Using Resume Templates When You Don’t Have MS Word

Most resume templates – including the Career Center’s – are in Microsoft Word format. This is no problem for Career Center patrons who come in to our department, as we have Microsoft Word on all of our computers. But many of our patrons do not have Microsoft Word on their home computers, because it is expensive software. So what can you do if you want to work on your resume at home and do not have Microsoft Word?

  • Option 1: If you have a Mac but do not have Office for Mac, you probably have Pages.
    See if the resume template you wish to use can be downloaded as a Rich Text Format (RTF). Pages can easily import and export files in RTF. If not, Pages can also import and export files in Word format, as explained here.
  • Option 2: You can use LibreOffice.
    This is a free downloadable application which is very similar to Microsoft Office. It can run on Windows *or* Mac *or* Linux. LibreOffice can read files in Word or Rich Text Format. Be aware that LibreWriter by default saves files in Open Document Text (ODT)format. You will need to manually tell it to save files in Word format.
  • Option 3: You can work on your resume in Google Docs format.
    You can use Google Docs to work on your resume in Windows or Mac or Linux. All you need is a web browser and a gmail account. You can open an MS Word file in Google Docs, or use one of the resume templates available directly through Google Docs.

If none of these options appeal to you, you are always welcome to use the computers at your local library to work on your resume. Or, of course, come visit us in the Career Center.

Written by Richard Wright