When it comes to resume writing, some people end up spending hundreds of dollars to get rid of it. A well-written resume is a key ingredient in a successful job search, and learning how to write it is often daunting.
Even if you decide to tackle it yourself, many of the recommended resources and resume websites aren’t available for free. However, this does not mean that you cannot write a quality resume without paying. Using a resume template in Google Docs is one of the best ways to achieve this.
Google Docs Resume Templates”/>
Luckily, Google has recognized the popularity of Docs as a resume-building tool and provides a gallery of templates to help you get started.
How to Find Google Docs Resume Templates
Going to Google Docs, you will see a line at the top of the page with options for creating a new document. You may see one or two resume templates on this line, but there are others worth checking out if you click the Template Gallery link in the upper right corner.
Google Docs Resume Templates”/>
Clicking on it expands the template gallery to display five different resume templates: Swiss, Serif, Coral, Spearmint, and Modern Writer.
Google Docs Resume Templates”/>
Clicking on one of them will take you directly to a new document, where you can start editing the template.
How to Edit a Google Docs Resume Form
After choosing the resume template you like, you can start editing it. Let’s take a look at the Serif pattern as an example.
Google Docs Resume Templates”/>
Serif is a responsive two-column pattern. While you can add or remove sections depending on how the content on the page is populated, it’s important not to stack significantly longer text into one column than the other.
If you do, it will end up as an eyesore. Therefore, it may be preferable to use a single column resume template (such as Coral or Modern Writer).
Google Docs Resume Templates”/>
If you see that your first template doesn’t suit your needs, you can always try others. Sections can be easily renamed and recolored by simply highlighting and changing the font, color, and other text attributes. Feel free to experiment, because you can easily undo any changes or reload the template from scratch.
One important tip to remember is that you must adhere to the predefined formatting style for the structure to function properly.
Google Docs Resume Templates”/>
If you highlight a small piece of text in your resume template, you’ll notice that pretty much everything that isn’t lorem ipsum text is a heading. While you can simply format the plain text so that it looks identical to the heading text, setting it as the heading is what tells Google Docs where to place it in the outline.
While it’s not common for businesses and employers to ask for your resume as a link to Google Docs, adhering to formatting guidelines can ensure the best possible export in all file formats. Some text editors support outlines.
How to save Google Docs resume templates
As mentioned, you won’t find many employers asking you to submit your resume as a Google Docs link. This is why you will want to understand how to properly export your resume to one of the common text file formats.
Google Docs Resume Templates”/>
Fortunately, Google makes this process extremely easy and only takes a few clicks. All you have to do is click on the File menu, hover over Upload to expand the options, and choose any of the file formats in which you want to upload your resume.
In my job search experience, most companies and employers will ask for your resume in PDF format. However, it doesn’t hurt to save a copy of your resume in Microsoft Word, Rich Text Format, and Plain Text. Downloading them now will save you time in the future.
You should also check each of the downloaded files with a supported application such as Foxit PDF Reader, Notepad ++, etc. The export process is not always perfect and you may need to sand these files around the edges.
If you update your resume frequently, be sure to re-upload your resume in each of these formats. Make the mistake of submitting an outdated copy of your resume just because someone asks for it in a format you don’t normally use.
That’s all it takes to create and save a resume in Google Docs using a set of resume templates. While there are paid alternatives that can speed up and simplify the process, Google Docs resume templates are one of the best and most flexible free options out there.
–