The Neurospicy Answer to Job Applications

A guide to building a resume revision system.

Are you job hunting? You deserve an award.

Are you neurodivergent and job hunting? You deserve a parade.

In this market, competition is fierce, and first impressions matter. A resume is how you get noticed.

A resume won’t guarantee a job offer, but it can land you an interview. These days, using the same resume for every application doesn’t cut it. You need to tailor your resume for each role, which takes time.

Updating and formatting resumes is a hassle. I’d rather step on a Lego barefoot than wrestle with uneven spacing or mismatched headers. Saving after a formatting mishap is catastrophic — if that was your only copy. For this reason, some people save many copies of their resume.

I’m not one of them. I’m an autistic writer and have lost too many files. How? I forgot to save. I misplaced documents. The computer revolted against me with button mishaps and power failures.

Life happens. You can either blame the computer or have a backup plan. I suggest both. Create a resume template and avoid these resume blunders. But even if you goof, creating a resume template provides a clean slate every time.

This guide will teach you:

How to download free Microsoft Word templates.
How to save a Word document as a template.
How to use the template to tailor a resume for applications.
How to export a resume as a PDF.

Part One: Save Your Resume as a Template

Let’s start at the beginning.

Step One: Choose a resume template.

You could write your resume or use a template. A template handles the formatting.

Listing your accomplishments is harder than finding my glasses — even when they are on my face — formatting a resume? That’s like walking all five of my dogs — pure chaos, and you never get far.

Leave it to the professionals.

Pro Tip: You can download free ATS-friendly, editable resume templates from Microsoft Word.

Step Two: Click the link below.

Want a free resume template? Just click the link below.

Download Free Resume Templates

Step Three: Choose a template. Select the one that feels right.

Pick the one you like best and don’t second-guess. We’re not picking out a car here.

I went for the third template — I liked that the headings and titles had purple shading.

Screenshot of Microsoft Word resume templates. © Microsoft Corporation.

Step Four: You’ve two choices: customize the template online in Microsoft Office or download it to your computer.

I chose to download. Why? Because customizing online requires logging into your Microsoft account — and I can’t remember a password to save my life.

I prefer downloading — it saves time and spares me from password overwhelm.

Did you go with the online option? Follow the login prompts and edit in your browser.

Download it, like someone else we know? (Hi.) It will open in Microsoft Word on your desktop.

Step Five: Select download.

Screenshot of selected Microsoft Word resume template.© Microsoft Corporation.

Step Six: Open Finder.

Screenshot showing the Finder icon. © Apple Inc.

Step Seven: Select your Downloads folder in Finder.

Pro Tip: Pin your Downloads folder and frequently used folders to the sidebar in Finder.

I can never remember where my folders are in Finder — oh, executive dysfunction, how I loathe you. Pinning a folder to the sidebar saves me time and sanity.

Screenshot of downloaded folder in Finder. © Apple Inc.

Step Eight: Open the file.

Screenshot of the file in Finder. © Apple Inc.

Step Nine: Replace the placeholder text with your experience, education, and skills.

This is the hardest part. I wish I could help — I struggled with mine too.

Just write the thing — and then let's have cake.

Screenshot of an editable resume in Microsoft Word. © Microsoft Corporation.

Step Ten: Click File, then select Save as Template.

Screenshot of the ‘Save As’ dialog in Microsoft Word. © Microsoft Corporation.

Step Eleven: Click Save to store your template.

Pro Tip: Give it a clear file name like My Resume Template — you’ll thank me later.

Once you start using templates, you won’t stop. Giving your file a practical name makes it easier to find later. Been there. Done that. Bought the t-shirt.

Screenshot of the ‘Save’ dialog in Microsoft Word. © Microsoft Corporation.

Part Two: Customize Resume for Job Applications

Step One: Open Microsoft Word. Select New.

Screenshot of the Microsoft Word opening screen. © Microsoft Corporation.

Step Two: Select your template. Click Create.

Screenshot of the Microsoft Word opening screen. © Microsoft Corporation.

Step Three: Tailor your resume for the role you want.

Here are a few tips:

Adjust your summary.

Customize your professional summary to match the job description. For a content writer role, highlight writing achievements and skip unrelated experience, like customer service.

Use job description keywords.

Use keywords from the job description, like ‘written communication’ or ‘attention to detail,’ and add them to your resume — try the skills or experience sections.

Show achievements, not duties.

Tooting your own horn may feel like bragging, but do it anyway. Employers want to understand your value, so show them what you’ve accomplished — not just what you were responsible for.

Part Three: Export as PDF

Step One: Navigate to File. Select Save As.

Step Two: Find File Format. Click the down arrow. Choose PDF.

Hiring managers prefer PDFs to Word files, and I have a theory about why that is. Brace yourself, but hiring managers and recruiters are human.

Just like us, they can push the wrong button and accidentally delete a section of your resume. PDFs help prevent these whoops moments — when someone has to review resumes all day long.

Seriously, get them a brew. They deserve it.

Step Three: Find where the file will be saved. Click the down arrow.

Step Four: Select the folder where you want to save the file.

Pro Tip: Create a folder for your resumes and pin it to the Finder sidebar.

My neurospicy brain can’t remember where I saved a file. The Finder search bar is stumped too. This setup saves me from trying to understand my own logic — to find a file.

Step Five: Click inside the Save As box

Step Six: Change the file name.

Pro Tip: File names should include your name (first and last), the position you are applying for, and the name of the company.

For example: Andree Rocher — Data Scientist — Skynet.

Step Seven: Select Export.

The PDF of your resume will be saved in the file location you chose.

Step Eight: Apply.

Wrapping Up

Congrats — you just leveled up.

Now you have a completed resume saved as a template, and you’ve learned how to export your resume as a PDF — no more formatting snafus.

Job applications will take less time than posting an adorable picture of your dog on Instagram.

No more writing a resume from scratch.

Just Update. Upload. Apply.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. Screenshots are used for educational and instructional purposes only.

How to Create a Resume Template