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Microsoft Word is the first tool that comes to mind for creating resumes. But you don’t have to start from a blank page. Save time and make a great first impression by using a professionally designed Microsoft Word resume template.
The Chronological resume template from Resume Genius is an excellent choice if you have a consistent work history in the field. This sleek design showcases your professional journey, with the most recent position listed first, followed by previous roles in reverse chronological order.
Your name and contact details are prominently featured in the header, making it easy for recruiters to reach out. The body of the resume uses crisp formatting and bold headings to organize your work experience, education, and skills—so that your qualifications are clear and scannable.
You should optimize your skills section by incorporating keywords from the job description to increase your chances of passing applicant tracking system (ATS) screenings.
If you’re applying for a job at a large company, there’s a good chance your resume will need to pass an applicant tracking system (ATS) before it reaches a human recruiter. The ATS Bold Classic resume template is designed to do just that.
With a clean, straightforward layout and ample white space, this template makes it super easy for ATS software to read and understand your information. The bold, all-caps section headings—like “OBJECTIVE,” “EXPERIENCE,” and “EDUCATION”—act as clear signposts, helping both ATS algorithms and human recruiters quickly locate key details.
You can use an online resume scanner to create an ATS-friendly resume. These resume scanners help you identify the changes needed to make your resume compatible with the applicant tracking software.
To make the most of this template, use bullet points to highlight your most impressive achievements in each role, and don’t forget to customize your skills section to mirror the job description’s requirements.
For a resume template that balances professionalism and personality, try the CraftCrest template by Freesumes. This design features a bold header with room for a headshot. It is ideal for fields like sales, real estate, or other customer-facing roles where building rapport is key.
One standout element of CraftCrest is the Professional Profile section. Use this space to highlight your most relevant skills and experiences, tailoring them to the specific role you’re pursuing.
For a no-frills, straightforward resume design, look no further than the Basic Professional resume template from Microsoft Word. This minimalist layout puts the focus squarely on your qualifications, making it a solid choice for job seekers in traditional fields like finance, law, or healthcare.
One of the strengths of this design is its versatility—with a few tweaks, it can be tailored to suit a wide range of industries and experience levels. For example, if you’re a recent graduate, you can expand the Projects & Extracurricular section to showcase relevant coursework and leadership roles. At the same time, if you’re a seasoned professional, you can use the space to highlight your most impressive career accomplishments.
Freesumes’ Minimalista template keeps things simple. It has a classic black-and-white color scheme and plenty of white space to put your qualifications front and center.
To make this template truly effective, take some time to write a customized resume summary that directly addresses the position you are chasing. In the Professional Experience section, highlight your most impressive, relevant accomplishments—the ones that showcase the unique value you’d bring to the role.
Just like a
well-written cover letter
, a great resume is all about knowing your audience and giving them exactly what they’re looking for.
6 Simple and Basic
For job seekers who prefer a traditional, straightforward approach, the Simple and Basic resume template from Resume Viking is a reliable choice. This design forgoes flashy elements in favor of a clean, easy-to-read layout that puts your professional experience at the forefront.
The template’s minimalist aesthetic is reminiscent of a classic typewritten resume, with a crisp black-and-white color scheme and standard fonts. While the design may be basic, that doesn’t mean your content has to be.
Use strong action verbs and concrete examples to highlight your achievements in each role, and be sure to tailor your skills section to the job description. With a well-written, targeted resume, even a simple template can have a powerful impact.
If you’re a jobseeker with a diverse skill set or a complex work history, the Functional resume template from Resume Genius could be your ideal choice. Unlike traditional chronological resumes, this format emphasizes your abilities and accomplishments over your employment timeline.
The Functional Resume template starts with a professional summary that highlights your most relevant qualifications and expertise. This is followed by an extensive “Relevant Skills” section, where you can detail your core competencies and achievements using concrete examples and quantifiable metrics.
This template allows you to tell a more cohesive story about your professional journey by focusing on your transferable skills rather than your work history. It’s particularly well-suited for career changers, those re-entering the workforce after a gap, or professionals looking to transition into a new industry.
While the work history is still included, it’s presented in a more concise format, with job titles and company names taking a backseat to your impressive abilities. If you want a resume that puts your skills in the spotlight, the Functional Resume template is definitely worth considering.
If you’re a creative professional and want to make a bold first impression, look no further than Resume Vikings’ Flamingo resume template. With its striking two-column layout and vibrant color scheme, this design is sure to catch any hiring manager’s eye.
The template’s sidebar showcases your contact details, education, and key skills, while a professional headshot adds a personal touch. In the main section, you’ll have ample space to highlight your experience and achievements, with clean typography ensuring your content shines.
If you are a job seeker with a diverse skill set and a varied work history, the Combination resume template from Resume Genius offers the best of both worlds. This format strikes a balance between showcasing your professional experience and highlighting your most relevant skills and accomplishments.
With its combination of functional and chronological elements, this template is particularly well-suited for professionals looking to transition into a new field or those with gaps in their employment history. The Combination Resume template helps you write an application that will catch any hiring manager’s attention.
Now that you have these free Microsoft Word resume templates, you should write an ATS-friendly resume. But if you’re still looking for more options, you might also want to use any of these free resume templates for Word to take your resume to the next level.
