How To Make A Resume For Free Without Using Microsoft Office
Chris Hoffman is Editor-in-Chief of How-To Geek. He’s written about technology for over a decade and was a PCWorld columnist for two years. Chris has written for The New York Times, been interviewed as a technology expert on TV stations like Miami’s NBC 6, and had his work covered by news outlets like the BBC. Since 2011, Chris has written over 2,000 articles that have been read nearly one billion times—and that’s just here at How-To Geek. Read more…
You dont need Microsoft Office to put together a professional-looking resume. Google Docs is completely free and offers a variety of resume templates, so you can focus on highlighting your skills instead of fiddling with formatting.
While Microsoft has their own Office Online solution, it offers very limited templates and no resume template. Youd have to do the formatting work yourself. Google Docs is the easiest, quickest option here.
Choose A Resume Template
Remember that we’re making a resume in Microsoft Word, so it helps to narrow our search to include templates that support Word. Lets keep it pretty broad by searching for resume Word. With plenty of resume template options, there’s no shortage of options. Choose a template that meets the design principles we covered earlier in this tutorial.
When youre ready to download, simply click on on the right side of the Elements screen. Elements will ask you for a license usage. This is just a description of how and where you intend to use the file. And even if you stop subscribing to Elements, youll still be licensed to use anything you downloaded.
Once you enter a license usage, go ahead and click Add & Download. The pre-built Word resume template file will download, typically as a .zip archive. Go ahead and extract the files, and double-click on the .docx file to create your new resume in a Word document. Word will launch, and your template will appear, as you can see here.
Free Resume Templates For Microsoft Word
A resume template can help you create a document that will impress every employer, whether you’re writing your first resume or revising your current one. Microsoft Word has resume templates available for users. All you have to do is find one you like, click on it, and start writing.
Even though it’s easy to use a template, carefully customize your resume. Taking the time to match your experience to the job will give you the best chance of getting chosen for an interview.
Read Also: Cpr On Resume
How To Fit Your Resume Onto One Page Using Microsoft Word
I do fall into the camp of people who believe resumes should fit one page. This post will be dedicated to how to fit your resume onto one page using Microsoft Word .
I dont exactly know why, but I never loved looking at resumes that went onto two pages . Most of the candidates Ive screened/interviewed in my career have had under ten years of experience, and I really do feel that type of experience can be summarized on one page.
What it comes down to is this: as a recruiter, when you are screening hundreds of resumes at a time, you just want to get the picture and know the persons story as quickly as possible
Assuming other recruiters feel the same way, thats why I encourage one page resumes.
A lot of people come to work with me with two page resumes and Ive always been able to get it down to one. Here are 6 ways to fit your resume onto one page in Microsoft word.
Paste Or Write In Your Info
When youre finally ready to put all of your work experience and accomplishments into the template and make it yours, Viviano recommends that you complete the easy things first, like your name and contact info and your education. Itll be like a quick win. Then continue on to fill out the rest.
Make your life easier later by pasting in your information as text onlywithout the formatting it had on your previous resume, in your prep doc, or in the worksheet you filled out. Use this copy-and-paste trick to make sure everything you drop in there matches the formatting of the template. Otherwise, you might spend a ridiculous amount of time trying to get spacing right again, Augustine says.
Finally, make sure youve replaced or deleted all of the dummy text and any instructions that were in the template when you got it!
Also Check: How Many References Should You Include In Your Resume
What Is A Fresher Resume
A fresher resume follows a particular professional resume template to assure that it can be an advantage to an entry-level applicant when used in the processes of a work application. A fresher resume can be defined as follows:
Email Marketing Resume Template
Red color never fails to stick out on a sheet of paper, especially if it’s included in small amounts. The resume template for email marketers, below, captures that balance.
In addition to the professional title in the top-righthand 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.
Download this template here.
Read Also: Places To Print Resume
Proofread Your Resume And Finish Strong
Once youve written your resume and cover letter, youre in pretty good shape to send out that first application. However, youre not quite done yet.
The most important step before sending out any resume is to read it over and make sure that there are no issues that could get your application discarded.
To help make that process easier, heres a checklist you can go through to make sure your resume is looking spotless:
The Resume Genius Resume Checklist
Is your contact information accurate?
Does your resume NOT include details like headshots or sensitive personal information?
Does your resume fit on one page ?
Is your information easy to read ?
Is the design of your resume appropriate for the position youre applying for?
Did you include all relevant sections on your resume?
Did you include quantified achievements in your work experience section?
Does your resume address the requirements stated in the job ad?
Is your resume free of typos and grammatical errors?
Is all of your information clearly formatted and professional?
Feel free to use our on-page checklist, or and begin reviewing your resume.
+ Fresher Resume Templates In Word
A fresher resume is the document created by an entry-level applicant who would like to be considered for a job position. You can incorporate BBA, CA, hotel management, BCA, data science, B tech, MCA, one page, and other forms of fresher resumes. A fresher resume is commonly used by new a graduate but its usage is not limited to the specified group.
There are several writers resumes that you should be aware of when making a resume/cv format for freshers in Microsoft Word. You can also find free downloads of resumes, CVs, biodata, and other document models editable in various MS Office versions .
You May Like: Upload New Resume On Indeed
Clean Microsoft Word Cv / Resume Template
This is a professional MS resume template Word design, which is easily editable. This professional CV format Word DOC has a clean look and includes a useful cover letter template. Extras like cover letters you’ll find only in premium designs show the value over CV template Word free downloads.
At the top, it features a placeholder for your photo and text for your summary statement. This highly effective two-column resume template is also print-ready for immediate use. It makes for one of the best resume templates for Word.
How To Write A Resume
We offered two variants, choose the best one for you:
1. Use a free online Resume Builder.
2. Download the free editable Resume Template .
Don’t Miss: Is It Bad To Have A Two Page Resume
Professional & Clean Resume
Professional and Clean Resume is fully editable. So, tailor your resume to the job youre applying for. This template comes with a resume and cover letter template. This resume also has an interests section so you can show that your interests align with the job you want.
The Professional and Clean Resume template features a professional design. Edit this template in Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, or Adobe Illustrator.
Easily Editable Word Resume Template
Stand out from other job candidates with this two-column resume template for Microsoft Word. The single band of color on the header puts the spotlight on your name and contact information.
This template comes in A4 and US letter sizes and is compatible with Photoshop and Word. It also comes as a PDF, which you can customize with a PDF editor. The accompanying Readme file contains links to the free fonts and icon fonts used in the design.
Don’t Miss: Putting Language On Resume
Simple Creative Resume Word Template
Make your name, experience, and skills stand out with this professional resume template Word file! The template features readable typography and headlines to break up a viewers reading cadence. It allows all professionals to customize their presentations to potential clients and employers.
This allows you to be quick on your feet and apply for a vast range of possible job opportunities. This polished resume templates document set features 18 files in all:
- 6 Word files
Arrange Your Contact Information
Now that you know the format youre going to use, its time to start your resume. First things first, employers need to know who you are and how to contact you.
List the following contact details in your resume header at the top of the page:
- Name
- Telephone number
- Email address
- Link to online portfolio
- LinkedIn profile
Traditionally, you would also include your mailing address on your resume. However, this is no longer mandatory because most job applications are sent via email.
Here are two examples of how you can format your contact information section:
Also Check: Child Acting Resume Template No Experience
Choosing The Right Resume Template
The Resumes and CVs tab is a little more convenient for use, since it divides the offered templates into three categories: Basic resumes, Job-specific resumes and Situation-specific resumes. Explore the options and pick the template that suits you best. For example, if you are a recently graduated college student looking for your first real job, there are available templates that are tailored for your situation. If you are looking for a job as a pharmacist or a retail sales clerk, there are templates that are custom-made for those positions as well. Have a look around and pick the template that best suits your needs as far as both content and appearance are concerned.
Once you choose the resume template that you want to use, you can start editing. All you have to do is click on each individual field, one at a time, and enter the corresponding information name, contact information, education, work experience, recommendations, etc.
After completing your resume, use the formatting features of Word 2010 to customize your resume even more and really make it your own.
Formatting tools that you might have been familiar with when using PowerPoint 2007 like reflection, shadow and glow can be used to format your text and make your resume more attractive and interesting.
Click on the Text Effects button on the Home tab in order to try some of these tools.
Click on the Insert tab and then the SmartArt or Chart buttons to experiment with these features.
How To Make A Professional Looking Resume In Word In Office 365
Not everyone might possess the creative skills to craft up a professional-looking resume. Luckily, Microsoft makes that easy as part of Word in Office 365. Here’s how.
In the always competitive job market, having an excellent resume can be the key to scoring a dream job. But, despite possessing excellent job skills, not everyone might understand the process of how to craft up a professional-looking resume. Luckily, Microsoft makes things easy as part of Word in Office 365. With this guide, we’ll show you how you can make a resume in Microsoft Word in a matter of minutes.
You May Like: Ged On A Resume
Professional Ms Word Resume Template
If you want clean lines and neat design, then you cant go wrong with this professional resume template for Word. Use it to impress potential employers or anyone else you want to work with on a professional project.
The 54-file template chunks information into digestible paragraphs and snippets. Your most important details will jump out at potential employers or clients. It comes with Word, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign files.
Monogram Header Resume Template
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.
Download this template here.
Recommended Reading: Photoshop Resume
How Many Pages Should A Resume Be
The short answer is that one page is the ideal resume length for most candidates. However, if you have a lot of relevant work experience, it can be two or even three pages.
Just note that unless youre applying for an upper-management position or an academic post, one page will be enough for hiring managers. Even Elon Musks resume could be tightened into one page.
If youre applying for an academic position, youll need to send a CV instead of a resume. Keep in mind that CV templates are often several pages long, and contain more information to show the progression of your academic career.
Add An Optional Headshot
The placeholder in the upper left corner is meant for inserting a professional headshot. This is an easy and unique way to make your resume stand out in a stack of others. Many people dont think of including their photograph, so its an excellent option for literally putting a face to your name.
To add a photo, click on the placeholder to select it, and then press delete on your keyboard. On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click on Pictures. First, youll want to browse to where your photo is stored on your computer. Click to select it, and then choose Insert to add it to the Word resume.
Once the image is added, you can change its size and placement. Simply click and drag to move it around the page, or click on one of the corners and drag to resize the image. Its easy, its unique, and it can really help you be noticed by encouraging that key first look.
You May Like: How To Pull Resume From Linkedin
Bold Serif Resume Template
Speaking of serif font, this resume puts forward an element of grace and formality with its font choices. It’s perfect for individuals who are looking for more organic color than the ones more typically found in resumes, and the colors are also easily changed in Microsoft Word’s theme settings. It also includes a skill-level bar, adding a nice visual touch to the template.
Download this template here.
Summarize Your Work Experience
Your work experience section is the core of your resume, as it proves that you have the qualifications and skills to do the job. It will also take up the bulk of your resume.
To start, click on the section of your Microsoft Word document labeled Experience:
Then, list your work experience in reverse chronological order, meaning that your most recent job title is placed at the top of the experience section. Remember to only include experience that is relevant to the job that youre applying for.
For each job you list, provide the following basic information:
- Job title
- Company address
- Dates of employment
You should also write 3-5 bullet points describing your duties and achievements under each job title. Remember to use strong action verbs to show off your skills and accomplishments.
If your work experience is too thin to create a reverse-chronological resume, use a different format. For instance, you can emphasize your relevant skills with a functional resume or combination resume.
Heres an example that you can follow to write your own work experience section:
Recommended Reading: How To Add Leadership Skills To Resume