Google Docs Resume Templates and Examples for 2024

Google Docs Resume Templates

Google Docs is a powerful word processing tool that can do most of the things Microsoft Word can do and doesn’t require a license or subscription. You can easily create a resume using only Google Docs and its gallery of resume templates, all of which can be edited to your specifications.

These templates are a convenient option for most professionals, especially those who lack resume writing experience or need a quick turnaround. You can create a professional resume without getting bogged down by the design process.

Google’s template gallery can be accessed from any device with an internet connection. Whether you prefer a modern template or a more traditional look, there are multiple user-friendly options to choose from. Also, Google Docs allows for real-time editing and sharing, making it easy to collaborate with others, receive feedback, and share the final product with potential employers.

What makes a Google Docs resume template?

Google Docs resume templates can be categorized as “Modern” or “Professional.” They strike a healthy balance between aesthetics and functionality, making them a safe option for most industries and job positions. Before we discuss the most popular designs, let’s look at the top 10 major elements of a Google Docs resume template:

1. Optimized for readability
2. Clean minimalist designs
3. Prominent contact information
4. Clear section headings and organization
5. Plenty of white space for visual appeal
6. Simple, professional fonts
7. Subtle yet impactful color accents
8. Consistent and customizable formatting
9. Responsive layout for viewing on multiple devices
10. Real-time editing and sharing

To emphasize soft skills and technological proficiencies above all else, Swiss and Spearmint are great options for showcasing your specialties right at the top. If you’re looking for something simple and professional, Modern Writer has a clean, contemporary design with a smart use of space and bold headings. For something a little more fun and playful, Coral might well suit your needs.

When to pick a Google Docs resume template

When selecting a template, keep in mind the goals of the organization you’re applying to and choose one that communicates a similar tone and intent. There are plenty of reasons to use a Google Docs resume template, but here are our top five:

• Create a professional resume quickly
• Easily customize and modify your document
• Include your friends for feedback by simply sharing a link
• Access and edit your resume from any device
• Save your document in various file formats

Font settings

At the top of the page on the toolbar are the text settings — text styles, font, font size, bold, italics, underline, font color, and highlight. Use this bar to change the typeface of your resume to your liking, highlighting the text you want to change and using the toolbar to make a new selection.

As a general rule of thumb when it comes to picking new fonts and sizes for your resume, an 11-point font is typically the gold standard size. Certain things should be bigger to highlight important points (your name) or as a way to organize your resume’s sections. But don’t go higher than 14 for section headings or 17 for your name.

It’s best to use just two fonts on your resume — one for section headings and one for everything else. Fonts can be important for certain types of jobs. Keep things traditional if you’re applying for a traditional industry — fonts like Calibri or Cambria are perfect.

For a simple resume format, stick with black text throughout. This is friendlier on both the eyes and printers. Color ink costs more than most people like, so keeping things black and white is ideal in most cases.

Paragraph settings

Paragraph settings are found in the dropdown menu just below the document title under the “Format” menu, but can also be found in the icon menu as the following symbols:

Left to right, these icons symbolize align and indent, line and paragraph spacing, checklist, bulleted list, numbered list, decrease indent, increase indent, and clear formatting.

To make changes that affect the whole document, hit ctrl+A on your keyboard to select all of the text in the document.

For align and indent, make sure the text in the resume document is left aligned. This is the standard alignment most people are used to, and anything else can feel jarring. However, you can experiment with aligning section headings to the center for a different look. This isn’t better per se, but it could be a welcome change of pace for a hiring manager who has to review hundreds of applications.

When it comes to line spacing, keep it consistent throughout and at 1.15. This spacing setting has become the default for a reason — readers prefer it.

Use bullet points to set off all the achievements in your Experience section. Also, consider bulleting your job duties and profile summary. Use either the standard symbol (•) or a simple alternative such as diamonds (⬥), arrows(⮚), or check marks (✔).

Exporting your resume

Once you’ve tailored your resume to your liking, it’s time to export it. Some listings will specify which file format is preferred, so keep this in mind when picking a file type to export your resume.

Select the “File” dropdown menu, then hover over the “Download” section for another popup menu to display your download options. Of these options, .pdf and .docx are the most likely file formats to be requested. If unspecified, default to .pdf, as this format is more likely to be accessible to more people.

If you’re submitting a physical copy of your resume, it’s as simple as hitting ctrl+P or selecting “Print” from the File menu.

More Resume Templates

Need a different resume template? Check out this list:

Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.