Google Docs is a free web-based service which allows you to create, edit and store documents online. It’s becoming preferable to other word processors for its myriad features that offer convenience, shareability and easy collaboration. Google Docs even has a free resume builder that will plug your information into one of its creative resume templates. You can conveniently access your Google Docs resume online from any device with an internet connection. And, its automatic-save feature ensures that you’ll never lose your work. This guide provides you with the basics of creating a Google Docs resume plus 19 free Google Docs resume templates to get you started.
Google offers a resume-builder tool that you can use to create a professional document. No matter your skill with technology or graphic design, Google’s Resume Builder is easy to use and a great tool to take advantage of.
Whether you choose to create a resume from scratch, use Google Docs Resume Builder or go with a resume template, you first need to create a Gmail account. It’s free and takes only a few seconds.
Once you access Google’s Resume Builder, you’ll be prompted to sign into your Google Drive account. Enter the appropriate information to access your resume. The builder also offers a selection of resume templates from which to choose and inputs your information right into the template.
Google Resume Builder is connected to your Google Drive account and will automatically save your resume there.
Among Google Docs’ features is the ability to format your resume to best highlight your work experience and skills. Here are a few tips for formatting your Google Docs resume.
Clear Formatting: If you’re transferring text over from a previous resume, the Clear Formatting button is your friend. Simply copy the text from your previous resume and paste it into your Google Docs resume template. Highlight the text, right-click, then click Clear Formatting. The tool will match all of your text to the default style in your resume, saving you time from manually changing the font, size and color of your resume.
Copy Format: You may choose to copy the format of a line of text in your Google Docs resume. To do this, simply click the Paint Format icon on the left-hand side of the toolbar. Highlight the text you’d like to apply the formatting to. Double-clicking the icon locks the format into place, so every piece of text you click will change to the new format.
Tab Stops: Google Docs allows you to easily control spacing and text placement on your resume with tab stops. Resume layouts often incorporate tab stops to present important information neatly. For example, you may choose to left-align important dates on your resume by adding a left-tab stop, so your dates are all aligned with each other.
Revision History: The Google Docs Revision History feature is useful for job seekers because it allows you to see any previous changes that have been made to your Google Docs resume. You can see what’s changed in a file and restore your resume to a previous version, making it easy to fix any mistakes.
To check your revision history, at the top, click File > See revision history. Then click a timestamp in the right panel to see a previous version of your resume. If you like, you can restore your resume by clicking Restore this revision > Restore.
Restoring your resume to a previous version does not erase any other versions of your document. This version will move to the top of your revision history. All previous versions, including the current version, are still available.
If you’ve been doing a lot of editing on your Google Docs resume or sharing it with others for their feedback, the Revision History feature will be helpful to keep track of any changes made. With Revision History, you can see who edited the file and any changes made in the color next to their name.
Employers can even discover your resume online if you choose to make it public. Google will automatically index your resume to be included in its search results, allowing potential employers to find your information. Make sure to restrict access to the document to “view only” before making it public so that only you are able to make edits to your resume.
Several companies are now conducting their job searches online to save costs. Many industries and government organizations even ask job seekers to post their resumes online in a specific format. Since companies are looking to hire quickly, having your Google Docs resume online and set to “public” makes it easier for recruiters to find you.
Take advantage of our free Google Doc resume templates to start creating your professional resume. Our template gallery has 19 professional designs to choose from with various resume templates and styles.
Keep in mind that you do not receive editing or ownership rights for these resume templates. Our free resumes will open in “view only” mode. In order to make changes to the resume templates, you will first need to create a copy.
Simply select File > Make a copy > OK. The template copy will be saved to your Google Drive. You can then make any changes you want to this copy.