Dates of employment 
• Achievements and responsibilities 

Again, how the resume looks in Word will depend on the template that you have chosen. 

Obviously, the template lets you add as many professional entries as you wish — but that doesn’t mean you should go overboard. List your experience in reverse-chronological order, meaning: start from the latest and move back in time, based on the amount of professional experience you possess. 

There are, of course, a couple of pro tips that you should follow even as you use the Word templates to make your experience section more compelling. 

Pro Tip #1 — List achievements over responsibilities

Notice the example above.

Instead of responsibilities, we have opted to list achievements. Listing achievements over responsibilities whenever possible is one of the best ways to stand out in the eyes of recruiters. That’s because responsibilities are similar for one type of job, while achievements show exactly what you can contribute to the position. 

Pro Tip #2 — Tailor your resume to the job you are applying for.

Another good practice is tailoring your resume to the job you are applying for. This can help you go through the ATS and land your resume right on the recruiters’ tables. 

If you want to know exactly what information to include in your resume, how and when to list achievements over responsibilities, and how to tailor your resume to your job, head over to our complete guide on how to write a resume.

Step #5: Add Your Educational Background 

Things should get quite easy after you get your professional experience section out of the way.

The education section of your resume should include the following: 

• University name and location 
• Years attended
• Program name / Degree obtained 

Optionally, you can include your GPA, Minor degrees, or any special award or academic achievement. Our advice is to include them only if you are a recent graduate or entry-level professional with not much else to include in your resume, or if your education history is truly outstanding. 

Step #6: Make Sure to Include Your Skills

At this point, you can consider most of the work done! 

Now that you have reached the skills section, things get even easier. Make a bullet or numbered list of your hard and soft skills and you’re good to go. 

Hard skills are usually measured through experience levels — you can place your experience level (usually categorized into Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced or Expert) into brackets, so you don’t take up too much space within the resume. 

Pro Tip #3 — Tailor the skills and qualifications on your resume to the job

Take a look at the essential skills required on the job ad and see if you can incorporate them into your list of skills. 

Step #7: Include Optional Resume Sections 

Congrats — you can finally stretch your legs and even allow yourself a little pat on the back. 

The additional sections are not mandatory in a resume, so if you’ve reached your resume space limit, you can just call it a day and save your resume. 

They are, however, a great way to show off additional assets such as languages, hobbies and interests, and even volunteering experience on your resume! 

• Remember to also determine your language knowledge levels. Those are Native, Fluent, Proficient, Intermediate, and Basic. 

In the off chance that you still have some space left — considering resumes should be 1-2 pages at most and that Word templates are not as good at saving space as online resume builders — you can include the following optional sections: 

• Certifications and Awards
• Publications 
• Projects 

Follow the same practice as with the skills section, and you’re good to go!

How to Format Your Word Resume 

With all the essentials covered, let’s go over some formatting tips such as fonts, line spacing, and headings so that your Word resume looks as uniform and clean-cut as possible. 

Best Resume Fonts in Word 

We cannot repeat this enough — the resume font you use, matters. It matters just as much as first appearances matter and we all know they do, a lot. 

The font that you decide to use will impact your resume readability whether you like it or not, so you should use a font that will help you stand out, but not in a bad way. What’s a bad way? Comic Sans and other similarly-looking comic fonts. 

The usual Times New Roman, point-12, formula, on the other hand, will just blend you with the crowd. 

Instead, consider using one of the following recruiter-friendly fonts which will complement your resume both on-screen and in printed form, according to Business News Daily:  

• Calibri
• Cambria
• Garamond
• Didot
• Georgia
• Helvetica
• Arial 
• Book Antiqua
• Trebuchet MS

Optimal Line Spacing for a Word Resume  

The good thing about the Word resume template is that it usually has fonts and line spacing covered for you, yet it’s still good to know that the best line spacing for resumes is 1 or 1.15 between text and double lines after headings.

Feel free, however, to play around with line spacing when it comes to adjusting your resume layout.

Headings in a Word Resume

Again, Word templates do a good job of making the headings stand out. As a rule of thumb — and as is noticeable in the above examples — headings should be bigger than the rest of the text. So, if you’re using a 12 pt text, consider adjusting the headings between 14-16 pt. 

You can also underline or bold each resume section heading, or even use a different font, but as we always advise: don’t go overboard and try to maintain the style of the Word resume template that you have chosen.

And by now, you should have a complete resume in Word that looks like this:

Key Takeaways 

Well, here you have it — your nicely tailored resume in Word, ready to land you that job interview. 

Although not the easiest task, we are convinced this article has given you all the necessary information on how to make a resume in Word and the confidence to do so easily. 

Here’s what’s good to remember: 

• Order your resume sections properly, usually in reverse-chronological order. 
• Make sure that your section headings stand out from the rest of the text, by usually using a larger font size.
• Check if your chosen font, line spacing, and margins are aligned, readable, and professional-looking. 
• Opt for an online resume builder such as the one Novorésumé provides for a more modern, time-saving, and HR-friendly resume. 

No matter what industry you work in (or your experience level in that industry), a plain, black-and-white resume written in Times New Roman font just doesn’t quite cut it anymore.

But just because resumes have gotten more creative doesn’t mean you need special design software to make your application stand out. On the contrary, writing your resume in good old Microsoft Word is still the perfect way to develop your personal brand, while also communicating your experience and career goals.

Read on to find the perfect template for your next resume, then learn how to create your own in Microsoft Word.

Download 12 free, editable resume templates.

Free Resume Template Downloads for Word

1. Monogram Header Resume Template

Download this template here.

We’ll start with a simple one. This is a HubSpot exclusive resume template that is simple and clean with attractive monogrammed headers to call out each section of the resume. The rest of the design relies on a simple serif font for easy reading, which is a good thing considering that hiring managers only take 7.4 seconds to evaluate a resume. You want your experience section to be easily scannable.

Recommended For: Freelancers

This resume template is best for freelancers. The project section is great for showcasing the skills that would be most applicable for the industry the applicant wants to enter.

2. Maroon Sidebar Resume Template

Download this template here.

Pulling your more text-heavy information off to the side in an attractive color-blocked sidebar, this resume lets your experience stand for itself in white space at the top. It’s also easily customizable with no difficult-to-manipulate tables or formatting. The sidebars are in movable text boxes that can even be removed if you wish.

Recommended For: College Graduates

This template is best for young professionals starting their career. This adjustable resume template can give you full customization options for your first resume.

3. Centered Bar Resume Template

Download this template here.

This resume takes on a different look than most resumes, centered around a single bar. This makes the resume more visually striking, which could draw attention as hiring managers are evaluating candidates. It also puts emphasis on the objective with your chronological experience supporting it underneath. All of this is in an attractive serif font that is elegant and classy.

Recommended For: College Graduates

This template is great for college graduates to demonstrate their most recent accomplishments. The «Objective» section will help you showcase where you are trying to go in your career.

4. Bold Serif Resume Template

Download this template here.

Speaking of serif font, this resume puts forward an element of grace and formality with its font choices. It’s perfect for individuals who are looking for more organic color than the ones more typically found in resumes, and the colors are also easily changed in Microsoft Word’s theme settings. It also includes a skill-level bar, adding a nice visual touch to the template.

Recommended For: College Students

This template is great for college students to demonstrate their internship experience. The volunteering section gives a rounded viewpoint of your accomplishments if you are just leaving college.

5. Modern Chronological Resume Template

Download this template here.

This resume template is available from Microsoft itself, and it’s one of many free templates the company has prepared for those who depend on Microsoft Office tools to create content. Yes, it is written in Times New Roman — don’t freak out.

Designs like this can borrow an old-school typeface and still impress recruiters with a clean layout and subtle use of color. You can also change the font if you wish (and the same goes for every template in our list).

Recommended For: Developers

The «Skills» section is perfect for candidates in the tech industry. A candidate can showcase the languages they are fluent in and show a variety of accomplishments, successfully demonstrating their capabilities as they move into a new industry.

6. Digital Marketing Resume Template

Download this template here.

The digital marketing resume below comes from our own collection of resume templates, all of which open directly in MS Word.

Coming with two pages total, this sheet holds a wealth of information and offers the perfect amount of style while maintaining professionalism. Mid-level marketers all the way up to CMOs can find this template valuable.

Recommended For: Mid-Level Marketers

In this resume template, mid-level marketers can effectively showcase a variety of their skills, as well as their portfolio and other media pieces.

7. Black and White Resume Template

Download this template here.

The Black and White resume template below suits professionals who prefer using color and shading to add structure to their resume.

The black banner at the top contrasts the applicant’s name nicely to help make him/her more memorable to recruiters. The gray banner just below the header is perfect for a summary or career objective — it makes one’s goals known but doesn’t overpower the experience listed below it.

Recommended For: Graphic Designers

If you’re a graphic designer, this is the resume to showcase your art. This template has a monochromatic color scheme, but if you are a designer, you can easily take it to the next level.

8. Urban Development Resume Template

Download this template here.

The illustration on the top-left of this template shows who the designers at Hloom had in mind for this resume: civil engineers. But because it’s a Word document, that graphic is easy to edit and replace with an image that represents your line of work. Are you an analytics buff? Design a clever bar or line graph icon and place it next to your name in blue (or whatever color you’d like!).

Recommended for: Civil Engineers

If you’re a civil engineer who wants to display your accomplishments, this is the template to use! There’s a section that lets you list all of your achievements and notable opportunities that made you grow as a civil engineer.

9. Email Marketing Resume Template

Download this template here.

Red color never fails to stick out on a sheet of paper, especially if it’s included in small amounts. The resume template for email marketers, below, captures that balance.

In addition to the professional title in the top right-hand corner, this template also stands out with a thin sans-serif font, helping make a lot of text easier for a recruiter to digest and read through.

Recommended for: Email Marketers

If you are an email marketer who wants to highlight successes in your previous campaigns without boring the viewer with the details, this resume template is perfect for displaying bite-sized information.

10. Info Pop Resume Template

Download this template here.

This one, also from Hloom, gives you exactly what the name suggests: ample space for the info you need, with headers that pop just enough to get your employer’s attention.

Although the template fits a ton of text, its soft color palate prevents the document from seeming overwhelming.

Recommended For: Experienced Professionals

This resume gives a lot of information all at once, which is perfect for professionals with more than eight years of experience. The layout makes it easily scannable and easy for a recruiter to read.

11. Dark Resume Template

Download this template here.

Ironically, a dark background could be just the thing to ensure your resume doesn’t fall into the black hole of resumes piled on the hiring manager’s desk.

Using soft, yellow font, the resume template below inverts the usual color scheme of a resume without trying too hard to be creative.

Recommended For: C-Suite Executives

If you have years of experience in an executive position, this design has a bold and unique design that will separate you from the pack. What’s more, it has an area where you can list your achievements, relevant skills, and notable opportunities, allowing you to showcase your effectiveness as a leader.

12. Skilled Resume Template

Download this template here.

This resume design by Hloom communicates a truly professional tone. The template’s muted colors work very well with its clean layout.

Recommended For: Professionals in All Industries

Whether you’re just starting out in any industry or looking to change careers, this template is suitable to highlight your skills and qualifications to propel you to the next level.

13. Inbound Marketing Resume Template

Download this template here.

Here’s another resume template dedicated to the digital marketer. This sheet offers all the inbound marketing language you need to express your values as a passionate, brand-loyal professional.

Similar to a few other templates on this list, it also uses just a dash of vibrant color in the applicant’s name at the top (where it matters most).

Recommended For: Communications and Marketing Candidates

This template is great for candidates moving into a communications or marketing role. Aside from its amazing visual appeal, this template creates a sense of connection with the reviewer by adding a personal touch.

14. Smart and Professional Resume Template

Download this template here.

This is another sharp template that offers a basic but confident design for any professional. The warm-colored panel on the right-hand side is pre-formatted for a written profile, where you can write a summary of your background or a form letter to each employer.

Just be sure to personalize this messaging to each new recipient so it works for the job you’re applying to. This template is available on Freesumes, and is free to users once they share the page to Facebook or Twitter.

Recommended For: Young Professionals

This resume is great for someone starting their career who needs a little guidance on how to best display notable experiences related to the job posting. Also, it is an editable template that can easily be personalized to appeal to the HR rep reading the resume.

15. Spick and Span Resume Template

Download this template here.

There isn’t a better name for the template below. The Spick and Span resume might be the cleanest-looking sheet on this list.

It uses boldface, all-caps, and gray typeface to structure various headers of the document differently and maximize the hiring manager’s reading experience. And all that minimalism makes the professional headshot at the top pop off the page.

Recommended For: Creatives, Designers, and Developers

Resumes that look like this can be the work sample. If you have a background in illustration or design, making your resume stand out will be a great nod to your future employer. Get creative with your resume’s design if you want to work in an illustrative industry.

16. Timeline-Style Resume Template

Download this template here.

Similar to the Centered Bar resume earlier in the post, Hloom’s Timeline template is a super simple but creative way to tell your story.

You can convey your progression through various jobs you’ve held on one side of the vertical line, and more static elements of your background — such as skills and education — on the other.

Recommended For: Editors and Copywriters

This template has a sleek and clean look that places the focus on the highlights of your experience rather than on the minor details. If you have a background in editing or copywriting, this resume is the perfect way to showcase your skills in a concise and effective narrative … without the fluff!

17. Content Production Resume Template

Download this template here.

This basic resume template is suited for content producers at all stages in their career. By spreading out the header and «Skills» text horizontally, the resume below fits a lot of crucial information comfortably on one page (of course, it also comes with a second page if you need it).

Recommended For: Content Creators and Videographers

This resume will help content creators showcase their biggest projects and most notable accomplishments. It’s great for showing how your scope of work has increased over the years, solidifying your expertise in that field.

18. Fresh Resume Template

Download this template here.

This is perhaps the most imaginative of all the Word-based resume templates on this list — with both a skills meter and a comic headshot.

The template was designed by Venkata Naresh and comes with 12 different versions of the design you see below. Have you created a Bitmoji of yourself? Do you think your employer would find it creative? Match the template and add it as your photo.

Recommended For: Creative Artists or Digital Marketers

If you need a resume template that will showcase your artistic skills without being too casual or being too informal, this is perfect for you. You can also add in notes of your accomplishments, relevant skills, and qualifications for the job.

19. CV Resume Template

Download this template here.

The curriculum vitae-style resume below flips the typical two-column resume so the basic applicant information is listed across the right side, rather than the left.

Feel free to change the color of this sidebar in Microsoft Word if dark-red isn’t your thing — the template can pull off any color you wish.

Recommended For: Graduate Candidates

If you are a graduate student entering the workforce, having a CV-style resume will demonstrate the depth of your knowledge first and showcase how your continued education will contribute to your future work environment.

20. Goldenrod Resume Template

Download this template here.

This template, also offered on Freesumes, dares to use yellow as the dominant color — but doesn’t sacrifice professionalism in the process.

The document anchors the education section to a thick, bright banner across the bottom, but you can likely change this to a skills section with some simple editing in Microsoft Word.

Recommended For: Architects

This clean-cut design represents a candidate who is all about precision. This template would serve candidates who have experience in architecture or construction.

21. Resume Template With Personal Endorsements

Download this template here.

What makes this resume unique is the space for references on the lower left-hand side. Does your field need others to vouch for your experience? This resume gives you room for three solid recommendations.

Recommended For: Brand Marketers or Personal Influencers

If you work in branding or have a large social media following, you can demonstrate your ability to create a cohesive message with this resume template. Feel free to change the color scheme to suit your brand.

22. Creative Resume Template

Download this template here.

This one was designed by the stationery experts at MOO and is offered for download by Microsoft. Simple but vibrant, this template hugs the text with an artistic header and footer — great for recent graduates who need to fill empty space on the page.

Recommended For: Photographers and Other Creatives

If you are a photographer who does freelance work, this is a great template to showcase your experience. This will give your hiring manager or client an excellent first impression because it showcases your creative ability without sacrificing the important elements — your accomplishments.

23. Modern Resume Template

Download this template here.

This resume embraces simplicity with a slight touch of color to make things a bit more interesting. It also nicely sections off Skills and Education notes from the Work History list.

With LiveCareer.com, you can generate a template with your basic information and then download it to add small details.

Recommended For: Young Professionals

This resume gives a modern twist on the resume. It’s perfect for those looking for a fresher look than the traditional resume.

24. Functional Resume Template

Download this template here.

This NovoResume.com template is colorful and includes a place for your headshot which could make you look both interesting and confident to an employer.

Recommended For: Media Professionals

A colorful format like this one might be great for a media or advertising professional who wants to keep their job application visually memorable to prospective employers.

25. Elegant Resume Template

Download this template here.

If you’re looking for simplicity and efficiency rather than something colorful, consider this Elegant Resume Template from Jofibo.

With Jofibo, you can select this or other similar templates on the website, enter your information, and then download it quickly and easily.

Recommended For: Marketing Candidates

If you are a mid-level marketing candidate, use this fun template to showcase all of your expertise and accomplishments. It’s an eye-catching template that displays your creativity and ability to engage.

26. Blue Corporate Resume Template

Download this template here.

Because of the color and image, it’s pretty memorable. But, for those who prefer a more conservative resume look, this template is fairly simple.

Recommended For: Corporate Candidates

This template is great for accomplished candidates moving into a high-rank position. This layout allows you to fit plenty of accomplishments, and the conservative look organizes the fullness of your career neatly.

27. Concept Resume

Download this template here.

This resume is perfect for displaying a clear timeline of your career history. It’s ideal for a seasoned professional who may have a lot of experience and wants to display it on one to two pages.

The template also allows you to highlight your competency level in various areas, giving the recruiter an easy way to spot your expertise.

Recommended For: Candidates in the Tech Industry

This resume is great for people in the technical space because it adds a touch of color and feels more compact, which will allow you to get right to the point about your key skills, certifications, and work experiences.

1. Open Microsoft Word on your computer.

If you have Microsoft Word installed on your computer, open the program and let it load for a moment. There will be a couple of helpful options waiting for you on the first screen, specifically for resume creation.

2. Select either «Basic Resume» or «Bold Resume» from the template menu.

Once you’ve launched MS Word, a window of templates will appear. Scroll down until you see the template options designed for resumes — there will be at least two of them. Double-click the one that suits your style and personal brand, but don’t be too particular about design just yet … you can customize these templates quite a bit.

3. Fill in your name and contact information at the top.

When your resume template opens, you’ll see placeholder text for each line of your resume, starting with your first and last name at the top. Delete this header text and enter your name, as well as any contact information by which you want the recruiter to contact you.

4. Draft a brief summary of your experience and goals.

Use the first line below your name and contact info to describe who you are, what you do, and what you’re looking for in your career.

5. Enter your school and latest education.

List any relevant degrees or certificates you received through schooling. You can safely exclude secondary education if you’ve graduated from an accredited college.

6. Describe each job you’ve held using the lines prompted on the template.

Your professional experience is frequently the most important section of your resume, so feel free to rank this section above your skills and education, depending on how many jobs you previously held.

7. List all relevant skills.

If you have experience in certain software, exercises, problem-solving, or management techniques, use them to populate your skills. Your resume’s «Skills» section helps reveal what all of your previous jobs or related experiences have in common, based on what they taught you and what you provided them.

8. Describe any relevant accolades and accomplishments.

Finish out your resume with any personal accomplishments or accolades you think a hiring manager in your industry would appreciate. Although this section shouldn’t include a Most Improved recognition from little league, for example, it should definitely include your Marketer of the Month award from your last position.

Next, let’s cover how to format your brand-new resume in Word.

How To Format a Resume in Word

When formatting a resume in Word, it’s important to know the right style. We’ll go over it piece by piece.

Set the Right Margins and Font Size

Your resume should contain one-inch margins on all sides. Most documents will automatically have one-inch margins, but it’s best to double-check or create them yourself. Here’s how to create one-inch margins for your resume:

• Go to «Layout.»
• Click «Margins.»
• Click the «Normal» setting, where it states 1″ on the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the document.

Lastly, make sure your font size is 12-pt. This font size is standard for most resumes. However, if you have a particularly long CV, you could potentially get away with an 11-pt font size to fit it all on one page.

Create Headers

You should separate each section (i.e., education, work experience) with a header.

Create a header in Word by selecting «Styles». You can use «Header 1» for your first and last name at the top of the page. «Header 2» is great for the «Education» section, «Work Experience» section, and «Skills» section. Use «Header 3» for employer names and job titles, and use normal text to fill in the details of your accomplishments, skills, and educational background.

Create Dividers

If you want to visually divide your resume into different parts, you can create dividers to split up the information and make your resume more scannable. Here’s how to add dividers:

Go to «Insert», select «Illustrations,» and then click «Shapes». You can select «Lines» to draw a line in Word. Another shortcut to create dividers is pressing the «=», «_», or and «*» three times and hitting enter. These give a variation of dividers that can add dimension to your resume.

Create Bullet Points

The truth is, no hiring manager will read a paragraph of information, so we recommend using bullets instead to list your accomplishments and responsibilities underneath your job titles. When you open «Paragraph,» you’ll see a variation of bullet points you can use. Choose the one you like best.

Sometimes, you might not have time to create and format a resume from scratch. Plus, if you’re already employed full-time, it’s hard to find the time to apply to a new job opportunity, let alone update your resume to reflect your qualifications.

Luckily, there are numerous publishers out there who’ve created incredible resume templates for quick editing and formatting in Word.

You can also find resume templates directly in Word, which we’ll go over next.

How to Find Resume Templates in Word

When you open Word, go to ‘New’. On the bar on the left, select the ‘New’ option if it’s not selected already. Scroll down and you will see the resume template options that Word provides. These templates are visually appealing and are ready-made to send with your job application.

To keep you from hunting the internet for resume templates that are both free and compatible with MS Word, we’ve listed some options below for you to customize with your own information right now.

Some of them come with variations so you can pick your favorite design. A few of them cater specifically to marketers.

How to Save Your Resume

Remember, once you’ve finished personalizing your resume, you’re not ready to submit an application yet. To ensure your resume’s format stays the same for everyone who receives it, save the document as a PDF. Best case scenario? Even the hiring manager won’t believe your resume came from Word.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in 2018 but was updated in May 2020 for comprehensiveness.

Best resume templates in 2023, for all Industry

Get a higher quality resume format

Our Resume Builder ensures best practices, logic, formatting standards and job matching opportunities from thousands of job boards and portals around the world.

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

---

Are you looking for the best free PowerPoint templates? Check them out here:

62 Best Free PowerPoint Templates to Make Your Life Easier

---

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

---

Looking for PSD resume templates instead? We’ve got you covered:

10 Free PSD Resume Templates to Help Yours Stand Out

---

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!

Get the skills you need to land the job

If you really want to impress employers, you need the right skills. GoSkills offers a range of bite-sized business courses taught by award-winning instructors to teach you the practical skills you need to thrive in today’s workplace.

Learn some of the most in-demand skills that many hiring managers expect to see on your resume with our on-demand online training. Master Microsoft Word, become an Excel ninja, start managing projects like a pro, or learn to code – the choice is yours.

If you’re interested in building your resume using another Microsoft product, look no further than this Excel Resume builder. 

Start your 7 day trial today to get FREE access to ALL courses on GoSkills!