resume template google docs harvard

How To Use The Harvard Resume Format (Example + Template)

3 key takeaways

• Harvard invented a classic and clean resume framework.
• This resume format focuses on sections like education, experience, leadership, and skills. Unlike a standard resume, it prioritizes education above experience.
• You can create a Harvard resume and tailor it to your job application with Teal's Resume Builder .

You’ve probably heard that the Harvard resume format is one of the best templates for recent graduates. After all, it was created and is continually recommended by Harvard recruiters and counselors.

The Harvard resume is clean and professional and highlights education over work experience. Considering the minimal work experience most recent graduates bring, it can be an excellent framework for building your resume. 

But how do you use it to create your resume ? Below, you'll learn how to use the Harvard University resume format, including examples.

Need help to landing interviews with your resume? Sign up for Teal to make a free resume in minutes.

Understanding the Harvard resume format

The Harvard Offices of Career Services, in conjunction with the Career and Academic Resource Center, created the Harvard resume format.

The aim was to help both Harvard students and graduates of other universities create resumes that highlight their education and land them jobs.

Because of its more significant focus on education, leadership, and activities over job experience, this resume format works best for those just entering the job market.

Here’s an overview of the format:

Let's examine each resume section and how they differ from traditional resumes.

Typically, the education section of a resume is at the bottom rather than the top. The Harvard-style resume flips this on its head, listing education just after the resume header.

It’s acceptable for job seekers without experience in the job market to put education details at the top of a resume. Education also tends to carry more weight if you apply for internships or master's programs.

If you’ve gained experience within your projected career path and it’s been a few years since you graduated, move your education details to the bottom of your resume.

Your work history and experiences should make up the bulk of your resume. But if you’re a recent graduate, you might not have as much to show, as you can see in the Harvard resume example.

This is where you see more similarities with the typical resume format. The Harvard resume template holds a standard of four bullet points for each position held. Each bullet point should only be one sentence long.

Follow these rules when formatting each bullet point:

• Beginning with your most recent position, describe your experience, skills, and resulting outcomes in bullet or paragraph form. 
• Begin each line with an action verb and include details to help the reader understand your accomplishments, skills, knowledge, abilities, or achievements. 
• Quantify where possible. 
• Do not use personal pronouns; each line should be a phrase rather than a complete sentence.

This advice is standard across the recruitment and resume writing industries, but it’s still pertinent. 

The leadership and activities section on a resume is acceptable to feature if you’re fresh out of college and the activities are relevant to the position. However, on most resumes, there is little room or need to feature this section. 

It can be a great way to highlight skills, certain responsibilities you’ve held, or outcomes you’ve achieved to supplement a lack of work history. Most potential employers don’t need this information unless those activities can supplement work experience.

The Harvard resume template does something unique with the skills section—breaking the skills down into four categories:

The technical and laboratory skills bullet points are the most nuanced. Technical skills should list any computer skills or coding languages you’ve learned, while the laboratory line asks you to list any specific tools or techniques you’ve used.

Resist the urge to explain every skill. In some cases, you may need to specify your proficiency. However, if you are fluent in languages, list each language you know. You can write them in one line separated by commas, like this: 

Teal’s AI-powered Resume Builder allows you to add all of your technical skills in one easy form and then select and de-select the skills you’d like to feature on your resume.

How you lay out your resume will greatly depend on how much experience you have in your field, your skills, and which university you attended (including your grades and accolades).

But the four sections in the Harvard resume format generally benefit any new grad or student resume.

How to create a Harvard resume using a resume template

When you don’t have much experience on your resume, highlighting your education is a safe bet.

The Harvard format gives you a good launch pad for emphasizing the benefits of your education. If you understand each section and tailor it to the position, you’re much more likely to stand out in a candidate pool.

Consider the position

Your final resume isn’t going to look like a perfect replica of the template. That’s because the position you’re applying for will call for different highlights on your resume. 

For instance, you might apply for a competitive internship that values GPA more heavily than other internships.  In some cases, GPA isn’t just a qualification for admittance. An organization might also have a minimum acceptable standard. Still, it might also be a metric for whether or not you maintain your internship. 

In such a case, you’ll need to feature your GPA on your resume and any other accolades within your education that might give you a competitive advantage.

Fill in the sections of the template

In the previous section, you saw the differences between traditional and Harvard resumes. Here, we’re breaking down how to fill out your resume with those differences in mind. 

Enter your contact information

Filling out the top of your resume is straightforward. Your resume header should contain contact details such as your name, address, and email. You don’t have to include your entire email. Your city and state are enough.

Add your education

If you’re keeping the Harvard format, your education section is at the top, just under your details. Again, this is beneficial if you’re applying to further educational programs, such as a master’s program, an internship, or an entry-level position.

The template offers three possible rows of information within the education section—college, study abroad, and your high school.

Unless the position specifically requests high school information or it's required to enter the program, including it on your resume is unnecessary. This also applies to your study abroad program. While it’s advantageous in an educational program application, it’s not often necessary for employment.

Add your work history

The work experience section of the Harvard resume includes slots for just two places of employment. This is because it’s essentially a student resume.

To fill out this section, start with the company name, position, and period you worked there. 

Add three to four bullet points under your organizational header. The typical job seeker might add their responsibilities within those roles, but this won’t help you stand out among other candidates. 

Instead, focus on outcomes you’ve produced, contributions you’ve made, and skills you’ve developed. Here’s what that advice looks like on the resume of an applicant who’s only held a few entry-level roles:

You might not have a lot of experience, and it’s unlikely you were able to have a massive impact on the company in an entry-level or internship position. But you likely gained hard and soft skills by working on something for some time. 

Notice the action verbs in two of the three lines in the above example? Words like increased, improved, and boosted are “active” words to quickly demonstrate that you’ve had impact in your role.

Leadership roles and activities

Leadership and activities are optional on a resume and should only be included if they directly relate to the responsibilities listed in the job description. 

If you add your leadership projects and activities, be sure to include any outcomes that came from those activities.

You don’t need to include all of this detail. One or two lines should be enough to showcase the project unless you’re compensating for lower work experience. 

Relevant skills and interests

Skills and interests are another optional section on your resume. While Harvard offers four opportunities to include such information, you could include one or two and eliminate the rest if they’re pertinent or might increase your chances of getting hired. 

For instance, language skills are in demand across most industries. They may also be a necessary qualification for some roles or may position you in a higher pay grade upon acceptance for a role. In such cases, adding that information to your resume is essential. 

Technical skills are vital for roles in software, IT, or engineering. Laboratory skills will matter if you’re applying for a role in a STEM profession, such as a geneticist or food scientist. 

Proofread for red flags and typos

Certain resume red flags automatically take you out of the candidate pool. These red flags include:

Spelling and grammar errors

• Irrelevant information
• A lack of results-oriented experience

While recruiters and hiring managers aren’t going to examine your resume with a fine-toothed comb, obvious spelling and grammar errors stand out. As does an abundance of those errors. Always check your work before sending it.

Harvard resume example

Here’s an example of the Harvard resume in action.

You see education at the top followed by professional experience and technical skills. The example also shows active and powerful language for the bullet points of each position held. It’s a clear and professional demonstration of this resume format. 

Harvard resume template

If you want to use the Harvard resume template recommended by Harvard recruiters, here’s a template of the sections they use:

Name Location Email address Phone number Education Study abroad Experience Job title 1/ Employer 1 (your most recent employer)(month/ year-month/year) (Action verb) (Accomplishment with quantification) (Action verb) (Accomplishment with quantification) (Action verb) (Accomplishment with quantification) Experience Job title 1/ Employer 1 (month/ year-month/year) (Action verb) (Accomplishment with quantification) (Action verb) (Accomplishment with quantification) (Action verb) (Accomplishment with quantification) Leadership and activities Skills and interests

Common mistakes to avoid when using the Harvard resume

Your resume should always highlight your most vital assets and qualifications. You'll be in great shape if you focus on outcomes and key skills. 

However, you want to avoid a few common mistakes if you hope to get shortlisted for the position. 

It’s easy to misspell a word here and there, but on a resume, it can be the difference between getting shortlisted or being cut from the candidate pool. 

There are a few ways to avoid the latter:

• Use a tool like Grammarly to catch misspellings and grammar mistakes.
• Run your resume through ChatGPT to catch mistakes.
• Employ an editor to provide more detailed and nuanced feedback.
• Use Teal’s resume builder to catch mistakes and optimize your inputs to highlight your strengths.

Missing contact information

This isn’t a huge misstep, but if you send in your application without contact information, a hiring manager won’t be able to reach you if they’re interested. 

Similarly, the position you’re applying for could be dependent on location. You might face instant rejection if you’re missing, or misspelled, your location. 

Using passive voice

Most job seekers make the mistake of using passive voice on their resume. But sentences like "sales targets were consistently met" will not grab anyone's attention.

Always use active voice on your resume. Active voice requires the use of “I” as a pronoun and the use of power words like “boosted” and “improved”. 

So instead of saying, "Sales targets were consistently met," you'd say, "Exceeded annual sales targets by an average of 15%...". The goal is always to get as specific as possible with your real achievements within a role.

Lack of personalization

Resume personalization isn’t about including information about the company or the hiring manager. It’s about thoroughly understanding the job description and tailoring your resume to match it within reason. 

Teal’s AI-powered Resume Builder analyzes job descriptions to identify the keywords and most important details to include in your resume. 

For more tips on creating an effective resume, check out this post on the best resume format .

How to create your Harvard resume with AI

Harvard has made it easy to follow their resume format by opening their template in Google Docs or Word. However, if you plan to tailor your resume to multiple job applications, using Teal’s AI Resume Builder might be beneficial. 

With Teal, you can add variations of responsibilities, activities, achievements, and more while selecting and deselecting certain details to adapt your resume to the job description. 

Maintaining the Harvard format in Teal is also easy. You can choose from a resume template library and customize your whatever template you choose to mimic Harvard’s.

Customize your achievements

Because you're likely creating a dozen tailored resumes to match various job descriptions, use Teal's AI achievement writer to help you create powerful descriptions. Once you've covered everything, select the achievements most relevant to the job listing.

Find the keywords for every job

Consider the keywords and complex asks of the company. Take a look at the responsibilities section of this job description for a marketing position:

From this job description, you can pull out a few important details:

• There’s a high emphasis on content strategy execution
• There is some level of strategy execution and account management
• You’ll need writing skills
• You’ll be working with freelancers

If you use Teal’s keyword matching tool, you can see which keywords are most important to include in your resume.

This will help you determine the most important keywords and relevant information to include on your resume.

Create an Ivy-level resume

Whether you use Harvard's resume template or the more traditional reverse-chronological order, make sure the final format is compatible with application tracker systems (ATS). Teal offers free and paid templates designed to satisfy ATS requirements and impress hiring managers. Sign up for Teal for free to build a better resume.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pages should a resume to harvard be.

According to Harvard, the resume used for a Harvard application should be one to two pages. They stress the importance of not exceeding that page limit.

Is there a proper format for a college resume?

Most resumes will have the same structure: Personal contact information, professional summary, work experience, and education.

You might add skills, relevant coursework, community service efforts, and accomplishment statements to your resume if you lack work experience or have achievements directly related to the role. 

Beyond that, the look and feel of a resume may vary. This is demonstrated in Teal’s library of 100+ resume templates .

Is the Harvard College Bullet Point Resume Template ATS-friendly?

Yes. ATS software is capable of reading resumes in various formats, and the Harvard resume template is simple, easy to read, and classic. Difficulties should only arise with images or specialized formatting.

Sarah Colley

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8+ Best Google Docs Resume Templates—and How to Use Them

I remember the first time I had to write a resume . I was 16 and applying to a role at American Eagle (yes, I made a resume in high school; no, I did not need one to get an after-school job; yes, I was very extra). Having zero context for what one should look like, I took my older brother’s resume and copy-and-pasted my own experience into his template.

Maybe that’s your go-to strategy: Find someone with a great resume and make it your own. I won’t deny it worked well for me—and I still use that same template to this day.

Once you perfect your resume, check out open jobs on The Muse to maximize your chances »

But if you’ve never made a resume and don’t have someone else’s to work off of, you may be in need of a template. We’ve collected eight of our favorite Google Docs resume templates that are fun and cheap (if not free!)—as well as some tips for using them to your advantage.

What makes a good resume template?

Best built-in google docs resume templates, other google docs resume templates, bonus tips for using your google docs resume template.

You want to pick one that’s visually appealing, easy to use, and allows you to include all the necessary resume sections. But you should also choose a resume template that can be easily “read” by an applicant tracking system (ATS) . 

ATSs are software that most employers use to store, file, and search candidate resumes to help them stay organized and find the applicants that meet the most qualifications. These programs are pretty advanced, but they’re far from perfect, and certain types of formatting may make it difficult or impossible for an ATS to accurately parse your resume.

To give yourself the best chance of getting to the next round of hiring, you want to make sure  the Google Docs resume template you choose doesn’t include any of these formatting elements:

• Images , including photos ( in the U.S. ), logos, graphics, graphs, other visuals, or text contained in any of these elements
• Headers and footers
• Less common fonts
• Columns: ATSs are programmed to read left to right, so they’ll often read columns straight across rather than reading each column from top to bottom. If this doesn’t change the experience of reading your resume, columns may be OK.

Want to make creating a resume in Google Docs super easy on yourself? Choose one of Google’s premade resume templates. If you’re on docs.google.com, just click on “Template gallery” near the top right of the page and scroll down to see your resume options. If you’re already in a Google Doc, you’ll want to click “File”> “New” > “From template gallery” to see all of your options.

While Google has five built-in templates, we only recommend three of them for getting through any ATS you might encounter.

1.  Google Docs Coral resume template

Need something super simple? Look no further than this resume created right in Google Docs. With just a pop of color and clear direction as to what goes where and how to best organize your information, you can’t go wrong with this template. To make sure the ATS doesn’t get confused, you’ll want to just delete the “Hello” and “I’m” from the top of the page. Then it’s your choice whether you want your name in black or coral.

2. Google Docs Spearmint resume template

What we like most about this resume template is that the skills section goes first, which makes it perfect for career changers .

Why, you ask? Listing your skills at the top allows you to emphasize what you bring to the table (a.k.a., your transferable skills ), especially to a hiring manager who may not be able to tell how your past experiences apply to their job posting. (This resume format , where your skills are listed above your work history, is called the hybrid or combination resume .)

If you’re using this template as a career changer, make sure to keep it relevant to the job you want. This may mean removing certain jobs and skills that don’t add to your qualifications for the role you’re applying for, and possibly renaming the “Experience” section, “Relevant Experience.”

And don’t forget to tailor your bullets to apply to the job’s requirements.

3. Google Docs Modern Writer Modern Writer resume template

This is the third and final of Google’s default resume templates that we recommend. Like the “Spearmint” template above, the skills are at the top of the page, but remember that you can always tweak the order of a resume template to suit your situation (just copy and paste to move a section up or down if needed!).

Here are a few more templates from around the internet that can be opened as Google Docs files.

4. The Muse’s Resume Template

Yes, we made a resume template on Google Docs! It’s free, easy to plug your own information into, and explains where everything should go and how, from what your bullets should look like to what skills you should list.

Just click “File” > “Make a copy” to create your own copy.

5. Career Reload’s Mindy resume template

This Google doc template from Career Reload makes it easy for anyone reading your resume to spot the section they’re looking for. Just swap the outdated resume objective for a resume summary and you’re good to go.

6. Career Reload’s Josh resume template

Here’s another option from Career Reload that uses white space to change up the visual look of your resume. This is a great choice if you’re earlier in your career or want to focus on just a few experiences—since the formatting makes for less text space overall. 

You’ll notice that the section headings in this template are in columns, but this is an example of ATS-friendly columns—since reading the text from left to right still makes sense.

7. ResuStudio’s Google Docs resume template

If you want to up your game (and are willing to pay a bit extra to do so), this template looks that extra level of sleek and professional without being too much for the hiring manager (or ATS) to parse through. 

If you’re a bit further into your career, this template also has a two-page version. But make sure to remove the “References available upon request” bit from whichever version you use—it’s just wasting valuable space. When employers want your references, they know they can request them.

Cost: $9.26 (with frequent changes)

8.  BestResumes’ Google Doc resume template

For a very reasonable price, this template gives you color, ATS-friendly design, and several ways to emphasize your most important qualifications. Plus with the purchase, you’ll also get a two-page template, a cover letter template , and a reference sheet template to match your resume design.

Cost: $5.96 (with frequent changes)

9. Any ATS-friendly resume template you’d like

None of these templates doing it for you? That’s OK—you’ve got options. Etsy has many more paid resume templates made by designers and you can search for ATS-compatible ones.

You can also use almost any Microsoft Word or other resume template you find in Google Docs with a few easy steps:

• Download the template.
• Go to docs.google.com and click the folder icon to open the file picker.
• Choose “Upload” along the top of the box that appears and pick the file.
• Save the file as a Google Doc.

Or if you’re already in a blank Google doc, click “File”>”Open” and follow steps three and four above.

Some formatting won’t translate well between programs, so be sure to double check that the template still looks good in Google Docs.

Not to sound too obvious, but using these templates is about more than just plugging your skills and experience in and calling it a day. You’ll need to follow a few steps:

• Replace everything in the template with your own information , otherwise the hiring manager is going to wonder why it says “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet” under your education. This means giving your resume several looks over, and then having a friend or two check it for errors, too.
• Make the template your own , whatever that means for you. If you don’t like the color of the headings, change them. If you think your name is too big and it’s taking away space you could use for your bullet points, go ahead and decrease the font size. If you want to add your own section, whether for “ Certifications ” or “ Projects ” or some other category that’s relevant to the job description, feel free to convert an existing section you don’t need or otherwise tweak the template to fit it in. Templates are meant to be personalized, not followed to a T.
• Focus on the content . Pretty resumes are great, but if what they say isn’t tailored to the job, thoroughly proofread, or at least somewhat interesting to read, you’re not going to land that interview. So make sure you’re writing stellar resume bullets and following these important resume tips .

How does all that sound? Great, now get out there and make your resume shine! Teenage Alyse would be so proud.

Regina Borsellino contributed writing, reporting, and/or advice to this article.

• Harvard College Resume

Harvard College Resume Free Google Docs Template

Create a powerful tool to highlight all your outstanding features using this Harvard College Resume Free Google Docs Template. At the moment, the labor exchange is not going through its best moments. Modern competition and the number of available vacancies are absolutely not equivalent. Therefore, getting a coveted place in the concrete jungle is becoming harder and harder. So to help you become a leader in this race, we have prepared this free Google Docs Harvard College Resume Template. It has everything you need to accurately present yourself as a professional.

Gorgeous appearance offers you a stylish solution to your problems. Its minimalism and not being filled with unnecessary details makes it a high-quality tool for achieving your first career achievements. Its entire repository will easily allow you to place all the necessary text blocks, including information about yourself, achievements, education, the name of the school or college where you studied, experience, as well as many other interesting details that will help you highlight your advantages.

Whether you’re applying for an internship, graduate program, or entry-level position, this template provides a solid framework for presenting your qualifications. With the convenient Google Docs editor, you’ll have no problem personalizing the template to suit your career goals and preferences. This feature facilitates easy customization for individuals seeking to tailor their resumes effectively. Customize fonts, colors, and formatting to create a resume that will stand out and impress recruiters and admissions committees. Let this template serve as a powerful tool that opens the door to exciting opportunities and future success! And also let the website gdoc.io  become a reliable guide in this development.

If you are a university student, you can use this university resume template to help you stand out from other job applicants. Such a template contains all the necessary sections and information about you as a professional candidate.

Having the appropriate tool to distinguish yourself from other candidates and capture the employer’s attention is crucial. This resume template is quite flexible, and each student can easily customize it to meet their needs.

Break away from generic resumes with our free Google Docs template. Your high school resume should be more than a list – make it a reflection of your achievements and aspirations.

Illuminate your career trajectory with the Harvard Resume Free Google Docs Template, encapsulating Harvard’s academic prestige. Download now and let your qualifications shine!

Often, when applying to a particular educational institution, you need to prepare a short summary, on the basis of which your enrollment will be discussed. Our team of professionals prepared this Harvard University resume template for you!

Minimalistic template that makes the right accents creating a new rhythm. The text includes sections such as: personal information, work experience, skills, education, specialization and its areas, contact information.

Land the academic position of your dreams with our flawless resume. Impress hiring committees with clear, concise, and visually appealing documentation of your academic journey.

A bright positive resume for a promising graduate who has just begun to take his first steps in finding a job. Saturated and cheerful colors will convey your mood and will surely arouse the sympathy of your employer or HR manager.

Jumpstart your career path with our Free Google Docs Teen Resume Template. This template helps teens highlight their skills, experience, and accomplishments in a professional format.

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Professional Google Doc Templates

Finding and Completing the Harvard Resume Template: A Detailed Guide

In the realm of job hunting, the Harvard resume template can be your secret weapon. The first impression is what counts, and nothing does it better than a well-crafted resume. Today, we’ll dive into what the Harvard resume template is, why it’s valuable, and how you can effortlessly complete it using Google Docs.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Harvard Resume Template

The Harvard resume template is a specific layout for resumes that prioritizes succinctness and clarity. Typically, it comprises sections such as personal information, education, professional experience, skills, and references. The format is popular for its streamlined, professional look and the emphasis it places on your most significant achievements.

The Harvard Business School itself uses this resume format for its students, indicating its credibility and effectiveness. Jobseekers around the world, irrespective of their industry, can leverage this template to put their best foot forward.

The Power of First Impressions

Before we delve deeper into the Harvard resume template, it’s essential to appreciate the importance of a compelling resume. According to a study, recruiters spend an average of only six seconds reviewing an individual resume.

In this fleeting moment, a well-structured and visually appealing resume can make all the difference. A standout resume can grab the recruiter’s attention and significantly increase your chances of landing an interview. This fact underscores the need for a high-quality resume template that can highlight your key achievements and qualifications.

The Benefits of Using Google Docs for Resume Creation

In a report by Statista , as of 2021, Google Docs had over 500 million active users. This figure reflects the ease of use, accessibility, and versatility offered by this platform. But why is it an ideal choice for your resume needs?

Easy to Use

Google Docs stands out for its simplicity. It offers a user-friendly interface that even a tech novice can navigate with ease. This means you can focus more on the content of your resume and less on technical details.

Google Docs is completely free to use. All you need is a Google account, and you’re good to go. This feature makes it an affordable solution for job seekers and students who may not have the budget for pricey software or resume services.

No Additional Software Needed

One of the biggest perks of Google Docs is that you don’t need any additional software. It operates entirely in your browser. You can access your files from any device, be it your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Real-Time Editing and Sharing

Google Docs enables real-time editing and sharing. This feature can be incredibly beneficial when you need someone else to review your resume or make changes. All you have to do is share the link, and they can access it instantly.

Why Use Our Harvard Resume Template for Google Docs

Our Harvard resume template for Google Docs incorporates all the beneficial features of Google Docs while adding the finesse of a professionally designed resume. It strikes a balance between a formal tone and visual appeal, ensuring that your resume stands out without seeming unprofessional.

Our templates are easy to edit, requiring no design skills on your part. With our templates, you have a powerful tool to create a compelling resume that showcases your qualifications and achievements.

How to Complete the Harvard Resume Template in Google Docs

Now that we’ve explored the benefits of our Harvard resume template for Google Docs, let’s walk through the process of completing it.

• Open the Template: Start by opening the Harvard resume template in Google Docs. If you’re not already logged in, you’ll be prompted to sign in to your Google account.
• Edit the Header: Replace the placeholder text with your name and contact details. Ensure that your name stands out as the most significant text on the page.
• Update the Objective or Summary: This section should provide a brief overview of your career goals and qualifications. Tailor it to the specific role you’re applying for.
• Fill in the Education Section: Include your academic qualifications, starting with the most recent one.
• Update the Experience Section: List your relevant professional experiences, starting with the most recent. Highlight your responsibilities and accomplishments in each role.
• Add Skills and Certifications: In this section, include any relevant skills and certifications that you possess.
• Add References: If applicable, include references who can vouch for your qualifications and experience.
• Review and Save: After you’ve filled in all the sections, review your resume for any errors or omissions. Once you’re satisfied, save the document.

Our Harvard resume template for Google Docs offers an easy and effective way to create a professional resume. It provides a structured layout that can impress recruiters and increase your chances of landing your dream job. Whether you’re a student, a seasoned professional, or someone changing careers, this template can adapt to your unique needs and set you apart in the competitive job market.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, a well-structured, visually appealing resume is critical to making a good first impression on potential employers. The Harvard resume template for Google Docs offers a simple, affordable, and effective solution for creating such resumes. It combines the best of both worlds – the professional structure of the Harvard format and the simplicity and versatility of Google Docs.

Remember, a compelling resume is the first step toward landing your dream job. Make it count!

Free eBook:

5 Simple Steps to Get a Job Offer in the Next 14 Days

Get this step-by-step action plan and learn how to set career goals , gather and organize job offers , craft a standout resume and prepare for the interview !

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12 Google Docs Résumé Templates You Should Check Out

You don’t have to create your résumé from scratch. Make your job search easier by using templates. We have selected the best free Google Docs résumé templates for students, new graduates, teachers, and other professionals. All that’s left to do is pick one that fits your profile and customize it with your details.

Good to know: you can also use a Google Docs cover letter template to go with your résumé.

1. Google Docs Résumé Templates

2. hecuba template, 3. muse résumé template, 4. khanya résumé template, 5. harvard résumé template, 6. black and white résumé, 7. pavlos résumé template, 8. grigie résumé template, 9. standout-cv template, 10. classy résumé template.

• 11. TOTH - Portfolio Résumé

12. Creative Résumé Template

Bonus: how to use a word résumé file in google docs, how to share a google docs résumé, frequently asked questions.

To begin, you don’t need to look elsewhere, as Google Docs provides five free résumé templates. Open Google Docs in a browser, and click on the Template gallery option at the top.

You will find the résumé templates under the CVs section. Included are Swiss, Serif, Coral, Spearmint, and Modern writer. There are some with two columns and some with just one. Click on a template you’d like to preview; you’ll be able to edit the Google Doc right away.

Note: you can use Google Docs templates for every aspect of your life, from the job search to project, event, and travel planning.

The Hecuba Google Docs Résumé template offers a box design with your profile section on the left and education on the right. This template is suitable for people who want to showcase their skills in a ratings format. The Skills box is present in the bottom-left corner.

Note: if you don’t see the Google Docs résumé templates, you need to change the Google Drive language to English. For that, open Google Docs, then go to Settings icon -> Settings -> Change language settings -> English .

The Muse résumé template is a good choice if you’re looking for a really simple résumé template to get started quickly. It also has sections for volunteer work, skills, and education. This template is ideal for educators and professionals.

Click on the above link to view the template. If you want to edit it, click on File → Make a copy . That will create a new copy of this template in your Google Drive/Google Docs. Open it and start editing, making sure to remove any instructions in the template. Select the instructions, and press the Delete key.

The Khanya résumé template is an elegant two-column résumé template. Aside from the basic information, like name, number, and social media profiles, there are placeholders for experience, education, objectives, and skills. The top and bottom edges of this template have borders that you can easily remove if you want.

Click on the link to open this template, then on File → Make a copy . This template can be used by all kinds of people, including college students and professionals. Students should remove the “Experience” heading, and replace it with “Volunteer experience.”

Note that you can customize most templates to your needs, including this one. For example, you may want to change the margins in Google Docs to accommodate more content than would have fit on a single page.

If you prefer classic one-column résumés, the Harvard résumé template is for you. It’s a simple résumé template with bullet points. Professional experience, education, and additional skills are included in the native sections.

To use this template, click on the Make copy button when you open the link. Also check out the Chicago and Classic templates, which are two versions of Harvard.

This Black and White résumé is a stylish template that focuses on your photo and the “About Me” section. Both of them and your contact information get a prominent place in the left column, while Education, Experience, and Skills, are listed on the right.

Open the link and click the Edit template button. Select between US letter and A4 template for size, then click on Make a copy .

The Pavlos résumé template is best described as chic and modern. Accented with various shades of teal, sections for profile, experience, education, references, and skills are provided in this two-column CV template with a photo placeholder.

The only drawback is that the elements have been added via Google Drawings. As a result, when you are editing data, all content will open in Google Drawings. Do remember to remove the last page of the résumé template after reading the instructions.

Click on the link, and hit the Make a Copy button. If the direct link doesn’t work, get the template from the official website . Also check out more cool Google Docs résumé templates from resumgo.com .

The Grigie résumé template is divided into three sections: header, sidebar, and the main section. The header also includes an image placeholder to add your own picture. If, however, you don’t want to include a picture, remove the image box.

To get this template in Google Docs, use the link above. Scroll down and click on Open in Google Docs , followed by Make a copy .

If you are an experienced professional, this template from Standout-cv will provide you with sufficient room and formatting for listing your previous roles. The Standout-cv website lists various examples of this template in use .

Another option is the Classy résumé template from Beamjobs. In addition to your work experience, your skills can be highlighted more prominently in this template. It can be used by software engineers, teachers, and managers, among others.

11. TOTH – Portfolio Résumé

Toth is a beautiful Google Docs résumé template to showcase your portfolio, as it offers placeholders for images. It’s suitable for artists, graphic designers, and other creatives who want to display a glimpse of their work through pictures in their résumé.

This Creative résumé template is another creation by Beamjobs . The two-column design helps you condense your skills, education, and work experience into bite-sized chunks of information. Helpful cues guide you while filling in your details.

If your work experience is scarce, you could add volunteer experience in the bottom right. If you can’t fit your relevant work experience on one page, however, you’re better off using a single column template.

There is a very limited collection of free Google Docs résumé templates. However, if you search the Internet for Microsoft Word résumé templates, you will find a plethora of them, so why not use a Word template in Google Docs?

To do so, follow these steps:

Download a Microsoft Word template on your device. It will be in the .docx format. Some of the websites that offer free Word templates include:

• Microsoft Office
• TemplateLAB College Student Résumé Templates
• TemplateLAB Curriculum Vitae Templates

Open Google Drive in a browser. Click on New -> File upload . Add the Word template you downloaded.

• Open the résumé template. Click on File → Save as Google Docs to create a new version of the template. Go back to Google Drive, and open the newly created Google Docs template.

If you face any issues while following the above steps, check out our detailed guide on how to convert Word to Google Docs . You can also create your own résumé in Word.

Tip: ask a friend to proofread your cover letter and résumé before you submit your application. Here’s how you can track their changes in Google Docs .

Once you have modified the résumé details to match your profile, it’s time to share it with recruiters. You can send them the Google Docs link or download it as a PDF.

1. Share a Google Docs Résumé

Open the résumé you want to share, and click on the Share button at the top.

The Share with people and groups window will appear. Enter the email addresses of the people with whom you want to share the résumé so that only the people added can open the link.

Alternatively, create a link and share it. Do note that anyone with the link can view the résumé. For that, click on Change to anyone with the link . Copy the link and send it via email , messaging apps, etc.

2. Convert Google Docs to PDF

The best practice is to convert Google Docs to PDF, and share the same with others.

Click on File → Download → PDF in the Google doc. Select the desired location on your computer where you want the PDF file downloaded. Attach the PDF file to your email, and send it to potential employers.

If I use one of these templates, will my résumé be ATS compliant?

Using one of the templates above, or any other template, will not make your résumé ATS compliant automatically.

Keep in mind that an ATS or Applicant Tracking System analyzes résumés based on keywords. It also strips the formatting. To ensure that your résumé is parsed by an ATS successfully, it’s important to tailor it to match the job description closely and to keep the formatting simple.

If you start with a fancy template, you’ll need to do extra of work to get the formatting right. If you don’t, your data will be displayed incorrectly when it passes through an ATS. We recommend running your résumé through a résumé scanner to ensure that it’s ATS compatible.

Which file format do most employers prefer for résumés?

Usually, a résumé in PDF format is preferred. But there is no hard and fast rule as such. You can also send a Word document or share the Google Docs link. It’s best to check with the employer and to have your résumé ready in multiple formats to share at a moment’s notice.

How do I attach a Google Doc résumé to an email?

You must convert and download the Google Doc into a PDF file and attach it to an email. Alternatively, copy-paste the link into your email to send it to the recruiter.

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Mehvish is a tech lover from Kashmir. With a degree in computer engineering, she's always been happy to help anyone who finds technology challenging. She's been writing about technology for over six years, and her favorite topics include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, Windows, social media, and web apps.

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Harvard Style Resume Template

Use this free template with google docs and microsoft word.

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