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Free Resume Templates for Microsoft Word

Using a resume template lets you focus on what matters most: highlighting your experience and skills.

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Writing a resume can be a challenging endeavour. We're talking about a document crucial in helping you land a new job, so you want to make sure that it showcases your unique abilities in style. That's why it's important to have a resume that's not only persuasive, but appealing from a design standpoint.

Luckily, there are plenty of striking resume templates you can quickly edit and format in Microsoft Word. This means you can save time on making your resume look good and focus on how to best package the content. Here are a few things you should know before you get started.

Download Microsoft Word resume templates for free

There are plenty of resume templates for Word available for free. You can open them directly through Word to save time. Choose File – New – Resumes and cover letters. See which one you like best and click on the Download button.

You can download additional designs for free from the Microsoft website. Or, you can browse online resume templates that are available until you find the one you like best.

What's in this guide?

What is a free resume template for Word?

A free resume template for Word is a pre-built document featuring design elements that fit a professional resume to a T. You load the template in Word and simply switch the sample text with your own information.

Templates include all the sections you would find in a resume, like work experience, education, accomplishments and so on. Great for when you don't have a lot of time to spend tweaking the appearance of the resume and want something simple yet professional.

Microsoft Word resume template

Source: Microsoft Office

What are the features of a free resume template for Word?

The best thing about using a Word resume template is that you don't have to design the layout yourself. Regardless of which template you land on, they all have some features in common:

  • Free. There is a wide selection of free resume templates for Word online, so you can definitely find something to suit your preferences without spending any money.
  • Easy to customise. All you need to do is open the template in Word and add your personal information, then save and submit.
  • Versatile. Each template comes with editable sections you can modify to best fit your professional strengths.
  • Clearly labelled. You can choose between basic resumes, career-specific resumes (recent graduate, student, entry-level etc.), or even job-specific resumes (e.g. computer programmer resume)

What is included in a free resume template for Word?

As you browse templates, you'll notice that some are listed as chronological resumes, while others as functional resumes. What's the difference?

A chronological resume kicks off by listing your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent position. Below that section you'll list education, skills and interests.

Meanwhile, a functional resume highlights your expertise, abilities and achievements rather than your job history. This comes in handy if you don't have a lot of work experience yet. There are also templates that offer a combination layout that puts the emphasis on both work history and skills.

Regardless of which format you choose, make sure that your resume includes these four sections:

  • Contact information
  • Work history
  • Education
  • Skills

From there on, you can incorporate special sections such as professional objectives, awards, interests that might be relevant to the employer, languages or something else that is relevant to the position.
Add this table after What should I include in a resume:

Get a resume template for Word to meet your needs

Data updated regularly
Name Product Starting price Formats available Resume examples Cover letter examples
Pure Resume
Pure Resume
$24.99
Plain Text, PDF, DOCX
> 100
> 60
Modern resume designs and professional writing tips backed by a 7-day money back guarantee.
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Canva
Canva
$1.45
PDF
> 100
none
Use Canva's templates and editor to build and customise a visually appealling resume that shows your potential.
Go to site
ResumeWriters.com
ResumeWriters.com
$169.95
Plain Text, PDF, DOCX
12
N/A
Work one-on-one with a professional resume writer and get your resume in as fast as 24 hours. Have your resume rewritten free of charge if you don't get interviewed in two months.
Go to site
Resumonk
Resumonk
$29
PDF, DOCX
20
8
Create your resume and a matching cover letter using Resumonk's professional templates.
Go to site
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Pros and Cons of a free resume template for Word

Pros

  • Time-saving and efficient
  • Modern design

Cons

  • Some template designs are very simplistic
  • You need access to Microsoft Word

Bottom line

Building your resume with a free Word template ensures that you put your best professional foot forward with minimal hassle. You don't need extensive design skills to stand out from the crowd.

Frequently asked questions about Word Resume template

What file format should I use when saving my resume?

Once you're done tweaking your resume, you have the option of saving it in a variety of formats. Word documents are typically saved as .doc or .docx, but most employers prefer you send your resume as PDF when applying via email. To save your resume as PDF, go to File – Save As – PDF.

What can I do to make sure that my resume helps me make a good impression?

First off, make sure the resume is tailored to the job. That way, you show the employer that you're interested in the position and willing to go the extra mile. Identify keywords in the job ad (e.g. leadership abilities, Adobe Photoshop, three years of experience) and include them in your resume. Also, proofread! We can't stress this enough.

What if I don't have Microsoft Word?

Google Docs is a free alternative to Microsoft Word that comes with similar functionality. On the same note, there are free Google Docs resume templates you can take advantage of.

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