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12 Resume Templates That Are Better Than Generic Word Resumes

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Word Resume Templates

Basic Word resume templates, even the best ones, may cause your strong application to blend in with the crowd. Use these AI-powered, ATS-friendly resume templates for quick editing and downloading of customized, eye-catching resumes and cover letters that increase your interview chances.

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Modern

Many more colours, backgrounds, sections and icons available in the resume editor.

The most popular Enhancv template for management roles, project managers and product owners. Fits more info in a single page than generic Word templates.

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Ivy League

Many more colours, backgrounds, sections and icons available in the resume editor.

A modernized Harvard template featuring a sleek design favored by recruiters and an optimized structure for enhanced ATS performance.

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Elegant

Many more colours, backgrounds, sections and icons available in the resume editor.

Elegant and functional, this template features a clean design with an intuitive layout. It's thoughtfully crafted to emphasize your key strengths and achievements, making your resume both easy to read and effectively showcasing your professional skills.

A polished template with a focus on key achievements and skills. Aqua colored left column for highlights.

Polished

Many more colours, backgrounds, sections and icons available in the resume editor.

This template presents a level of polish and sophistication that sets it apart from standard word templates.

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Double Column

Many more colours, backgrounds, sections and icons available in the resume editor.

Free, Two-Column Resume Template: featuring a unique, clear layout, this template efficiently presents ample information on one page. It emphasizes your professional highlights through a customized summary and a specialized Strengths section, ensuring a concise yet impactful presentation of your qualifications.

A double column resume template with a navy colored resume header.

Creative

Many more colours, backgrounds, sections and icons available in the resume editor.

This design accentuates your header in a way that captures recruiters' attention, encouraging them to explore further. Versatile and adaptable, it's suitable for a broad range of industries

A single column timeline resume template with pink accent colors.

Timeline

Many more colours, backgrounds, sections and icons available in the resume editor.

This Enhancv template features our signature timeline design, effectively highlighting your career progression and development. It's an excellent choice for professionals at any stage, from entry to senior level, and is particularly well-suited for fields like operations, business, and logistics.

A double column resume template perfect for people with a lot of experience and skills. Blue accent color.

Stylish

Many more colours, backgrounds, sections and icons available in the resume editor.

Designed to transform a typically lengthy 2 or 3-page resume into a concise, single-page document.

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Single Column

Many more colours, backgrounds, sections and icons available in the resume editor.

A traditional design refined to stand out in a subtle way. Accented headlines help with the readability, letting the recruiter better understand your application and how you fit the role.

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Compact

Many more colours, backgrounds, sections and icons available in the resume editor.

Maximizes space to fit more than a basic Word template, offering an efficient yet comprehensive layout.

Grey single column classic resume template with a focus on experience and side projects.

Classic

Many more colours, backgrounds, sections and icons available in the resume editor.

Traditional Resume with a Refined Twist: Distinct from standard Word templates, this classic design caters to conservative industries, providing a polished, professional look in line with traditional sector norms

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Mininal

Many more colours, backgrounds, sections and icons available in the resume editor.

Plain resume template. Fit for creative roles in any industry.

10 Reasons Not to Use Standard Word Resume Templates

1. Lack of Guidance and Tips in Words

Word offers basic templates but lacks interactive guidance. Enhancv's AI-powered templates not only correct mistakes but also offer real-time suggestions, streamlining your resume-building process and saving valuable time.

2. No Industry-Specific Templates in Word

Why use a one-size-fits-all template for distinct careers like software engineering and investment banking? There isn't a single best resume templates - Enhancv provides over 1500 specialized resume examples, offering both structure and inspiration for crafting resumes that stand out in your specific field.

For instance, compare the Enhancv Business Analyst template to our specialized CTO resume template, both tailored to their respective fields.

Now compare that to the CTO resume template / example by Enhancv:

3. Avoid the Sea of Sameness

Consider the impact of using a standout Enhancv resume in your job search. While every application may not result in an interview, a unique and well-crafted resume significantly increases your chances of catching a recruiter's eye. This strategic approach, focusing on quality and distinctiveness, often proves more successful than consistently blending in with standard applications, which might not capture the same level of attention.

4. No Built-In ATS Checks in Word

Enhancv's ATS checker compares your resume against job descriptions, highlighting key areas for improvement to ensure your resume passes through these systems successfully, a feature missing in Word.

5. Word is Not Great for Tailored Resumes

Enhancv's AI-driven tools swiftly tailor your resume's summary section to each job ad, demonstrating your fit for the role. In contrast, Word requires a slower, manual process, likely leading to less personalized resumes and fewer interview opportunities.

6. Time Lost on Formatting in Word

Unlike Word, Enhancv's templates include automatic formatting, preventing inconsistencies and allowing you to focus more on content. This efficiency means more time for tailoring each application and crafting compelling cover letters.

7. No Matching Cover Letters in Word

Enhancv enables you to create a customized cover letter for each job application in seconds, ensuring consistency and professionalism across your application materials, a feature not readily available in Word.

8. Difficult to Create a One-Page Resume in Word

Enhancv's templates are designed for professionalism and readability, allowing more information on a single page without overwhelming the reader. Word may result in longer, less impactful resumes, reducing readability and increasing the chance of your application being overlooked.

9. Word Template Could be Dated

Word templates may be outdated, not reflecting current resume trends and best practices. In contrast, Enhancv regularly updates its templates to align with the latest industry standards.

10. No Career Services Team with Word

Word lacks the supportive infrastructure for career advancement. Enhancv offers comprehensive career services, including interview preparation and LinkedIn optimization, crucial for today's job market.

Frequently asked questions about Word Resume Templates

Are Word templates good?

Yes, Word templates can be good - however, for competitive positions good may not be good enough to stand out from the crowd.

Is Word good for making a resume?

Word is a wonderful product that is very useful for anything from doing homework to writing a break-through paper in astrophysics. While it is good for many things it is not a specialized tool that allows you to maximizing your productivity and output when applying for jobs.