Creating a resumé from scratch can be daunting. Fortunately, there are a variety of Google Docs templates available to make your life easier. All you have to do is change the data in the resumé templates to match your own profile, and your resumé is complete. We have selected the best free Google Docs resumé templates for new graduates, teachers, students, professionals, and others. Let’s take a look at them.
1. Google Docs Resumé Templates
To begin, you don’t need to look elsewhere, as Google Docs provides five free resumé templates. Open Google Docs in a browser and click on the “Template gallery” option at the top.
You will find the resumé templates under the CVs section. Included are: Swiss, Serif, Coral, Spearmint, and Modern writer. There are some with two columns and some with just one. Click on one that you would like to preview and/or edit.
2. Hecuba Template
The Hecuba Google Docs Resumé template offers a box design with your profile section on the left and education on the right. This template is suitable for people who want to showcase their skills in a ratings format. The Skills box is present at the bottom-left corner.
Note: if you don’t see the Google Docs resumé templates, you need to change the Google Drive language to English. For that, open Google Docs, then go to “Settings icon -> Settings -> Change language settings -> English.”
3. Muse Resumé Template
The Muse resumé template is a good choice if you’re looking for a really simple resumé template to get started quickly. It also has sections for volunteer work, skills, and education. This template is ideal for educators and professionals.
Click on the above link to view the template. If you want to edit it, click on “File → Make a copy.” That will create a new copy of this template in your Google Drive/Google Docs. Open it and start editing, making sure to remove any instructions in the template. Select the instructions and press the Delete key.
4. Khanya Resumé Template
The Khanya resumé template is an elegant two-column resumé template. Aside from the basic information like name, number, and social media profiles, there are placeholders for experience, education, objectives, and skills. The top and bottom edges of this template have borders that you can easily remove if you want.
Click on the link to open this template, then on “File → Make a copy.” This template can be used by all kinds of people, including college students and professionals. Students should remove the “Experience” heading and replace it with “Volunteer experience.”
Note that you can customize most templates to your needs, including this one. For example, you might want to change the margins in Google Docs to accommodate more content than fit on a single page previously.
5. Harvard Resumé Template
If you prefer classic one-column resumés, the Harvard resumé template is for you. It’s a simple resumé template with bulleted points. Professional experience, education, and additional skills are included in the native sections.
To use this template, click on the “Make copy” button when you open the link. Also check out the Chicago and Classic templates, which are two versions of Harvard.
6. Black and White Resumé
This Black and White resumé is a stylish template that focuses on your photo and the “About Me” section. Both of them and your contact information get a prominent place in the left column, while Education, Experience, and Skills, are listed on the right.
Open the link and click the “Edit template” button. Select between US letter and A4 template for size, then click on “Make a copy.”
7. PAVLOS Resumé Template
The Pavlos resumé template is best described as chic and modern. Accented with various shades of teal, sections for profile, experience, education, references, and skills are provided in this two-column CV template with a photo placeholder.
The only drawback is that the elements have been added via Google Drawings. As a result, when you are editing data, all content will open in Google Drawings. Do remember to remove the last page of the resumé template after reading the instructions.
Click on the link and hit the “Make a Copy” button. If the direct link doesn’t work, get the template from the official website. Also check out more cool Google Docs resumé templates from resumgo.com.
8. Grigie Resumé Template
The Grigie resumé template is divided into three sections: header, sidebar, and the main section. The header also includes an image placeholder to add your own picture. If, however, you don’t want to include a picture, remove the image box.
To get this template in Google Docs, use the link above. Scroll down and click on “Open in Google Docs,” followed by “Make a copy.”
9. Template from Standout-cv
If you are an experienced professional, this template from standout-cv will provide you with sufficient room and format for listing your previous roles. The Standout-cv website lists various examples of this template in use.
10. Classy Resumé Template
Another option is the Classy resumé template from Beamjobs. In addition to your work experience, your skills can be highlighted more prominently in this template that can be used by software engineers, teachers, and managers, among others.
11. TOTH – Portfolio Resumé
Toth is a beautiful Google Docs resumé template to showcase your portfolio because it offers placeholders for images. It’s suitable for artists, graphic designers, and similar users who want to display a glimpse of their work through pictures in their resumés.
Bonus: How to Use a Word Resumé File in Google Docs
There is a very limited collection of free Google Docs resumé templates available. However, if you search the Internet for Microsoft Word resumé templates, you will find a plethora of them, so why not use a Word template in Google Docs?
To do so, follow these steps:
Download a Microsoft Word template on your device. It will be in the .docx format. Some of the websites that offer free Word templates include:
HloomMicrosoft OfficeTemplateLAB College Student Resumé TemplatesTemplateLAB Curriculum Vitae Templates
Open Google Drive in a browser. Click on “New,” followed by “File upload.” Add the Word template you downloaded.
Open the resumé template. Click on “File → Save as Google Docs.” A new Google Docs version of the template will be created. Go back to Google Drive and open the newly created Google Docs template.
If you face any issues while following the above steps, check out our detailed guide on how to convert Word to Google Docs. You can also create your own resumé in Word.
How to Share a Google Docs Resumé
Once you have modified the resumé details to match your profile, it’s time to share it with recruiters. You can either send them the Google Docs link or download it as a PDF.
1. Share a Google Docs Resumé
Open the resumé you want to share and click on the “Share” button at the top.
The “Share with people and groups” window will appear. Enter the email addresses of the people with whom you want to share the resumé. That way only the people added can open the link.
Alternatively, you can create a link and share it. Do note that anyone with the link can view the resume. For that, click on “Change to anyone with the link.” Copy the link and send it via email, messaging apps, etc.
2. Convert Google Docs to PDF
The best practice is to convert Google Docs to PDF and share the same with others.
- Click on “File → Download → PDF” in the Google Docs document. Select the desired location on your computer where you want the PDF file downloaded.Attach the PDF file to your email and send it to potential employers.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I use one of these templates, will my resumé be ATS compliant?
Using one of the templates above or any other template will not make your resumé ATS compliant automatically.
Keep in mind that an ATS or Applicant Tracking System analyzes resumés based on keywords. It also strips the formatting. To ensure your resumé is parsed by an ATS successfully, it’s important to tailor it to match the job description closely and to keep the formatting simple.
If you start with a fancy template, you’ll need to do extra of work to get the formatting right. If you don’t, your data will be displayed incorrectly when it passes through an ATS. We recommend running your resumé through a resumé scanner to ensure it’s ATS compatible.
Which file format do most employers prefer for resumés?
Usually, a resumé in PDF format is preferred. But there is no hard and fast rule as such. You can also send a Word document or share the Google Docs link. It’s best to check with the employer and to have your resumé ready in multiple formats to share at a moment’s notice.
How do I attach a Google Doc resumé to an email?
You must convert and download the Google Doc into a PDF file and attach it to an email. Alternatively, simply copy-paste the link into your email to send it to the recruiter.
Mehvish is a tech lover from Kashmir. With a degree in computer engineering, she’s always been happy to help anyone who finds technology challenging. She’s been writing about technology for over six years, and her favorite topics include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, Windows, social media, and web apps.
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