I remember the first time I had to write a resume. I was 16 and applying for a position at American Eagle (yes, I did a resume in high school; no, I didn’t need it to get a job after school; yes, it was very extra). Having no context on what one should look like, I took my older brother’s resume and copied and pasted my own experience into his template.
maybe that’s your preferred strategy: find someone with a great resume and personalize it. I won’t deny that it worked fine for me, and I still use that same template to this day.
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But if you’ve never done a resume and don’t have someone else’s to work with, are just looking for an easy way to write one, or want to kick your current one up a notch, we’ve got you covered. We’ve rounded up five of our resume templates. favorite resumes from google docs that are fun and inexpensive (if not free!), as well as some tips for using them to your advantage.
Related: This free worksheet makes it easy to create (or update) your resume
1. serif google docs template
Need something super simple? Look no further than this resume created directly from Google Docs. With just a splash of color and clear direction on what goes where and how to best organize your information, you can’t go wrong with this template.
just click on “file” > “make a copy” to create your own copy.
cost: free
2. google docs template in switzerland
What we like best about this resume template is that the skills section comes first, which makes it perfect for changing careers.
why, you ask? Listing your skills at the top allows you to emphasize what you bring to the table (aka your transferable skills), especially for a hiring manager who may not be able to tell how your past experiences apply to your job posting. (This resume format, where your skills are listed above your work history, is called a hybrid or blended resume.)
When completing the experience section of this template with the mindset of a career changer, consider listing your experience by relevance. This may mean removing certain jobs that are irrelevant to the position you’re applying for in order to focus on the things that best show you’re qualified, or creating a “relevant experience” section that only lists jobs that are linked to this field. .
and be sure to adapt your bullet points to apply to the requirements of the job.
just click on “file” > “make a copy” to create your own copy.
Fun fact! These are not the only two templates that Google Docs has on its platform. If you want to see even more great options, here’s how to find them (or you can go here):
- if you are in google drive, go to “new” > “google docs” > “from a template” and scroll down to “resumes”.
- if you’re in google docs, click “template gallery” in the top right corner and scroll down to “resumes”.
cost: free
3. the muse resume template
yes, we created a resume template in google docs! it’s free, easy to plug in your own stuff, and it explains where and how everything should go, from what your bullets should look like to what skills to list.
just click on “file” > “make a copy” to create your own copy.
cost: free
4. myodocs resume template on etsy
If you want to up your game (and are willing to pay a little extra to do so), this template packs a lot of personality without being too much for the hiring manager to sift through. With its clean lines and perfect organization, you can easily highlight the things that matter most to you and make your name stand out.
Bonus: It comes with a matching cover letter template to make your application that much more professional.
cost: $7
5. designstudioteti resume template on etsy
If you’re a designer or someone looking to get into a more creative field, this might be a good (and cheap!) option. it’s so easy to skim to find exactly what you’re looking for, and when hiring managers spend six seconds on your resume, that’s crucial.
Good news: If these two etsy templates aren’t enough for you, that’s fine, we just picked our favorites. these vendors offer many other options that might catch your eye.
cost: $6
some tips on how to use your resume template from google docs
I don’t want to sound too obvious, but using these templates is more than just plugging in your skills and experience and calling it a day.
first, be sure to replace everything in the template with your own information, otherwise the hiring manager will wonder why you say “lorem ipsum dolor sit amet” under your education. this means reviewing your resume several times and then having a friend or two review it for errors as well.
Second, play around with the format and style. For one thing, it can go over a page if you don’t fix the layout (and unless you fall into one of these buckets that would qualify you for a two-page resume, yours should be one page).
for another, you need to customize the template, regardless of what that means to you. if you don’t like the color of the headers, change them. If you think your name is too big and taking up space that could be used for your bullet points, go ahead and reduce the font size. If you’d like to add your own section, whether it’s for “certifications” or “projects” or some other category that’s relevant to the job description, feel free to open it. templates are meant to be customized, not followed to the letter.
third, take the substance much more seriously than the format. pretty resumes are great, but if what they say doesn’t fit the job, has a lot of mistakes, or uses boring language, you’re not going to get that interview. so be sure to write stellar bullet points on your resume and follow these top resume tips.
Fourth, when you’re done filling it out, editing it, and having someone review it, you’ll want to download it as a pdf to freeze the formatting in place (this helps pass the ats, too). There may also be times when you want to send it as a word document (you can convert it by clicking “file” > “download as” > “microsoft word .docx”), so be aware of when those instances are.
how does all that sound? great, now get out there and make your resume shine! teen alyse would be so proud.