How to Make a Resume in Microsoft Word: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Quick answer: To create a resume in Microsoft Word, either open Word, click File > New, search "resume," and pick a template, or start from a blank document for full control. Set margins to 0.5–1 inch (Layout > Margins), choose a professional font like Calibri or Arial at 10–12 pt, and add your sections in order: header, summary, experience, education, and skills. Use bold for job titles, right-aligned tab stops for dates, and simple bullet points. Avoid tables, text boxes, and graphics that can confuse applicant tracking systems. When you're done, save it as a PDF with File > Save As > PDF.

Microsoft Word is still one of the most common tools for writing a resume, and for good reason: it's familiar, flexible, and almost every employer can open a Word file.

It's also the tool that has caused more formatting meltdowns than any other. You move one bullet point and suddenly your entire education section jumps to page two like it's trying to escape.

This guide walks you through how to make a resume in Word step by step, with or without a template, plus the formatting tricks that keep everything where it belongs.

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Option 1: Make a Resume in Word Using a Template

Templates are the fastest way to start.

1. Open Word and click File > New (or New on the start screen)
2. Type "resume" in the search bar and press Enter
3. Browse the templates and click one to preview it
4. Click Create to open it
5. Replace the placeholder text with your own information
6. Delete sections you don't need

Pick a simple template. Many Word templates use tables, text boxes, columns, and graphics that look nice but can scramble in an applicant tracking system (ATS). Choose a single-column template with clear headings. For more on choosing and editing templates, see Microsoft Word resume templates.

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Option 2: Make a Resume in Word From Scratch

Building from a blank document gives you full control and a cleaner, more ATS-friendly result.

Step 1: Set up the page

• Open a blank document
• Layout > Margins > Custom Margins: set 0.5–1 inch on all sides (0.75 inch is a nice balance)
• Layout > Size: Letter (8.5" x 11") in the US and Canada, A4 elsewhere
• Home > Font: choose Calibri, Arial, Garamond, or Georgia. See best fonts for a resume
• Line spacing: Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 1.0 or 1.15, and remove extra space after paragraphs if it looks too loose

Step 2: Add your header

Type your name at the top in 18–22 pt bold. Underneath, add one line with your city and state, phone, email, and LinkedIn, separated by vertical bars ( | ).

See resume heading.

Step 3: Add section headings

Use clear, standard headings in bold, 12–14 pt:

• Summary
• Experience
• Education
• Skills
• Optional: Certifications, Projects, Volunteer Work

To add a line under each heading: Home > Borders (the dropdown next to the borders icon) > Bottom Border. Or type three hyphens (---) and press Enter for a horizontal line.

Step 4: Write your summary

Two to four sentences with your role, experience, top skills, and a measurable result. See how to write a resume summary.

Step 5: Add your work experience

For each job, add the title, company, location, and dates, then three to five bullet points.

Align dates to the right with a tab stop (instead of pressing the spacebar 40 times):

1. Click on the line with your job title
2. Double-click the ruler at the right margin, or go to Home > Paragraph settings > Tabs
3. Set a right-aligned tab stop at the right margin (for example, 7" on Letter with 0.75" margins)
4. Type your job title, press Tab, then type the dates. They'll line up perfectly on the right

Add bullets: Home > Bullets. Use simple round bullets, not icons or symbols.

See resume bullet points for writing tips.

Step 6: Add education

School, degree, graduation date (or expected date), and honors or GPA if 3.5+. See how to list a degree on a resume.

Step 7: Add skills

List 8–15 relevant skills from the job posting, separated by commas or vertical bars, or in two short bullet lists. See skills for resume examples.

Step 8: Add optional sections

Certifications, projects, languages, and volunteer work if they support the job.

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Word Formatting Tips That Prevent Headaches

• Use Styles (Home > Styles) for headings so you can change them all at once
• Turn on formatting marks (Home > ¶) to see stray spaces and line breaks
• Use tab stops, not spaces, for alignment
• Avoid tables and text boxes for main content. ATS may skip or scramble them
• Don't put contact info in the header/footer area (Insert > Header). Some ATS ignore it
• Keep it to one page if you have under 10 years of experience. See how long should a resume be
• Use one font, two at most

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How to Save Your Word Resume as a PDF

1. Click File > Save As (or File > Export)
2. Choose a location
3. Select PDF from the file type dropdown
4. Name it clearly, for example Jane-Smith-Resume.pdf
5. Click Save

Keep the .docx version too, in case an employer requests Word. See resume PDF or Word and how to name your resume file.

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Word vs. Google Docs vs. Resume Builders

• Microsoft Word: most control and universally accepted, but formatting can be fiddly
• Google Docs: free and easy to share, with fewer design options. See how to make a resume in Google Docs
• Resume builders: fastest, with ATS-friendly formatting and writing help built in

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Microsoft Word have resume templates?

Yes. Go to File > New and search "resume" to see free templates. Choose a simple, single-column design for the best ATS results.

Is it better to make a resume in Word or use a template?

Templates are faster, but building from a blank document gives you a cleaner, more ATS-friendly result and full control over formatting.

How do I make my Word resume ATS-friendly?

Use a single column, standard section headings, a common font, simple bullets, and no tables, text boxes, images, or header/footer content for important information.

How do I fit my resume on one page in Word?

Cut weak bullets first, then reduce margins to 0.5–0.75 inch, reduce spacing after paragraphs, and use 10.5–11 pt font. Don't go below 10 pt.

Should I send my resume as a Word document or PDF?

Send a PDF unless the employer asks for Word. PDF keeps your formatting exactly as you designed it.

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Skip the Formatting Battles

Our Resume Builder creates clean, ATS-friendly resumes with perfect spacing and alignment automatically, and lets you download a polished PDF in minutes.