Approximately 40 percent of hiring managers report spending less than 60 seconds reviewing each resume that appears on their desk. Another 25 percent spend less than 30 seconds.
Does this mean you shouldn’t worry that much about your resume? Quite the opposite! You have a very small amount of time to make a good impression and make sure you stand out to the hiring manager when you’re applying for a new position.
A well-made resume can make a big difference when it comes to differentiating yourself from the competition. It can be hard to put one together, though, especially since there are so many different kinds of resumes for different seniority levels and job types (chronological resumes, functional resumes, targeted resumes, etc.).
If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the idea of drafting a resume, consider using an online tool to help you out. Read on to learn about the top 15 free online resume builders we recommend trying today. We’re also sharing some bonus tips to help you put together a great resume that will surely impress.
How Do I Make a Resume for Free?
You don’t have to spend a lot of money, or any money at all, to get a great resume or CV (short for Curriculum Vitae, which is typically longer than a resume and details your whole career). You can make one for free using the right tools. Outlined below are the pros and cons of some of the most popular options:
CV Template Websites
CV template websites and free resume templates are often easy to navigate. They’re good starting points when you’re creating a new CV or resume.
Some of them offer limited features, though, along with limited template options. You can only get around these if you’re willing to pay to upgrade your membership.
Google Docs Free CV Templates
For a free, straightforward CV template, Google Docs is worth checking out. Google Docs is easy to use, and most people are fairly familiar with the platform.
Some are put off by the lack of template options, though. Because Google Docs is so frequently used, there’s a good chance other applicants will be using it. This means it may be harder for your CV or resume to stand out.
Free Online CV Builders
Free CV builders are similar to free CV templates. Both are available online, but CV builders sometimes come with additional features, like pre-written text and prompts that help you tailor your document to a specific job.
Like CV templates, these tools can be helpful but also limiting, especially when you’re working with the free version and don’t want to upgrade your membership.
What Are the Best Free Online Resume Builders?
There are lots of tools you can use to create high-quality resumes in no time. Here are the top 15 free online resume builders we recommend:
KickResume offers a free version of their service and a paid version.
The free version gives you access to 4 different templates. Some people are put off by these limitations, but for standard resume-building, it gets the job done.
KickResume’s templates are easily customizable. They also come with pre-written phrases, so those who are struggling with writers’ block and need a bit of inspiration can get some extra help.
One of the easiest ways to make a resume for free is by downloading and printing your LinkedIn profile.
If you’ve ever created a LinkedIn profile, you know that the process is pretty similar to writing a resume or filling out a job application. You include your personal information, details about your past jobs, a breakdown of your skills, etc.
LinkedIn also allows you to save your profile as PDF, which you can then print out or email as an attachment when applying for jobs. This is easy to do, and the result is a professional-looking resume.
Resume.com is one of the best free resume-building tools on the market today. You don’t even have to create a profile to use the platform.
Just click on the link above to access the website, then choose a template and start filling it in. You can even upload the information from your LinkedIn profile after downloading it as a PDF.
Resume.com limits you to a one-page resume, too. It makes it easy for you to keep things brief and avoid going overboard when filling in details.
CVMaker is another easy-to-use, free tool for building resumes and CVs. It allows you to quickly plug in your information and get a well-designed resume or CV in no time.
The only downside to this tool is that it doesn’t allow you to save your work unless you pay for a membership. Otherwise, you’ll have to complete it in one sitting and then download it.
CakeResume is a free resume-building tool that is similar to LinkedIn in that you must create a profile before you start creating your resume.
When your profile is complete, choose a template, plugin your information, and adjust the design of your resume. You’ll get a finished product that reflects your personality and makes a great first impression.
A bonus feature of CakeResume is that you’re allowed to upload a previous resume as a jumping-off point. If you don’t want to start from scratch, this is a good option to consider.
Canva’s All-in-One Resume Builder is a great free tool for designing an eye-catching resume. You can even access your resume through the Canva mobile app for on-the-go editing.
Like some of the other tools on this list, Canva comes with a free version and a paid version.
You may want to invest in the paid version if you’re looking for a very specific resume or CV design. However, the free version comes with plenty of good-looking templates and will work fine for most people.
Novoresume provides job seekers with a free template-building service. This service can be used to personalize your resume and tailor it to a specific job or other situation.
Novoresume also comes with a variety of optimization tools, which makes it easier for you to highlight certain skills and increase your chances of landing a specific job. The platform provides helpful tips, too, to ensure your resume or CV is unique and stands out from the crowd.
ResumeGenius helps you to design a professional-looking resume in just 15 minutes. You don’t have to spend hours putting together a great finished product!
ResumeGenius comes with a wide range of templates, from classic to elegant layouts, that have helped thousands of people land new jobs. These templates are simple, functional, and professionally designed, so it’s easy to add your personal information and get a great resume in no time.
VisualCV is a free platform that’s committed to helping job seekers create high-quality, standout resumes. Lots of publications, from Forbes and Mashable to CNN and the Wall Street Journal, love VisualCV and recommend it.
VisualCV comes with a vast gallery of resume and CV templates, so it’s easy to choose one that aligns with your goals and will surely entice every hiring manager who looks at it. This platform also comes with tools that help you monitor your CV and see when it’s been viewed or downloaded.
ResumUP is a free resume-builder that offers tons of different resume templates, from clean and simple designs to more elegant and sophisticated options.
ResumUP is unique because it allows you to branch out from the standard resume format. If you want to experiment with an infographic resume or another interactive format, definitely give ResumUP a try.
My Perfect Resume is a free tool that allows you to create a resume ready in just 3 steps.
You’ll start by choosing your resume design from a gallery of options. Then, you’ll either upload the information from your existing resume or create a new one from scratch. Third, you’ll customize your resume, download it, and get ready to send it out.
If you need to make a resume quickly but don’t want to sacrifice quality and design, My Perfect Resume is the perfect choice.
The Jobscan resume builder is free and very easy to use. It also comes with templates that are ATS (Applicant Tracking System)-friendly. This makes it easy for you to optimize your resumes and increase your chances of standing out when applying for new jobs.
Jobscan’s resume builder also lets you monitor your progress as you’re creating your resume. You can plug information in and then see on the other side of the screen how it looks on the page.
Indeed is one of the best resources to consider for a free, straightforward resume builder.
This platform makes it easy for you to type in your information (or upload an existing resume), and it allows you to automatically share it with employers who are using the site. This increases your visibility and helps you get noticed by more hiring managers.
Resume-Now is a free, classic resume builder, similar to Resume.com.
Resume-Now offers a variety of templates and allows you to add information manually. It also gives you total control over your finished product, which is great for those who are putting together a very specific type of resume.
For those who are looking for pre-written resume responses and prompts, Hloom is an excellent (and free) choice.
Hloom provides you with summary statement templates in addition to basic resume templates, so you get plenty of guidance and prompting along the way. It also helps you to edit your document before you finalize it to avoid potentially embarrassing mistakes.
How Far Back Should a Resume Go?
Now that you have a list of the top 15 free online resume builders, let’s address some frequently asked resume questions. For example, how far back should your resume go?
In general, your resume shouldn’t go back farther than 10-15 years. This is especially true when you’re applying for a full-time job and have been in a career field for a long time.
If you have 10 years of experience as a graphic designer, that’s what you should focus on. The hiring manager probably doesn’t need to know about the part-time job you had in college.
Can a Resume Be 2 Pages?
Yes, a resume can be 2 pages.
For entry-level jobs, a 1-page resume is typically fine. However, if you’re applying for a full-time job and have a lot of experience in a specific field, extending the document to 2 pages can be a good way to highlight that experience and show why you’re qualified for the job.
Whether you’re working on a one-page resume or a 2-plus-page CV, make sure you follow basic formatting guidelines. Deviating from the norm will be more of a red flag than the length of your CV.
Start with your personal information (name, contact details, etc.) and a brief summary statement. Then, begin breaking down your work experience, highlighting each position you’ve held, the tasks you carried out, and the skills you used or developed.
Is it OK to Leave Jobs Off Your Resume?
Yes, in some cases. Here are some types of jobs you may want to leave off of your resume or CV:
- Jobs that aren’t relevant to the one for which you’re applying
- Short-term jobs (i.e., ones that you worked for 3 months or less)
- Jobs at companies that aren’t in good standing (especially if they were also short-term jobs)
Are You Ready to Build Your New Resume?
There you have it, the top 15 free online resume builders we recommend using to build a great resume or CV.
These free resume templates and free CV builders are incredible tools that can take some of the stress out of the job-hunting process. Using them can also help you to feel confident that you’re making a good first impression when applying for a new position.
Are you looking for more tips on finding a new job or nailing the interview? Head to the GrabJobs blog today to learn from the pros and find all the information you need to get hired!