15 Free Google Docs & Microsoft Word Resume Templates (2018)

You've just gotten the call for your dream job, and the recruiter is asking for your resume as soon as possible. The only problem is that you don't have a resume ready to send them!

That's no problem—you just need a head start on creating your resume to help you catch up and deliver it quickly. Using a job resume template will help you catch up by including all of the placeholders that you need to quickly complete your resume.

When you don't have a resume ready for an application, you need a template to help you make up the lost ground. In this tutorial, we're going to cover two key types of files: Google Docs resume templates, and resume templates for Microsoft Word.

Top Resume Template Choices

Before we dive into the freebies in this tutorial, I want to potentially save you time of downloading and trying out many options with some of my favorite resume templates.

Two choices for the best resume templates online are to use Envato Elements and GraphicRiver. These are two services that make it really easy to skip ahead in building your resume. Both services offer the top-of-the-line resume template choices from professional designers. Plus, you'll often get help files, support, and more extras that make purchasing a premium template worth it.

Elements is perfect for the indecisive applicant. One subscription service unlocks unlimited downloads for over 300 resume templates (and other resources as well), including many that are perfect for your next job application. Here are a few of my favorite Microsoft Word resume templates from Envato Elements.

Another choice is GraphicRiver, which has its own collection of excellent resume templates for Word. On GraphicRiver, you simply pay for each purchase of a job resume template. If you know exactly what you want, GraphicRiver can provide an affordable resume template that looks like you hired a graphic designer.

Now let's take a look at some resumes from each of these services:

1. Natalie Resume

A favorite choice from the Envato Elements resume lineup is the Natalie Resume. The resume template for Word is easy to use and bold in its design choices. Notice that Natalie has all of the placeholders that you're accustomed to seeing in professional resumes. All that you need to do is add your own details over the placeholder text.

2. Flashing Resume Set

The perfect example of an affordable resume that looks like it comes from a designer is the Flashing Resume Set that's available for purchase through GraphicRiver. It's easy to use. All you need to do is add your details. Plus, you can choose from three different color schemes to truly make it unique.

3. Bright, Modern Resume

The Bright, Modern resume template is sure to catch the eye of any potential employer. It can be edited using Word. It also includes both a professional cover letter and a references template. There's even a matching business card template and portfolio booklet, making this the perfect template set for creatives and others who need to show portfolio work as part of the interview process. 

4. CV/Resume Bundle

The CV/Resume Bundle is a great value for the serious job hunter. There are 28 files in this Word resume template bundle. You get plenty of resume templates to choose between. The download includes a two-piece resume bundle, a three-piece resume bundle, and a four-piece resume bundle. Whatever your job search needs are, this bundle of resume templates has got you covered.

5. Clean Resume

This professionally designed template helps you to make a great first impression. Included you'll find a matching cover letter template and a PDF help file. Plus, this template is easy to use and based on free fonts. The attractive Clean Resume Template is sure to become a crucial part of your job search efforts.

No matter which service you choose, I can't overstate the value of using a professional job resume template. Leave design to those who do it best and simply customize the starting template with your own experiences. It's how you can save many hours of design work and end up with a better result.

15 Free Resume Templates for Word and Google Docs

While premium resume templates are typically a better value than a free resume template download, if you're on a budget of zero it's hard to beat these job resume template choices. Let's take a look at a mix of free Google Docs and Microsoft Word templates.

1. Serif Resume (Google Docs)

When it comes to building a resume, less is often more. Many of the selections that I'll feature in this round-up will include less style and flourishes, and more space for the details.

The Serif Resume is part of the built-in templates that Google offers as part of Docs. Google includes a number of free templates as part of Docs. To launch one of these free templates, go to your Google Drive account and start to create a new doc from the menu by choosing Google Docs > From a template. Then, choose the Serif template design to create your own minimalist resume.

Serif is one of those Google Doc resume templates that gets out of the way of the content inside of it. It has placeholders for your prior job experience, top skills, awards, and more.

2. Dark Resume Template (Microsoft Word)

If you're looking for a change of pace, consider this black-and-gold resume template for Microsoft Word. By inverting the typical color scheme, your resume is more likely to stand out from the rest of the applicants in the same stack. 

3. Sunny Valley Resume Template (Microsoft Word)

This bright and colorful job resume template for Word could work when applying for a creative job where your sense of style takes center stage. Sunny Valley comes packaged as a .docx template file that'll work in recent versions of Microsoft Word.

4. Vertex42 CV Template (Google Docs & Microsoft Word)

A C.V., or "curriculum vitae", focuses solely on the facts. This is one of the more brief forms of a job application because most items aren't described in detail. It showcases your experience and education.

5. Traditional Elegance (Microsoft Word)

Traditional Elegance is another choice for a minimalist and bold resume. There's nothing fancy or complex about the resume, but that's precisely the point. Focusing on the details of this resume is exactly what a recruiter will do when viewing a resume prepared with this template.

6. Lots of Skills Resume Template (Microsoft Word / Google Docs)

When you're first venturing into the career world, it can be difficult to fill up your resume with enough details to impress a hiring manager. The "Lots of Skills" Google Docs resume template focuses more on your skills and education than past work experience.

Unlike many other Microsoft Word templates, you can upload this template to Google Docs and it works nicely.

7. VisualCV Resume Builder (Google Docs)

For a complete change of pace, the VisualCV Google Docs add-on is a different approach to building a resume. This is a tool that you can add to Docs for free to build many different styles of Google Docs resumes. Hit the link above to launch installing VisualCV as a Docs add-on and start building a resume in a variety of styles for free.

8. Boast (Google Docs)

Boast is unique because it has an image placeholder that you can add your own profile photo to. With a combination of personalization and sections for experience and awards, Boast is a solid free Docs resume template.

9. Resume Cover Letter Template (Microsoft Word)

This isn't exactly a free Microsoft Word resume template, but a cover letter can be just as crucial as the resume itself. If you really want to set yourself apart, penning a cover letter with a personalized introduction can help you rise above the competition.

This free Microsoft Word resume aid template has all of the placeholders you need, plus tips for how to write an impactful cover letter.

10. Nursing Resume Templates (Microsoft Word)

The healthcare field shows no signs of slowing down in job growth, so many nurses will need a resume template to land their next job.This special purpose Word resume template is a starting point for a nurse applying for their next job. It has the placeholders and content cues that'll help you relate your past experience to your next big gig in the healthcare field.

11. Gecko & Fly 01 (Microsoft Word / Google Docs)

The link above has a litany of job resume templates that you can use with either Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

In fact, the placeholders for that resume include sample accolades for a high school student. This is good for when you're applying for that first summer job or making the leap into the work world after you complete your education.

12. Contrast (Microsoft Word)

For customer-facing and sales roles, it's beneficial to include a photo to set the stage for your application. In this template, you'll have the opportunity to "put a name with a face" by adding your own photo to the placeholder in the template. 

13. Ardent (Google Docs)

Simple and straightforward, Ardent is another example of a Google Docs resume template that includes space for a profile photo. It leads with a profile picture to help the reviewer establish a sense of who you are. 

14. Presentation Slide (Microsoft Word)

The Presentation Slide template is another free Word resume template. It has a splash of color to create some visual rhythm. It also has a timeline visual that helps illustrate the progression of your roles.

This template is best for experienced hires who have a wealth of experience. Organize those past jobs visually to showcase how your past roles will connect you to the one at hand.

15. Coral Resume (Google Docs)

Here's another choice from Google's built-in Docs templates, with a combination of colorful headers and script font combinations, Coral has just enough flash to stand out without overshadowing your resume details.

To launch the Coral resume as a free Google Docs resume template, jump over to Google Drive. Then, create a new Docs file and choose From a template. Then, choose the Coral template thumbnail.

More Resume Templates for Word or Google Docs

If none of the free resume templates in this round-up caught your eye, that's no problem. There are plenty more templates available to help you jump ahead on designing your resume. Remember, in most cases, premium resume templates for Google Docs and Word will be your best value since they usually include support, help documents, and are more unique. Check out these resume templates for Microsoft Word and other apps in the round-ups below:

• 
  Resumes
  
  
  20 Simple Resume Templates (Easy to Customize & Edit Quickly)
  
  
  Andrew Childress


• 
  Resumes
  
  
  18 Professional Business Resume Templates for 2018
  
  
  Andrew Childress


• 
  Resumes
  
  
  20 Cool & Colorful Resume Templates (To Stand Out Creatively)
  
  
  Andrew Childress

What do you look for when you choose a resume style for your dream job? Let me know in the comments section below.