A resume is often a potential employer’s first impression of you. But unlike a face-to-face meet and greet, this document has to hype you up almost immediately.
On average, recruiters spend seven seconds deciding whether a resume goes in the “Yes” or “No” pile. The perfect resume quickly tells a hiring manager what they need to know to make this decision.
An excellent way to ensure your resume catches a recruiter's attention is with an effective design that isn’t too crowded. If you’re not a graphic design whiz, a resume-building platform is the best way to create this document fast.
Here’s more about the qualities of a great resume and some of the best resume builders so you can choose the right one for you.
What makes a great resume?
A great resume summarizes your skills, education, and experience. It’s a straightforward document that’s easy to follow and gives readers a good first impression of your background.
A cluttered resume reflects poorly on important traits such as attention to detail, organizational skills, and communication skills. That may cost you an interview, and it also increases the chance that applicant tracking systems (ATS) can’t understand or analyze your resume effectively.
When you upload a resume, most companies use an ATS to filter applicants based on details like specific soft or hard skills or keywords like “communicative” or “ambitious.” If this document isn’t clear, concise, and organized, the tracker might dismiss your qualified application.
Hiring managers also often sort through hundreds of candidates, so being as clear and concise as possible is essential. A resume differs from a curriculum vitae (CV), which is a detailed explanation of your career and academic history. Instead, a resume should focus on the highlights most relevant to the job you’re applying for. Keep this in mind when prioritizing clarity and consistency.
Certain qualities are worth including to make a resume stand out. Your resume should also be up-to-date, descriptive, and specific. You may have to demonstrate those skill proficiencies or career accomplishments in an interview, so always include accurate information.
What’s a resume builder?
An online resume builder is an interactive platform that allows you to build from resume templates. Most online resume makers offer several customization options and professional templates to guide you through the writing process and follow key dos and don’ts.
Depending on the platform’s interactive features, pricing ranges from free resume templates for basic documents to paid services for more customizable features. Before you choose one, decide what you’re looking for and what you want to prioritize. If you’re a graphic designer looking to show off your creativity, more detailed or colorful templates might be a key selling point for you.
The 16 best resume builders
Job seekers have a variety of resume builders at their disposal. Here are six of our favorites, with pros and cons to help you decide which is best for you:
1. Zety
Zety offers 18 professional resume templates highlighting different color palettes, types of resumes such as chronological and functional resumes, and bar graphs and infographics to give your skills a visual element.
The platform is excellent for people without an existing resume or who want to start from scratch. The site walks you through the entire process, prompting you to include essential information in every section with tips to write more effectively. There are also cover letter and CV templates so you can finish every document in the same place.
Pros: Zety has intuitive ease of use, with plenty of helpful tips to write compelling job descriptions and optimize your skills and experience.
Cons: Zety’s free plan only allows you to download your resume in a TXT file and charges for different file types. Some templates also use graphics or colors incompatible with ATS.
2. My Perfect Resume
My Perfect Resume is excellent for more experienced resume writers. While it offers dozens of resume formats with different styles, you can also start from scratch with a blank template or edit an existing resume.
There’s also a feature that suggests ATS-optimized language for work experience and skills to help you get through automated resume-reading programs. And if you’re stuck, you can work with one of My Perfect Resume’s experts to perfect your writing.
Pros: It’s easy to use and has a responsive chat feature to walk you through the process. The platform also has additional resume sections like certifications, social media, or public speaking experiences that benefit entry-level workers with less background.
Cons: The free version lets you download your resume in a TXT file. To download a DOCX or PDF, you must sign up for a 14-day trial.
3. Canva
Canva has a free resume builder feature with hundreds of templates from graphic designers with a flair for the creative. Although this platform is meant for people in any industry, it's ideal for those looking to express themselves through visual design.
Pros: It’s infinitely customizable with an expansive library of fonts, text sizes, and colors, and includes photo editing capabilities to crop and add filters. Canva also allows you to edit and save multiple versions to build new resumes for different jobs.
Cons: Canva doesn’t offer the option to upload your resume, so you must start from scratch. Many fonts and templates also aren’t ATS-friendly.
4. Resume.io
Resume.io offers 18 classic resume templates emphasizing clean and simple design. Job seekers going after more senior positions or in more corporate or formal industries, like law, accounting, or engineering, might find Resume.io to be a great option.
Pros: The platform is easy to use, intuitive, and has hundreds of examples to give you ideas for your resume. It also suggests action verbs and phrases that vary based on your job title and includes a built-in grammar checker.
Cons: You can’t modify the templates. The free version of Resume.io allows you to download your resume in a TXT file. To download a DOCX or PDF, you have to sign up for a seven-day trial.
5. LiveCareer
LiveCareer has a selection of around 30 resume templates that professional job recruiters have screened and approved. The platform's templates emphasize clean organization and straightforward design, and you can customize the colors to make them a little more personal.
LiveCareer is designed for social media sites, and you can upload your resume directly to your LinkedIn profile.
Pros: This resume builder software allows you to import your own resume to edit directly, so you don't have to re-enter all your information to use the platform's tools.
Cons: LiveCareer requires you to sign up for a trial package to download your document.
6. Resume Genius
Resume Genius is a free resume builder with a selection of conventional-looking templates. The platform is easy to use and ideal for job seekers applying for more senior, corporate, or specialized positions.
Pros: Resume Genius has 50,000 pre-written bullet points for every industry, making it easier to sell your skills — like active listening or trustworthy leadership — when you lack inspiration. You can also download DOCX or PDF files.
Cons: Resume Genius has limited visual components.
7. Resume.com
Resume.com has several straightforward templates, all of which are free. The platform is user-friendly, with resume examples from various industries and job levels to guide your design.
Pros: The platform partners with Indeed, which is one of the top job sites in the world. You can access both services with a single account, allowing you to upload your resume to Indeed’s website easily.
Cons: While the platform boasts specialized templates for different job markets, free templates have a basic design and little variation. For creatives, the basic layouts may not stand out from other candidates.
8. Kick Resume
Kick Resume stands out from other resume builder sites for its AI-powered system that helps you string together the right words. The platform simplifies the process by providing a first draft, letting you quickly create a competitive resume.
Pros: It has more than 400 job-specific resume and cover letter examples from human resource and design experts. A resume checker service, designed by recruiters, compares your resume to successful job seekers’.
Cons: The platform's most advanced features require a monthly membership.
9. Jobscan
Jobscan is a job-hunting service that doubles as a resume builder focused on optimizing your resume and cover letters to past ATS. It shows you exactly how searchable and accessible your resume is, giving unique insight into how recruiters might react.
Pros: This resume checker lets you analyze your resume against your target job application and how it’ll perform on an ATS.
Cons: JobScan isn’t a comprehensive resume builder. It’s best for optimizing your existing resume. Be sure to take word suggestions with a grain of salt to avoid creating a resume full of relevant keywords but lacking cohesive writing.
10. CakeResume
Cake Resume stands out from other resume builders for its free online portfolio builder, ideal for creatives who need eye-catching design across materials. The platform has an extensive library of career advice articles and step-by-step tutorials to perfect your writing, like how to build a 3D artist portfolio, write a career objective, or include teamwork skills.
Pros: The resume builder is highly customizable without sacrificing usability.
Cons: The free plan only includes a single resume. Active job seekers will need to sign up for a quarterly subscription to tailor resumes to different job postings.
11. Adobe Express
You might know Adobe for its creative design platforms like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Lightroom. But Adobe Express’ resume builder allows you to add the same eye for design without being an expert in traditional design programs.
Pros: The resume builder has a wide selection of fonts, colors, and templates to capture your personal brand within a one-page resume.
Cons: Job seekers in less creative industries may find the service overwhelming and unnecessary.
12. NovoRésumé
NovoRésumé’s customizable templates are excellent for resume writing novices or non-tech-savvy job seekers who want to create unique, design-forward resumes. Despite its many customization options, the platform is intuitive.
Pros: Customizations like resume icons, spacing, and color create dynamic resumes that can still get through an ATS. Live feedback walks you through a step-by-step process to help you avoid writer’s block.
Cons: Novo Résumé only offers a downloadable PDF. Double-check the hiring manager’s preferences (like a Microsoft Word format) to ensure compatibility.
13. VisualCV
VisualCV is the world’s top resume and CV builder, with more than 4 million users. It’s a straightforward, user-friendly platform with ready-made templates and analytic tools to help you craft a competitive resume.
Pros: The platform allows you to build your own resume or CV from scratch or import an existing one to edit. You can also share it on social media quickly and manage several resumes for different job applications.
Cons: The best features, like building several resumes and accessing analytics, are only available with a premium account.
14. Do You Buzz
Do You Buzz is an excellent choice for resume-writing beginners. It breaks the writing process down into clear section-by-section instructions. With a $4.90 monthly premium subscription, you can join live video workshops to get the best out of your resume.
Pros: The live resume writing service helps you make the most out of the platform.
Cons: Do You Buzz offers 15 templates, meaning there’s little variation in style and design.
15. Indeed
It makes sense that Indeed, the world’s largest job site, has its own resume builder. If you use Indeed for job searching, this is a convenient way to upload your resume to your existing account.
Pros: The platform is free and easy to use with simple formatting.
Cons: There are just sight templates with no options to customize different sections. For example, the education section doesn’t allow you to differentiate between types of degrees like a BS or BA.
16. Resume Now
Resume Now has over 900 real resume examples reviewed by professional resume writers. Once you find the industry-relevant option that inspires you, the platform customizes it to your needs.
Pros: Thousands of pre-written phrases help you find the right words to catch a hiring manager’s eye. Extra features like corrections from a human resume reviewer can help you craft the perfect resume.
Cons: What is and isn’t included in free and paid plans may confuse some users, according to reviews.
Choosing a resume builder: 5 tips
The right resume for you depends on what types of jobs you’re applying for and what you want to highlight — whether skills, experiences, or professional accomplishments. Consider the following when picking a platform:
- Price: If you’re looking for a free online resume builder, pay careful attention to the fine print. Many free services only offer downloads in file types that recruiters don't want — like plain TXT files. Check the pricing for other options before spending hours designing a resume.
- Functionality: A great resume fits the job you’re applying for. Choose a platform that allows you to easily edit and download various resumes.
- Design: A digital designer will likely want a different template than a recent law graduate. Based on your industry or the company you’re applying to, decide whether you want a clean and straightforward resume design or a template with more visual embellishments. Choose a site with templates most suitable to those needs.
- Consistency: Most resume-building services provide cover letter builders and CV templates. If your job search requires all three, choose a platform where the aesthetic is consistent for each document.
- Customization: If you’re an entry-level job seeker, look for resume builders that allow you to customize different sections like certifications, honors and awards, or professional skills to bolster your resume.
Prepare for your dream job
You’ve got the experience, demeanor, and skills necessary to handle the job. The best resume builders can help you deliver this information effectively.
Tailor this document to company values and the job description, using a more visually creative or basic resume design when applicable. This will help your resume stand out from the crowd, increasing your chances of getting an interview. That means you’re one step closer to applying for — and hopefully starting — your dream job.
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