Jake's Resume Template: Free Word Version + Is It ATS-Friendly? (2026)
"Jake's Resume" is the free, single-column LaTeX resume template that has become the default on r/EngineeringResumes and r/cscareerquestions. It was written by Jake Gutierrez, released under the MIT license, and its sample content belongs to a fictional "Jake Ryan", which is why you'll see both names. Most people use it through Overleaf.
The catch is that it's LaTeX. If you don't want to learn LaTeX, or an application asks for a Word file, you need the same layout in .docx. People pay for that on Etsy. This page covers what the template is, whether it gets through an applicant tracking system, how to use the original, and a free Word version with the same layout that we built and checked for ATS parsing.
We didn't create Jake's Resume and aren't affiliated with its author. The Word file below is our own document that recreates the layout, not the original LaTeX source.
Download Jake's Resume as a Word template (free)
Jake's-style resume template (.docx) — free, no signup, no email gate, no watermark. Opens in Word and Google Docs.
It keeps the layout people choose Jake's for: a large centered name, one contact line with pipe separators, small-caps section headings with a rule underneath, bold titles with dates flush right, italic company and location lines, and a Projects section with the tech stack beside each project name.
What we checked by reading the file's XML rather than by eye:
- Zero tables, zero text boxes, zero columns. Dates and locations sit on the right using a right tab stop. Most Word copies of Jake's Resume fake that alignment with an invisible two-column table, which parsers can read in the wrong order.
- Real Heading 2 styles for the four section names, so they show up in Word's Navigation Pane and the Google Docs outline.
- Plain-text export in the correct order. Every title stays on the same line as its dates when the file is saved as plain text.
- Inline guidance in each section on what to write and where the posting's keywords go. Delete it as you replace it.
One difference from the original: Jake's LaTeX version uses the Computer Modern typeface, which isn't installed in Word or Google Docs. Ours uses Times New Roman. Swap in any serif you like; the font has no effect on parsing.
Using Google Docs? Upload the .docx to Drive and open it with Google Docs. The Google Docs ATS template guide covers the conversion and the checks to run afterwards.
What is Jake's Resume?
| Part | What it looks like | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Header | Large centered name in small caps; phone, email, LinkedIn and GitHub on one line | Everything a recruiter needs, in the document body where parsers read it |
| Education | School and location on one line; degree and dates in italics below | Standard heading, parses reliably |
| Experience | Title and dates in bold; company and location in italics; tight bullets | Reverse-chronological, with dates next to every title |
| Projects | Project name, a pipe, then the stack in italics; dates on the right | Puts the tools a technical posting asks for next to proof you used them |
| Technical Skills | Languages, Frameworks, Developer Tools, Libraries, one line each | Exact tool names in one place, easy for keyword search |
It's a one-page, information-dense layout built for software engineering, data and other technical roles. Its reputation comes from what it leaves out: no photo, no summary, no graphics and no second column.
How do I use Jake's Resume on Overleaf?
- Search Overleaf's template gallery for "Jake's Resume" and open it. Overleaf compiles it in the browser, so you don't install anything.
- Replace the sample content in the source on the left. Each entry is a single command with its fields in braces, in the order they appear on the page.
- Recompile, then download the PDF.
- Run the plain-text check: open the PDF, select all, paste into a plain-text editor, and read the result. Titles, dates and bullets should come out in order.
Two edits commonly break the template's ATS-friendliness: adding icon packages for phone and email symbols (some come out as garbage characters), and adding a sidebar or two-column skills section. If you want icons, keep the text beside them.
Is Jake's Resume good for non-tech jobs?
It works, but it isn't the best fit. The Projects section and the Technical Skills categories assume a technical role. For a non-technical role, rename Projects to something that matches your evidence, or delete it, and use the skills line for the tools the posting names.
If you're a student outside tech, the Harvard resume template is the closer match. It leads with education and gives leadership and activities their own section. With several years of experience, the classic ATS template puts experience first and makes room for a short summary.
| LaTeX original (Overleaf) | Our Word / Google Docs version | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, MIT license | Free, no signup |
| Editing | LaTeX source, compiled on Overleaf | Ordinary Word or Google Docs editing |
| File you send | .docx or PDF | |
| Typeface | Computer Modern | Times New Roman (change freely) |
| Right-aligned dates | LaTeX tabular layout inside the PDF | Right tab stop, no tables |
| Best when | You're comfortable with LaTeX and every application takes PDF | You want the layout without LaTeX, or need a Word file |
Why does Reddit recommend Jake's Resume?
On r/EngineeringResumes and r/cscareerquestions it's the default answer to "what template should I use?", and the reasons are practical:
- It fits a lot on one page without looking cramped, which matters for new grads with several projects and internships.
- It's plain in the way engineering reviewers like. Nothing distracts from the bullets.
- It parses cleanly, so it's a safe default when you're applying through many different ATS platforms.
- It's free and open, with no builder that paywalls the download.
The common criticism is that it's so popular that thousands of resumes look the same. That's true, and it doesn't matter much. Recruiters are reading what you did. A familiar layout helps them find it faster. For how Reddit's template advice compares across roles, see the best resume templates according to Reddit.
How do I fill in Jake's Resume so it gets interviews?
The template handles the formatting. The bullets and keywords are up to you.
- Write bullets as action, what you did, and what changed. "Built a Flask API serving 40k requests a day, cutting page load from 2.1s to 600ms" beats "Worked on backend."
- Put the posting's exact tool names in the Projects stack line and inside bullets, not only in Technical Skills. A recruiter searching for "PostgreSQL" should find it next to something you built. The free resume keyword generator pulls those terms out of a posting without a signup.
- Order projects by relevance to this posting, not by date.
- Check it before you send it. The free resume checker shows how your file parses and how well it matches a specific job description. For role-specific bullets, see software engineer resume examples.
Frequently asked questions
- Who made Jake's Resume?
- Jake's Resume was written by Jake Gutierrez and published as open source under the MIT license, adapted from an earlier LaTeX resume template. The sample content uses the fictional name Jake Ryan, which is why the template is sometimes called the Jake Ryan resume.
- Is Jake's Resume ATS-friendly?
- Yes. It is single-column, text-only and uses standard section names, and its LaTeX source includes a setting that makes the PDF text machine-readable. Problems usually come from edits: icon fonts, added columns or unusual characters. Paste your PDF's text into a plain-text editor to confirm it comes out in reading order.
- Is there a Word version of Jake's Resume?
- The original is LaTeX only. The .docx on this page is a free Word recreation of the same layout — centered header, small-caps section rules, right-aligned dates, a Projects section with the stack — built with tab stops instead of tables so it parses cleanly. It is our own file, not the original author's.
- Can I use Jake's Resume in Google Docs?
- Yes. Upload the Word version from this page to Google Drive and open it with Google Docs. Because it has no tables, text boxes or columns, the layout converts cleanly and the right-aligned dates keep their position.
- Is Jake's Resume only for software engineers?
- It was designed with technical roles in mind — hence the Projects and Technical Skills sections — but the layout suits anyone. For non-technical roles, rename or remove Projects and list the tools the posting names in the skills line. Students outside tech may find the Harvard format a closer fit.
- Do recruiters mind seeing Jake's Resume so often?
- Not in any way that matters. Recruiters recognize it and can scan it quickly, which works in your favour. What distinguishes you is the content: specific, measurable bullets and the keywords from the posting.
- Should I send Jake's Resume as a PDF or Word file?
- The LaTeX original produces a PDF, which most ATS platforms read well. If an application form asks for Word, or you want to edit without LaTeX, use the .docx version. Either way, run the plain-text check before you send it.
- What font does Jake's Resume use?
- The LaTeX original uses Computer Modern, LaTeX's default serif. Word and Google Docs don't include it, so our Word version uses Times New Roman. Font choice does not affect ATS parsing; keep body text at 10 pt or larger for the human reader.
The short version
Jake's Resume is popular for good reasons: one column, dense, plain and ATS-safe. Use the original on Overleaf if you're comfortable with LaTeX. If you're not, or you need a Word file, the free Word version gives you the same layout without the tables most copies hide inside.