Personalize a Modern Resume Template in MS Word

Even worse, a badly presented resume is more likely to be thrown away. That destroys your chances of even being considered for a position. You can do better. It's time to redo your resume using a modern resume template.

In this tutorial, you'll learn the characteristics of a modern resume. I'll also take you step-by-step through the process of personalizing a modern resume template in MS Word. 

What Is a Modern Resume?

Do you know the characteristics of a good resume? Most job seekers do not. That’s why they continue to use outdated and old-fashioned formats. 

A modern-looking resume can help you stand out. Here's a short list of the characteristics of a good, modern resume:     

• uses professional fonts 


• has a well-organized and clean design


• contains current contact information


• customized for the job you're applying for


• includes keywords for skills


• has social media contact information

How to Use a Modern Resume Template with MS Word

In this section you'll learn how to personalize your resume template in three easy steps. The basic steps to follow are:

1. Gather your information.


2. Download your template.


3. Personalize your resume.

We’ll look at each step separately. 

Let's start with the information you'll need to personalize your template.

Step 1. Gather Your Information

To make a resume template your own, you need your most current information. Besides your full name, you'll need your most recent:

• job titles


• years employed


• educational accomplishments


• awards received


• skills


• social media contact information

If you're applying for a specific job, make a list of the key words from the job posting. If possible, include them in your resume and on the cover letter.

To make sure you don't miss any information look at:

• your previous resume


• your LinkedIn profile


• your professional portfolio


• your testimonials

Now that you’ve gathered your information, you’re ready to create an updated resume. First, you’ll need the right template.

Step 2. Download the Best Modern Resume Template for Your Needs

We've got a great selection of resume templates on Envato Elements.

To find a premium template, start in Graphic Templates. click the check box next to the Print Templates button on the left of the search bar. 

Next, in the search bar, type Microsoft Word Resume. 

Find Word Resume Templates

As you can see, there are thousands of resume templates available. You can sort the resume templates by:

• Popular


• New


• Relevant

The Modern Resume Template We'll Customize Today

In this tutorial, we’ll use the Resume Word template from Envato Elements. This template set comes with a matching resume and cover letter set. You can edit the set in either Microsoft Word or Adobe Illustrator.

To purchase the template and follow along, click Download and go through the quick checkout process. It'll download to your browser and look like this:

Drag and drop the zipped file somewhere that you can easily access. Next, double-click on the zipped file. When you do, you’ll see a folder named Resume Word. Double-click to open the folder.

You’ll see two more folders in the folder:

1. Illustrator Files


2. Microsoft Word.

Open the Microsoft Word file. When you do, you’ll see the Microsoft Word template files. Open the CV.docx file.

Install the Free Font

After downloading the template, download the free Roboto font used by the template. The complete instructions for installing fonts are found in the help file. The instructions may vary depending on the type of machine and operating system you use.  

Here’s how to install the font:

1. Click on the readme.txt file. The file has a link with the free fonts under the section titled Fonts Use.


2. Go to the link. It'll take you to Google Fonts
   


3. Click Download Family to get the Roboto font family. A zip file is downloaded.

4. Drag and drop the font zip file somewhere where you can easily locate it. Then double-click to open the font folder. It should look like this:

5. Double-click on a font. Once you do, it'll open a preview. Press the Install button at the bottom of the preview window to add the font.

Once you've downloaded the fonts, you’re ready to personalize your resume.

Step 3. Personalize Your Resume

You may wonder how to change the template in Word. Let's set up and then customize each section of your resume.

1. Basic Setup

You're now ready to open the template and customize it. For this tutorial, click on the Microsoft Word folder and open the file called CV. This opens the Modern Resume template.

Now the MS Word resume template opens. At this point, it only shows placeholder information and default text. It should look like this:

We're going to update the template with information from a fictitious job seeker, Jane Ann Doe. You should fill in your name instead.

First, check to see whether the Roboto fonts are installed correctly:

1. Select any text on the document and right-click on it. The font box should show some variation of the Roboto font.


2. If any font besides Roboto appears in the box, go back and review the instructions for downloading the fonts.

I always suggest renaming and saving the file. Then, if something goes wrong while you update the modern resume template, you can return to the unaltered template file and start again.

After you’ve renamed the file, you can enter your information into your resume.

2. Customize the Information

You'll notice that the resume is organized using anchored text boxes. Here's how you replace the text information anywhere in the resume:

1. First, click in the text box.


2. Select and highlight the text you want to change.


3. Finally, type your information over the highlighted text. 

Now that you know how to update the placeholder text in the resume template, you can replace it with your information. But be careful not to accidentally move the text box when you update it.

Several sections of the resume Word template require additional instructions. Let's start with the Resume Summary.

3. Craft Your Resume Summary

Your resume summary is one of the most important parts of your resume. It's often the first thing a potential employer reads. To create a stronger resume summary:

• Use adjectives to describe your work.


• Emphasize accomplishments you're proud of.


• Match the summary to the job ad.


• Keep it short. Four to five lines is ideal.


• Don't use the words "I" or "my."

In this template, the resume summary appears under the heading Profile. To adjust the text box size, click on the handle and drag the edge of the box.

4. Change Your Social Media Contacts

One of the characteristics of a modern resume template is the inclusion of social media contact information. The modern resume word template comes with a special social media contact section.

The social media contact information appears in the left column of the template under the heading Contact.

To change your social media contact information:

1. Click on the information in the text box. The information is then highlighted.


2. Type over the information in the text box.

5. Change Your Skills

The Skills section of this modern resume is an excellent place to highlight any skills you've learned on the job or in school. You can also include keywords that are skills.

On this template, your skills appear as a bar chart. The more accomplished you are in a skill, the further to the right the bar goes. Skills are listed under the Skills heading in the left column of the Modern Resume template.

Here’s how to personalize your skills information:

1. To change a skill, click in the text box and type the new skill information over the placeholder text.


2. To change your proficiency in a skill, click on the dark line and drag the green handles to the right to indicate that you're more proficient or to the left if you're less proficient.

You're ready to begin your job search once you've replaced the resume placeholder text with your information. Don't forget also to personalize the cover letter included with the template.

Modern Resume Template Examples

Here's a quick showcase of more modern resume templates and an example resume that was created with each template. Each template includes a matching cover letter:

1.  Modern Resume and Cover Letter

This modern resume Word template is a matching cover letter and resume set. It also comes with a set of icons that you can use in your resume.

The Modern Resume and Cover Letter comes in both A4 and US letter size. It comes with skills and experience where you can showcase what you’re good at.

2. Resume and Cover Letter

Resume and Cover Letter is a modern resume template that's fully editable with a pop of color. You can edit this template in Microsoft Word or Adobe Illustrator. It comes with two free fonts that you can download and use.

3. Word Resume & Cover Letter

This modern resume comes in A4 size and with print-ready files. You can edit this template in MS Word 97-2003, MS Word 2007 & Newer, Adobe Illustrator CS3, or Adobe Photoshop CC.  

Word Resume & Cover Letter comes with both a skills and interests section so you can show off your skills.

4. Modern Resume Template

The resume modern template comes with two color scheme options that you can choose from. It also comes with two resume versions, one with a headshot and one without.

The matching cover letter also comes with two versions, one with a headshot and one without. You can edit the template in Microsoft Word or Adobe Illustrator.

5. Mono Resume

Mono Resume is a resume modern template that comes with four different templates. It comes with a:

1. cover letter


2. one-page resume


3. portfolio


4. business card

The resume template files comes with free font files that you can download and use. It also comes with over 50 icons that add visual interest to your resume.

Customize Your Own Modern Resume Today

A modern resume helps you make a strong first impression with potential customers or clients. Your resume can mean the difference between getting the job or losing the opportunity. 

A good modern resume template gives you a quick and easy way to update your resume with clarity and style.

Editor Note: This was first published by Laura Spencer in November of 2015. It's been completely rewritten to make it accurate and relevant.