resume examples in word

Resume templates

Put your best qualities on display with professional, customizable resume and cv templates. no matter your line of work or length of professional history, you'll find resume and cv templates that'll help you get the gig..

Download free resume templates

Land your dream job with free, customizable resume templates. Showcase your potential to recruiters and stand out from other candidates with a professional template. Whether you're applying to corporate positions or creative roles, go with a sleek design or show your creativity with bold colors .

Resumes don't need to look boring—add flair to your professional experience with a creative resume template. There are plenty of resume designs to choose from, like simple resume templates and modern resume templates. Each resume template is fully customizable in Microsoft Word , so you can personalize each design element and add your own text. Using a template also makes it easier to customize your resume for each position you apply to.

Print out as many copies as you'd like or download the template for free to share digitally when applying online. These professional resume templates are perfect for any stage of life or career. Whether you're a high school student, actor, or seeking a career in nursing, you can find any format for any job type.

There are also a variety of free CV (Curriculum Vitae) templates to choose from. A CV is often longer than a resume and contains an in-depth look at your education and professional accomplishments. Like our resume templates, these CV templates are also customizable in Word.

Remember, your next job is only a template away! Once you've customized your resume, explore free cover letter templates to help you land the job.

31 Free Resume Templates for Microsoft Word (& How to Make Your Own)

Published: August 10, 2023

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.

12 Free Customizable Resume Templates

Fill out this form to access your free professionally-designed templates, available on:

• Microsoft Word
• Google Docs
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Google Slides

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

2. Maroon Sidebar Resume Template

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 careers. This adjustable resume template can give you full customization options for your first resume.

3. Centered Bar Resume Template

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.

This template is great for college graduates to show 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

Speaking of serif fonts, 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 colors 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. Strategist Resume Template

High-level strategy demands a range of skill sets — project management, media, planning, and more. So, strategist resumes need space to hold a lot of information without overwhelming the reader.

This design is clean and pleasing to the eye. It's easy to scan and customize based on your specific experience.

Recommended For: Project Managers

The "Areas of Expertise" section stands out on this template. This gives you a chance to draw a clear connection between your professional experience and what you're capable of.

6. Modern Chronological Resume Template

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’s 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.

7. Digital Marketing Resume Template

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.

8. Black and White Resume Template

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.

9. Urban Development Resume Template

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.

10. Email Marketing Resume Template

Red color never fails to stick out on a sheet of paper, especially if it's included in small amounts. This resume template for email marketers 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.

11. Info Pop Resume Template

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.

12. Strong Resume Template

This resume template features bold sections of color that fill the page. This format is perfect for interns who don't have a lot of professional experience yet. It's also useful for roles where a portfolio or other resource is a priority for hiring managers.

Recommended For: Interns

Make the depth of your interest, knowledge, and creativity more important than how long you've been working with this template. Sections for education, learning more, and describing yourself and your brand make it easy to share what you're about.

13. Dark Resume Template

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.

14. Skilled Resume Template

This resume design by Hloom communicates a truly professional tone. The template's muted colors work 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.

15. Inbound Marketing Resume Template

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.

Like 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.

16. Smart and Professional Resume Template

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's an editable template that can easily be personalized to appeal to the HR rep reading the resume.

17. Face Forward Resume Template

It's not typical to add a picture to your resume. In fact, it's actively discouraged in some industries. But for roles where your image is a selling point, this is a great choice. The photo at the top is small and subtle, but it also makes the simple design stand out.

Recommended For: Models, Actors, and Real Estate Agents

This resume template is especially useful for working professionals with a lot of experience or a range of non-traditional experiences. There's also room to highlight unique skills and qualifications.

18. Spick and Span Resume Template

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.

19. Timeline-Style Resume Template

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.

20. Content Production Resume Template

This basic resume template is suited for content producers at all career stages. 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.

21. Fresh Resume Template

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 this design. 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 informal, this is perfect for you. You can also add in notes of your accomplishments, relevant skills, and qualifications for the job.

22. CV Resume Template

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.

23. Entry-Level Resume Template

When you're early in your career, a customized resume is key. This template is simple, with a clear structure and spaces to highlight important skills, education, and experience.

The design uses accessible fonts to create a clean and professional look that you can personalize for your brand.

Recommended For: Young Professionals and Career Changes

At this stage in your career, it's essential to add useful data and examples to your resume to show hiring managers what you can bring. The easy-to-read fonts and headers in this template will help you highlight relevant details in your resume.

24. Goldenrod Resume Template

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.

25. Resume Template With Personal Endorsements

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 show your ability to create a cohesive message with this resume template. Feel free to change the color scheme to suit your brand.

26. Creative Resume Template

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.

27. Modern Resume Template

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.

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

28. Functional Resume Template

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.

29. Elegant Resume Template

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.

30. Blue Corporate Resume Template

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.

31. Concept Resume

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.

How to Make a Resume in Word

• Open Microsoft Word on your computer.
• Select either Basic Resume or Bold Resume from the template menu.
• Fill in your name and contact information at the top.
• Draft a brief summary of your experience and goals.
• Enter your school and latest education.
• Describe each job you've held using the lines prompted on the template.
• List all relevant skills.
• Describe any relevant accolades and accomplishments.

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 talk about another easy way to create a resume in Word — templates.

Free Resumes Templates

Fill out the form to get your resume templates., how to upload external templates into word, 1. download your template., 2. double-click on your chosen template..

Your new template will open in Microsoft Word and is ready for editing.

You can also try the following series of steps if the instructions above aren't working.

• Download your template.
• Open Microsoft Word.
• Click File and scroll to Open .
• Click on the folder where you downloaded your templates.
• Open your chosen resume template and begin editing.

How to Find Resume Templates in Word

1. open microsoft word., 2. click new on the left sidebar., 3. choose one of the resume template options in word..

These templates are visually appealing and are ready-made to send with your job application.

If you already have Microsoft Word open on your computer, follow the directions below:

• Click File in the top left corner.
• Scroll to New from Template.
• Choose one of Word's resume templates.

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

How To Format a Resume in Word

Even the brightest, most beautiful resume template will need some editing to fit your goals and information. We'll go over it piece by piece.

1. Add your resume text.

Sometimes adding resume text to a template is as simple as copy and paste. Other times, this task can be an exercise in frustration.

To make sure this process goes smoothly, remove any text formatting before you paste your resume text. If you're working on a Mac, you can clear formatting with a tool like Text Editor.

2. Set the right margins and font size.

Most resumes have one-inch margins on all sides for easy printing. Most Word 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:

• Click Layout in the top navigation of your Word document.
• Click Margins .
• Choose the Normal setting, where it states 1" on the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the document.

Lastly, choose an easy-to-read font size. 12 pt. fonts are standard for most resumes. But if you have a particularly long CV, you may want to choose a smaller font size to make your resume easier to scan.

3. Create headers.

You should separate each section (such as education or work experience) with a header.

If you're formatting a basic resume, you can create a header in Word by selecting Styles from the formatting options at the top of your document workspace. If you can’t see this workspace, try clicking Home at the top left.

• Try Header 1 for your first and last name at the top of the page.
• Header 2 is great for the "Education," "Work Experience," and "Skills" sections.
• Use Header 3 for employer names and job titles.
• Then, use normal text to fill in the details of your accomplishments, skills, and educational background.

You can also use this feature to adjust the headers in your template.

4. 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 .
• Click Shapes .
• Select the line icon to draw a line in your Word resume.
• Use the Format Shape menu on the right to adjust the style of your line.

Another shortcut to create dividers is pressing "=", "_", or "*" three times and hitting enter. These shortcuts will create a variety of dividers that can add dimension to your resume.

5. Add bullet points.

The truth is, no hiring manager will read a paragraph of information. So, we recommend using bullet points to list your accomplishments and responsibilities.

You can add bullets using the icons in the formatting window at the top of your document workspace. Check out bullet point styles by clicking the arrow to the right of the bullet points icon. Then, choose the style you like best.

6. Adjust spacing and indentation.

White space on a resume gives your reader visual breathing room. This helps them understand which parts of your resume are most important. To create that white space, use the spacing and indentation tools in Word.

Line spacing options will increase the space between lines in your document. This creates more white space between lines of text.

Use the formatting buttons at the top of your document workspace to add or remove indentation. Keep in mind that you may change more than one section of text if you make indentation changes.

7. Review for formatting consistency.

When you're formatting a resume, it's easy to get so involved in what the text says that you may forget how it looks. Another common pitfall is focusing your energy on how to make everything you want to say fit on a single page.

But you need consistent formatting to create a professional first impression for your resume.

Once you've finished formatting, do a quick scan of your new resume.

• First, check that all your headers, sub-headers, and text sections are the same font and the same size.
• Next, take a look at your bullet point, dash, and other styles. Make sure that sizes and styles are consistent throughout your resume.
• Finally, scan your resume to make sure that the spacing is consistent. Try squinting at your document to see if some sections have more white space or indentation than others.

These kinds of issues are often easier to notice on a physical resume, so scan a printed copy if you can.

How to Save Your Resume

Remember, once you've finished personalizing your resume, you're not ready to submit an application yet.

Let's go through the instructions you'll follow if you're saving a resume you created from a template for the first time:

1. Click File

2. scroll to save as, 3. name and save your new resume..

If you click Save instead of Save As , you'll save your new resume over the template. So, it's a good idea to use Save As if you think you may need to start over with the template. If you don't, you might end up wasting the time it takes to find and download your resume template again.

Once you're done editing your resume in Word, you may also want to save it in PDF format. This helps you make sure that your resume's format will stay the same for everyone who receives it.

Tips for Using Word Resume Templates

1. choose the right template for your industry..

Whether you're in marketing, sales, engineering, or another field, resume expectations will vary. Check out online resumes from other professionals in your field. Then, choose a template that aligns with those examples to find the right format to showcase your skills and experience.

2. Keep your formatting consistent.

Consistency is key when it comes to formatting your resume. Font styles, sizes, bullet points, and colors should be the same throughout the document. Consistent formatting gives your resume a polished and professional look.

3. Try advanced formatting features.

Experiment with styles and sections to create a unique resume that stands out. These features offer you more control and consistency as you format your resume.

4. Use headings to organize your resume.

Headings make it easy for employers to scan your resume and find the information they're looking for. Make headers stand out with a distinct font or style.

5. Experiment with advanced layouts and tables.

Try adding columns or text boxes for visually appealing sections or to highlight key details. Test out different layouts to see what gets the best results.

6. Add a visual timeline.

The hiring manager for your dream role may be more interested in your progression than your job titles. Try crafting a visual timeline using SmartArt or shapes to show your career progression. This can also be an interesting way to show your work history or educational background.

7. Personalize the template to reflect your personal brand.

Templates are an amazing starting point, but don't forget to personalize your resume to reflect your personal brand.

Add a distinct color scheme, fonts, or a personal logo to leave a lasting impression on potential employers.

Make the Most of Resume Templates in Word

Resume templates can help you unlock the power of pre-designed layouts to create a gorgeous and professional resume. This makes it easy for you to focus on compelling content for a powerful resume. With one simple download, it's easy to show employers what you're capable of and stand out with every job application.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in 2018 but was updated in May 2020 for comprehensiveness. This article was written by a human, but our team uses AI in our editorial process. Check out our full disclosure to learn more about how we use AI.

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Resume templates to create a killer resume for your job application.

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51 Free Microsoft Word Resume Templates That'll Land You the Job

Lily Herman

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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.

Get your free resume templates

Professional templates perfect for any industry

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

• Highlight your most relevant experience, skills, and accomplishments
• 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

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

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

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

13. Newspaper resume template

14. Monogrammed resume template

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.

37. Creative profile resume template

38. Dark sidebar resume template

39. Light resume template

40. Colorblock resume template

41. Minimalist resume template

42. Bold Blue resume template

43. Appleseed resume template

44. Timeless resume template

45. Modern resume template

46. Colorful infographic resume template

47. Mint block resume template

48. UX resume template

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

51. Organic shapes resume template

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 . 

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Lily Herman is a New York-based writer and editor. Her work has been featured on Forbes, TIME, Newsweek, Mashable, Fast Company, Teen Vogue, ELLE and more. Follow her on Twitter .

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Resume Templates by Role

Computer science resume templates

Cover a lot of territory with an IT resume. Whether you work with big data or crank out code to build and debug apps, these templates give you a flexible layout to talk about academic and personal projects, relevant hobbies and interests, and—most importantly—your measurable impact in the world of information technology.

Education & student resume templates

If you’re writing an education resume for your next teaching position or you’re on the other side of the classroom searching for a student resume template to highlight class projects, extracurriculars, and volunteer efforts, you’re in the right place. With these resume templates, you can make the sample job description bullet points your own.

Admin & support resume templates

Office administration and support roles are careers not for the faint of heart! Your dedication to boosting workplace efficiency won’t go unnoticed in our best resume templates. With our support, you’ll have a head-turning resume in no time that gets you hired to overhaul organization and communication for the better in your next role.

Healthcare resume templates

Healthcare is one of the most important industries out there, and you selflessly dedicate your time to each job shift. Our popular resume templates will help you save precious time, so you can get back to work faster and to the countless patients who depend on your care, compassion, and expertise.

Sales & marketing resume templates

You wouldn’t be in the sales industry if you didn’t have trust in your product and believe in its benefit to others. When it comes to convincing hiring managers why they should take a chance on you, let your sales resume market your track record. Choose a sales and marketing resume template that best reflects your style of confidence and charisma.

Accounting & finance resume templates

When getting the numbers right matters this much, any ol’ resume template won’t pass muster. Our attractive but simple resume templates are a visual dashboard for you to demonstrate an immaculate track record of crunching numbers, giving wise financial advice, and uncovering and correcting discrepancies that pop up from time to time.

A job resume is a short, sweet, and to-the-point document that spotlights your professional experience. It’s basically a summary.

Whether you’ve been in the workforce for 15+ years, have no job experience, or are somewhere in between, resumes have been sparking fear and dread in job seekers since approximately 1482 when Leonardo De Vinci drafted what became known as the first resume .

Resumes are what just about any place of employment requests when you apply for a job. Companies—big and small—wanna know:

◉ What skills do you bring to the job? ◉ Do you have relevant work experience for the role? ◉ Do you want to work for them?

A good resume answers those questions—and isn’t so unlike De Vinci’s resume that honed in on how he could meet the specific needs and challenges of the Duke of Milan.

Happy dance! Yes, our BeamJobs templates are absolutely free.

You can download our eight resume templates at no cost in Word and Google Docs formats. Edit BeamJobs-created resume templates for free in our builder. Only pay for premium features if you like what you see (hey, we gotta make a living, too!).

We also update our site from time to time with fresh Google Docs resume templates and Word resume templates , which will always remain free for you.

The best resume template is the one that complements your personality and allows the space you need to highlight your finest work, top achievements, and job skills.

Every resume template you see on this page has been thoroughly vetted by hiring experts to ensure they include everything you need to help you land your next job. Whether you’re applying to a funky tech startup or looking to join the ranks of a reputable law firm, you’ll find a professional resume template that speaks to you.

Hunting for a new job is incredibly stressful as there’s a lot of uncertainty in the process. And while these resume templates won’t alleviate all stress, they’ll ensure your resume has everything you need to sail through an applicant tracking system (ATS) and impress hiring managers.

Try saying “applicant tracking system” 10 times fast, and you’ll know why it got shortened to ATS.

At its core, an applicant tracking system puts the gas on hiring. Typically, when folks think about ATS software, they think about it weeding out resumes that don’t include the right skills or qualifications.

That’s certainly true enough, but the ATS also helps HR and recruiters organize and sort job candidates, keeps track of communication with job seekers, sets up interviews, and does a host of other not-so-fascinating things.

Basically, when you choose an ATS-friendly resume template from BeamJobs, you can rest easy knowing that the document itself will make it through the software

When it comes to your resume, it will house these staple sections:

◉ Contact info (Triple-check the spelling of your name; see the question about “how to make a resume” for a cringe-worthy BeamJobs blunder.) ◉ Work experience ◉ Skills ◉ Education

Depending on your occupation and years of experience, you could add these optional resume sections:

◉ Resume summary or resume objective ◉ Hobbies and interests ◉ Projects (an umbrella term for things like volunteer experience, academic or personal projects, etc.)

The more relevant job experience you have, the longer the “work experience” section of your resume should be since that’s what employers care about most. On the other hand, when you’ve recently graduated and don’t have much (or any) experience, things like education and projects can take up more real estate on your resume.

Whatever your professional background, our resume maker lets you re-arrange, remove, and add sections as needed to your resume template.

Not to blast our own horns, but we’ve reviewed tens of thousands of resumes in the last few years. Would you believe we’ve actually seen resumes without a name ?! Besides discovering disheartening news like that, we’ve figured out  how to make a good resume .

There are plenty of resume tips we could give you, but here are three that, when followed, will most increase your chances of snagging an interview:

Use numbers to showcase your impact in past roles. Your work experience should focus on your measurable accomplishments, not on job responsibilities.

Tailor your resume for each job you apply to, which means reading each job description carefully. As you read, see if any prior work projects come to mind. Include those projects on your resume.

Avoid grammar and spelling errors. We know, you’ve heard it before. But you’d be aghast (fun word) at the number of folks rejected for a job because of this. (C ough cough We won’t say his real name, but one of our team members whose title rhymes with re-bounder once sent out 20 resumes with his name spelled ‘Stepen.’)

One page—plain and simple.

While you might get away with a two-page resume if you’ve got 10-plus years of experience under your hat, keep in mind that recruiters and hiring managers aren’t giving your resume the time of day it deserves anyway. Instead, why not leverage a  cover letter maker  to explain some of those details you had to leave off your resume?

The most painful part of building a resume is editing yourself. How can your entire career fit into four or five bullet points for each job you’ve had? Here’s some good news: if you’re a senior engineer, it’s totally cool to drop from your resume the server job you had in college.

Even if you whittled the jobs you’d include down to three or four, try starting with a basic  resume outline . Fill it to your heart’s content; then, review every job experience bullet point individually and ask, “Does this point show my expertise and say something new?” If the answer’s no, exclude it. Before you know it, you’ll have a polished one-page resume.

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Basic resume templates.

Simplify your job application process with our minimalist yet effective resume templates , tailored for those seeking a straightforward and professional approach. Our free CV templates ensure that your qualifications shine through, making it easy for employers to focus on your accomplishments.

Simple Resume Template

Resume for Internship

CV Sample Format doc

Fillable Free Resume in Word

Basic Resume Template

Easy Resume Template

Medical Basic Resume

Academic CV Template

Business Resume Template

Best CV Format

Perfect Resume Example

Work Resume Template

Standard Resume Template

CV English Example

Executive Basic Resume

Modern Resume Templates

Step into the future of job hunting with our sleek and contemporary resume templates. Designed for the modern professional, these templates boast cutting-edge design elements and innovative layouts that grab attention and leave a lasting impression. Showcase your skills and expertise in style with our modern resume templates and stay ahead of the curve in today’s competitive job market.

Personal Resume Template

Blank Resume Template

Job Resume Template

CV Template online

Effective Resume Format

One Page Resume Template

Functional Resume Template

Free Curriculum Vitae

CV Draft Free Download

Example of a Good CV

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CV Template UK

Chronological Resume Format

Creative Resume Templates

Ignite your creativity with our collection of dynamic art resume templates, available for free in Word format! Crafted with precision for visual artists, illustrators, and graphic designers alike. Get your free creative template today and secure a job in the creative industry tomorrow!

Free CV Pattern for Job

Resume Microsoft Word

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Modern CV Outline Template

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Education Creative Resume

Dancer Creative Resume

Artist Creative Template

Administrative Resume Sample

Creative Engineer Resume

Skriva CV Template

Sports Resume Sample

Entry-level Resume Templates

Embark on your professional journey with confidence using our specialized college resume templates. Whether you’re a recent graduate or still pursuing your degree, our templates are crafted to highlight your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and internship experiences, positioning you as a top candidate for entry-level positions and internships in your field.

College Resume Template

Resume for Fresher

Student Resume Template

High School Resume

Graduate Resume Template

All of our Google Docs resume templates are available for free download . By using Docs, you can always pick up where you left off, anytime, anywhere. Download your free resume template now for Google Drive!

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Europass CV Format

Navigate the European job market seamlessly with our Europass-compatible resume templates . Aligned with the standardized format preferred by employers across Europe, our templates ensure that your qualifications and skills are presented in a clear and concise manner, enhancing your chances of securing employment opportunities within the European Union and beyond.

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Resume Templates by Profession

Tailored to meet the unique needs of various professions, our specialized resume templates cater to a wide range of industries and career paths . Whether you’re in healthcare, technology, finance, or any other field, our profession-specific templates are designed to highlight your relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments, helping you land your dream job with ease.

Lawyer Resume Template

Dance Resume Template

Server Resume Template

Why download our resume templates?

Resume Formats and Letter Templates completely free. Modify them to your taste with your preferred color and font.

+100 Formats and Examples

More than 100 Resume Templates to download and edit for free. Cover letter examples included.

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Download your Resume Template in different formats: Word, PDF, Powerpoint, for Mac, Open Office, and Google Docs.

How to download our free resume templates

Go to the page of your chosen template and click free download . Your download will start after a few seconds.

Open your resume template in Word and customize it with your work experience, education, skills, etc.

Export your Word document as PDF .

Resume Examples by Profession

Download our free professional resume examples. All of our examples have been designed and created by our career experts. Choose your professional profile and start creating your free resume in Microsoft Word now!

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Resume Templates ideal for any file type

There are four types of templates suitable for resumes. Sometimes the job description will indicate which format or file the resume should be in. But if this information is not available, you can find all our resumes in different formats below for free download .

Word Basic Resume Formats

Microsoft Word is one of the best formats to edit your resume quickly and professionally. Find over 100 Resume Templates in Word for free.

PDF Resume Templates

All our resumes can be downloaded and saved in PDF format. This type of format has a small file size and is compatible with any device.

Professional Resume Templates

Resume Formats in Google Docs

Resumes in Google Docs are a good option to easily download and edit the document. You can also securely share it with recruiters.

Everything you need to create a good resume in 2024

Create your resume in minutes using one of our free resume templates.

We have designed and compiled the best CV templates so that you don’t have to stress if you don’t happen to be a design guru (don’t worry, not many of us actually are). 

With four categories to choose from, and over 100 free resume templates available, you will have no issues finding the one that works for you, while laying out your qualities in a way that will turn your future employer’s attention towards you.

Whether you are a student , engineer , project manager or nurse , you will have no trouble finding the right resume template for you . We also share tips in our blog for enhancing your writing to be able to confidently highlight your own strengths and areas of expertise. Free downloadable resume templates!

Why is a resume important?

Your resume is the first impression you make to a recruiter. With possibly hundreds of other candidates applying for the same position, you want to be sure that yours is unique and stands out. For that to become a reality, your resume has to be both well written, and well structured .

As a job seeker, you already have one goal in mind, and that is to secure an interview with a recruiter. This will be your chance to elaborate on your experiences and exhibit your communication skills, and it is more likely to happen using a resume template that helps you highlight all your special skills from the start. 

Luckily, you will find all types of free resume examples here that will surely fit your style and help you get started. 

What type of resume do I need?

Depending on your line of work, you want a resume template that fits. That’s why we have grouped them into four types . You can search for your resume template by career type, or choose between modern , basic , or creative templates. After you’ve downloaded the free template, you can easily add your information, customize it with your style, export it as PDF and print it or send it to your recruiter, or both!

What is the best format for sending a resume in 2024?

We believe that sending a resume in both Word and PDF formats makes it easy for automated resume checkers to read the file and scan it for relative keywords that match with the position you are applying for. 

It also simplifies the editing process for you and allows you to change the font and text color to fit your personal style, so that you can be rest assured that your CV reflects you professionally and personally if you find yourself hesitating to hit that “send” button.

Where do I start when editing one of these resume templates?

A good place to start editing would be by filling in your name and job search title, making sure that it matches the position you are applying for . Then you can move on to filling in your work experience while emphasizing the achievements you have made that added to the growth of your previous companies or clients. 

The last step to the process should be adding your career objective statement , explaining briefly what your aspirations are for your future role in the company and how your previous experience has prepared you to take up the position you are seeking. Browse through 10 examples of career objectives for a resume to help you get inspired to write your own!

Our experts have also provided you with further tips that have proven to enhance the chances of getting that interview call . Check out our blog post on how to make a resume to help guide you through this process.

What skills should I include on my resume?

It can be a little bit overwhelming when it comes down to figuring out what skills and work experience are the most relevant to the position you are applying for. That’s why here you can also find a selection of the top skills to put on a resume that are relevant to all types of job positions and can be included on all types of CVs. 

Listed below are a collection of soft-skills that you can add now to your free resume template and get it out of the way.

• Communication
• Customer service
• Active listening
• Computer proficiency
• Time management
• Emotional intelligence
• Project management
• Negotiation

How long should a resume be?

Ideally, an effective resume is 1-2 pages . You have to make sure you showcase all your best professional qualities and experiences in a clear and concise manner. This will help match you with a position when your CV is scanned by ATS or even through a job recruiter. It also helps to make sure that you cut out all the added fluff or irrelevant experience from your resume to help target your CV for a specific job application.

What is the difference between a CV and resume?

While the terms “CV” (Curriculum Vitae) and “resume” are often used interchangeably, they differ in several key aspects.

• A CV is typically longer, extending to multiple pages , and provides a comprehensive overview of one’s academic and professional experiences, including detailed information about research, publications, presentations, and specific responsibilities in each role.
• The format of a CV is usually more structured, following a chronological order of education and work history . CVs are commonly utilized in academic and research settings, as well as for international job applications. On the other hand, a resume is shorter, typically limited to one or two pages , and focuses on key skills, relevant work experience, and accomplishments tailored to the specific job application.
• Resumes offer a more flexible format and are commonly used in the business world , especially in the United States and Canada, though they may also be used in other regions and industries where brevity and relevance are prioritized. It is crucial to understand the expectations in your industry and region to appropriately prepare either a CV or a resume for job applications.

Add these skills to your free professional resume template now!

Job search tips

My Resume Templates FAQs

Unlike other CV creation generators, on our website you can find hundreds of free CV templates to download unlimitedly. As our templates are in Word format, you can edit your personal information quickly and easily. All of our templates have been designed by recruitment and personnel selection experts.

By using My Resume Templates you will have the following advantages:

• Hundreds of resume templates without having to pay anything for them.
• Choose between creative and professional CV templates according to your industry.
• Unlimited downloads of the CV templates you want.
• You don’t have to subscribe or give us your personal data to get the best CV templates.
• CVs compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

By using a CV template in Word , you can edit your application offline, as well as modify the template as many times as you want. Making a CV in Word will allow you to be sure to have a free and unique format.

Choosing the perfect CV template is crucial to highlight your skills and experience in a way that captures the attention of employers. To do this, choose a template that aligns with the expectations of your industry, and that has clear fonts and a good organization so that employers can quickly find the information they are looking for.

Yes, at My Resume Templates you have the possibility to download your CV in both Word and PDF format. Although job search experts recommend saving it in PDF.

To create your Curriculum Vitae you will only have to choose the CV template that best fits your professional profile, download it and edit it. Learn more about how to make a resume in Word .

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180+ Free Resume Templates for Word to Download

An ever-growing collection of downloadable resume templates to make your job search less of a drag. Browse our new templates by resume design, resume format and resume style to find the best match!

Modern Resume Templates

Our editorial collection of free modern resume templates for Microsoft Word features stylish, crisp and fresh resume designs that are meant to help you command more attention during the ‘lavish’ 6 seconds your average recruiter gives to your resume.

• Crafted with great attention to details
• Designed for easy readability and skimming
• Highlight the key information you want to get across

This is a very high performing set of templates that are working well for those seeking IT and tech-based jobs, as well as employment in startups and dynamic companies.

Simple and Basic Resume Templates

Sometimes all you need is a classic style resume template that is clean, clear and straight to the point. That’s exactly the kind of resume templates you can find in this category!

• Applicant tracking software-friendly designs
• Very easy to customize
• Simple and effective resume layout to get your message across

Professional Resume Templates

Select one of our professional resume templates if you have plenty of work experience under your belt. Clean-cut and straight to the point, these free templates help you place your significant work experience in the limelight.

• Strategic layout, maximizing how much details you can fit in a page.
• No frills, professional resume style that works for all companies
• “Sells” you as a strong candidate

Creative Resume Templates

Each one of our creative resumes offers a perfectly balanced mix of personality, professionalism and a touch of unique style. Set your resume apart from others by using our punchy templates!

• Memorable personal branding
• Communicate a unique personal vibe
• Pack a lot of information without overwhelming the reader

Remember: these free resume templates work best for creatives who want to be noticed. Most resume templates in this category will work best for jobs in architecture, design, advertising, marketing, and entertainment among others.

So if you are, for instance, an accountant seeking a corporate position with a big name firm, scroll back to the professional or simple resume design collection instead!

Free CV Templates

Looking for an impactful CV template with the correct formatting? We’ve got you covered here too. Browse our special edition of professional CV templates, perfectly suited for academic and federal in the US, plus any type of job applications in the EU.

Save Time with our Popular Resume Examples

Get done with writing faster by downloading a pre-filled resume template for your position. Take advantage of the pointers and sample texts, created by a professional team of resume writers.

Our remarkable set of role-based resume templates includes the optimal visual layout, paired with written text snippets you can use to model your own resume.

• Examples of convincing resume bullet heads for the work experience section
• Actionable examples of resume summaries and professional bios
• Polished-to-perfection resume skills section with swipeable samples
• Crisply formatted educational section for degree and no-degree candidates

Google Docs Resume Templates

Don’t have Microsoft Word installed? Fret not. We’ve also created a separate set of resume templates, optimized for Google docs. Download and edit your new resume design in the cloud and share it with others in one click!

The ultimate goal of a resume is not to land you the job – it’s to prompt the hiring manager to initiate an interview based on what he or she has read. A quality resume is best viewed as a tool that articulates your “story,” from which you can present yourself as the most qualified candidate.

Claire Briggs Career Consultant, CPCC, CPRW LinkedIn

So, which resume template is the right for you?

At Freesumes our goal is to create universally appealing resume templates — such that suit professionals across various niches with different experience levels (entry-level to senior candidates).

That is why we’ve created the four specific resume templates categories. Every one of them includes a variety of resume templates, made by professional designers and vetted by career experts.

Essential Tips for Using Your Resume Template

When you have decided on which resume template to use, you should download it and save a copy to your computer. You can then start to personalize the template content to make it your own .

Let’s take a look at some tips for personalizing your template so it becomes unique to you:

1. First things first, keep things simple

Your resume template has been professionally designed for the right balance of style and content. All our templates are easily editable with Microsoft Word so all you have to do is just type in your information in the sections provided for you.

2. Don’t overload your resume

Your resume isn’t a record of your whole life. You don’t need to add in absolutely everything you have ever done. Remember that a recruiter will be skimming over your resume looking for their preferred keywords and your relevant information and work experience for the job at hand. Give them the information they are looking for as quickly and as easily as possible. Read our blog post about Powerful Words to use in your Resume .

3. Unique file name

Our resume templates are delivered with the generic (and frankly not so creative) name “resume.doc”. Before emailing or uploading your resume, take a second and give it a file name that is easily recognizable, such as your first name initial and your surname. This way it will be easy to spot and open by the recruiter.

4. Proofread and proofread again

Proofreading your resume is so important. You want to create the right first impression so check over your resume again for errors or spelling mistakes. Get someone else to proofread it for you before you send it off or make use of a grammar and spelling checker.

5. Convert it to PDF

Chances are your resume makes use of custom fonts, has a special layout or design elements that may break or look bad once opened on a different computer because the custom fonts are missing, the MS Word version is older or whatever. So, once you have done editing your document and double checked that you haven’t missed any of the above points, we recommend saving your document as a PDF file to make sure that the recruiters will see the same thing as you do.

The 3 Resume Formats To Choose From

Before you go on with choosing one of the different resume templates, you should decide on the optimal resume format – the one that will highlight your strengths as a candidate and mellow the flaws in your job history.

Tailor the resume to the position you are seeking. As you read through the job description, highlight and focus on key words and phrases that are most important to the hiring team. Integrate those words and phrases into your resume.

Debi Douma-Herren HR Consultant & Career Strategist LinkedIn

The 3 most popular resume formats are:

• Chronological resume organizes the information the way LinkedIn does – from the latest position to the first one, with education, interests and additional info listed later.
• Functional resume keeps the focus on your skills and experience, rather than employment history. It’s the go-to choice for candidates with employment gaps and those without much hands-on work experience.
• Combination resume takes the best of both worlds and allows you to spice up your “dry” employment history with some juicy details about your skill set and achievements.  

Each resume format suits better when applying for certain positions. Chronological resumes tend to be the most preferable format with traditional employers, while startups and edgier companies will likely fall for a combination resume.

To learn more about styling your resume, check out our detailed guide to resume formats with tips and detailed explanations.

Now that you have an awesome resume template, you don’t need to stare at a blank page. All you need to do is “fill in the gaps” in that template. But considering how important a resume is, you may be completely at lost what information to put and how to format it.

For this, we wrote a very detailed guide explaining all the facets of writing, styling and formatting your resume . Below you’ll find a quick recap to help you get started with resume writing.

Every resume should include the next key sections:

• Header: list your contact information and add a headshot (if you opted for a template featuring a photo).
• Professional title
• Quick resume summary/objective or career statement. This can be also replaced with a professional bio or “About me”.
• Work Experience
• Optional: hobbies, interests, languages, volunteering experience.

Start with brainstorming a compelling resume objective – a quick paragraph communicating your career narrative and summarizing your goals. To create a quick one, just apply the following formula:

Education or Experience  +  Skill  +  Goal

Family lawyer with ten years of trial experiences, specializing in child custody and estate probate cases, looking for a senior partner position in a legal company.

Organize your work experience. List your employers in reverse chronological order. Each entry should include employment date, job title, company name and key responsibilities/achievements listed in bullet format.

Sprinkle in your skills. Include general industry skills (you can find those in the job posting), tools and technology you are familiar with, certifications, a few general personal skills.

Wrap it up with education. Unless you are a recent graduate, don’t dwell on this section too much. Simply list all your degrees (highest to lowest), the name of your educational institution and graduation date.

Still feeling stuck with a blank page and can’t get your thoughts together? Consider reading a few resume examples to get a better grip of what a stellar application looks like.

20+ Free Word Resume Templates for 2024 [Download Now]

Are you looking to create a new resume but don’t want to go through the painstaking process of creating one from scratch, section by section?

To save a lot of time, you can use a Microsoft Word resume template instead.

Why would you want to do that?

For one, MS-Word comes with a lot of pre-built resume templates that can have you up and running with a fully customized resume in a matter of minutes.

There’s quite a lot of variety as well. So, you can really pick a resume template that both you and the HR manager will love.

Are you a marketer or a designer? Pick a creative resume and show off your imagination!

Applying for a finance position in a bank ? One of the conservative, black & white word resume templates will work for you.

Word comes with a number of free templates, and there are other hand-crafted premium options available online.

Do you want a winning Word template that’ll have the HR manager glued to your beautiful resume?

Here’s what you need to know:

How to Use Word Resume Templates

10+ free word resume templates, 10+ premium word resume templates, how to make a resume the easy way.

There are two ways you can get your hands on a Word resume template.

You can either go with a pre-customized Word template that comes with the software, or you can use an external template made by designers and career experts for Word specifically.

Let’s start with the resume templates that come with the software.

In-Build Microsoft Word Resume Templates

To access these templates, here’s what you do:

• Open MS word
• Click file from the menu bar on top of the screen
• From there, you can select a number of different formats ( resumes, flyers, cards, cover letters , and more)

In this case, we’re focusing on resume templates , so you can type that in the search bar to see the different kinds of templates available.

As you can see, there’s plenty of choice here and a lot of different design options.

From there on, you find the one you like, and just fill it in to your liking!

Each of the templates come with a brief description as well, based on the theme and what kind of impression you want to leave with that specific template.

Here’s what you’d be getting with the free Pink floral resume :

Present your resume with this easily customizable template. Edit your experience and information with this and know that you’ll be making a statement with the design choice. This template also includes information on how to build an effective resume:

Not sure what to put on your resume? We feel you! Picking the right template is only the first step. Check out our complete guide on how to make a resume and you’ll be an expert in no time!. 

The best things in life are free, right?

Let’s see if the best free Word resume templates also stack up.

Functional Resume (Simple Design)

Who's it for: Any entry-level position

Creator: Microsoft

Where to find it: Microsoft Templates

Want something super simple for free?

Microsoft Word comes with a number of ready-to-go resume templates that are one click away. 

All you have to do is go to Microsoft Templates , where you’ll find a number of different templates for resumes, cover letter, newsletters, and more. 

There, you’ll find a number of good starting resume templates, like this functional resume by Microsoft.

When to Use This Template

Depending on your achievements and background, you’ll want to list your qualifications in a specific order. With this functional resume, you can list your objective, professional achievements , skills, and work history - in that specific order.

You can use this resume if you’re switching jobs to a different career , or as your no experience resume .

With just a bit of color to stand out and clear sections within the layout, you can’t go wrong with this template.

It’s a simple, and effective starting point for most job-seekers .

Though, the design might be all too common and easy to blend in with other candidates applying for the same job.

Modern Chronological Resume

Who's it for: Mid-level job-seekers

Most resume formats you find are going to be in chronological order. 

That is, starting from your most recent job experience, going down to your previous jobs.

You can’t go wrong with this format, and if you want something that’s professional, but also has a bit of flair to it, check out the Modern chronological resume by Microsoft:

The standard way to list your work experience is in chronological order. With this modern resume, you can start with your latest job experience to help the HR manager easily find what they’re looking for.  

This is a very straightforward approach, and it also has a color scheme and a design that can help you stand out from other candidates.

Just because it’s professional, doesn’t mean it has to be boring.

Though, if you want to take a more creative approach with your resume, you could use the...

Infographic Word Resume

Who's it for: Marketers and social media experts

Are you applying for a marketing or a design job where you’ll be creating a lot of web content?

Then you can make your resume a part of your portfolio with the infographic resume.

Use this infographic resume to list your qualifications in a way that’s easy to follow. The icons highlight your skills and the sections follow a clear direction.

This is a good example of custom tailoring your resume to the job.

It goes without saying that the content inside the resume has to be up to par as well. 

But as far as standing out goes, this infographic resume is guaranteed to attract eyes from a stack of resumes.

FREE Resume Template by Fernando Báez

Who's it for: Graphic and web designers

Creator: Fernando Báez

Where to find it: Behance

What could be better than a free resume template that has already been tried and tested?

After using and getting a few jobs with the very same template as a freelance UI/UX designer, Fernando is now giving away his secrets in the form of a free template.

In the resume pack, you’ll find your resume template in .ai format (Adobe Illustrator), all resume fonts used in the design, and a free icon set by Brankic. In it, you can customize the infographics to help represent your specialties , knowledge , language skills , or hobbies .

(Need help with any of those sections? Read our guide on what to put on a resume .)

Whether or not you’re a designer, you can customize the above template to truly represent you and make it uniquely yours.

There’s nothing wrong with using a template - it’s not plagiarism .

It’s inside the resume what matters, which is going to be unique each time ( at least it should be ).

Bold Monogram Resume

Who's it for: Any general-level position

A resume objective is a short 1-2 sentence elevator pitch that provides an overview of your experience , skills , and motivations . 

In it, you explain why you’re the right person for the job.

With this Bold monogram resume, your resume objective is guaranteed to stand out and be one of the first things the HR manager will notice. 

Present your qualifications in a stylish way that’s also professional and guaranteed to stand out. This template includes an editable color scheme, and instructions on how to build an effective resume.

While the focus is definitely on the resume objective , the rest of the resume follows a smooth flow in an order that makes sense.

Need some inspiration on your resume objective? Check out our real-life resume objective examples guide.

Simple and Clean Resume Template 

Who's it for: Creative directors

Creator: ZokiDesign

Where to find it: ZokiDesign

This simple and minimalistic resume template has a clean aesthetic, is easy to format and covers a lot of sections. 

You can show off your work experience as well as your background (resume summary or objective), education , skills , and even your hobbies .

Though you can change the color scheme, the format and the layout makes this resume ideal for creative roles. 

With a clean and modern aesthetic, this resume is a great way to quickly sum up your qualifications and also stand out from other resumes with its design. It has a minimal look to it, and still contain a lot of information while staying under 1 page. If needed, it can also be converted into a cover letter.

In short, the above resume covers just about everything you’ll need in a template and more.

The best part about it, like with most Word templates, is its customizability.

So, if you’re applying to a more conservative job, you can change the colors into a calmer tone - like black and white .

Creative Resume, Designed by MOO

Who's it for: Anyone in a creative role

Created with a neutral color scheme, this creative resume template by MOO was made to show off your creativity.

Yet, it won’t distract the viewers from the actual content within it.

So, depending on the company you’re applying to and your experience, you can draw eyes with this template.

This accessible resume template is for job seekers who want to show off their creative side and stand out from other candidates. It has all the important sections you’ll need and an editable color scheme. 

If you don’t necessarily have a lot of work experience, you can go with a creative template approach to stand out from other candidates and stay memorable.

In that case, you have to make sure your resume objective , skills , and other sections clearly display your motivation for the role.

Fully Editable Creative Resume Template by Omer Korkmaz

Who's it for: Senior graphic, UI/UX Designers

Creator: Omer Korkmaz

If you’re a graphic designer and know you’re way around AI, this fully editable creative resume template by Omer Korkmaz might be for you.

This template has everything you’d need applying for a graphic design role:

• A place for your contact information
• Work experience (with plenty of space)
• Certifications  
• And some extra space for other optional sections

This resume template is fully editable, and ideal for graphic designers . The free download includes a PowerPoint and Adobe Illustrator format, and the Open Sans font - everything you’ll ever need .

Because of the format versions that come with the template, you can really fine-tune the resume to perfection. You can change the design, the color schemes, and any other detail within Adobe Illustrator.

So, if you’re applying for a senior UX/UI designer role, you can really make sure that your resume reflects your qualifications with this creative template.

Minimal Resume - Free by Sovon Halder

Who's it for: Web developers and designers

Creator: Sovon Halder

This minimal resume template has an interesting color scheme and a font system to it that can make you stand out easily.

It stays just under one page, with all the necessary sections intact.

The resume also comes with Adobe Photoshop , Illustrator and PDF formats .

So, formatting shouldn’t be a problem as you can just edit it and quickly send it to an employer .

Minimal design, A4 Size, print ready, and editable. The template focuses primarily on your work experience, and your soft and hard skills. And you can always edit it based on your qualifications. Once you’re done editing, the resume is already print ready, so, all you have to do is customize the resume based on the job you’re applying to.

Despite its minimalistic approach, there’s a lot going on in the resume and you can easily summarize yourself in one page.

There’s plenty of white space as well.

So, in short, it’s easy on the eyes and the readability within the layout is on point as well. Now, what matters is what actually goes within it.

Resume for Recent College Graduate

Who's it for: Recent college graduates

Finally, we’ve covered just about every type of resume scenarios, except this one.

This Word template for recent college graduates prioritizes your objective , education , skills , and ends with experience (which you can include if you have any).

The design and the layout is fairly simple, and most of the resume is already filled in with examples. All you have to do is modify it based on your background - 

This resume was made with college graduates in mind. If you don’t have a lot of work experience, you can use this template to prioritize other sections (e.g. your education, skills, abilities, experience).

It’s simple and straightforward. 

And sometimes, that’s what it takes to get your foot in the door when you’re a recent college grad with not a lot of experience.

Still confused on how to structure your resume when you don’t have a lot of experience?

See our full guide for student and graduate resumes for a detailed guide on what you can include.

Now, the other side of the coin is actually paying for your resume template.

You might be thinking - the reason I’m looking for a job in the first place is to make money, why would I pay for a resume template?

A couple of reasons.

First , most premium resume templates only go up to around $15-20 at most.

And if you do find one that too perfect to pass up on - $15 is a relatively small price to pay for investing in your future.

You can then customize and re-edit your template for any future jobs, too.

After all, if it worked once, it’s probably going to work again, right?

Another advantage premium resume templates offer is that they also tend to come with extra features and/or files within.

Let’s take a look at what that might look like:

Clean Resume Template by HalfCircle

Who’s it for: Graphic and web designers

Creator: HalfCircle

Where to find it: CreativeMarket

This clean resume template by HalfCircle comes with a DOCX MS Word file and an Adobe Photoshop File for easy customization.

It also includes three different color schemes , a cover letter , all the fonts used, and it’s also ready-to-print.

The resume includes a clean layout with an easy-to-read font choice. The colors, along with the rest of the resume, are customizable and you can edit everything in even more detail with the Photoshop PSD file. The cover letter section, meanwhile, includes plenty of space for your text and has a contact information section as well.

The best thing about this template is how clearly the sections are separated.

Nothing in it feels too close to each other and it’s just as easy for the HR manager to find or jump to any specific section they’re looking for.

There’s not much else to say about this resume other than that it’s very straightforward and simple - living up to its name clean resume template name.

Professional Resume / CV Template by Classic Design

Who’s it for: Web and graphic designers

Creator: Classic Design

Looking for something more professional?

The professional resume template by Classic Design might be what you’re looking for.

The colors aren’t as vibrant here but the colors and the typography suggest that it’s more for a senior job role in a more traditional working environment.

This professional resume template has a more faded gray color scheme to it, and a font style that’s easy to follow. The template comes with Word, Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator formats, and a cover letter - all of which are easy to customize.

Though the default resume text is suited for a design role, you can easily to your career field and it won’t be out of place due to its design.

The template has all the sections you’d ever need, for both a creative and a more traditional job, and the HR manager will have an easy time following it top to bottom.

Professional Resume Template

Who’s it for: Marketers and bloggers

Creator: Mukhlasur Rahman

Price: $8.47

Want your resume to be personally tailored to your personality and job role?

This professional resume template by Mukhlasur Rahman might be for you then.

The Word template follows a consistent color scheme and layout that’s been specifically designed for designers and bloggers .

This professional and creative resume template has been tailor made for designers and online bloggers. It includes a contact section, social media , education, skills, profile, work experience, and awards. The template also comes with a separate cover letter, a reference page , and a free icon set.

If you’re going to be working closely with social media and other relevant online channels, you might want to include a whole section for it on your resume.

In it, you can include the following sections, depending on how relevant they are to you:

• Personal site or blog
• Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

If the job requires you to be a social media expert, this might also be the perfect place to mention how you managed to grow your social media channel 0 to 10K.

Resume Template & Cover Letter by Opu;ent Studio

Who’s it for: Any senior role

Creator: Opu;’ent

If you’re applying for a more senior role this Word resume template & cover letter by Opu;ent Studio might be more up your alley.

The template is easy to edit in Adobe InDesign and Microsoft Word, and covers the following sections:

• Biography (though you can edit this for resume summary or objective)
• Work experience
• Technical Skills
• Contact information
• Cover letter

With a clean and unique look to the resume, this template is more suited for professionals and senior-level positions. There is a lot of space for work experience, and you can just as easily transform the biography section into a resume summary.

And if you think the template looks short, don’t worry. Everything you can’t mention in it goes in the cover letter .

Look at the cover letter as a one-page document that briefly summarizes your background.

A good cover letter is a supplement to your resume and can get the HR manager to call you back.

Wondering if you should also include your picture on the resume like in the above template? That may depend on your location.

Check out our guide to see if you should include a picture on your resume or CV .

Clean Resume/CV + Cover letter by Tamzid Hasan

Who’s it for: Web, IT developer

Creator: Tamzid Hasan

If you are indeed looking for a more professional resume, this clean resume/ CV combo by Tamzid Hasan might work great.

Clean one page resume that also comes with a cover letter and a reference template. It follows a professional black and white color scheme and a layout that focuses on work experience. Main features include:

• A4 & US Letter size
• Clean & professional design
• Microsoft Word (Docx) files
• CV/Resume + Cover Letter + References
• 1 & 2 page version
• Paragraph style

Of course, ideally, your resume should fit within one page . But if you have 5+ years of experience, you can break that rule and go with the two page version the template comes with.

If you are indeed going to go over the one page rule, since you’ll have more space in your overall resume, you can also include:

• Hard skills
• Soft skills
• Certifications

One page is ideal, but depending on the job role and your experience, you can also include some extra sections to back up your background.

Modern Resume Template for Microsoft Word by ResumeCoverPro

Who's it for: Any professional and creative role

Creator: ResumeCoverPro

Where to find it: Etsy

Looking for something that’s modern and professional?

Check out the professional resume package by ResumeCoverPro which includes - resume and cover letter templates , an icon pack , free fonts , effective customer support and more.

This template focuses on the main categories: education, profile, skills, work experience, and awards. You can edit each section to customize it but for the most part, it follows a very straightforward layout and color scheme. All you have to do is edit in the blanks and send it in.

This template wasn’t designed with any one specific job role in mind, so, it’s a great general-purpose approach with its design and layout.

As long as you have Word (or Google Docs), you can customize it to make it truly yours.

And if for some reason you need further help, the template comes with additional instructions and even customer support.

Optimized 1-page Edition Resume by TheResumeCoach

Who's it for: PR, Marketers

Creator: TheResumeCoach

This optimized 1-page edition resume is an attempt at perfecting the resume layout with the bare essentials.

For most jobs, regardless of the seniority level or the career field, this template will allow you to get all of your qualifications on paper, in a classic A4 one page format.

This template allows you to highlight your key skills and qualifications, all in one page. No need to worry about going overboard with this as this has been specifically designed for a 1-page approach.

This is a clear attempt at optimizing for the 1-page resume format.

If you’re looking for something that’s professional and you can use for multiple scenarios - the above template might be the way to go.

It’s easy-to-use and will look good for most people.

All you have to do is fill in the blanks and you’ll have a fully customized resume that’s guaranteed to stand out and attract eyes.

Elegant Resume by Horea Nicodin

Who's it for: Pretty much anyone

Creator: Horea Nicodin

Where to find it: Dribble

Everything about this elegant resume template screams fanciness and it’s guaranteed to get a second look from the HR manager - which is your chance to really draw them in.

If your background is half as good as how the resume looks, you’re guaranteed to get a call back (if not for an interview, just for them to compliment your resume).

This template is ideal if you want to leave a lasting impression. It’s functional as well as elegant - definitely the best of both worlds .

Fortunately, it doesn’t actually come with a cursive font, as that would just make the recruiter’s job harder.

Though, the resume template (and the cover letter) do come with any file format you’ll ever need - Word , Photoshop , Illustrator , and InDesign .

This one-page resume template is ideal for those who want to keep their resumes concise, with just the right amount of flair.

2-page Resume/CV Combo by Resume Templates

Who's it for: UX/UI Designers

Creator: ResumeTemplates

If you’re going to be breaking the 1-page resume rule, you better have a good reason for it (i.e. a lot of experience).

And if that’s the case, then you could use the 2-page resume/CV package by ResumeTemplates.

When to Use This Template 

Clean, modern and professional Resume with Letterhead design. Fully customizable, and easy to use and replace the color & text.

This 2-pager Word template also comes with a cover letter, 100% scalable files (Photoshop, Illustrator, Word), and is ready to print.

It follows a reverse-chronological order and even has a references section. 

So, if you’re going to be using this template, make sure you have enough experience to fill it in with.

Modern Resume Template Package by ResumeFoundry

Who's it for: Online marketers

Creator: ResumeFoundry

Last but not least, this is another take on the modern creative resume package by Resume Foundry.

The package follows an all-in-one approach and the feature of being able to customize it based on your experience.

This template comes with just about everything you’ll ever need, regardless of your experience level.This includes a 1-3 page template, a cover letter, references, instructions, and a ready-to-help customer support.

Everything you see on the template is editable, and you also have the freedom to continue over the 2nd page (if needed).

Though, if you’re going to take the one-page approach, you’ll find that it has all the sections you’d need for most jobs. And the design won’t be out of place for just about any career field either.

So, essentially, you’re getting everything you’d need for $15, all that’s left to do is edit them accordingly.

That’s a lot of choice for a Word resume template.

While they might look good on paper, one common issue with building your resume with Word is that it can be super hard to format.

What do we mean by this?

Well, essentially, if you wanted to edit one specific part of your template (e.g. margin, design), there’s a chance that the whole formatting might break and spill over onto the 2nd page.

Sounds familiar? It happens to the best of us.

The reason this happens is because while Word is a powerful software on its own, it will always move your sections to the next page if the formatting isn’t just right.

Details matter to Word, sometimes a bit too much.

Do you want to simplify your resume building process down to its core?

Novorésumé template builder allows you to work and format your resume without having to worry about space, margins and other tiny details.

Everything is formatted based on the layout you choose and you won’t have to worry about your sections seemingly disappearing like in Word.

All this and more - for FREE .

Key Takeaways

So, to recap, here’s everything you need to know about using Microsoft Word resume template:

• You can use preloaded templates in Word by clicking File from the menu bar on top of the screen, then New , and from there, search for a “ resume template ” from the prompted search bar.
• The templates Word comes with are free , and you can also use premium templates, which you can find online.
• Though the premium templates cost money, the difference is noticeable as in most cases, they’ve been designed by career experts and artists all over the world.
• Once you find an ideal template that fits your qualifications , you can simply download it and edit it within Word.
• Though, if you’re looking for a smoother experience, you can simply use a powerful online resume builder for free , to represent your skills and qualifications based on how you want it .

Discover More Resume Templates

• Google Docs Resume Templates
• Chronological Resume Templates
• Combination Resume Templates
• Creative Resume Templates
• One Page Resume Templates
• 2 Page Resume Templates
• High School Resume Templates

Suggested reading:

• How to Write a Resume & Land That Job [99+ Real-Life Examples]
• CV vs. Resume - What are the Differences & Definitions [+ Examples]
• 40+ Real-Life Resume Objective Examples [+How-to Guide]

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How-To Geek

How to create a professional résumé in microsoft word.

Pressing the send button when sending your résumé to a potential employer can be a nerve-racking experience.

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What is a résumé, using a microsoft word résumé template, crafting a custom résumé in microsoft word, deciding what information to include, organizing that information.

Pressing the send button when sending your résumé to a potential employer can be a nerve-racking experience. We're here to show you how to create a résumé using Microsoft Word and provide a few tips on getting you through the résumé screening process so you can press that send button with confidence.

A résumé, often referred to as a CV (curriculum vitae), is a summary of a person's background and experience, including work experience, education, and even volunteer work, and its most common use is to send to potential employers when searching for a new career opportunity. In fact, though taking on a much different form than that of what you'd expect a résumé to look like today, Leonardo Da Vinci even did this himself, and he is often given credit as the first person to create a resume.

Of course, the résumé has undergone quite the transformation since Da Vinci's 1482 version, drastically so during the age of word processors and digital typesetting in the 1970's---40 years after résumés became an institution. Fast-forward to today and not only do you have your standard .doc or .pdf résumé, but you'll also see people uploading video résumés on YouTube and using social media platforms like LinkedIn to sell themselves to companies.

We should be thankful for these developments because now we can skip the quill and ink and jump straight into Microsoft Word.

Microsoft Word offers a bunch of résumé templates. Some are beautiful; some are not. We'll let you decide which style fits you best, but here's where you can find them.

Go ahead and open Word. As soon as you do, you'll be greeted with several different templates to choose from, ranging from a simple blank document, cover letters, résumés, or even seasonal event flyers. Click the "Resumes and Cover Letters" link under the search box to see only those types of templates.

Now, you'll see all the different resume styles Word has to offer. There are a lot of different styles and color schemes to choose one, so pick what feels right. If you scroll down the list a bit, you'll also see some plainer resume templates designed for different purposes---like an entry-level, chronological, or extended CV style.

Some of the templates are already built into Word; others are a quick, free download from Office.com (and you won't even have to leave Word to grab them). When you click to create a resume, Word will let you know the download size (if it needs to download the template). Click the "Create" button and a few seconds later, you'll be in your document and ready to edit.

That's all there is to it! But what if you didn't find a résumé you liked? Luckily, Word has a few formatting tools to help you craft the perfect résumé.

Before we start, it's important to know that each résumé should reflect a person's personal experience and education. Since everyone's experience is different, it's no surprise that their résumés will be too.

That being said, there are some general aesthetic guidelines for making a résumé that we highly recommend you follow for a professional-looking document .

Go ahead and open up a clean, blank document in Word.

The first thing we'll want to do is set our margins. Go to the "Layout" tab and click the "Margins" buttons.

The drop-down menu displays several different margin options from which to choose. If you can't find the one you're looking for, you can click "Custom Margins" at the bottom and enter your specifications. Let's go ahead and do that.

According to the experts, the best margin size is 1" for the top and bottom and 0.63" for the sides. This may seem like an oddly specific number, but the objective is to get as much (relevant) information about yourself as possible on a page without overwhelming the reader. With the above credentials, we leave enough white space on the page for the reader to not feel suffocated.

Click "OK" once you've entered the margin sizes you want.

Now that our margins are set, it's time to start inputting information.

The information you put mainly depends on what you're trying to accomplish and where you are in your professional career. If you have over two years of working experience, then detailing that information is much more valuable than which high school you graduated from or which clubs you were a part of in college. Like a cover letter, your résumé should uniquely cater to the recipient. Dress to impress.

So, which information should you put? We'll give you the overview, and you can decide which areas you should detail.

• Contact Information
• Professional Experience (It's also ok to include any volunteer work at the bottom of this section)
• Additional Skills

For all of these, tailor the information to the job. You don't need to fit irrelevant work experience in there unless not including it would create a gap in your work experience. But if you're applying for a job as an accountant, nobody cares that you delivered pizzas 12 years ago. And you do list out any additional skills, make sure they're relevant to the position for which you're applying. Your high school friend might be impressed by how high you can kick, but your future employer---not so much.

Another thing to remember is that you should always list out your experience in reverse chronological order. That is, list out your most recent experience first, and go back from there.

There're several ways to do this, but arguably the most effective way is by creating headings and then inserting a table for the content of each section. By doing so, you're not only able to move content around in groups instead of individually, which can be a headache in itself, but you're also able to give your résumé a unique touch by adding table designs. In the image below, for example, we've added a dashed border to the left side of the table to create a nice little visual element to tie the different experience elements together.

First things first, let's go ahead and find a heading that we like. In the "Styles" section of the "Home" tab, you'll find several default styles. If you can't find one you like, then Word has a feature that lets you create your own. First, click the "More" arrow on the right-hand side of the different built-in styles.

You'll see a menu with three different options. Go ahead and click "Create a Style."

The "Create New Style from Formatting" window will appear. The only thing you can do here is to name the style, so click "Modify."

Now you should see a window with many formatting options. For fonts, there's no best option. Just make sure you use something that's clean and readable. "Georgia" is a great example. A 14 pt font size is fine for headings, but make sure it's bold so that each section is easier to find for the reader.

The "Add to the Styles gallery" option will automatically be selected. It's good to leave this option selected so you'll have easy access to your heading for the other sections of your résumé. If you plan to use this heading again in future documents, you can go ahead and deselect "Only in this document," but since we only plan to use it for our résumé, we'll keep that option selected.

Click "OK."

Go ahead and type in your first heading and apply the new style to it. In this example, we'll use "Experience" first.

Now, let's use a table under our first heading so that we can keep all our content lined up correctly. Place your insertion point on the line under your new heading, switch to the "Insert" tab, and click the "Table" button.

You'll see a 10x8 grid on the drop-down menu. You can create the table size by moving your mouse over the grid and clicking when it's the size you want. For your résumé, you'll need one column and enough rows to contain the separate pieces of information you have to list. For example, if you have three prior jobs to list in the Experience section, you'll want a table that's 1x3.

And here's what it looks like after we've inserted the table into the document.

We'll remove the border lines later. First, go ahead and put in your information. You'll want the "Job Title, Company" text to be 1 or 2 pts larger than the rest of the text but be sure to keep it smaller than the heading of the section. If you want your job title to stand out, you can change the color or make it italic, but try to keep it simple.

Once that's ready, let's go ahead change the borders of our table. Select the table by placing your insertion point anywhere inside it. Switch to the "Design" tab in the "Table Tools" section of the Ribbon, and then click the "Borders" button.

If you want to keep it simple and remove all the lines of your table, select "No Border." In this example, we're going to give our table a little flavor, so we'll select "Borders and Shading."

Because we only want to customize the left border of our table, we will select "Custom" under the "Setting" section. This lets us use the "Preview" section to deselect the sides on which we don't want borders. Click the boxes surrounding the preview to turn off all the borders except for the left one.

In the "Style" list, you can select the border design, color, and width you want. Click "OK" when you're ready.

Now we should have an experience section on our résumé that's starting to shape up. A little playing with colors and maybe spacing the table rows a bit, and you should be ready to go.

Now, just repeat these steps for the rest of the sections and your professional résumé will be finished in no time!

Image Credit: fizkes /Shutterstock

Use a template to create a resume

If you need help creating a resume or cover letter, start with one of the dozens of professionally-designed resume and cover letter templates that are available in Word.

Go to File > New .

In the search box, type Resume or Cover Letter.

Double-click the template you want to use.

Replace the placeholder text with your own information.

On the File menu, select New from Template .

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.

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 .

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.

To share it online, send a link:

Near the top of the screen, click Share .

Under Share , click Get a Link .

Under Choose an option , click View only .

Click Create Link .

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

Tip:  If you have a blog or website, you can embed a view of your resume there.

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Resume Worded   |  Proven Resume Examples

• Resume Examples
• Engineering Resumes

7 Software Tester Resume Examples - Here's What Works In 2024

The technology industry has been one of the fastest-growing industries for over a decade. the covid pandemic accelerated that growth as the entire globe transferred its workforce, learning industry, and socializing online almost instantaneously. the technology industry has had to rapidly build different online platforms and tools to provide for this new online normal. software testers ensure that the programs and platforms that we now use every day, run as smoothly as possible, do what they say they are going to do, and are easy to use. this guide will take you through different software tester positions, show you some successful resumes, and give you tips to create your own strong and attractive resume..

Software testers are tasked with interrogating and testing software programs to ensure that they do what they are supposed to do, and meet all requirements and expectations. As a tester, you will identify bugs or problems, record them appropriately and report them to software developers for fixes. You need to have strong analytical, communication, and technical skills to succeed in this profession. 

Ideally, recruiters would like to see a resume that shows a degree in computer sciences or a related degree. If you do not have a degree, certifications in software testing and the tools generally used, would be expected. This is also a field that will require your constant training as technology quickly evolves and new more efficient tools are created all the time. 

Here are some software testing resumes for specific positions. We have also included some tips to bolster your resume and get recruiters to notice and hire you.

Software Tester Resume Templates

Jump to a template:

• QA Manual Tester
• Automation Tester
• Test Engineer
• Test Analyst
• Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)
• Validation Specialist

Jump to a resource:

• Keywords for Software Tester Resumes

Software Tester Resume Tips

• Action Verbs to Use
• Related Engineering Resumes

Get advice on each section of your resume:

Template 1 of 7: QA Manual Tester Resume Example

QA (Quality Assurance) manual testers perform tests on software to try and find any bugs or irregularities in the way the software operates. You will usually come into the software development process towards the end when the software is developed enough to be tested. Unlike automated testing, where you can create program scripts to perform tests, as a manual tester, you will perform the tests yourself. You do not need as much programming knowledge as in other positions in software development so this may be a great position to enter the software testing and development industry with. What you will need is great attention to detail and great communication skills. We should note that QA manual testers often work for multiple companies at a time on a freelance or consultant basis, so proper time management is also essential. While recruiters would like to see resumes that show an educational background in computer science or a related field, experience is very heavily weighted. So be sure to list all experience you have had as a tester or in any other position in the software development process. Here is an example of a strong QA manual tester resume.

We're just getting the template ready for you, just a second left.

Tips to help you write your QA Manual Tester resume in 2024

   list any programs, programming languages, and coding software you are experienced in..

Because this is usually an entry-level position, you may not have a wealth of experience on your resume. To compensate for that, ensure that you list all programs, languages, and certifications you have. If you do not have many, invest in gaining skills to add to your skills section.

   Consider including the computer you are using and internet speeds.

This position requires one to work on an efficient computer with good internet speeds. If you have a powerful computer and high internet speeds, state the type of computer and internet speeds on your resume. It’s one less thing for employers to worry about if they employ you.

Skills you can include on your QA Manual Tester resume

Template 2 of 7: automation tester resume example.

Unlike manual testers, automation testers will use automation testing tools to test software programs. You will be testing to find any bugs or irregularities and reporting them to the software team so they can be fixed and retested. For this position, you will need to be experienced using an array of automation testing tools as well as have programming knowledge. You will also need to know the various methodologies used to test. Most automation testers began as manual testers and progressed to automation testing. Recruiters will be looking at your resume primarily to see the languages and tools you are familiar with, as well as your experience as a tester. This resume excels in having both a strong skills section, as well as an in-depth list of experience.

Tips to help you write your Automation Tester resume in 2024

   quantify your testing capabilities..

One of the biggest benefits of automated testing vis-a-vis manual testing is the ability to do very many tests in a short period. So impress recruiters by quantifying the output of your automated testing. How many tests were you able to do and how did your results help your previous employer? Did it save them time or money? If so, how much?

   Show software-related certification.

Being an automation tester is a highly technical job. As such, the software programs and technologies you are experienced with are what are going to impress recruiters. Beyond listing a program or language you are experienced in, getting certification to prove your proficiency using the language or program is always a welcome addition to recruiters.

Skills you can include on your Automation Tester resume

Template 3 of 7: automation tester resume example.

Template 4 of 7: Test Engineer Resume Example

A test engineer is charged with designing, building, and implementing tests for software programs. This is a very technical position and you will be expected to have a strong knowledge of programming, code, and coding language. You will also be expected to be creative as you try to find bugs and errors and as you offer potential solutions. Your resume should show a strong education background in software development or a closely related field. Alternatively, recruiters would appreciate any professional certification from a software development program or course.

Tips to help you write your Test Engineer resume in 2024

   periodically update your technical skills as new testing programs and languages are developed..

To be competent in this position, you have to be up to date with the latest technologies and software. So ensure that your resume reflects that. Update your skill and then update the skills section of your resume.

   Include software developer experience.

Because this position is so closely related to software development, feel free to include software developer experience in your resume. Both positions require the same basic knowledge, so excelling at one is a good indication to recruiters that you will excel in the other.

Skills you can include on your Test Engineer resume

Template 5 of 7: test analyst resume example.

While software testers will design and perform tests, test analysts will analyze the test results. As a test analyst, you will also be in charge of analyzing and defining the testing process and parameters. There may also be a managerial/leadership component to your job as you may be in charge of delegating tasks to testers. To excel in this role, you will need strong analytical skills as well as the ability to see the bigger picture. Take a look at this strong test analyst resume.

Tips to help you write your Test Analyst resume in 2024

   quantify the value addition of your test analysis work..

Most test analysts will have similar skill sets and levels of experience. So to differentiate yourself from other test analysts, quantify what your work was able to accomplish. Highlight how many tests you ran, and how much money or time you saved your previous employer.

   Highlight experience leading or managing a team of testers.

Part of a test analyst's tasks may include leading a group of testers. So you will want to show recruiters your ability to lead a team effectively. So be sure to highlight any leadership or managerial experience in your resume.

Skills you can include on your Test Analyst resume

Template 6 of 7: software development engineer in test (sdet) resume example.

A software development engineer in test (SDET) participates in the entire software development cycle. They both develop and test software. Essentially the position is two professions combined into one. The demand for this role has greatly increased as companies have started to look for multifaceted I.T. professionals and have started to look for ways to decrease the size of the IT department. To excel in this role, you will need a very strong software development background as well as a testing background. This sample resume shows this very effectively.

Tips to help you write your Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) resume in 2024

   include an equal amount of development and testing experience..

SDETs perform both software development and software testing functions. So be sure to show an equally balanced resume. Ensure your experience and skills sections, show your capabilities in developing and testing.

   Show your creativity.

SDETs are tasked with not only identifying bugs and issues, like other testers but are also tasked with creating solutions. This requires creativity. So be sure to highlight instances where you found a creative solution to a software bug or where you created a more efficient testing system.

Skills you can include on your Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) resume

Template 7 of 7: validation specialist resume example.

A validation specialist is someone who measures instruments and/or software to ensure the tool is performing as expected. They will often develop, establish and maintain a regulated protocol for the testing of instruments. A validation specialist also takes performance data and compares it to the established criteria to ensure the product is falling within an acceptable level. Someone who is a validation specialist will often have a background in engineering, analytics, or data science. A bachelor’s degree is highly recommended for the role, though substantive experience may supplement a degree in some cases. Hiring managers will be looking for candidates with related experiences in the field, such as roles as a test analyst, IT associate, data entry specialist, and more.

Tips to help you write your Validation Specialist resume in 2024

   identify the industry you want to work in.

Many companies employ validation specialists. The role will have different duties and must-have competencies depending on the industry. It’s wise to identify one or two industries you’re interested in working for, and build your resume around that. For example, if you want to work in a healthcare setting, then you should highlight relevant experience and knowledge you have specific to the industry.

   Earn certifications specific to being a validation specialist

To jumpstart your career as a validation specialist, you can earn certifications to show employers your knowledge. The most common certificate to obtain is Certified Professional Coder (CDC). Those looking to work in validation in the medical field will benefit from validation specialist certificates specific to the medical field. The CIC (Certified Inpatient Coder) and COC (Certified Outpatient Coder) can help you land a job in a medical setting.

Skills you can include on your Validation Specialist resume

As a hiring manager who has recruited software testers at companies like Microsoft, Google, and Apple, I've seen countless resumes over the years. The best ones always stand out by showcasing the candidate's testing skills, technical expertise, and ability to collaborate with development teams. In this article, we'll share some tips to help you create a strong software tester resume that will catch the attention of hiring managers and increase your chances of landing an interview.

   Highlight your testing methodologies and tools

Employers want to know that you have experience with the testing methodologies and tools they use. Be sure to include specific examples of the testing techniques you've used, such as:

• Developed and executed test cases using black-box and white-box testing techniques
• Conducted exploratory testing to identify edge cases and uncover hidden defects
• Utilized automation tools like Selenium and Appium to create and maintain test scripts

By providing concrete examples of your testing skills, you'll demonstrate to hiring managers that you have the expertise they're looking for.

   Showcase your technical skills

In addition to testing methodologies, employers want to see that you have a strong technical background. This includes experience with:

• Programming languages like Java, Python, and C#
• Databases like SQL and MongoDB
• Web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

If you have certifications or training in any of these areas, be sure to include them on your resume as well. This will help you stand out from other candidates and show that you have the technical skills needed to succeed in the role.

   Demonstrate your ability to collaborate

Software testing is a collaborative process that involves working closely with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders. Employers want to see that you have experience collaborating with these teams to ensure high-quality software delivery. Include examples like:

• Worked with development teams to identify and prioritize defects for resolution
• Collaborated with product managers to ensure that testing efforts aligned with business requirements
• Participated in daily stand-up meetings and sprint planning sessions to provide testing updates and insights

By highlighting your collaboration skills, you'll show employers that you have the communication and teamwork abilities needed to succeed in the role.

   Quantify your impact

Whenever possible, use metrics to quantify the impact of your testing efforts. This could include:

• Identified and reported over 100 defects during testing, resulting in a 20% reduction in post-release issues
• Automated 50% of the regression test suite, reducing testing time by 30% and enabling more frequent releases
• Conducted performance testing that identified a critical bottleneck, resulting in a 50% improvement in application response time

By using metrics to showcase your achievements, you'll provide concrete evidence of your ability to deliver results and make a positive impact on the software development process.

   Tailor your resume to the job description

One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is submitting a generic resume that doesn't align with the specific requirements of the job they're applying for. Instead, take the time to tailor your resume to the job description. Here's an example of what not to do:

• Experienced software tester with a strong background in manual and automated testing

While this statement is true, it doesn't provide any specific details about how your skills and experience align with the job requirements. Instead, try something like this:

• Experienced software tester with 5+ years of experience in Agile development environments, utilizing Selenium and Java to automate testing for web-based applications

By tailoring your resume to the specific job requirements, you'll demonstrate to employers that you have the skills and experience they're looking for.

   Include relevant projects and achievements

In addition to your professional experience, be sure to include any relevant projects or achievements that demonstrate your testing skills and expertise. This could include:

• Developed a test automation framework from scratch using Python and Pytest, resulting in a 50% reduction in testing time for a complex web application
• Created and maintained a comprehensive test plan for a mobile app with over 1 million users, ensuring a high-quality user experience across multiple devices and platforms
• Presented at a local testing conference on best practices for integrating testing into the Agile development process

By highlighting your relevant projects and achievements, you'll provide concrete examples of your testing skills and expertise, and demonstrate your passion for the field.

Writing Your Software Tester Resume: Section By Section

  header, 1. put your name on its own line.

Your name should be the most prominent element in your header, so it's best to put it on its own line. Use a larger font size than the rest of your header details to make it stand out.

Here's an example of what to do:

[email protected] | 555-123-4567 | New York, NY | linkedin.com/in/johndoe

And here's what to avoid:

• John Doe | [email protected] | 555-123-4567 | New York, NY | linkedin.com/in/johndoe

By putting your name on its own line, you ensure that it's the first thing recruiters will remember about you.

2. Include key contact details

In addition to your name, your header should include your key contact details so recruiters can easily get in touch with you. At a minimum, include:

• Email address
• Phone number
• Location (City, State)
• LinkedIn profile URL

You can include these details on a single line, separated by vertical bars or bullet points. For example:

Avoid including your full mailing address, as it's not necessary at this stage and takes up valuable space. Just your city and state are sufficient.

3. Consider including your software testing job title

While it's not required, you may want to include your current or desired job title in your resume header. This can help frame the rest of your resume and make it clear what type of position you're targeting.

If you do include a job title, make sure it's specific and tailored to the job you're applying for. For example:

• Software Tester | [email protected] | 555-123-4567 | New York, NY

Avoid using a generic title like "Software Professional" as it doesn't provide any meaningful information. Also, don't include an objective statement in your header, as it's outdated and takes up valuable space.

  Summary

A resume summary is a short, optional section that sits at the top of your resume, just below your contact information. While a summary is not required, it can be a valuable addition to your resume if you are a career changer, have a lot of experience, or want to provide additional context not already included in your resume.

When writing a summary for a software tester position, focus on highlighting your relevant skills, experience, and achievements. Avoid using generic buzzwords or soft skills, and instead, provide specific examples that demonstrate your ability to excel in the role. Remember to keep your summary concise, typically no more than a few sentences or a short paragraph.

To learn how to write an effective resume summary for your Software Tester resume, or figure out if you need one, please read Software Tester Resume Summary Examples , or Software Tester Resume Objective Examples .

1. Highlight your software testing expertise

When crafting your summary, emphasize your software testing skills and experience. Mention the types of testing you specialize in, such as manual testing, automated testing, or performance testing. Showcase your familiarity with relevant tools and methodologies.

Compare the following examples:

• Experienced software tester with a proven track record of success.

Instead, be specific and quantify your experience:

• Software tester with 5+ years of experience in manual and automated testing, specializing in web and mobile applications. Proficient in Selenium, Appium, and Jira.

2. Showcase your impact and achievements

In your summary, highlight the impact you have made in your previous roles. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to provide concrete evidence of your skills and experience.

Results-driven software tester with 7+ years of experience in the e-commerce industry. Developed and executed comprehensive test plans, resulting in a 30% reduction in post-release defects. Collaborated with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality software on time and within budget.

By showcasing your achievements, you demonstrate to potential employers the value you can bring to their organization.

  Experience

The work experience section is the heart of your resume. It's where you show hiring managers how you've applied your skills to make an impact for your previous employers. When applying for software tester roles, focus on achievements that showcase your ability to find and report defects, collaborate with developers, and ensure high-quality software.

Let's break down each step for writing an effective work experience section on your software tester resume:

1. Focus on testing-related accomplishments

When describing your previous roles, highlight your biggest wins related to software testing. Did you catch a major bug that would have been catastrophic if released? Maybe you helped reduce the average number of defects making it to production.

Compare these two examples:

• Ran test cases and logged defects
• Participated in code reviews and reported issues

While not terrible, these bullets are too vague and could apply to any tester. Instead, aim for something like:

• Discovered a critical flaw in the payment gateway, preventing potential loss of revenue and customer trust
• Reduced defect escape rate by 35% by implementing more robust smoke testing

2. Showcase your technical skills

Software testing requires proficiency with certain tools and methodologies. Hiring managers want to see the specific testing tools and techniques you've used. Have you worked with automation frameworks like Selenium or Appium? Do you have experience with performance testing using tools like JMeter?

Mention the names of testing tools and any programming languages you've used to write test scripts. Also reference methodologies you've followed, such as:

• Agile testing
• Test-driven development (TDD)
• Behavior-driven development (BDD)
• Exploratory testing

Incorporating these technical details throughout your work experience will help hiring managers match your skills to what they're looking for.

3. Demonstrate your collaboration skills

Software testing doesn't happen in a vacuum. Testers need to work closely with developers, business analysts, and product owners to understand requirements, report issues, and verify fixes. Effective collaboration and communication are key.

In your work experience, include details about how you partnered with other teams. For example:

Collaborated with product owners to clarify requirements and develop comprehensive test plans that increased test coverage by 40%.

You can also mention specific collaboration tools you've used, like Jira, Trello, or Slack. Showcasing your ability to work well with others will give hiring managers confidence that you'll integrate smoothly into their team.

4. Highlight promotions and leadership

If you've been promoted or taken on leadership roles, make sure that's clearly reflected in your work experience section. Advancing in your career demonstrates that you've excelled in your previous positions.

For example, if you started as a junior software tester and worked your way up to a senior role, you could show that progression like this:

Senior Software Tester (2019-Present) Software Tester (2016-2019) Company XYZ

Also mention if you've mentored junior testers, led testing efforts for a project, or spearheaded process improvements. These leadership experiences show you have the potential to grow with the company you're applying to.

  Education

The education section is a key part of your software tester resume. It shows hiring managers that you have the knowledge and skills to do the job well. In this section, we'll cover what to include and how to format it for maximum impact.

1. Put your education section at the top if you're a recent graduate

If you graduated from college in the last 1-2 years, put your education section before your work experience. This is because your degree is your strongest selling point when you don't have much work history yet.

Here's an example of what this could look like:

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science University of Texas at Austin Graduated: May 2022 Relevant coursework: Software Testing, Agile Development, Databases GPA: 3.8

2. Keep your education section short if you have several years of experience

If you have more than 5 years of software testing experience, your work history is more important than your education. Keep your education section brief in this case. Just list your degree, school name, and graduation year.

Here's an example:

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, University of Texas at Austin, 2010-2014. Graduated Summa Cum Laude. Relevant coursework: Software Testing, Databases, Web Development, Operating Systems, Artificial Intelligence. GPA: 3.95

This is too long and detailed for someone with many years of work experience. Instead, shorten it to:

• B.S. in Computer Science, University of Texas at Austin, 2014

3. Include relevant certifications in your education section

Software testing certifications show employers that you have specific skills and knowledge. If you have any, include them in your education section.

Some common software testing certifications include:

• ISTQB Certified Tester
• ASTQB Mobile Testing Certification
• CAST Certified Software Tester

Here's how to list them:

ISTQB Certified Tester - Foundation Level International Software Testing Qualifications Board, 2020

Action Verbs For Software Tester Resumes

Strong action verbs tell a recruiter your role in a specific task. Software tester resumes should use action verbs that are relevant to the software testing process. Action verbs like "Tested", "Developed" or “Analyzed" are strong action verbs that effectively showcase a strong software testing skill set.

• Established
• Implemented
• Constructed

For more related action verbs, visit Software Engineering Action Verbs .

For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs .

Action Verbs for Software Tester Resumes

Skills for software tester resumes.

Software testing is a very technical profession. When we speak of skills, most importantly, you will want to list languages, programs, tools, and software you are experienced with.

Here is a list of skills you would expect to see in a software tester's resume. Add those that you are experienced with to your resume to impress recruiters.

• Software Testing
• Manual Testing
• Regression Testing
• Test Planning
• Software Quality Assurance
• Test Automation
• Functional Testing
• Agile Methodologies
• Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• Quality Assurance
• User Acceptance Testing
• Agile Testing
• HP Quality Center
• System Testing
• Selenium WebDriver
• Exploratory Testing

Skills Word Cloud For Software Tester Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Software Tester job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.

How to use these skills?

Other engineering resumes, automation engineer.

Engineering Manager

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• Explore Alternative and Similar Careers

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FinanceBuzz

13 Most Useless Resume Words That Are Just Wasting Space

Posted: May 21, 2023 | Last updated: July 26, 2023

Americans have been switching jobs in the past few years first as part of the Great Resignation and now, in addition, due to many layoffs.

Some workers have used the past few years, since the pandemic, to reassess their work life and want to switch to a job with more money and better benefits. Others have enjoyed working from home and have taken new positions to maintain a commute-free job instead of returning to an office.

If you’re one of those workers who are ready for a change and want to stop living paycheck to paycheck , it’s a good idea to update your resume while skipping these useless words.

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Hard worker

There may be companies out there that want to hire a lazy worker, but if so, they are few and far between. Telling potential employers you are a “hard worker” is probably overkill. They likely expect that already and you can use that space to highlight something that differentiates you from everyone else instead. 

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Some resumes may include an “objective” section at the top that details the type of position you may be qualified for or your goal for a new position.

But this concept is a bit outdated, and it might take up space on your resume that could be used to better detail your experience or additional skills.

If you want to include an objective you can instead use your cover letter to outline any objectives or goals you may be looking for with a new position. And remember to edit your cover-letter objective so it’s relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Misspelled words

Before sending out your resume, look over every word and run it through a spell checker. You may also want someone else to read it or edit it for you. Misspelled words can easily send your resume into the trash can without a second glance.

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Graduation year

While age discrimination is wrong, there may be ways for potential employers to still weed out your resume to get younger workers. Include your college degrees, certifications, or other necessary education, but skip the actual years you graduated so you don’t date yourself.

You also may want to consider dropping the dates of employment from your previous companies. Instead, consider using the length of your time in that position if you’re worried about age issues.

It’s a good idea not to highlight the fact you may currently be unemployed, as it may be a red flag for some potential companies.

If you’re concerned about the dates of your previous employment giving you away, list the duration of your position instead.

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Microsoft Office

There are some specialized skills that may be needed and should be highlighted on your resume for potential positions. But Microsoft Word, Excel, or Office are usually considered basic programs that most applicants are familiar with as it is taught in high schools throughout the country.

However, you may want to highlight your proficiency in these programs if you need them for a specific position. Perhaps you could mention a Microsoft Excel certification for an accounting job, for example.

Completing a project “on time” is something that will probably be expected of you in a new position. If you want to highlight your ability to stick with a schedule, find some additional information to make it stand out.

For example, mention the specific amount of money you were able to save your company by completing a project on time.

Pro tip: If you are looking for a new job, try to find one that offers a 401(k) or similar retirement plan with a company match. Doing so can help you build a nest egg that might even allow you to retire early .

Highly qualified

You may be highly qualified for a position, but you shouldn’t have to announce it with those words on your resume. After all, employers expect you to be highly qualified for the job if they want to hire you.

Instead, highlight your qualifications with specific examples of your skills that are relevant to your potential employer.

References available on request

Some online job applications might ask you to include references as part of the online process. In other situations, let the potential employer ask for references when the time is right.

There's no need to use the resume to let them know you will provide references. Instead, use that extra space on your resume to highlight one or two more points under your employment experience, skills, recognition, or other headings.

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Texting language

Try to avoid symbols or abbreviations that you would normally use on social media or when texting your friends.

Avoid using abbreviations like “LMK” for “let me know,” or “TTYL” for “talk to you later.” And limit symbols like “@” for your email address or social media accounts, and only if they’re relevant to the position.

Hit the ground running

Cliches can easily sneak into your resume in job descriptions or your cover letter. Try to avoid these phrases, which could come across as fluff language that doesn’t tell a recruiter or potential employer about your work experience.

You may have been a great student in college with a 4.0 GPA or an “A” average. Most employers, however, are unlikely to care much about that and would prefer to see your previous work experience.

So, while it is useful to include where you graduated from or any certifications you have, you can skip your GPA.

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Stay-at-home parent

You may be excited to rejoin the workforce after being a full-time parent or taking care of everyday needs at home such as bills, home maintenance, or school runs. But an employer will likely prefer to know about your professional experience over your personal experience.

Instead, stick to the facts of your professional experience and remember that you don’t have to answer any questions about your personal life as part of the interview process.

Bottom line

Even if you’re not actively looking for a new job, it’s a good idea to freshen up your resume on a regular basis. Remember to update your LinkedIn profile or other professional websites with your potential resume changes.

You also may want to sit down with your budget to see if switching jobs could pay off for you depending on the pay, benefits, and other factors that come with a new job. Or perhaps keep your job and look for a side hustle that can make you extra money .

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