Technology development changes every aspect of our lives. Job searching is no exception. It’s been a while now since resume builders have become the thing in job hunting with more and more people adopting them as a must-have tool. This trend is particularly noticeable among individuals entering the workforce and those transitioning to a new career or seeking a job after many years.
In this article, we provide guidance on creating an effective resume online with a resume builder, offer insights into the most important factors to rely on when choosing one, and highlight some of the most innovative and helpful features these tools have to offer.
How Do I Choose a Resume Builder?
With a wide variety of services and tools available for creating resumes, selecting the right one can feel overwhelming. Each platform offers unique features, such as customizable templates, AI-powered suggestions, or integrated job boards. To find the service that suits you best, start by identifying your specific needs and preferences:
1. Are you willing to pay for the service?
Resume builders fall into three pricing categories: completely free, partially free, and fully paid. Most services are partially free, offering basic features at no cost while charging for premium tools or features.
The ideal scenario is often a platform that allows free downloads of your resume while offering optional paid tools, such as AI-generated suggestions. These can be particularly helpful if you need guidance, want tailored tips, or are looking to improve specific sections of your resume.
2. Do you plan to update your resume?
It is very important to keep your resume up-to-date even if you’re successfully employed and really like your job. This ensures that you're always prepared in case you decide—or need—to explore new opportunities.
To make updating seamless, choose resume builders that offer unlimited free downloads. This way, you can edit and download the latest version whenever needed without paying for features you don't want or use.
3. Do you need any guidance on writing a resume?
Not all resume builders, even those with paid features, include smart tips or AI-powered tools. If you're not confident about your resume writing skills, look for a platform that provides tailored solutions or AI suggestions. These tools can help transform your resume into a professional and strong document.
4. Do you need additional features or tools?
Modern resume builders offer more than simple PDF editing. They often include features like job boards, ATS matching score checkers, resume-to-job tailoring, video resume creation, and more.
If you’re interested in exploring these tools, consider choosing a service that provides them. To find out what features a resume builder offers, check the main page of their website—it typically lists the available options in detail.
5. Is there an all-in-one solution?
It’s pretty easy to get lost in all these differences and options, so the safest way would be to find a universal solution that would suit most job seekers.
uhired is one such service. It brings together the best features in one place: unlimited free downloads, AI-powered suggestions, free tips, video resume recording, job boards, resume checking, and tailoring tools.
Sign up using your Google account or Apple ID and start changing your job search for the better.
How Do I Create a Resume?
Once you’ve decided on the builder that fits your needs, it’s time to start creating your resume. Most resume builders follow a similar user journey, with slight variations in the form fields and the order in which they appear:
- Choose a template: either the first or last step
- Fill in your personal details: name, address, and contact information
- Skills: hard (or technical) skills and soft (or personal) skills
- Work Experience or Work History: past positions, responsibilities, and achievements
- Education: anything from your highest academic degree to any relevant professional courses
- Professional summary: acts as both an introduction and a concise summary of your qualification
Most forms are pretty self-explanatory; however, some may require assistance, especially if it’s your first resume.
For example, when completing your work experience section, in addition to the company name and work period, it's essential to provide details about your role. Here, you should list your achievements and explain how you applied both hard and soft skills to complete tasks, helping the company grow and succeed.
Another common problem is people confusing a professional summary with a cover letter, making it either too long or addressing themselves in the first or third person.
Remember: it is generally recommended to avoid using pronouns in a professional summary and keep it brief—no more than four sentences.
AI will help make it faster and better
With all the unwritten rules surrounding resume writing, it's easy to overlook something important or make an unintended mistake. Using AI suggestions or tips will not only guide you in the correct format but also ensure there are no spelling or grammar errors, create a comprehensive skills list, and do all of this faster than if you were writing it manually.
Utilize the features you’ve paid for
This is especially true for resume builders that offer limited free tools. Even if you're confident in your resume-writing abilities, trends in style and requirements frequently change. If you're not directly involved in the field, it can be difficult (and unnecessary) to keep up with these changes.
A good resume builder, however, will help you stay updated. Take full advantage of the paid features to double-check your work and improve the quality of your resume wherever possible.
What Do I Do Next?
After completing your resume, you can start applying to jobs. However, many applicants unknowingly make a common mistake when filling out application forms without even realizing it.
Whether you used AI or created your resume yourself, it’s crucial to match the information on your application with the details from your resume to ensure consistency and optimize for keywords.
A brief introduction to ATS and applicant management programs
For those unfamiliar with the process, once you submit a job application, it is first processed by an Applicant Tracking System. This system analyzes the data you’ve entered in the application forms. The hiring team can then manually review your resume or use another program designed to match its keywords with the job opening.
It analyzes both the job description and your resume or application (sometimes both) to score them based on how well the keywords match. The higher the score, the greater the chances that your resume will be reviewed by the hiring team.
Some ATS are capable of keeping track of the applicants and check their matching rate at the same time. So, it is always a good idea to compare your resume and application with the job opening before submitting the application.
Resume Tailoring and Matching
There are various programs and AI tools available that assist with the resume tailoring and job description comparison process. These tools work similarly to tracking systems by analyzing both your resume and the job description you provide (or select from a job board). They score the degree of keyword match between the two and offer detailed feedback on areas you can improve or adjust to increase your chances of passing through ATS filters.
Thus, you can tailor your resume as many times as needed for each job you apply to, without spending hours on manual research and adjustments. uhired is one of the platforms that offers a combination of all the key components you need: a resume builder, job board, and AI-driven tailoring.
That’s why it’s so important to make sure the application form matches your resume as closely as possible. If the applicant tracking system is analyzing the application form instead of the resume you’ve attached, you risk losing the match score you've achieved through resume tailoring.
Your resume can be your winning card or your losing one, depending on how carefully it is crafted and how much attention you give to its details. By using the right resume builder with effective tools, you significantly increase the quality of your resume without the need to spend valuable time on it.
uhired is the most comprehensive service for creating resumes, offering everything you need and a little more, ensuring that you can be confident in your resume and your efforts.