How to Make a Resume in Word (Free, Step by Step)

Microsoft Word is still the most common way people build a resume, and it works well if you keep it simple. The trick is to avoid the fancy Word templates that break the ATS. Here’s how to do it right, and a faster shortcut.

Why keep the Word resume simple

Word has lots of templates with columns, text boxes and graphics. They look nice and often fail Applicant Tracking Systems, which read across columns and jumble your details. A plain, single-column Word document parses cleanly. That’s what you want. Here’s more on ATS-friendly formatting.

Step by step in Word

1. Open a blank document. Set margins to about 2 cm and a common font like Calibri or Arial at 10 to 11pt.
2. Type your name at the top (14 to 18pt), then a single contact line: city, phone, email, LinkedIn.
3. Add sections with plain bold headings: Objective, Education, Skills, Projects and Internships, Certifications.
4. Use simple bullet points (the standard dot), not tables or columns.
5. Keep it to one page for a fresher.
6. Save as PDF for applying, and keep the .docx to edit later.

The faster way

Fighting with Word margins and tabs is slow. Our free Fresher Resume Builder does the formatting for you, fill a simple form and click Download Word to get a clean, editable .doc file (or save it as PDF). It’s already single-column and ATS-safe, so you skip the part where Word templates trip the software.

Want it written, not just formatted?

Formatting is the easy half. The words are what get you shortlisted. If you’d like a professional to write yours, see our resume writing services from ₹149, delivered ready to edit.