We get it. Updating your resume feels as painful as going to the dentist, but without the reward of fresh pearly whites afterward:)
In the not so distant past, the resume was the only way a hiring manager could learn anything about you. If your resume wasn’t up to snuff, you weren’t getting in the door.
Today, we have personal websites and digital portfolios. People write blogs, share videos, contribute to publications and manage dozens of social profiles. The traditional resume feels like a dusty old pager that your Dad refuses to throw away because one day he might need it again.
A good hiring manager knows there’s more to you than meets the eye on your resume (see more on this here). But, nine times out of ten, they’re still going to ask for one.
Whether we like it or not, resumes remain the one tool that employers use to quickly compare and contrast multiple candidates. They’re portable, make for a nice hand-out and are required in most ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) tools.
So, if you’re applying for a job, it’s time to suck it up and update your resume. But, it doesn’t have to feel like you’re getting a root canal. In this post, we’ll introduce four easy (and free, or incredibly close to it!) tools you can use to create a resume that looks like it was perfected by a professional!
1. Canva
Cost: FREE
To say I love Canva is a gross understatement. I use the tool for everything from designing Facebook ads to eBooks. And, I’ve used one of their resume templates for each of my last three positions so something must be working.
They have more than 1,000 pre-built resume templates to choose from. Simply click a favorite and input your information to make it your own. You can then download in any file format and, did I mention it’s free?
Check it out here!
2) Resume.io
Cost: $2.95 for a 7-Day Trial
Resume.io only has 12 templates, but they’re all really slick and clean designs (my favorite is Singapore). Aside from that the biggest benefit is the ease of use. They have pre-built sections and fields that you simply click through and fill out. There’s no need to do any type of customization or additional editing (although custom sections are available if you need them). And, most of the fields auto-populate once you start typing which is a huge time saver.
If you’re looking for the quickest resume building solution while still having a sleek design, I’d highly recommend Resume.io.
Build yours here!
3) CakeResume
Cost: Free with option to upgrade for $7.95
I don’t think it gets any easier than this. If you’ve kept your LinkedIn profile up to date, CakeResume will whip together a resume for you in less than five minutes. They automatically convert your LinkedIn data into a resume format that is then completely customizable with pre-built snippets.
You’ll get a digital version and a downloadable PDF with the free plan. If you want more customization and to remove the CakeResume branding at the bottom (which I recommend), it’s $7.95 for a full month of unlimited resumes (there’s also a 7-day money-back guarantee if you’re not happy!).
Let CakeResume do the work here!
4) Resume.com
Cost: Free
I’m sure you never would’ve guessed that Resume.com has resumes! But, this isn’t just one of those companies who snagged the domain for SEO and didn’t do much with it. You’ll find 24 templates out-of-the-box with a simple field-based content builder. You’ll also find cover letter templates if you need help in that department!
If you’re a Gen Z baby and building a resume for the first time, Resume.com is your go-to resource. They have sample resumes that you can customize by job title and industry so you can get a feel for how your resume should look. You’re not given a lot of artistic liberty in terms of design but hey, not everything should be bedazzled right? Oh, and it’s completely free! Yay!
Check out Resume.com here!
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If you’re still seeking resume inspiration, there are dozens of other resources out there for you! Pinterest and Etsy both have downloadable resume templates that you can easily customize.
Or, you can take it one step further and hire a pro to do the job! Fiverr has a professional resume and cover letter writers that will help you with content and design, starting at around $25. And, for another $5 this dude will say anything you want in a duck voice! So, there’s that.
Stay tuned for our next post that will guide you through WHAT to put in your resume and WHY.