Resume Template in Word: How to Find, Edit and Save Microsoft Word Resume Templates

You can get a Word resume template in a few ways. Each has good and bad sides.

1. The template gallery inside Word

Open Word, choose File, then New. Type "resume" in the search bar. You will see many layouts. If you use a work or school account, you may see a different set. These templates are made to open cleanly in Word, which is a plus.

2. Template websites

Many sites offer a free Word resume template download. Read the terms. Some give you the file with no sign-up, while others ask for an email or a payment. Be careful with files from unknown sites. Download only from places you trust and scan files with your normal security software.

3. A blank page and your own layout

Often the safest option is a plain blank document with clear headings. It takes ten minutes, and you know exactly what is in it. We give a layout below.

The steps differ slightly by version. Menu names can change with Microsoft updates, so if a label looks different on your screen, look for the closest match.

Once the template opens, use File, then Save As, straight away. That way you edit your own copy and the original stays clean for next time.

If you would rather skip the gallery, this plain resume format in Word works for most jobs. Open a blank document, set margins to 0.75 inch (Layout, then Margins, then Custom Margins), and type the sections below. Use Heading 2 for each section title so Word and hiring software both treat them as headings.

JORDAN RIVERA
Austin, TX | (555) 010-2233 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/jordanrivera

SUMMARY
Operations coordinator with five years of experience in scheduling, vendor management and reporting. Known for cutting order delays and keeping teams on track.

EXPERIENCE
Operations Coordinator, Brightline Supply Co., Austin, TX | Mar 2022 – Present

• Coordinate weekly delivery schedules for 40+ retail locations using Excel and a shared calendar.
• Rebuilt the vendor contact list and order tracker, which reduced late orders over two quarters.
• Prepare a monthly cost report for the regional manager.

EDUCATION
B.A. Business Administration, Texas State University, 2020

SKILLS
Scheduling | Vendor management | Microsoft Excel | Inventory tracking | Reporting

The example uses made-up details. Replace every line with your own facts. Keep the order the same if your work history is steady; if you are changing careers, move Skills above Experience. For more ways to set out sections, see our guides on how to format a resume and the resume summary examples.

Word settings for this format

• Dates: set a right tab stop at the right margin, then press Tab before the dates so they line up.
• Bullets: Home tab, Bullets, plain round bullet.
• Spacing: Paragraph settings, 0 pt before and 4 pt after for bullets, 10 pt before each heading.
• Font: Calibri 11 pt for body text, 18 pt bold for your name.

A Microsoft Word ATS friendly resume template has a simple structure. The software reads text from top to bottom, like a person reading a page. Anything that breaks that order can scramble your details.

No one outside a company can tell you exactly how its software works, so treat this table as a guide, not a promise. If you want a second opinion on your finished file, you can run it through our ATS checker. To learn more about how this software behaves, read how an ATS works.

A quick test in Word

Click in your document and press Ctrl+A. Then look at the View tab and turn on Navigation Pane. If your headings show up in the pane, they are real headings. If your layout has boxes, you will see some text that stays unselected. Replace those with normal text.

Word layouts can shift when you add or delete lines. These habits keep things steady.

1. Save a copy first. Use File, then Save As, and give it your name.
2. Turn on formatting marks. Press Ctrl+Shift+8 (Cmd+8 on Mac). You will see paragraph marks and spaces. This helps you spot extra blank lines.
3. Use styles for headings. Select a heading and choose Heading 1 or 2 from the Home tab. Do not make a heading by only making text bigger.
4. Use real bullets. Use the bullet button, not a typed dash or symbol.
5. Use tab stops or right-align for dates. Do not press the space bar many times to line up dates.
6. Change spacing in Paragraph settings. Do not add empty lines to create gaps.
7. Check the page count. A new bullet should not push a section onto page two by surprise.

When you replace sample text, paste your words as plain text. In Word, use Paste, then Keep Text Only. This avoids carrying over odd fonts or colors from another file.

A plain layout you can build yourself

Our page on the ATS-friendly CV template shows the same structure with sample text. Our chronological resume template page is also useful if your work history is steady.

Small choices make a resume easy or hard to read. Use these as a starting point.

• Font: Calibri, Arial, Cambria, Georgia or Times New Roman. These come with Word and open on most computers.
• Body size: 10 to 12 points. Name can be 16 to 20 points.
• Margins: 0.7 to 1 inch on all sides.
• Line spacing: 1.0 to 1.15. Add a small gap before each heading.
• Colors: Black or dark gray text. One quiet accent color for headings is fine, but it is not needed.

Length

One page is right for most people with under ten years of experience. If you have a long history, two pages can work. We cover this in how many pages a resume should be.

Special characters

Word may swap straight quotes for curly ones and replace some dashes. That is normal and fine. Avoid unusual symbols as bullets, because some may turn into question marks in other programs.

You have two main choices when you finish: send the Word file or send a PDF. Follow the instructions from the employer first. If they say nothing, a PDF is often the safer choice because it looks the same on every device. If they ask for Word, send the .docx file.

After you save as PDF, open it and select some text with your mouse. If you can select it, it is real text and not a picture. Then scroll through each page to confirm the layout.

Name your file like this: Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf. It looks tidy in a recruiter's folder.

The best layout depends on your story. Here is a plain guide to matching a template style to your situation.

What about templates with a colored sidebar?

These are common in the Word gallery. They look modern, but the sidebar is usually a table or text box. If you love the look, keep the sidebar for non-essential items only, such as languages, and keep your name, jobs and dates in the main body. Or choose a layout without one. For most applications, the plain choice is safer.

Can I mix two templates?

You can borrow ideas, but do not paste parts of one file into another. Pasting often brings along hidden styles. Instead, type the text fresh into your chosen template and set your own spacing.

If your work history is steady, our guide to the simple resume format shows an easy order to follow. If you are changing fields, read about the skills-based resume, which puts your abilities in front of your job titles.

• Choosing by looks. A bold design may impress a friend, but it can confuse the software. Test before you trust.
• Leaving sample text. Check headers, footers, and file properties for old names.
• Using the space bar to line things up. It breaks when fonts change.
• Using too many fonts or colors. Stick to one font family.
• Cramming. If everything is tiny, nobody reads it. Cut weaker points instead.
• Forgetting to tailor. Change your summary and a few bullets for each job.
• Skipping proofreading. Read the final PDF aloud. Spell check will not catch a wrong company name.
• Naming the file badly. resume1.docx tells the recruiter nothing.

Word gives you total freedom, and that is both its strength and its weakness. If you enjoy fine-tuning or already have a layout you like, Word is a fine choice. If you want to focus on content, a builder can help, because it handles the layout.

Mira Resume offers ATS-friendly templates. You enter your details and download a PDF, or download an editable Word (.docx) file from the editor in your dashboard. The Word file is a plain single-column version that opens cleanly in Word, so you can adjust it for a recruiter. It does not copy the template design, so if you want a styled layout inside Word, start from a Word template. Browse the resume templates, or try the resume builder.

Quick decision guide

Whichever you pick, the content matters most. A plain template with clear, true, well-chosen bullets will beat a stylish one with vague ones.