Resume Worksheet: Downloadable PDF & How-To Guide

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September 21, 2024
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Edited by
Camille Trent
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19
min read

3 key takeaways

  • A resume worksheet is a template that helps you gather the information you need to build a resume.
  • There are several pros and cons you should know about before you start filling out a blank resume template.
  • Teal's AI Resume Builder offers the same structure as a fill-in-the-blank resume worksheet and the convenience of making a resume on the same platform—without the manual work.

Job seekers don’t have time for guesswork when it comes to building a resume. And trying to organize all your experience, skills, and achievements from scratch can feel like a lot.

That’s where a resume worksheet comes in. It provides a structured, fill-in-the-blank resume template to help you gather everything you need in one place. By organizing sections like Work Experience, Skills, and Education, a resume worksheet ensures you’re prepared and ready to create a polished, well-rounded resume—without the guesswork.

In this article, you'll find a free, printable resume worksheet. You’ll also learn the pros and cons of using one, how to fill it out, and explore alternatives to save time and reduce manual effort.

Struggling to build your resume from scratch? Make a free resume in Teal today.

What is a resume worksheet?

A resume worksheet is a step-by-step template designed to help you organize and prepare all the key information you’ll need when writing a resume. Especially if you're building your first resume.

With sections for work experience, skills, education, and accomplishments, a worksheet serves as a structured form and outline you can reference while building your resume.

By breaking down each section into manageable parts, a resume worksheet makes the writing process faster and less overwhelming. Think of it as a blueprint for your resume—ensuring you don’t overlook any important details while also giving you a clear overview of your responsibilities and qualifications.

Looking for a fill-in-the-blank resume worksheet? Download this free printable resume worksheet from Teal!

A screenshot of a free resume worksheet PDF
Teal's free printable resume worksheet

Pros of a resume worksheet

A resume worksheet offers several advantages when it comes to crafting a well-organized and impactful document.

Keeps you organized with a clear structure to follow. It allows you to gather all relevant information in one place before you start formatting your resume.

Saves time by outlining all of your career details ahead of time to streamline the resume-writing process.

Helps you prioritize and see your qualifications at a glance and decide what to highlight and what to keep concise.

Improves consistency because the information you provide is uniform across different job applications, from work history to skills and accomplishments.

Cons of a resume worksheet

While a resume worksheet can help you get organized, it can also add unnecessary steps to the process of creating and customizing your resume. Here’s why it might not be the most efficient option:

  • Time-consuming manual work: After filling in the worksheet, you’ll need to transfer all the information back into blank resume templates. This creates extra steps that take time and effort.
  • Difficult to tailor: Customizing your resume for each job posting becomes tedious. Constantly comparing the worksheet to every JD adds a lot of back-and-forth work.
  • Still need to format: Even after you’ve transferred the details, you’ll need to spend time formatting the resume to ensure it looks professional and polished.
  • Lack of real-time updates: If your career history or goals change, updating a static worksheet is cumbersome. You’ll need to revise and reformat it from scratch rather than having a live document that evolves with your career.

Pro Tip: Check out the video below to learn how a base resume can help you with each of these cons.

Resume worksheet alternative

Want the same clarity and control a resume worksheet PDF provides without having to transfer all of the details to a resume template file format manually? Try automated resume creation with Teal instead.

A resume builder is an online platform that automates writing and updating resumes. With comprehensive sections and features that help you organize and store your entire career history, you can easily tailor each resume to every JD—faster.

With Teal's AI Resume Builder, you can:

  • Use the Built-in Guidance to create every section of your resume without skipping important details
  • Store your entire career history for free, then pick and choose what you need for every application
  • Tailor and store as many resumes as you need without starting from scratch or toggling between files
  • Transfer the details from your resume worksheet to create your resume without manual formatting
An ad to create your resume with Teal rather than use a resume worksheet

How to use a fill-in-the-blank resume worksheet

A resume worksheet can help streamline the process of building a resume by breaking down each section for clarity. Once you've downloaded the PDF file, here’s how to make it actionable:

Step 1: Add your contact information

Fill in your name, contact details, and any relevant links like your LinkedIn page or profile. Make sure these are up-to-date and professional. For any resume links, include the URL rather than hyperlinking to ensure they can be easily accessed across different formats and devices.

A screenshot of a resume worksheet Contact Information section
Add your updated contact details

Step 2: List your resume target titles

Your resume title should reflect the role you're applying for. While you only need one target title per resume, having a few variations can help you tailor the resume for different jobs faster. Every time you apply for employment, you should align your target title with the JD.

Step 3: Write a professional summary

This section of a professional resume is a snapshot of your career, highlighting key achievements, relevant skills, and your background. Keep the summary brief—around three to five sentences—and use it to showcase your top professional attributes.

Try this formula to showcase your top achievements:

[Noteworthy achievement] + [skill used to achieve the result] + [business impact]

A screenshot of the Professional Summary section of a resume outline worksheet
Write your professional summary focusing on top achievements and skills

Step 4: Build your work experience

Under each job title, use the fill-in-the-blank resume worksheet to document the specific company, months and years you were at each job, your accomplishments, and your impact.

Start with your recent job and work backward. Focus on quantifying your achievements in each section.

To do this, try the formula below:

Action Verb + Noun + Metric + [Strategy Optional] + Outcome = 1 achievement 

Pro tip: If you're feeling stuck writing your achievements, try Teal's AI Resume Bullet Point Generator. Teal's AI is fully customizable—add a specific prompt, JD, or keywords to generate tailored, impactful achievements that align with the new job you're applying for.

Step 5: Add education

Include your educational background, starting with your highest level of education. Highlight any honors or relevant coursework. If your GPA is above 3.0, include your GPA on the resume.

Step 6: Include certifications

In industries where certifications are crucial, list any relevant ones. Ensure the certification is still active and valid, and include the certifying body and the date of completion.

A screenshot of the Certifications section of resume worksheet
Focus on resume certifications that are relevant to your application

Step 7: List your skills

Divide your skills into categories like technical skills, software expertise, and industry-specific tools. Keep this resume skills section concise but relevant to the job description.

Step 8: Include optional sections

To provide an even more comprehensive view of your qualifications, you can also include additional sections based on relevance to the role you're applying for:

  • Projects: Highlight relevant projects that showcase your skills, problem-solving abilities, or collaboration on significant tasks.
  • Awards and Scholarships: Include any recognition, honors, or scholarships that demonstrate your achievements and dedication.
  • Volunteering and Leadership: Show leadership experience, professional affiliations, or community involvement to emphasize your initiative and interpersonal skills.
  • Publications: List relevant publications, articles, or research papers, especially for academic or research-focused roles.

Step 9: Transfer the details

Once you've completed your resume worksheet, it's time to make a resume. You can do this in a standard word processing program or opt for an online resume builder like Teal's.

A screenshot of a resume builder worksheet transfer in Teal
Transfer your worksheet details into a resume builder for fast, easy formatting

Step 10: Tailor your content with Teal

Your resume should be unique to every role you apply for during your job search. That means you need to customize your experience to fit what hiring managers or recruiters are looking for.

Once you've gathered your information, you can edit, fill, and customize your resume based on the job description to make it a perfect match for the role.

To do this in Teal:

1. Attach the Job Description
Upload the job description directly in Teal's Job Tracker or attach it to your existing resume. Teal will analyze the JD and highlight key skills and language relevant to the role.

A graphic of how to tailor your resume worksheet content to a JD in Teal
Attach a JD to compare your resume content to a job

2. Check your Match Score
Teal’s Job Matching feature will compare the attached JD to your resume content, giving you a Match Score. This score helps you see where your resume is aligned with the job and what areas you need to adjust.

A graphic of how to tailor your resume worksheet content with Teal's Match Score tool
Check your Match Score to see how well your skills align

3. Edit with keyword suggestions
Incorporate the keywords Teal suggests from the job description naturally to update your resume, focusing on your skills and achievements that match the role requirements. This helps increase your Match Score and your overall alignment with the job.

A graphic of how to tailor your resume worksheet with keywords using Teal
Add keywords to your content to improve your alignment

Resume worksheet template

Below is a simplified version of Teal's resume worksheet template. Use this as a starting point to organize your experience, skills, and achievements. Just fill in the brackets with your information. Once completed, you'll have a solid framework to transfer into a resume builder for easy formatting and tailoring.

  • Full Name: [Your Full Name]
  • Phone Number: [Your Phone Number]
  • Email Address: [Your Email Address]
  • LinkedIn Profile: [LinkedIn URL]
  • Portfolio/Website URL: [Portfolio or Website URL]

Target Title Options: [Target Job Title] [Target Job Title] [Target Job Title] [Target Job Title]

Professional Summary: [Your Professional Summary]

Try this formula to showcase your top achievements:

[Noteworthy achievement] + [skill used to achieve the result] + [business impact]

Work Experience

  • Company Name: [Company Name]
  • Job Title: [Job Title]
  • Dates: [Start Date - End Date]
  • Achievements: [Describe 3-5 Relevant Achievements]

Work Experience

  • Company Name: [Company Name]
  • Job Title: [Job Title]
  • Dates: [Start Date - End Date]
  • Achievements: [Describe 3-5 Relevant Achievements]

Try using this formula for each achievement: 

Action Verb + Noun + Metric + [Strategy Optional] + Outcome = 1 achievement 

Education

  • Degree: [Your Degree]
  • Institution: [School Name]
  • Dates: [Graduation Date]
  • Optional Honors or Relevant Coursework: [Any Honors or Relevant Courses]

Skills

  • [Skill 1]
  • [Skill 2]
  • [Skill 3]

Certifications

  • Certification Name: [Your Certification]
  • Certifying Body: [Certifying Organization]
  • Completion Date: [Date of Certification]

Optional sections

  • Projects: [Key Project or Initiative]
  • Awards & Scholarships: [Any Awards or Scholarships]
  • Volunteering & Leadership: [Volunteer Experience]
  • Publications: [Any Publications]

Completed resume worksheet example

Below is an example of a completed worksheet template. This will help you see how your work experience, skills, and achievements can be organized into a polished, ready-to-use template.

Full Name: Sy Michaels
Phone Number: (212) 555-6789
Email Address: [email protected]
LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/symichaels
Portfolio/Website URL: symichaelsdesign.com

Target Title Options: Senior Product Manager | Product Lead | Product Strategist | Head of Product

Professional Summary
Senior product manager with 7+ years of experience in SaaS product development, skilled in team leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and customer-focused innovation. Known for driving a 25% increase in user engagement through UX optimization and launching new features that resulted in a 15% revenue boost.

Work Experience

Company Name: Tech Innovators, Inc.
Job Title: Senior Product Manager
Dates: March 2019 - Present

Achievements:

  • Led the development of a new SaaS feature that increased user retention by 30% over six months.
  • Spearheaded cross-functional team collaboration to improve product release cycle efficiency, reducing time to market by 20%.
  • Developed and implemented a customer feedback loop strategy that improved feature adoption by 15%.
  • Managed a product redesign that increased the company’s annual revenue by $1.2M through enhanced user experience.

Company Name: Cloud Solutions Co.
Job Title: Product Manager
Dates: January 2015 - February 2019

Achievements:

  • Improved customer satisfaction scores by 18% by revamping the product onboarding process using customer insights and UX design principles.
  • Launched a product expansion that generated $500K in new revenue within the first quarter.
  • Coordinated with marketing and sales teams to align product roadmaps with market demands, increasing lead generation by 25%.
  • Built and led a product development team that reduced operational costs by 10% through streamlined processes.

Education

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Institution: New York University
Dates: May 2014
Optional Honors or Relevant Coursework: Dean’s List, Advanced Product Development, Marketing Strategy

Skills

  • Product Lifecycle Management
  • UX/UI Design
  • Cross-Functional Team Leadership

Certifications
Certification Name: Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
Certifying Body: Scrum Alliance
Completion Date: June 2020

Optional Sections

Projects:

  • Led a cross-functional project to integrate AI-driven insights into product features, boosting customer engagement by 40%.

Awards & Scholarships:

  • Winner, 2021 Product Excellence Award, SaaS Industry

Volunteering & Leadership:

  • Mentor at Women in Product, mentoring junior professionals in product management.

Publications:

  • "The Future of Product Development," published in SaaS Today Magazine, March 2022.

Build your resume with Teal

Whether creating your resume from scratch or trying to update an outdated version, using a resume worksheet ensures you have all the necessary information organized.

But if you're looking for a faster, smarter way to build your resume, try one of the best AI resume builders: Teal.

With Teal, you can build a comprehensive career history—section by section—that’s ready to customize for every job application. Save multiple versions, adjust your resume for specific roles, update your experience as needed, and easily swap sections to match any job description—without the extra manual work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you write a resume worksheet?

To write a resume worksheet, start by dividing it into key sections like work experience, education, skills, and accomplishments. Use a fill-in-the-blank format to organize all your details before transferring them into a professional resume template.

How do you make a resume worksheet?

Create a resume worksheet by structuring it with prompts for each section of a resume—such as contact information, work history, and skills. This helps you compile all necessary details in one place, making the resume-building process easier and more organized.

Where can I get a resume worksheet?

You can get a free, fill-in-the-blank resume worksheet from Teal's here. This printable worksheet helps organize your experience, skills, and qualifications, ensuring you cover all essential details when crafting your resume.

Kayte Grady

Kayte, Senior Copywriter at Teal and Champion of ADHD professionals, is a seasoned writer passionate about storytelling and career growth. With a data-driven approach to content marketing and a word-nerd knack for resume builder analysis, Kayte’s on a mission to empower job seekers to land a job they love. Constantly pivoting and reinventing herself, this social-worker-turned-marketer found growth and camaraderie in tech—a genuine surprise given her never-ending devotion to the paper calendar.

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