Free Resume Templates for 2023 (to Download Right Away)

An ever-growing collection of downloadable resume templates to make your job search less of a drag. Browse our new templates by resume design, resume format and resume style to find the best match!

This is a very high performing set of templates that are working well for those seeking IT and tech-based jobs, as well as employment in startups and dynamic companies.

Our editorial collection of free modern resume templates for Microsoft Word features stylish, crisp and fresh resume designs that are meant to help you command more attention during the ‘lavish’ 6 seconds your average recruiter gives to your resume.

Select one of our professional resume templates if you have plenty of work experience under your belt. Clean-cut and straight to the point, these free templates help you place your significant work experience in the limelight.

So if you are, for instance, an accountant seeking a corporate position with a big name firm, scroll back to the professional or simple resume design collection instead!

Remember: these free resume templates work best for creatives who want to be noticed. Most resume templates in this category will work best for jobs in architecture, design, advertising, marketing, and entertainment among others.

Each one of our creative resumes offers a perfectly balanced mix of personality, professionalism and a touch of unique style. Set your resume apart from others by using our punchy templates!

Sometimes all you need is a classic style resume template that is clean, clear and straight to the point. That’s exactly the kind of resume templates you can find in this category!

Looking for an impactful CV template with the correct formatting? We’ve got you covered here too. Browse our special edition of professional CV templates, perfectly suited for academic and federal in the US, plus any type of job applications in the EU.

Our remarkable set of role-based resume templates includes the optimal visual layout, paired with written text snippets you can use to model your own resume.

Get done with writing faster by downloading a pre-filled resume template for your position. Take advantage of the pointers and sample texts, created by a professional team of resume writers.

Don’t have Microsoft Word installed? Fret not. We’ve also created a separate set of resume templates, optimized for Google docs. Download and edit your new resume design in the cloud and share it with others in one click!

PRO TIP:

The ultimate goal of a resume is not to land you the job – it’s to prompt the hiring manager to initiate an interview based on what he or she has read. A quality resume is best viewed as a tool that articulates your “story,” from which you can present yourself as the most qualified candidate.

Claire Briggs
Career Consultant, CPCC, CPRW
LinkedIn

So, which resume template is the right for you?

At Freesumes our goal is to create universally appealing resume templates — such that suit professionals across various niches with different experience levels (entry-level to senior candidates).

That is why we’ve created the four specific resume templates categories. Every one of them includes a variety of resume templates, made by professional designers and vetted by career experts.

3,919,954 templates downloaded.

Essential Tips for Using Your Resume Template

When you have decided on which resume template to use, you should download it and save a copy to your computer. You can then start to personalize the template content to make it your own.

Let’s take a look at some tips for personalizing your template so it becomes unique to you:

1. First things first, keep things simple

Your resume template has been professionally designed for the right balance of style and content. All our templates are easily editable with Microsoft Word so all you have to do is just type in your information in the sections provided for you.

2. Don’t overload your resume

Your resume isn’t a record of your whole life. You don’t need to add in absolutely everything you have ever done. Remember that a recruiter will be skimming over your resume looking for their preferred keywords and your relevant information and work experience for the job at hand. Give them the information they are looking for as quickly and as easily as possible. Read our blog post about Powerful Words to use in your Resume.

3. Unique file name

Our resume templates are delivered with the generic (and frankly not so creative) name “resume.doc”. Before emailing or uploading your resume, take a second and give it a file name that is easily recognizable, such as your first name initial and your surname. This way it will be easy to spot and open by the recruiter.

4. Proofread and proofread again

Proofreading your resume is so important. You want to create the right first impression so check over your resume again for errors or spelling mistakes. Get someone else to proofread it for you before you send it off or make use of a grammar and spelling checker.

5. Convert it to PDF

Chances are your resume makes use of custom fonts, has a special layout or design elements that may break or look bad once opened on a different computer because the custom fonts are missing, the MS Word version is older or whatever. So, once you have done editing your document and double checked that you haven’t missed any of the above points, we recommend saving your document as a PDF file to make sure that the recruiters will see the same thing as you do.

The 3 Resume Formats To Choose From

Before you go on with choosing one of the different resume templates, you should decide on the optimal resume format – the one that will highlight your strengths as a candidate and mellow the flaws in your job history.

PRO TIP:

Tailor the resume to the position you are seeking. As you read through the job description, highlight and focus on key words and phrases that are most important to the hiring team. Integrate those words and phrases into your resume.

Debi Douma-Herren
HR Consultant & Career Strategist
LinkedIn

The 3 most popular resume formats are:

• Chronological resume organizes the information the way LinkedIn does – from the latest position to the first one, with education, interests and additional info listed later.
• Functional resume keeps the focus on your skills and experience, rather than employment history. It’s the go-to choice for candidates with employment gaps and those without much hands-on work experience.
• Combination resume takes the best of both worlds and allows you to spice up your “dry” employment history with some juicy details about your skill set and achievements.  

Each resume format suits better when applying for certain positions. Chronological resumes tend to be the most preferable format with traditional employers, while startups and edgier companies will likely fall for a combination resume.

To learn more about styling your resume, check out our detailed guide to resume formats with tips and detailed explanations.

How to Write a Resume

Now that you have an awesome resume template, you don’t need to stare at a blank page. All you need to do is “fill in the gaps” in that template. But considering how important a resume is, you may be completely at lost what information to put and how to format it.

For this, we wrote a very detailed guide explaining all the facets of writing, styling and formatting your resume. Below you’ll find a quick recap to help you get started with resume writing.

Every resume should include the next key sections:

• Header: list your contact information and add a headshot (if you opted for a template featuring a photo).
• Professional title
• Quick resume summary/objective or career statement. This can be also replaced with a professional bio or “About me”.
• Work Experience
• Skills
• Education
• Optional: hobbies, interests, languages, volunteering experience.

Start with brainstorming a compelling resume objective – a quick paragraph communicating your career narrative and summarizing your goals. To create a quick one, just apply the following formula:

Education or Experience + Skill + Goal

Family lawyer with ten years of trial experiences, specializing in child custody and estate probate cases, looking for a senior partner position in a legal company.

Organize your work experience. List your employers in reverse chronological order. Each entry should include employment date, job title, company name and key responsibilities/achievements listed in bullet format.

Sprinkle in your skills. Include general industry skills (you can find those in the job posting), tools and technology you are familiar with, certifications, a few general personal skills.

Wrap it up with education. Unless you are a recent graduate, don’t dwell on this section too much. Simply list all your degrees (highest to lowest), the name of your educational institution and graduation date.

Still feeling stuck with a blank page and can’t get your thoughts together? Consider reading a few resume examples to get a better grip of what a stellar application looks like.