ATS Resume Template for Freshers (Free DOCX Download)

Most free resume templates online are designed to look good, not to pass applicant tracking systems. They use two columns, icons, skill bars and photos — all of which can confuse ATS software.

So we made a simple one. This free ATS resume template for freshers is a Word (DOCX) file with a single-column layout, standard headings and clean formatting. It opens in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice and WPS Office.

Download the free template (DOCX, 38 KB)

No signup, no email — just download and edit.

What's inside the template

The template follows the section order that works best for freshers:

1. Name and contact details — in the body, not the header, so every ATS reads them.
2. Summary — a 2–3 line fill-in-the-blanks summary.
3. Education — degree, college, years, CGPA, and Class XII.
4. Skills — grouped into Languages, Tools and Other.
5. Projects — two project blocks with bullet prompts.
6. Internship / Experience — one role with example bullets.
7. Certifications
8. Achievements & Activities

It uses Calibri at 10.5 pt, A4 page size, 0.75-inch margins, right-aligned dates using tab stops (not tables), and standard round bullets.

Why this template is ATS-friendly

How to fill it in: step by step

1. Replace the header

Your full name, then one line with city and state, phone (with +91), and a professional email. On the next line, your LinkedIn URL and a GitHub or portfolio link if you have one. Write the URLs as text.

2. Write your summary

Replace the brackets with your details. Keep it to two or three lines:

B.Com graduate (2025, 78%) skilled in Tally Prime, GST filing and Advanced Excel. Managed the ₹4 lakh budget for a college fest with 1,500 participants. Looking for an entry-level accounts executive role.

Need inspiration? See our resume summary examples for freshers.

3. Education

Write your degree exactly as employers do (B.Tech, B.E., B.Com, BBA, BCA, B.Sc, MBA). Include CGPA or percentage if it's good, and Class XII if it helps.

4. Skills

List only skills you can use. Copy the exact names from the job description where they match your skills. Our resume keywords by role lists help you find the right terms.

5. Projects

For each project: name, tools in brackets, link if available, and two bullets that say what it does and what result it achieved. Projects are your experience as a fresher — see how to write bullet points with numbers.

6. Internships and experience

Treat every internship, training or part-time role like a job, with dates and 2–3 bullets. More tips in our guide to ATS-friendly resumes for internships.

7. Certifications and achievements

Pick the relevant ones and add numbers: ranks, team sizes, participants, money raised.

8. Delete the brackets and sample text

Make sure no "[Skill 1]" or sample text remains. Then remove any section you can't fill — an empty heading looks worse than no heading.

Save and export

• In Word: File → Save As → PDF. Keep the DOCX too.
• In Google Docs: upload the DOCX to Google Drive, open with Google Docs, then File → Download → PDF.
• Name the file Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf.

Read PDF vs DOCX for ATS to decide which file to upload.

Test your finished resume

Upload your completed resume to our ATS checker for freshers. It checks your sections, keywords, bullet points and formatting and gives you a score with tips. Paste a job description for an exact keyword match.

Using this template for experienced roles

Once you have a year or more of work experience, move Experience above Education, shorten Education to one or two lines, and keep only your strongest projects. The format stays ATS-friendly.

License

You're free to use and edit this template for your own job applications. Please link to this page instead of re-uploading the file elsewhere — it helps other students find it.

Key takeaways

• Download the free single-column DOCX template — no signup.
• Fill in each section with specific skills and quantified results.
• Remove all placeholder text and empty sections.
• Export a text-based PDF and test it with an ATS checker.