Create a Winning Resume with Google Docs: Step-by-Step Guide and Templates

What makes a good resume?

A good resume grabs attention, speaks directly to the employer’s needs, and makes a solid first impression within a matter of seconds. This is the very first thing employers see and should be able to set you apart from the competition from the very begenning.  

Keep reading for our best tips on creating a stellar resume in Google Docs.

Should You Write a Resume in Google Docs?

Absolutely, Google Docs is a great tool for writing your resume. Why? Let’s dive in!

• User-Friendly Google Drive platform. Even if you’re not tech-savvy, you’ll navigate through it with ease. Simple and intuitive interface, will make it easy for you to craft a professional resume.
• Google Docs continuously auto-saves your resume document. You don’t need straess that you lose your progress unexpectedly.
• Edit history. Did you delete something by mistake or want to revert to your previous version? Just visit the edit history and restore what you need.
• Collaborate with others. If you need a second pair of eyes to review your resume, just share a link with friends, mentors, or colleagues for real-time collaboration to get an instant feedback.
• Accessibility. Your resume is securely stored on Google Drive. You can access it and edit from any device with an internet connection.
• It can also be optimized to be ATS-friendly if you follow the ATS writing rules.

You can enjoy even more benefits when you make your resume in Google Platform.

How to Make a Resume in Google Docs?

The easiest way to craft your resume with Google Docs is to customize an existing template. Here’s how to do it:

1. Create a Google account or sign in to your existing one.
2. Navigate to the Google Docs website.
3. Once logged in, click on the “Template Gallery” option located in the upper-right corner of the main interface.

To access the template gallery, search for “resume templates” using the search bar or browse through the different template categories.
Click on the desired template to preview and see how does it look like.

Step 1. Choose the best resume format

Consider the most effective way to showcase your professional experience and skills. Unless you have a specific reason to choose another resume format, the reverse chronological format is often the best choice. It prioritizes your most recent job experiences, offering potential employers a clear and chronological view of your career progression.

Step 2. Choose a template, that best suits your needs

First of all you can select your perfect template from the free, default Google resume themes :

Free built-in Google Docs resume templates

• Swiss resume template

Swiss Google Docs resume template has a neat, two-column design that looks professional.

This CV template uses a skill-focused format, making it easy for employers to see your relevant skills. It’s great if you’re changing careers or want to show your general abilities rather than specific job experience. You can find this template in Google’s template collection.

• Serif Google Docs resume template

If you want to maintain a one-page resume, the Serif Resume style is an excellent choice. Especially beneficial for freshers and those at the entry level candidates. It features a clean two-column layout, making it suitable for both traditional and modern industries. This template is fully customizable, allowing you to replace or modify sections as needed. With this template you will efficiently showcase your key experience and skills. 

• Coral resume

This resume is known for its simplicity. The Coral Google Docs template is a great example of a skills-focused resume. It’s especially helpful for recent graduates, high school students, or people looking for jobs without much experience. This resume puts your skills upfront, making it easy for hiring manager to see what you can do, even if you haven’t had many jobs yet.

• Spearmint resume

The Spearmint Resume is a clean one-column job resume template for Google Docs, with a green accent. It’s designed to highlight your professional skills, making it great for students, graduates, and entry-level job seekers. This template also offers space for your education and skills, helping newcomers to the job market stand out in their chosen career path.

• Modern Writer resume

A clean and minimalist resume design with elegant fonts and subtle use of color. This template is well-suited for all industries but especially for writers, journalists, content creators.

Custom Google Docs resume templates

Are you looking for something more eye-catching? Here are our custom Google Docs resume templates, ready to use and download. 

 Step 3. Tailor to the job offer

Before beginning your resume, carefully read the job offer to understand what your future employer is seeking. Then, emphasize the relevant skills and experiences that align with the requirements outlined in the offer.

Step 4: Add your contact details

Include your full name, phone number, and a correct email address. You don’t need to include your physical address; mentioning your city is sufficient. Make sure this section is prominently visible on your resume, typically at the top of the page, so potential employers can easily reach out to you. You may also add a job title, you are applying for, like in an example below:

 Step 5: Write your resume summary or resume objective

To make a strong first impression, use an attention-grabbing resume summary. This section answers crucial questions about who you are, what is your experience, and why an employer should hire you. Keep it concise, highlight key skills, showcase achievements, and tailor it to the job offer.

If you’re an experienced candidate, consider a resume summary. For students, fresh graduates, or career changers, a career objective is more suitable.

Step 6: Add your work experience section

Start with your most recent job and work backward. For each position, include the job title, the company’s name, the dates you worked there, and a brief description of your key responsibilities and achievements. Use action verbs and quantifiable results to showcase your impact in each role. Tailor this section to align with the job you’re applying for by emphasizing relevant experiences and skills that demonstrate your suitability for the position.

Step 7. Include education section

For each entry, include the name of the institution, the degree or certificate earned, the field of study, and the graduation date. If you received any honors, awards, or notable achievements during your academic journey, you can mention them, especially if you are an entry-level candidate. 

Step 8. List relevant skills and achievements

List technical and soft skills, and use specific examples to demonstrate your contributions in past roles. Focus on those achievements that align with the position you’re applying for. Use concrete numbers whenever possible to quantify your achievements and their impact.

Step 9. Add additional sections if needed

You can add more sections to enrich your resume. Zou maz consider such sections: hobbies / interests, certificates and training, languages, publications, portfolio.

Step 10. Proofread Your Resume Carefully

Meticulously proofread your resume to ensure it’s error-free and well-crafted. Google Docs offers a built-in grammar and spelling check. You can also use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway. However, go beyond grammar and spelling. Assess if your resume is persuasive and tailored to the job. Ask a friend to review your application and offer valuable feedback.

Step 11. Download Your Google Docs Resume as a PDF file

Google Docs provides the flexibility to download your completed resume in various file formats. However, in most cases, especially when there are no specific instructions in the job advertisement, download it as a PDF file. To do so, follow these steps:

• Click on the “File” menu at the top-left corner of your Google Docs document.
• Hover over “Download,” and a submenu will appear.
• From the submenu, select “PDF Document (.pdf).”

Google Docs will convert your resume into a PDF file and you will be able to download the resume file to your device. 

Rework Your Resume Template For a Different Position

Adapt your resume template each time you apply for a different job. Start by reviewing the new job’s requirements and then tailor your resume to match them. Highlight relevant skills and experiences while minimizing unrelated details. Modify your resume’s objective or summary to align with the new position’s goals. You can make all the changes easily in Google Docs, which is user-friendly. 

Create a Matching Cover Letter

HR Managers feel that only looking at a resume isn’t good enough to decide who to hire. That’s why consider writing a covver letter. 

First of all, tailor the content to match the specific requirements outlined in the job posting. Express your genuine interest in the position and the company. Highlight your skills and experiences that closely align with what the job demands. Provide concrete evidence with specific examples from your previous experiences.

Do you need an inspiration? Go to our article on how to write a cover letter + examples.

Here you find our Google Docs cover letter templates. 

 How To Create a Resume in Google Docs Without a Template

Creating a resume from scratch  allows for full customization and flexibility. Here is how to do it:

• Open Google Docs. If you don’t already have a Google Docs account, sign up for one.
• Choose a blank document. Click on “Blank” to start with a clean document.
• Set preferred margins: Go to “File” > “Page setup” and adjust the margins. A standard resume typically uses 1-inch margins.
• Create a contact details section. Start with your name at the top in a larger font. Below that, add your contact information.
• Add sections, such as “Summary,” “Work Experience,” “Education,” “Skills.”
• Add Content: Under each section, enter the relevant information. Use bold or headings for section titles and bullet points or lists for details.
• You can customize fonts, sizes, and spacing to make your resume visually appealing. Keep it consistent throughout your job document.
• Use keywords from the job description. You’ll increase the chances of your resume getting noticed by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• Proofread.
• Download as a PDF file.

Bonus Tips for Creating Your Google Docs Resume

Use hyperlinks

You can add clickable links to websites, email addresses, or even other documents. what is more, hyperlinks you create in Google Docs will remain clickable when you download your document as a PDF.

Share link with a friend

You have an option to share a link to your Google Docs resume with another person. To do that, click the “Share” button in the top-right corner of your document. Enter the email address, set their permissions to “Viewer” or “Commenter” (depending on your preference), and then send them the link. This may be useful if you want o ask a friend to access and review your resume.

Create a copy of your resume in Google Drive

You’ve probably put a lot of work into making a great resume, and it’s really important to keep it safe. Before you share it with anyone, or customize it for applying for another position, make a copy. Ideally, produce copies for each new position you apply for using Google Drive. 

To do a backup of your resume:

• Click on “File” in the top left corner of the screen.
• Select “Make a Copy” from the dropdown menu.
• Give your copy a new name and choose where you want to save the copy. By default, it will be saved in the same folder as the original.
• Click “OK,” and a duplicate copy of your resume will be created and saved in your Google Drive.

Use voice typing 

Did you know that you can simplify the process of writing your resume using Google Drive’s voice typing feature? This tool allows you to speak your thoughts and ideas, and it will transcribe them into text, making the resume creation process more efficient. 

To enable voice typing:

• Click on the “Tools” menu at the top of the page.
• Select “Voice typing…”: In the dropdown menu, choose “Voice typing…”
• A microphone icon will appear on the left side of your document. Click on it to enable your computer’s microphone for voice input.
• Start speakingto allow Google Docs transcribe your speech into text in real-time.
• Format as needed. You can use voice commands to format your document, such as saying “new line,” “bold,” or “period” to add punctuatio

Key Takeaways

Let’s summarize the key resume tips for crafting your job application using Google Docs:

• Google Docs is an excellent tool for creating your resume.
• It auto-saves your work.
• You can collaborate with others in real-time for feedback.
• You can access and edit your resume from any device with internet.
• You can choose from various Google Docs resume templates.
• Always tailor your resume to match the job offer.
• Include fundamental sections, like resume summary, work experience, education, skills, and achievements.
• Proofread and make a copy of your resume in Google Drive.
• Download your resume as a PDF file.
• Consider using hyperlinks.
• Consider using voice typing to streamline the resume writing process.

Frequently Asked Questions on Resume Writing with Google Docs