Microsoft Word Resume Templates to Download & Edit

How to use our free Word resume templates

1. Hover over a free template you like and click Download for Word or Free Download → Download for Word
2. The template pack will download to your computer
3. Unzip the template folder and install any included fonts
4. Open your preferred template color in Microsoft Word
5. Replace the sample text with your own information
6. When finished, select Save As → PDF to make sure the formatting stays consistent on every device

Microsoft Word formatting tips

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Our Expert:

Geoffrey Scott

Edit your resume sections using tables

Our resume templates use tables to keep each section aligned. Here’s how to edit them the right way:

Start by enabling gridlines so you can see the borders of each cell in the table. Do this in the Word menu bar by clicking on Table → View Gridlines.

Now you can see all of the separate table cells that make up your resume, and edit each section without affecting the overall resume layout.

You can also right-click on a cell and select Delete Cells or Delete Rows to delete the entire cell or row, or Insert to add cells or rows wherever you want.

Keep your font size between 10 and 12

We recommend keeping the original text formatting for our resume templates. But if you do decide to change the font size, keep it between 10 and 12 for body text.

Choose a larger font size for your headings, and your name should be the largest (up to 30 is fine).

Remove hidden formatting when pasting text

Use Ctrl+Shift+V (or Cmd+Shift+V on Mac) to paste content into your resume. This removes all original formatting from the text you copied and automatically gives it the same formatting as your resume template when you paste it.

If your layout still looks off, click the ¶ button in the toolbar to make paragraph breaks and other formatting elements visible, then delete the ones that don’t belong.

Save your resume as a PDF

After you’ve finalized and proofread your resume, save it as a PDF before sending it. A PDF locks in the formatting so it looks the same on every device and when printed.

If the employer specifically requests a Word file, follow their instructions. Otherwise, a PDF is the standard format.

Which resume file format should you use in 2026?

As more and more companies use ATS (applicant tracking system) software to manage applications, making sure your resume can be easily scanned and parsed is extremely important.

We surveyed 1,000 hiring managers and asked what resume file formats are the most compatible with their ATS systems.

The majority of recruiters (53%) said they prefer PDFs with no images or complex formatting. The next highest was Word .docx files (43%).

Our Microsoft Word templates can be saved either as a PDF or as a .docx file, so you can easily submit the best file format for each application.

Default resume templates in Microsoft Word

Microsoft’s built-in resume templates are designed to show off Word’s functionality, but aren’t suitable for most applications because the designs use unnecessary color and don’t include full experience sections.

If you still want to use them, “Basic” and “Modern” align most with current resume writing standards, and are the most ATS-friendly.

You can access them by clicking on File → New from Template and then searching for “resume” in the search bar.

1. Creative

2. Crisp & Clean

3. Polished

4. Basic

5. Bold Modern

6. Modern

7. Columns

8. Minimalist

9. Swiss

What makes a good resume template?

The best resume templates have these features:

• A clean, easy-to-read layout: Clear section headings, consistent spacing, and a standard structure make your resume easy to scan
• Enough space for your work experience: Since your work history is usually the most important part of your resume, choose a template with room for 3–5 bullet points under each job
• Professional design: Subtle design elements, such as clean lines or restrained color accents, can improve readability without distracting from your qualifications — avoid templates with loud graphic elements
• Consistent formatting: Fonts, margins, spacing, and alignment should be consistent throughout your resume to create a polished, professional appearance
• Easily customizable: Choose a resume template that allows you to add additional sections or expand to a second page while maintaining the overall formatting and design

Build your resume quickly without the hassle

Even with the best Word-optimized resume template, formatting can be tricky. Most people don’t have much experience adjusting tables on a Word document, and bullet points often misbehave, especially when copying and pasting.

If you’re struggling to make your resume look polished and professional, consider using our resume builder. It will walk you through every step of the writing process, and deal with all of the formatting for you, so you can focus on applying for jobs.

Tired of formatting in Word?

Use our AI-powered resume builder to create a fully formatted resume in 10 minutes. Select a template, and our software will walk you through each step.

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Tools to help you fill in your Word resume template

Create an application-ready resume quickly with these helpful writing tools:

• Resume summary generator: Creates a professional introduction that highlights your key skills
• Bullet point generator: Helps you write impactful, measurable work experience bullet points
• Skills generator: Suggests relevant skills and keywords based on your job title
• AI resume generator: Produces a complete first draft of your resume based on a short prompt about your background
• Resume parser: Evaluates your resume for ATS compatibility and consistent formatting