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How to convert a résumé from PDF to Word and keep the layout

By the Fusion Office team · Updated

Quick answer

Open PDF to Word, choose the résumé and press Convert to Word. You get a .docx with real headings, paragraphs, bullet lists and tables that you can edit in Word, Google Docs or the Word editor. Single-column résumés convert closely; two-column designer layouts need some tidying.

Convert step by step

  1. 1Open PDF to Word and choose your résumé.
  2. 2Press Convert to Word and download the .docx.
  3. 3Open it in Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice or our Word editor.
  4. 4Make your changes, then save it as PDF again, for example with Word to PDF.

The conversion runs in your browser; your résumé isn't uploaded.

What converts well, and what doesn't

  • Single-column résumés: headings, bullet points, dates and paragraphs come through as normal, editable text.
  • Tables, such as skills grids: converted to Word tables.
  • Two-column and sidebar designs: the converter rebuilds the text as one flow, so the sidebar moves above or below the main column. Rebuild the columns with a two-column table in Word.
  • Icons, photos and decorative shapes may need re-inserting.
  • Scanned résumés need OCR first, because there's no text to convert.

Just changing a few words?

For a new phone number, date or job title, editing the PDF directly keeps the design exactly as it is. See How to edit a résumé PDF.

Frequently asked questions

Will the fonts be the same?

Not always: the text is rebuilt as a normal Word document, so fonts may differ from the PDF. Choose a common font in Word for a consistent look.

Is the converted résumé ATS-friendly?

A clean single-column Word résumé with real headings is generally easy for applicant tracking systems to read.