How to make a resume in Word

Creating a resume in Microsoft Word can be frustrating. For many, outdated templates coupled with formatting issues lead to a lot of wasted time trying to craft a resume in a program that was never designed for that purpose.

If this sounds like your experience, you’re not alone. This article will help you:

• Determine whether Word is the best tool for creating your resume
• Learn how to use templates to speed up the process
• Learn how to build a customized document from scratch
• Make use of formatting tips for a professional look and feel
• Understand why a resume builder may be the better choice

Creating a resume doesn’t have to be the bane of your job-hunting existence. We’ll show you how to easily format and style it for a polished, customized look.

Should you create a resume in Word?

Creating a resume in Microsoft Word has both pros and cons.

You can use the online version for free, and recruiters can easily open and edit your document, unlike a PDF. Because Word is considered a go-to business tool, there are many templates available to use. If you want to build your resume from the ground up instead, you’ll have a level of creative control that a resume builder tool doesn’t provide.

Still, Word-based resumes have some drawbacks. Many of the templates are dated, and they can be a pain to change. They also aren’t optimized for today’s applicant tracking systems (ATS), meaning some Word resumes may get filtered out.

Furthermore, making your own well-formatted and organized resume from scratch has an even higher learning curve, requiring software knowledge, design experience, and quite a bit of time. 

Want to skip formatting headaches for resumes? Try Jobseeker’s resume builder, featuring ATS-optimized, modern templates and no Word struggles. However, if you still prefer Word, it’s a good idea to learn how to edit your resume templates to get the polished look and feel you’re after.

Step-by-step: How to use a resume template in Word

Before you learn how to create a resume or cover letter from scratch using Word, let’s discuss the easiest route to resume creation: using a template.

Step 1: Pick a template

When it comes to resume templates, Word has a lot to choose from. To find them, open the application and type “resume” in the search bar. Scroll through the selection of templates to find one that aligns with your industry and personal style. 

For example, corporate accountants may want to go with neutral colors and a clean, streamlined appearance, while graphic designers might use more unconventional colors, fonts, and layouts. You can also search for downloadable resume templates online if Word’s standard options don’t suit your needs.

Step 2: Create your resume header

Once opened, start customizing your template by typing your resume header. In addition to basic information like your full name, address, email, and phone number, you should also include your:

• Current job title
• LinkedIn URL
• Website URL
• Social media links (if relevant)

While some templates already include those fields, others may require you to add them manually.

Step 3: Write your resume summary statement

Next, add your summary statement or resume objective below your header. A summary is appropriate for experienced candidates who need to concisely convey work history, skills, and accomplishments. Recent graduates, entry-level candidates, and career changers can use a resume objective to relay their professional goals.

Your resume summary or objective is a brief snippet just under your resume header that should be written with the goal of attracting and keeping the attention of the hiring manager who is reading it, so they don’t just flip right past your resume.

Step 4: Input your work experience, education, skills, and accomplishments

After adding your preliminary information, enter your work experience, education, skills, and accomplishments. Instead of simply “filling in the blanks,” create a compelling narrative by highlighting quantifiable achievements and tailoring your resume with pertinent information.

Include keywords from the job posting. Doing so will not only increase your chances of getting past ATS filters but also demonstrate your attention to detail and enthusiasm as a candidate.

Remember that most resumes should fit on a single page. If you have more than 10 years of experience, you can extend your resume to two pages.

Why you should use a resume builder instead of Word

While many professionals use Microsoft Word because it’s what they’re used to, resume builders can offer the same functionality with more simplicity. These tools come pre-loaded with dozens of polished resume and cover letter templates for a variety of fields. You won’t have to guess about which design best fits your industry.

All you have to do is enter your personal details, education, work experience, skills, and any other information you wish to include. The resume builder will do all the work of formatting your resume according to the design you chose, making it a much speedier option that allows you to get started applying to jobs right away.

Building out your document from the resume examples and templates a resume builder provides can also help you develop a more ATS-friendly application. You’ll be able to pull relevant keywords from those examples that apply to your industry, which will improve your chances of making it past those filters.

Finally, resume builders provide more flexible customization options than Microsoft Word. While your Word template may be difficult to change, a resume builder will let you easily create additional fields to tailor your application, such as internships, certifications, references, or other custom sections.

Try Jobseeker’s resume builder for free and create a customized resume in minutes.

How to build a resume from scratch in Word

If you prefer not to use a Word resume template, you can still use the program to create a resume. However, unless you have some design skills and a lot of patience, you’ll likely want to stick with a template or use the resume builder tool from Jobseeker.

1. Create headings and select text styles

Still want to go for it? Make sure to include all of the same sections that we outlined above and clearly label each one with a heading. Word has a variety of text styles available that can save you time while formatting your resume. They can be used as follows to create a uniform layout:

• Heading 1 (H1): Use H1 for your most important title, which should be your name across the top of your resume. This is the largest text in the document and it will be bold and impactful.
• Heading 2 (H2): Use H2 headings to label the sections of your resume (e.g., Work Experience, Skills, etc.). H2 text will be smaller than H1, but still bold and big enough to stand out.
• Heading 3 (H3): Use H3 headings when you are listing your job titles within your Work Experience section. This should be just barely bigger than normal text, but still bold.
• Normal Text: Everything else on your resume should be written using the Normal style, including the bullet points under each job title, your resume summary, and descriptions of your skills. Use 11 or 12 as your Normal font size.

Word has default settings for each of these styles, but you can go in and set your own font, text size, color, and whether each style will be bold and/or italicized. Whatever style you decide to use, be consistent with it throughout your entire resume. This will provide clear organization and a clean look.

2. Adjust margins and line spacing

You can also play with the page margins and line spacing in order to fit all of your credentials on a single page.

While some resume articles suggest otherwise, hiring managers and recruiters typically expect to see subheadings aligned to the left margin, though resumes for more creative roles may use centered headings if they fit well into the overall design. Make sure to stick to single or 1.15 spacing to maximize readability while preserving space.

3. Properly format your document

You can use page borders, lines, and/or color blocks to spice up your resume and divide it into a clear, easy-to-read layout. Word has some built-in features that lend themselves to creating an eye-catching resume, such as the column tool, which allows you to format your document with one, two, or three columns, or to create a sidebar on the left or right side of the page. 

A sidebar is a great way to add interest to the page while still reserving the larger main column for the bulk of your information.

Resume formatting tips for Word

Whether you opt to use a resume template or not, here are some formatting items to keep in mind as you create your resume in Word.

1. How to choose fonts and colors for your Word resume format

Don’t go overboard with fonts or colors in your resume — this is, after all, a business document. Choose a professional, easy-to-read font like one of the following:

• Arial
• Helvetica
• Calibri
• Garamond
• Georgia
• Cambria
• Verdana
• Trebuchet MS

While you can deviate from the classic black text, make sure that your resume will still be readable by using dark, muted colors like navy, dark gray, or forest green.

If you can’t resist a pop of color, consider changing the background color of your header to something that’s not garish (i.e., no hot pink or neon green) and make the header text a contrasting color, like white text on a navy background or black text on a sage green background.

2. How to decide on the best resume layout

Keep your Word resume layout fairly simple — include two columns at most and clearly label each section. If your resume looks like a jumbled mess, recruiters and hiring managers won’t take the time to decipher it, and you’ll likely be skipped over as a candidate.

3. How to avoid “Word jumps”

Microsoft Word is infamous for its poor ability to handle layout changes (like moving or resizing a photo, adding a line break, etc.), so if you do decide to change a template or create your own layout, make sure to review it closely when you’re done to ensure that nothing has sneakily moved around.

4. How to spell-check your resume in Word

And, of course, you should thoroughly spell-check your resume before you send it off to any potential employers. Nothing screams “unprofessional” like misspelled words on your resume. Word has a built-in spell check feature, but you should never rely completely on that. Always read through your resume, or if spelling isn’t your strong suit, have a friend or family member double-check it for you.

5. How to save your Word resume

In most cases, you’ll want to save your resume as a PDF as well as a Word document. Most ATSs will read PDFs, and the PDF format will prevent anything from going awry with your careful Word formatting, which can happen if you submit a Word document and the hiring manager has a different edition of the program.

It’s also a good idea to print out a few copies of your resume so that you can see examples of how it will look when your potential employer prints it out to read it, and bring them with you if you score an interview.

Finally, save your resume with a file name like “JaneDoeResume” so it’s immediately clear to the hiring manager what document they’re looking at. That way, there won’t be any confusion in the application process.

Key takeaways

Microsoft Word can be difficult to use for resume creation, but it can certainly be done with a template or by creating your own resume format. Just remember to keep an eye out for the infamous “Word jump” as you build your document.

While it’s possible to create resumes on Word, Jobseeker makes the whole process effortless. With modern resume and cover letter examples and templates, ATS-proof formatting, and AI skill suggestions, our resume builder tool is the fastest way to create a resume that gets interviews. Try it for free today.

Sources:

(1) CNBC: 75% of resumes are never read by a human—here’s how to make sure your resume beats the bots