Free resume templates in Google Docs: where to find them and how to make one yours

A resume template saves you from fighting with margins and fonts, so you can spend the time on what you write. Google Docs is a good place to start: it's free, works on any device, and exports clean PDF and Word files. Here is where to find templates and how to turn one into a resume that works.

Google Docs' built-in templates

Open Google Docs, click Template gallery and look under Resumes. You'll find a handful of designs, such as Serif, Coral, Spearmint, Modern Writer and Swiss, each with a matching cover letter. They're simple, clean and easy to edit, which is exactly what most employers want.

More templates shared on Google Drive

Career centers, universities, recruiters and designers share many more templates publicly on Google Drive, in Docs, Word and PDF formats. Our resume and CV templates search finds them; add a job title or industry to the search to narrow it down, for example nurse resume or software engineer cv.

To use one, open it and choose File > Make a copy. Don't request edit access to someone else's file. If the template came as a Word file, upload it to Drive and open it with Google Docs, then check that the fonts and spacing survived.

How to make a template yours

Keep the layout simple

Many companies run resumes through an applicant tracking system (ATS) before a person reads them. These systems read text best when it's in one column, with standard headings like Experience, Education and Skills. Text inside images, text boxes, headers and complex tables may be skipped. If a template relies on those, stick to a simpler one for online applications.

Write for the job, not for yourself

• Start each bullet with what you did, then the result: "Cut invoice processing time by 30% by automating data entry".
• Use the words from the job ad where they honestly describe your experience. Both the ATS and the recruiter look for them.
• Keep it to one page if you have less than about ten years of experience.
• Remove the template's sample text completely, including in headers and footers.

Proofread twice

Typos are the fastest way to the "no" pile. Read it out loud, then run it through a checker. Grammarly catches spelling, grammar and clarity issues for free, and works inside Google Docs through its browser extension.

Export it properly

Send a PDF unless the employer asks for Word: File > Download > PDF document. Name the file with your name and the role, for example Priya-Sharma-Data-Analyst.pdf, not Resume (3).pdf.

When a template isn't enough

If you apply to many jobs and keep several versions, a resume builder can save time: it stores your experience once and generates tailored versions in different designs. VisualCV is one option with free and paid plans. For a designed resume for creative roles, Canva has hundreds of templates, but keep a plain version for online applications, because heavily designed layouts are the ones ATS software struggles with.

Frequently asked questions

Are Google Docs resume templates free?

Yes. The ones in the Template gallery are free for anyone with a Google account, and so are copies of public templates shared on Drive.

Is it OK to use a template other people use?

Yes. Recruiters care about the content. A clean, common layout is better than an unusual one that is hard to read.

Resume or CV?

In the US and Canada, a resume is a short summary of your experience and a CV is a long academic record. In the UK, India and most of Europe, "CV" is used for both. Follow the term the job ad uses.