Resume Templates for Google Docs

Using a Google Docs resume template is an easy way to create a modern-looking resume for your job search. Some job applications will even allow you to share a Google Docs file instead of uploading a Word document. If you don’t have Microsoft Word or just want a simple way to get started with building and writing a resume, these free resume templates for Google Docs are the perfect place to start.

It’s true that Google Docs actually has built-in resume templates. We’ll show you how to access those templates. The templates you’ll see on this page have been custom designed by the Jobscan team. That means your resume won’t look like anyone else’s. And you can be sure that these templates are ATS-friendly.

Every template on this page was tested with our resume scanner to ensure that you won’t run into any issues when your resume is submitted to an applicant tracking system.

The resume templates on this page are free and easy to use. To edit the templates, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Download button below the template
2. When the template opens in Google Drive, click on File > Make a copy

You must make a copy of the template in order to edit it.

That’s it! The template is now in your Drive and you can create as many copies as you need and edit it with your resume text.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when using a resume template in Google Docs.

Tip #1: Customize the template … but not too much

The resume template is completely editable, but be careful when changing fonts, formatting, and section headings. We designed each template to be readable and ATS-friendly. What does that mean?

You can learn more about applicant tracking systems (ATS) in our ATS Guide, but the most important thing to know is that when you submit your resume, your documents are organized by an online system called an ATS. The recruiter for that job uses the ATS software to search for candidates by skills or experience. In order for the system to know if your resume has the words or skills that the recruiter searches for, it needs to be able to read the text of your resume.

The problem is that it’s a robot, so it doesn’t understand things like tables, images, and non-traditional fonts.

Beyond making your resume ATS-friendly, you also need to make it user-friendly. Those same non-traditional fonts and graphics or images can be just as distracting or difficult to read for a human as they are for an ATS.

So feel free to change some of the template colors and by all means, customize the text as much as you need in order to highlight your experience. But remember that these templates are expertly designed and tested.

If you’re not a designer, don’t worry, these are the best Google Docs resume templates and they’re ready to go.

Do’s and Don’ts for creating an ATS-friendly resume in Google Docs

Tip #2: Tailor your resume for the job description

You’ve probably experienced this before: You type in the job title you want to apply for a see hundreds or thousands of job listings, but all of them have different duties and requirements.

Even if you’re applying for jobs with the same title, the needs of each company will vary. That’s why it’s so important to tailor your resume to the job description.

Read the job description to find out exactly what skills, experience, and qualifications that company is looking for. Then, tailor the text of your resume to highlight aspects of your career and skillset that will appeal to that specific hiring manager. It takes time, but you’re likely to get better results.

Jobscan makes these easier with our free resume scanner. It compares your resume to a real job description you select and will automatically show you the skills you need to include on your resume. Our AI will even give you a match rate so you know when your resume is perfectly tailored.

Some job applications will let you share your resume directly from Google Docs, so there’s no need to download a Microsoft Word version. Here’s an example:

The application has a field for adding my resume.

When I click on Select to select my resume file, a list of options appears.

I can click on Google Drive to select a file from my Drive account. Select the same Google account you used to download and edit the templates on this page. You can then search for the file using the search bar or click on the file directly in the window.

Note: Not every application will look or function this way. But if there is an option to use a resume file from your Google Drive, then you will see a similar window.

There are five resume templates built-in to Google Docs. You can access them by following these steps:

• From your Drive home, click on New
• Click on File > New > From template gallery

• In the templates library, scroll down to the Resumes section

• Click on a template to select it
• Edit the text on the page to create your resume

There are some good options in Google’s template library, but you’re still limited to just five. If any other job seekers know about those templates, then there’s a high chance that your resume will look just like someone else’s. When job seeking, standing out is important.

We also tested these resume templates and many of them use tables, a feature that ATS parsers have historically struggled with.