Google Docs gives you two paths to a resume template: start from one of the built-in designs in the Template Gallery, or build your own from a blank document. Either way, you can save the result as a reusable template you come back to every time you apply for a new role. Here’s how to do both, plus formatting choices that keep your resume readable by hiring software.
Start With the Template Gallery
Google Docs includes several free resume templates you can use as a starting point and then customize into your own. To find them from the Google Docs homepage, click “Template Gallery” in the upper right corner, scroll to the Resumes section, and click the design you like. A copy opens immediately, ready to edit.
If you already have a document open, you can also reach the gallery through File > New > From a template. Scroll through the options, select one, and click Insert. Either route gives you a fully formatted resume with placeholder text you replace with your own information.
The built-in templates are a solid foundation, but they aren’t always ideal for applicant tracking systems (the software most companies use to screen resumes before a human ever reads them). Some of the Google templates use two-column layouts, tables, or header/footer areas that can confuse those systems. If you plan to apply through online job portals, you may want to simplify the design or build one from scratch.
Build a Template From a Blank Document
Creating your own template gives you full control over layout and formatting. Open a new blank document in Google Docs and start with these structural decisions:
- Page margins: Go to File > Page setup. Margins between 0.5 and 1 inch on all sides work well. Narrower margins give you more space; wider margins look cleaner if your resume is short.
- Font: Pick a standard, readable font like Arial, Calibri, Garamond, or Georgia. Set your body text to 10 or 11 point and your name at the top to 16 to 20 point.
- Line spacing: Go to Format > Line & paragraph spacing. Single spacing (1.0) or 1.15 keeps the resume compact. Add a small amount of space after each paragraph (6 pt works well) to separate entries without wasting vertical space.
With those basics set, start laying out the sections.
Contact Information
At the top of the page, type your full name in a larger font size, centered or left-aligned. Below it, add your phone number, email address, city and state, and a LinkedIn URL if you have one. Separate these with a pipe character (|) or put each on its own line. Skip your full street address since employers rarely need it at the application stage.
Section Headings
Create a heading for each major section: Summary or Objective, Experience, Education, and Skills. Use Heading 2 or Heading 3 from the styles dropdown (the box in the toolbar that says “Normal text”). Applying a built-in heading style rather than just bolding the text helps screen-reading software and applicant tracking systems understand your resume’s structure.
Add a horizontal line under each heading if you want a visual divider. Place your cursor at the end of the heading, then go to Insert > Horizontal line.
Experience and Education Entries
For each job, type the company name and your title on one line (bold the title), then the dates on the same line, right-aligned. The easiest way to right-align dates on the same line is to set a right-aligned tab stop: click the ruler at the 6.5-inch mark (or wherever your right margin falls), double-click the tab marker, and set it to “Right.” Then press Tab before typing your dates, and they’ll snap to the right side of the page.
Below each job heading, add bullet points for your accomplishments. Use the standard bullet list button in the toolbar. Keep bullets to one or two lines each. Repeat this format for education entries, listing the school name, degree, and graduation year.
Skills Section
List your skills in a simple comma-separated line or a short bulleted list. Avoid rating bars, graphics, or star icons. These look nice on screen but are invisible or garbled to applicant tracking systems.
Format for Applicant Tracking Systems
Most mid-size and large employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to parse and filter resumes before a recruiter sees them. These systems work by reading plain text and standard formatting. If your template uses design elements the software can’t interpret, your qualifications may never reach a human.
Stick to a single-column layout. Multi-column designs, tables, text boxes, and images can cause ATS software to scramble your content or skip entire sections. Use standard bullet points (round or square) instead of decorative symbols like arrows or checkmarks, which may not parse correctly.
Avoid placing important information in headers or footers. Some systems ignore those areas entirely, which means your name and contact details could disappear. Keep everything in the main body of the document.
Use a consistent date format throughout (for example, “Jan 2022 – Present” or “01/2022 – Present,” but not a mix of both). Keep your fonts standard. Stick to widely available typefaces rather than decorative or script fonts that the system might substitute or misread.
Save It as a Reusable Template
Once your resume looks the way you want, turn it into a template you can reuse without accidentally overwriting your master copy. The simplest method is to rename the document something like “Resume Template – Master” and then, each time you need a new version, open it and go to File > Make a copy. Name the copy for the specific job or company, and edit that version while the original stays untouched.
If you use Google Workspace through a company or school, your organization may have a shared template gallery. You can submit your resume to that gallery so teammates (or just your future self) can grab it the same way you’d grab any built-in template.
For people who keep multiple resume versions (one emphasizing management experience, another focused on technical skills), create a separate master copy for each. Store them all in a dedicated Google Drive folder so they’re easy to find when a new opportunity comes up.
Export and File Naming
When you’re ready to submit your resume, go to File > Download > PDF Document. PDF preserves your formatting exactly as you designed it, regardless of what device the recruiter uses to open it. Some job applications specifically ask for a Word document; in that case, choose Microsoft Word (.docx) from the same download menu.
Name the file clearly: your first name, last name, the word “Resume,” and optionally the job title you’re applying for. Something like “Jane Smith Resume Marketing Manager.pdf” makes it easy for a recruiter to find your file among hundreds of submissions and signals professionalism before they even open it.