11/13/2023

Free Resume Templates: The Ultimate Collection for 2023

The best things in life are free. That applies to free resume templates, too—browse our hand-picked free resume template collection and download your favorites straight away!

Maciej Duszyński, CPRW

Career Expert

11/13/2023

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Can you still find free resume templates in a world where all the good stuff seems hidden behind a paywall? Like, really free resume templates with no hidden payments, no dubious sign-ups, and no strings attached?

Yes. Just keep scrolling.

You’ll see:

Free resume templates ready to download and use straight away.
The best free resume templates for corporate positions, creative jobs, and everything in between.
Resources where you can find even more resume templates for free.

Save hours of work and get a job-winning resume like this. Try our resume builder with 20+ resume templates and create your resume now.

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Looking for something more specific? Consider these resources:

Jump right to the free templates you’re looking for:

The Best Resume Templates to Try for Free

Before we dive straight into downloadable free resume templates, take a look at this resume:

Do you want a resume like this one?

And one more question: do you want someone to guide you through every step of writing a resume?

If you’ve nodded twice, consider this: free resume templates essentially leave you alone with a beautifully formatted document. If you don't know how to write a resume, even the most perfectly designed template won't save you from making a mediocre resume—unless you get a professional to help you write the resume content.

But resume writing services can be costly. Fortunately, a more budget-friendly alternative to hiring a professional resume writer is a resume builder that provides tips, templates, and even pre-written chunks of resume content. For free, you can try all the resume templates and extra functions in the ResumeLab builder. Here are just a few:

Modern

This free-to-try resume template comes with unique graphical elements that will make your resume truly stand out.

Diamond

Diamond is a sleek, elegant resume template that relies on geometric shapes to structure your resume and guide the reader’s eye.

Nanica

This minimalist template is perfect for entry-level candidates and seasoned pros alike.

But… what about the absolutely free resume templates we promised at the beginning of this article? Well, here they are!

Simple Resume Templates (Free Download)

A simple resume template is a surefire choice for all professions and career levels. Simple resume templates offer a crystal clear picture of your key achievements and skills, positioning you as a confident professional who doesn’t need bells and whistles to prove their worth.

Here are the best simple resume templates you can download for free:

1. Connery, a Free Resume Template from ResumeGenius

Connery is a simple yet classy resume template that you can download for free—in 6 classic colors! Its timeless one-column layout and sophisticated font choice make it a great template for business resumes and academic CVs. Get it here.

2. Bold, a Free Resume Template from MyPerfectResume

This simple resume template is anything but bland—the pop of color in the header and the elegant fonts add a touch of sophistication. The template is designed with functional resumes and combination resumes in mind, but you can easily adapt it to the reverse-chronological format. Get it here.

3. Economic, a Free Resume Template from Hloom

Try this basic resume template for Microsoft Word if you want a no-frills resume that fits a lot of information on a single page. It’s perfect for corporate and legal resumes—but you can use it to apply for any position, especially if you want your resume to be 100% ATS-compatible. Get it here.

4. Simple Resume, a Free Resume Template for Microsoft Word

This free resume template from Microsoft’s own template gallery lives up to its name. Its structure is perfect for entry-level resumes, but you can reorder the resume sections to reflect your key selling points better. Get it here.

5. Coral, a Free Resume Template for Google Docs

Coral is a delightful free resume template available in Google Docs’ built-in template gallery. It follows a very simple resume structure, spiced up by bold color accents. Get it in Google Docs by clicking New → From template gallery.

Modern Resume Templates (Free to Download)

A contemporary free resume template is an excellent choice when applying for creative jobs, IT jobs, or pretty much any position at companies with a distinctively modern corporate culture. We’ve hand-picked five trendy resume templates that are almost too good to be free!

1. 2023, a Free Resume Template from ResumeGenius

This free resume template is so… 2023! It catches the eye with its bold header and offers a fresh take on the trusted two-column resume layout. The template is available for Microsoft Word and Google Docs. Get it here.

2. Standout, a Free Resume Template to Download from MyPerfect Resume

Looking for a free resume template that’s modern but not too reliant on big blocks of color? Try Standout, a sleek modern resume template with a timeline accentuating your professional growth. Get it here.

3. Call Out, a Free Resume Template from Hloom

This free resume template offers a striking asymmetrical design guaranteed to stand out. By default, Call Out relies on the green as the accent color, but since it’s a freely downloadable Word template, you can customize the color to your liking. Get it here.

4. Contemporary, a Free Resume Template for Microsoft Word

Contemporary Resume is a bold, modern resume template for confident professionals. It comes with decidedly modern font choices and an impressive colored sidebar (feel free to change the color to match your personal brand). Get it here.

5. Modern Writer, a Free Resume Template for Google Docs

This free resume template doesn’t just have the word “modern” in its name. It’s an elegant contemporary template with striking color accents and an unusual font combo. Modern Writer is originally designed as a functional or combination resume, but you can easily reorder the sections to create a standard reverse-chronological resume. Get it in Google Docs by clicking New → From template gallery.

Professional Free Resume Templates

When you want to position yourself as a confident, reliable, seasoned professional, consider picking one of these free resume templates that look like they’ve been exclusively designed for you.

1. Executive, a Free Professional Resume Template from ResumeGenius

This is the perfect free resume template for corporate and legal jobs. It’s perfectly organized and carefully designed with ultra-professional fonts. It’s available in 6 CEO-worthy colors and two resume file types: Word and Google Docs. Get it here.

2. Refined, a Resume Template to Download for Free from MyPerfectResume

This elegant resume template is perfect for both professional resumes and academic CVs—its timeless one-column design makes it an excellent choice for multi-page resumes. No one will ever believe you got this classy resume template for free! Get it here.

3. Academia, a Free Professional Resume Template from Hloom

Classy fonts and understated color accents make this free resume template truly special. No matter if you’re writing a two-page resume for a senior position or just getting your foot in the door as an entry-level candidate, Academia is a great choice when you want to show your professionalism. Get it here.

4. Polished Resume, Designed by Moo & Available for Microsoft Word as a Free Resume Template

This professional resume template offers a clear, easy-to-skim structure and a well-organized layout. Change the color to gray or navy if you’re applying for a more “buttoned up” job, or leave it as it is if your dream workplace has a relaxed company culture. Get it here.

5. Serif, a Professional Resume Template for Google Docs

Serif is one of the free resume templates available in Google Docs’ built-in template gallery. Its professional two-column layout and timeless font choices make it a great option for a professional resume. Get it in Google Docs by clicking New → From template gallery.

Creative Resume Templates for Free Download

Sleek business resume templates are good and fine, but what if you’re applying for a job where creativity matters most? Win recruiters’ hearts with these creative free resume templates!

Expert Hint: If you want to use a creative resume template, make sure that the company reviews all incoming resumes manually and doesn’t use ATS software to filter away “irrelevant” job applications. The software might get confused by creative resume designs and mistakenly dismiss your resume. Learn more about writing an ATS-friendly resume.

1. Westminster, a Free Resume Template from ResumeGenius

This free resume template boasts a uniquely creative font combination: the elegant script-like headings create a powerful contrast with the friendly but businesslike body font. It’s available in 6 dazzling colors and two formats: Microsoft Word and Google Docs. Get it here.

2. Strong, a Creative Free Resume Template from MyPerfectResume

Strong is a free resume template for creatives who aren’t afraid of bold splashes of color. It follows a trusted two-column layout that lets you display all of your skills and achievements on a single page. Get it here.

3. Grid, a Creative Resume Template to Download for Free from Hloom

Why stick to a one- or two-column layout if you can be creative and make a grid? This free resume template offers an unusual but still easy-to-follow structure with fun color blocks. Get it here.

4. Sticky Note Resume, a Free Resume Template for Microsoft Word

This colorful resume template is a great choice for creative jobs. It combines a highly organized layout with a vibrant design that won’t get overlooked easily. And it’s a free resume template that you can download straight from Microsoft’s template gallery. Get it here.

5. Spearmint, a Creative Free Resume Template for Google Docs Users

Most resumes are black and white, sometimes with a dash of grey or navy—and Spearmint will stand out like a young tree among concrete blocks. Get it in Google Docs by clicking New → From template gallery.

If you’ve reached this point and still haven’t found what you’re looking for, don’t worry. Online resume builders offer some free resume templates you may find to your liking. Plus, they turn text formatting into child’s play.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOW

Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

Do you know a great free resume template that wasn’t featured here? Leave us a comment!

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

Frequently Asked Questions About Free Resume Templates

How can I get resume templates for free?

There are dozens of free resume templates for all commonly used word processors:

If you know how to use LaTeX, you can also try LaTeX resume templates.

However, all of the above options have major weaknesses. Text editors are known to be clunky, so you might need hours of work to get the formatting just right.

Instead, consider the free-to-try resume templates offered by ResumeLab—the builder does all the formatting work for you so that you can focus on the content of your resume.

Why should I use a free resume template?

There are some good reasons to use a high-quality free resume template:

You save time. Making a resume from scratch without a template can easily take you many hours.
You save money. Paid resume builders aren’t expensive, but a free template will save you a couple of bucks.
You boost your chances of getting that interview. Good free resume templates are fully ATS-compatible, which means they won’t get automatically rejected by resume-parsing software.
Recruiters will sigh with relief when they see your resume—the best free resume templates are designed for easy reading.

The only disadvantage of free resume templates is that you need to know how to write a resume and pick the best resume layout—otherwise, you risk making resume mistakes that can sabotage your entire job hunt. If you’re new to writing resumes, consider a resume builder that will guide you through the entire process.

What is the best free resume template?

The best free resume template is the one that fits your needs. Here’s how to identify if a free resume template is the best for you:

It follows the correct resume format—in most cases, a reverse-chronological resume template is the best choice.
It lets you fit your accomplishments and skills on a single page (opt for a two-page resume only if you’re a seasoned pro).
It doesn’t contain infographics or other elements that can confuse resume-parsing software (you need an ATS resume).
Ideally, it also comes with a matching cover letter template—like the resume templates in ResumeLab’s builder.

Are there any actually free resume templates?

Yes! Indeed, the templates found in resume builders aren’t 100% free (you have to pay to download the resume), but dozens of high-quality resume templates aren’t hidden behind any paywalls.

Here’s where you can find free resume templates:

In this collection of free resume templates for Word
In this hand-picked gallery of free Google Docs resume templates
On dedicated sites with free resume templates
In Microsoft’s official template gallery
In the template gallery built into Google Docs

How can I download a resume without paying?

You’ll usually need to pay a small sum of money. But there’s another option.

Here’s how to make a resume for free:

Download a free resume template for your favorite word processor.
Read free resume tips and guides on how to write a resume.
Find inspiring resume samples for your chosen profession (you can start with this collection of 280+ resume samples).
Fill the template with your information based on the tips and advice you’ve found.