Writing a resume can be a stressful and intimidating task. It is not easy to condense your life experiences into a one-page document - especially when you know that the quality of this document has a bearing on your happiness and your financial future!
Online resume makers can take the pressure off. These web-based tools will walk you through the process. They prompt you as to what information to include, and they lay out the document in a professional and visually appealing way.
But there are a LOT of online resume makers to choose from. We've sorted through them and found the best of the best so that you can spend more time hunting for the job of your dreams.
What to Look for in an Online Resume MakerThere are several features to look for when choosing an online resume maker. We used the following when evaluating each of the resume makers listed below.
Is It Free?Some resume websites want to charge a fee - either a one-time fee or a monthly subscription to download your document. Look for high-quality free options instead. Most sites will require you to set up a free account in order to download.
Is It Fast?Resume makers are designed to save you time and hassle. The best resume makers have a streamlined experience that allows you to create your resume within the span of a few minutes.
Template SelectionSome resume makers have only one or two templates for you to choose from. Others offer dozens of options in different styles.
Can You Customize?Some resume makers take a one-size-fits-all approach. For example, they may presume that your work experience should fit within a certain block, and the formatting becomes skewed if you exceed this. The best resume makers are designed to flow with your needs, keeping a pleasing aesthetic no matter how long or short your resume is.
Good resume makers also allow you to rename, add, or remove sections as you see fit. After all, your particular circumstances may require giving more weight to an optional section or omitting a common section to make room for other information. Our top pick even allows you to add a totally custom section - you pick the name!
Finally, can you customize the look of the template itself? The best resume makers allow you to change elements such as fonts and colors on at least some of their templates.
File TypesThe best resume makers will allow you to download your document in both PDF and text (such as .doc) formats. Why is this important? When you are emailing your resume or uploading it online, you should always use a PDF file. PDFs can't be easily altered, and they retain their formatting no matter what program or device is used to open them.
But it is also good to keep a text version of the resume in your personal files. In this way, you can make small edits over time.
Some resume makers also provide a link to your resume that you can use on LinkedIn or other websites. Others will print your resume on high-quality paper and mail it to you (for a fee, of course).
Extra FeaturesSome resume makers offer the ability to make a matching cover letter.
Can You Get Additional Help When Needed?The best resume websites have helpful how-to articles as well as chat features that allow you to talk to a real person.
Which Online Resume Maker Is Best?With the above qualities in mind, here are our top picks.
Best Overall: Resume GiantsResume Giants is our top pick among professional resume makers. It is free, and you can make as many versions of your resume as you need. It is also very easy to use - you will click through a number of pages with text boxes prompting you to insert the requested information. If you have your info handy, this can be accomplished in a matter of minutes. Then, the resume builder does the rest, formatting your information to the template you selected.
Speaking of templates, there are twelve to choose from. You can customize the color pallet on all but one of them. Also, feel free to skip resume sections or add optional sections at the end. You can also change each heading.
If your Wi-Fi is interrupted or you close the tab, don't worry - your information will be saved and waiting for you when you get back to it. Download in PDF, TXT, or share with a link online.
Before you get started, you can check out resume examples from many industries or dive into the career blog. If you need help, you can email the team or click "Contact" to request technical support or advice.
Other Resume MakersOther resume builder websites include:
●Zety