Creating a professional resume yourself is time consuming and difficult. Luckily, Microsoft Word has tons of free resume template options available that you can easily adjust and use to quickly write an impressive resume.
15 custom resume templates for Microsoft Word
There are plenty of resume templates for Word out there, but not all of them are professional looking or easy to use. Here are 15 of our favorite free and easy-to-edit resume templates vetted by our in-house team of career experts:
1. Simple
Looking for a classic, no-nonsense resume design? Then this Word resume template will help you get the job done. The simple, centered header draws the reader’s eye to your name, so it stands out to hiring managers.
Because of its simplicity, this template is suitable no matter which industry you’re in.
2. Executive
Made for managerial-level professionals, this resume template features a sleek, modern design that conveys the confidence you’ll need to excel in an executive role.
With its large work experience section, the Executive template gives you plenty of space to describe your career successes in detail.
3. Clean
This modern template focuses on clarity and readability.
The two-column design means you have more room to provide details about your work experience, making it ideal if you’re a seasoned professional with many job titles to list.
4. Current
Looking for something unique? Use the Current Word resume template to draw attention to your relevant qualifications while adding a touch of color to your resume.
The turquoise headers make each section pop, and the placement of the contact information section gives you plenty of space to elaborate on your skills.
5. Pretty
Need a resume that stands out? The Pretty template for MS Word grabs attention with its full-color background.
This template evokes creativity, making it ideal if you’re applying for a job in an industry like fashion, graphic design, or television production.
6. Classic
The Classic resume template is perfect if you prefer a simple design that lets your skills, experience, and qualifications speak for themselves.
If you’re applying for work in a more buttoned-up industry like finance, this traditional resume template is ideal for you because it presents your professional background in a formal, no-nonsense format.
7. Premium
With its bold header and simple design, the Premium template clearly communicates your experience and skills while giving your application an attractive, modern look.
8. Two column
Make a memorable impression on employers with this unique template.
The left side is dedicated to your work experience, while the right side contains your contact information, profile, skills, and education.
Additionally, there’s room to include a picture on your resume, making this template a good fit if you work in an industry where photo resumes are common, like acting or entertainment.
9. Tech
Featuring rounded icons and a sleek design, this highly modern-looking template for Word follows the design principles promoted by top tech companies like Google.
Apart from looking nice, this template also gives you space to emphasize your technical skills.
10. Aesthetic
The fresh, bold design of this Word resume template helps communicate that you’re an innovative candidate.
The Aesthetic template’s unique design makes it ideal if you’re applying to jobs in industries where creativity is important, like advertising or design.
11. Corporate
Featuring a bold header and sidebar, the Corporate resume template for Microsoft Word conveys confidence.
With its simple but contemporary design, this is a strong choice if you’re applying for management-level positions in any industry.
12. White House
Simple and traditional, the White House template formats your qualifications in a basic, easy-to-read format.
If you’re applying for a job in a highly formal industry like law or politics, you can’t go wrong with this design.
13. Visual
If you’re applying for a job that involves presenting information in creative ways, then an infographic resume like this one might be a good addition to your job application.
While this isn’t a replacement for a traditional resume, it can be an interesting way to present yourself to employers and show off your design skills.
14. Pastel
Featuring a visually pleasing background design and a sidebar for your additional information, this artistic template gives you space to highlight your experience without sacrificing creativity.
This template design effectively balances professionalism with artistic flair, making it ideal if you’re applying to graphic design positions or any other creative job.
15. Cosmopolitan
This elegant template uses a subtle color palette to draw attention to your name and contact information.
Additionally, the skill bars on the side add some visual interest and give employers a clearer idea of your strengths as an employee.
10 free resume templates available in Word
Prefer to get your templates directly from Microsoft Word directly?
Here are 10 more resume templates available exclusively in Microsoft Word:
1. Creative
The use of bright, bold colors in this template adds personality and helps important sections stand out.
Additionally, this template (as well as most of Microsoft’s default templates) provides a separate section for volunteer experience or leadership, making it a good choice if you’re writing a resume for a nonprofit job.
2. Crisp & Clean
This MS Word resume template takes a unique approach to formatting by separating the sections into boxes.
This template’s design makes it a good choice if you’re applying for work in a field that values creativity, like marketing or design.
3. Polished
Want your name to stand out when employers review your resume? Well, nothing stands out quite like bright red.
This template is striking with its vibrant colors and bold section headers. However, the rest of the template’s design is pretty traditional, which makes it appropriate for a wide variety of jobs.
4. Basic
Like the name suggests, this resume template for Word is simple and to the point. Each section of your resume is clearly outlined with minimal distractions, making sure employers don’t miss a thing.
However, this design leaves a lot of white space in the margins, so if you have a lot of experience you need to pack onto the page you’re better off using a template that makes more efficient use of space.
5. Bold Modern
The Bold Modern template from Microsoft Word is a great choice if you’re looking to make a memorable impact on employers.
With its skill bars, headshot, and large header, this template is sure to help you stand out from other candidates.
It’s not common practice in the US to include a photo on your resume, so unless you’re applying to work in an industry that requires it, like acting or modeling, it’s best to delete the photo on this template.
6. Modern
This template for Word features a clean, minimalist design that emphasizes simplicity and clarity.
Notably, it provides equal space for your work experience and education, making it ideal if you’re a recent graduate or want to emphasize your educational background.
7. Playful
This colorful template for Microsoft Word is the perfect choice for anyone looking to inject some personality and originality into their resume.
The use of bright, bold colors throughout the template creates a fun and lively look, while the use of icons and graphics adds a touch of visual interest and breaks up the text.
This template is ideal if you’re looking for work in an industry where personality is key, like project management or sales.
8. Columns
This elegant template uses columns to make it easy for hiring managers to scan your resume. Additionally, the color-blocked headers make your resume attention-grabbing and easy to read.
The maximalist look of this resume makes it better suited for less formal jobs, like sales or office management.
9. Minimalist
Featuring bold section headers and a large space for your name, this Word resume template conveys experience.
With separate sections for Communication and Leadership, this template is a good choice if you want to showcase your experience giving presentations or leading workshops.
10. Swiss
A full-color background makes this design immediately stand out. With its bright color and simple, bold headers, the template pulls inspiration from modern Scandinavian design principles.
However, the actual layout of this resume is minimalist and traditional, making it more flexible than it looks at first glance. For example, you could safely use this resume template to apply for a job in marketing, tech, or design.
How to select a Microsoft Word resume template
You can also select a template directly in Microsoft Word. Here’s how:
1. Open Microsoft Word and click “File” at the top left corner of the screen
2. Click “New” on the menu that pops up
3. In the search bar at the top right of the screen, type in “resume”
4. You’ll be presented with all of the default resume templates available in MS Word. Scroll through and select the template you want to use by clicking on it
5. Click on the “Create” button at the bottom or double click on the template to start filling in your resume
We recommend also using the matching Microsoft Word cover letter template so your application has a cohesive look.
How to get the most out of Word resume templates
Microsoft Word resume templates provide a great starting point, but here’s how to make them truly work for you:
Choose the right template for your industry
Not all resume templates are created equal, and selecting the right one for your industry can make or break your job application.
If you’re applying for a corporate role in finance, law, or administration, stick to a simple, professional layout with a traditional font like Calibri or Times New Roman.
On the other hand, if you’re in a creative field like graphic design, marketing, or media, you may benefit from a template with subtle graphics, color accents, or a modern, stylish font.
Don’t overcrowd your resume
Remember, a recruiter only spends a few seconds skimming your resume, so make it easy for them to find the most relevant details at a glance.
While it’s tempting to fit as much information as possible onto your resume, you should focus on quality over quantity. Use bullet points to highlight key achievements rather than listing every task you performed in a job.
Keep your margins at to least 0.5 inches and avoid using tiny font sizes just to squeeze in more information.
Submit your resume as a PDF
Once your resume is ready, save it as a PDF before sending it out. This locks in the formatting so it looks the same on any device. If you submit a Word file (.docx), the formatting might change a bit depending on the software the employer uses to open it.
If the employer specifically requests a Word file, follow their instructions, but otherwise a PDF is the best format to use.
More free resume templates for MS Word
If you’re looking for even more resume templates you can use in Microsoft Word, we provide one of the largest libraries of free resume templates on the internet.
We have any type of resume template you might want, including:
Simply find the template you want, then click “Download for Word” to download every color variation of that design.
If you’re on mobile or don’t have access to Microsoft Word, we also have hundreds of Google Docs resume templates available.
Microsoft Word Resume Templates
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