A Google Docs resume template for developers: Jake's layout in Docs or Word
By Mubeen Jawed, founder of ResumeForDev · Updated
Jake's resume is a LaTeX template, so the Google Docs and Word versions you find online are recreations. You can build your own in either editor: one column, a centered name and contact line, small-caps section headings with a rule underneath, and each entry as a bold title with the dates right-aligned. Use tab stops for the dates instead of tables or text boxes, a serif font at 10 to 11pt, and margins of about 0.5 inches. Export a text-based PDF and check that the text copies out in the right order.
Key points
- The original is LaTeX; Docs and Word versions are recreations.
- Right-align dates with a tab stop, not a table or text box.
- Serif font at 10 to 11pt, about 0.5in margins, one column.
- Export a PDF and test that the text copies out cleanly.
The layout, piece by piece
| Element | In Jake's template | How to build it in Docs or Word |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Large and centered | Centered paragraph at 20 to 24pt |
| Contact line | One centered line split by vertical bars | Plain text with “ | ” between items, links on the text |
| Section headings | Small caps with a rule underneath | Word: Font > Small caps. Docs has no small caps, so type in capitals at a smaller size. Add a bottom paragraph border in both. |
| Entry title line | Bold organization, dates on the right | A right-aligned tab stop at the right margin |
| Second line | Italic role, location on the right | The same right-aligned tab stop |
| Bullets | Tight, small indent | Smaller indent, 0 to 2pt spacing before and after |
Settings that keep it on one page
- Margins of 0.5 to 0.6 inches on every side.
- A serif font such as Garamond, Georgia or Times New Roman at 10 to 11pt, with 12pt headings.
- Single line spacing and almost no space after paragraphs.
- Two to four bullets per role, each one or two lines long.
What breaks ATS parsing
Tables, text boxes, headers and footers, and multiple columns can scramble the reading order when an ATS pulls the text out. Jake's layout uses none of them, so your copy shouldn't either. The usual reason people add a table is to push dates to the right. A right-aligned tab stop gives the same look and keeps every line plain text.
Skipping the formatting work
If you'd rather not fight tab stops, ResumeForDev uses a faithful port of the Jake layout, fits it to one Letter page automatically, and exports a text-based PDF. It also writes the bullets from follow-up questions about your work. For the LaTeX route, see Jake's resume template with or without LaTeX.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a Google Docs version of Jake's resume?
- Not an official one. The original is a LaTeX template, and the Docs versions shared online are recreations. You can build your own with the settings on this page.
- Will a Word version of Jake's resume pass an ATS?
- Yes, if it stays one column, uses tab stops instead of tables or text boxes, and you export a text-based PDF or .docx.
- What font does Jake's resume use?
- The LaTeX original uses Computer Modern, LaTeX's default font. In Docs or Word, a serif such as Garamond or Times New Roman gives a similar look.
- How do I make a resume on Google Docs?
- Start from a blank document rather than a built-in template, set margins to about 0.5 inches, and build one column: a centered name and contact line, ruled section headings, and right-aligned dates with tab stops. Export with File → Download → PDF.
- Are Google Docs resume templates ATS-friendly?
- Many built-in ones use tables or two columns, which can parse out of order. A single-column layout with tab stops, like the one on this page, parses reliably.
Keep reading
- GuidesJake's resume template, with or without LaTeXWhy Jake's resume template is the default for software engineers, how to use it in Overleaf, the Jake Ryan sample, and how to get the same layout without writing LaTeX.Read
- GuidesWhat makes a software engineer resume ATS-friendlyWhat an ATS resume is, how applicant tracking systems read developer resumes, the ATS-friendly resume format to use, and how keyword matching really works. No myths, no fake scores.Read
- GuidesHow many pages should a software engineer resume be?Should a resume be one page? A clear rule for software engineers by experience level, when a 2-page resume is fine, what to cut first, and how to fit it without tiny fonts.Read
- CompareResumeForDev vs. Overleaf with Jake's resume templateJake's resume in Overleaf or a builder that renders the same layout? Overleaf CV templates vs. ResumeForDev on writing help, one-page fitting, ATS checks, tailoring and cost.Read
- GuidesThe best resume format for software engineersThe resume format developers should use: reverse chronological order, section order, the best resume font and size, margins, and whether to send PDF or Word. With a layout checklist.Read
