free resume templates zety

The 17 Best Free Resume Builders We've Ever Discovered

Published: April 25, 2024

According to GetFive, only 30% of resumes are approved by applicant tracking systems (ATS). Once the resumes are approved, a hiring manager will only spend an average of six seconds reading each resume.

If those stats stress you out, I hear you. Writing a great resume that gets you noticed is tough — that’s why I’m here to encourage you to try a resume builder.

In this post, I've compiled a list of the best free resume builders that will help you create a personalized professional resume that passes ATS, stands out to the hiring manager, and helps you land your next job interview.

Why use a resume builder?

Writing a polished resume is second nature for some job applicants. But for others (and maybe most of us), creating a strong resume can be a struggle.

If you're one of the many people who need a little extra support, here are a few ways I think a resume builder can help out.

Resume builders offer templates, clean designs, and tips that speed up resume writing. They also make the process less stressful.

Offers Writing Tips

It takes a lot of work to promote yourself. And even if you enjoy self-promotion, writing isn't a skill everyone has. A resume builder can help you use the best words and phrases to show your experience and knowledge.

Improves Design

Each industry has different expectations for what a great resume looks like. If you're not familiar with design skills or tools, resume builders offer free templates to make your resume look as good as it sounds.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Recruiters often use ATS systems to scan resumes. And a good resume builder will help with formatting to make sure that your resume is easy for these systems to read.

Best Free Resume Builders

• Zety: Best for Expert Resume Creation Tips
• Resume Genius: Best for Easy and Fast Resume Creation
• Wepik: Best for Customizing Pre-Made Resumes
• My Perfect Resume: Best for Guided Resume Creation Help
• Standard Resume: Best for Active LinkedIn Users
• Kickresume: Best for Quick and AI-Assisted Resume Creation
• Canva: Best for Design Creativity and Expression
• Pixpa: Best for Creating Online Resume Websites
• Indeed: Best for In-Platform Job Seekers
• Resume.com: Best for Minimalist Resume Creation
• Novoresume: Best for ATS-Friendly Resume Building
• VisualCV: Best for Multimedia Resumes
• CakeResume: Best for Resumes With an Online Portfolio
• Resume Now: Best for Time-Saving Resume Creation
• ResumeNerd: Best for Resume Writing Help
• Jofibo: Best for Comprehensive Guides
• Hloom: Best for Resume Templates

We’ve discovered the best free resume builders on the market. These resume builders are great for all jobseekers, from entry-level to executive level.

Each free resume builder has a simple interface, customization options, and templates that help you create the perfect resume for your next job.

Featured Resource : HubSpot Resume Templates

12 Free Customizable Resume Templates

Fill out this form to access your free professionally-designed templates, available on:

• Microsoft Word
• Google Docs
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Google Slides

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

2. Resume Genius : Best for Easy and Fast Resume Creation

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Resume templates to create a killer resume for your job application.

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There are quite a few free online resume sites, but some are MUCH better than others.

Some also appear to be free but will make you pay at the very end or you won’t be able to download your newly-created resume.

So in this article, I’m going to review the 10 best resume sites that offer completely free resume builders.

These are the websites that offer the best resume templates, best building software and user experience, and don’t charge you to download a printable resume.

Top 10 Free Online Resume Builders

1. cultivated culture.

Cultivated Culture provides free tools and information to job seekers. It’s run by Austin Belcak, who’s spent his recent career developing formulas for crafting effective resumes, writing engaging cover letters, and landing high-paying jobs at some of the world’s top companies.

His free resume builder includes eight resume templates that are ATS friendly , full design customization, and expert advice throughout the process to help you craft the perfect resume.

The tool is user-friendly and makes writing a resume simple. Here’s how it works:

• Choose your resume template.
• Select a color scheme.
• Create your resume. You’ll be able to add information to the various sections of your resume , including personal information, experience, education, and skills . You can remove and add sections as needed.
• Once you’re happy with your resume click “Finalize.” Here you’ll be able to adjust the font size, line spacing, and margins.
• Download your resume as a PDF or Word file, or save it to your Google Drive.

You can use this tool to build an unlimited number of resumes.

Cultivated Culture also offers two other free tools that will help you develop a more professional resume. They have a scanner that offers suggestions and keywords based on your desired role and also provides a feature to help you write more effective bullet points.

2. NovoResume

NovoResume is an online resume builder that offers eight free templates to choose from, a content optimizer, pre-written resume samples, a cover letter builder, and templates for your cover letter.

After you choose one of their resume template options you’re taken straight into their resume builder. You have to sign up for a free account before continuing, but this just takes a moment.

The free version of NovoResume allows you to build one single-page resume. Click on any of the resume sections to edit and customize it however you like. You can also change the font, template, design, or layout throughout the process if you’re not happy with the way it’s looking. 

If you want a little more flexibility you can upgrade to the premium resume builder, which lets you create unlimited resumes and gives you access to additional fonts, templates, and various customization options.

3. LiveCareer

LiveCareer offers a free resume builder designed by certified resume writers. They also offer example resumes, templates, a cover letter builder, cover letter templates, and everything else you need to build an eye-catching resume.

The first thing you’ll notice about their resume builder is the number of templates they offer. There are over 30 templates to choose from, which gives you the freedom to create a resume that suits you. They’ll also recommend templates for you, based on your level of experience and the job title you’re applying for.

Once you choose one of their templates you have the choice of starting from scratch or uploading your current resume for LiveCareer to reformat. 

When creating a new resume, the resume builder will walk you through each section one at a time and ask you to provide the required information. During the resume-building process, LiveCareer will suggest bullet points that are related to the job titles you list in your work experience.

They’ll even provide a pre-written summary for you based on all the information you provide (although you also have the option to write your own summary if you like).

After you’re done you can download your resume to your computer in a PDF, Word document, or plain text. 

With LiveCareer’s free resume builder, you can make multiple resumes and download them in plain text format. However, if you want unlimited downloads in Word or PDF you’ll need to upgrade to one of their premium options. While there isn’t a free 30-day trial, for just $2.95 you can try it for 14 days. However, after 14 days, the plan auto-renews at $23.95, billed every 4 weeks, unless you cancel it .

Zety offers all the tools you need to build a resume that will catch an employer’s attention. In addition to their online resume builder, they give you access to over 20 resume templates, writing tips, pre-written examples, a cover letter builder, templates for your cover letters, and more. 

Once you select one of their resume templates, you can choose to start a resume from scratch or build off of an existing document (Zety will reformat it for you).

You’ll find Zety and LiveCareer’s resume builders are virtually identical (they seem to be built on the same platform), and they have all the same features and download options. Zety also has the same payment structure, where to download multiple resumes or gain access to their more advanced tool options, you’ll need to purchase a premium subscription.

5. USA Jobs

USA Jobs provides the best resume builder software when applying for government jobs.

Their online resume builder is geared toward the exact application process and requirements of the typical government role.

(And those requirements are quite overwhelming if you haven’t applied to many government jobs in the past, so it’s fantastic that their software helps.)

You’ll need to set up an account with USA Jobs to get started, but it’s well worth it.

After joining, follow these steps to start creating a resume for government jobs:

• Sign into your account.
• Go to your Documents.
• Click “Upload” if you want to edit an existing resume or “Build Resume” if you want to create a new one.

From here, you can add text to the various sections of your resume (work experience, previous job title, education, references, etc.). There’s also a section where you can add additional information, like job training, languages, and affiliations. Once you finish your resume you’ll be able to access it in your documents list and can use it to apply to various government positions.

The big difference between USA Jobs’s resume builder and other similar tools is the amount of information it asks you to include. For example, federal government recruiters review, audit, and score a wide variety of information, and this builder ensures you don’t omit anything that the recruiters require for you to be considered.

I found out about this tool through a colleague on LinkedIn, and here’s how they explained it:

So, if you’re applying to any government jobs, this is THE resume builder to use .

6. My Perfect Resume

My Perfect Resume offers free resume builder software and over 30 proven resume templates to help you get started. They also provide a resume optimizer, cover letter builder, cover letter templates, and several different customization options to help you land your dream job.

This resume builder uses the same platform as LiveCareer and Zety. You start by indicating how long you’ve been working and based on that My Perfect Resume will recommend a few templates for you. Then they’ll walk you through each section so you can fill in the correct information. They’ll offer suggestions along the way and will even write your bullets for you if you wish.

Once you’ve completed the process you can download your resume as a PDF, Word document, or plain text file. To enjoy unlimited downloads in Word or PDF, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid account. There is no free trial, but a 14-day full access for $2.95. After two weeks, the subscription auto-renews at $23.95 billed every 4 weeks, unless you cancel it.

7. Resume.com

Resume.com is a completely free resume builder. They also offer information on how to write an effective cover letter, career advice for job seekers, and more.

Their resume builder is simple to use:

• Enter the type of job you want to apply for.
• Choose a resume template. Resume.com offers 15 different templates.
• Click on each section of the template to edit it. Tips are provided for each section to help you craft the perfect resume.
• When you’re finished, you can choose to print or download your resume as a PDF or text file.

In addition to resume building, Resume.com partnered with Indeed. You’ll use a single account for both platforms. By creating a resume, you agree to create a public resume on Indeed and to receive job opportunities from employers. However, you can change this at any point.

JobScan is known mainly for its flagship software that allows you to match your resume up to the job description before applying (also known as tailoring a resume ).

However, they recently launched a free resume builder that’s among one of the best we’ve seen. It features great resume templates and design options, and it also offers writing guides, cover letter templates, and more.

I’d certainly put this among the free best resume-making sites available right now.

Once you begin, their resume builder gives you the option of building a resume from scratch or editing an existing file. You can even download your LinkedIn profile as a PDF and parse it as an “existing resume.”

If you choose to create a new resume you’ll start by picking one of the three resume templates they have to offer. Then you’ll simply fill in the required information for each section of the resume. Additionally, unlike other resume builders, Jobscan offers 15 Google Docs resume templates, designed by their team.

JobScan provides labeled fields for all the details you need to provide for every section, and a number of these fields are required to ensure you don’t miss anything.

If you already have a resume you’re reasonably happy with you can upload it to the resume builder and JobScan will reformat it and fill in your information based on what’s provided in your resume.

Once you’re done building your professional resume you’ll have the option to scan it based on the job you’re applying for.

JobScan will give your resume a grade ( match rate score) that’s judged on several factors, including skills match, education match, ATS tips, keywords, word count, and more. Based on these results, you’ll be able to build a resume that’s perfectly suited to the job you’re applying for.

9. Kickresume

Kickresume is one of the best resume builders I was able to find while researching. You’ll have to create an account before using it, however, this process only takes a moment.

Once you’re inside the resume builder you have the option of starting a resume from scratch, importing your resume from your LinkedIn profile, using one of their example resumes, or creating a new resume with AI.

Click on the different sections and fill in the fields to make your resume. You can also add and remove sections to personalize the document.

Click “Customization” along the left-hand side to change the colors, format, font, and template. There’s also an option to have it proofread by a professional, although there is a charge for this service.

When you’re happy with your resume, click “Download” to export it as a PDF file or Word doc, email it to yourself, or save it to Dropbox.

Kickresume also has a premium option. The free option should be good enough for most, as it allows you to build unlimited resumes and gives you access to plenty of resume examples and pre-written phrases for you to use.

But if you want access to all the resume templates and tools you might want to consider the premium option. You can choose a monthly, quarterly, or yearly plan. While they don’t have a free trial they do offer a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Indeed is known mostly as a job search tool to find employment opportunities in your local area. However, the company also offers a free resume builder to help job seekers perfect their resume before applying for postings.

Once you choose one of their eight different templates you’re taken to the resume builder where you can edit the document. You can switch templates at any time, adjust the color scheme, and add or remove sections. Once you’re satisfied with what you created about can download your resume as a PDF file.

While there are better resume builders out there, if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to create a resume, this one is a good choice.

Caution: Before Using ANY Online Resume Builder

There’s one more piece of information you should know before acting on ANY of the online resume builder reviews above.

In my experience, too many job seekers focus on an eye-catching resume design when applying for jobs or emailing recruiters , but they don’t put enough focus on writing great content and information that will appeal to the reader. So no matter which of these top 10 resume builders you choose, focus mostly on the text and information you add, not the design.

In fact, I still recommend a single-column layout.

And the truth is, if I were creating my own resume today, I’d use a regular Word template, not any online software or tool.

I discussed this with a colleague on LinkedIn here:

Microsoft Office has good templates available , and Hloom is another good site for templates.

I can understand if you don’t want to tinker with resume formatting , spacing, etc., and everything that comes with creating it in a Word doc, but that’s what I’d personally do.

Just keep this in mind when choosing any drag-and-drop software above; you should always pick a design that lets you focus on the content and info because that’s what employers want to see. Don’t choose a format that doesn’t give much space to describe your recent work, accomplishments, etc.

Because the FIRST place I look as a recruiter is your work history, under your one or two most recent roles.

I’d also never recommend a resume layout that doesn’t begin with your employment history on the top half of page 1.

Employment experience is often the first thing hiring managers look for (unless you’re an entry-level job seeker), and you should never make them scroll far down the page (or look on page 2) to find it.

Conclusion: Choosing the Best Online Resume Site for You

There isn’t one single best resume builder for all people in all industries, but the 10 choices above provide good, basic options that are user-friendly and will impress hiring managers.

I recommend visiting a few of the sites above and seeing which builder and templates look best to you. Each site offers different features/options, so you’ll want to get a sense of which one feels best to you before creating and downloading a resume.

And if you read my “Caution” statement above and decide to build your own resume in a document rather than in an online app, I have many free resources to help you here.

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

More Resume Tips & Guides

Crafting the perfect resume for teens (template & expert advice), how to beat applicant tracking systems with your resume, what do recruiters look for in a resume, what happens when you lie on your resume 10 risks, don’t say you’re a quick learner on your resume, guide to resume sections, titles, and headings, 12 resume formatting tips from a professional, how artificial intelligence (ai) is changing resume writing, 22 resume bullet point examples that get interviews, are resume writers worth it.

Zety Review — Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

Zety is a service that allows you to create resumes, cover letters, and CVs. Our Zety review explores the service’s pros and cons, helping you determine whether this is the right choice for your needs. 

Founded to make resume building online quick and easy, Zety seamlessly guides you through the process of creating a stellar resume that will land you your dream job. 

We experienced how Zety works firsthand to illustrate how it compares against the competition.

Pros & Cons

Pricing Plans

14-day full access.

*auto-renews at $23.70 every 4 weeks.

Monthly Plan

$5.95/month.

*or $71.40 up-front for yearly access to save 77%.

Zety Review — Features and Materials

The primary mission of Zety was to change the HR landscape and grow to become an internationally recognized brand. Created in 2016, Zety now has over 40 million readers annually and over 2.5 million users. It stands as the fastest-growing career advice website worldwide. 

As dozens of Zety.com reviews confirm, the platform is pretty simple to use. Whether you want to build a resume, cover letter, or CV, the first step is to choose a template. 

You can export your work in Word, TXT, and PDF formats. Alternatively, you can email or print the documents. Keep in mind that you need to subscribe before being able to export anything. 

Zety Resume Builder

Zety allows you to start building your resume from scratch or upload an existing one and improve the content in just a few minutes. 

You can track the strength score and learn about key points that you can improve, like:

• Completeness
• Precise contact info

You can preview your work at any time during composition. 

Zety Resume Templates

Each format style highlights your primary assets and career achievements. The design is minimalist, sleek, and focused on the content. You can easily display your prowess using graphs and choose one or two-column designs to maintain a good balance between word count and whitespace. The resume builder offers pre-made bullet points that you can modify further. 

Zety Wizard

Zety reviews praise the service’s wizard, which is highly intuitive and makes the resume-building process a breeze. It also provides tips and examples to guide you through the process. As you build the resume, you can click on the light bulb in the right corner and get some expert insights into what hiring managers usually look for and the type of content you should include.

According to Zety resume reviews, even if you have zero experience to include in your resume, expert insights can help you create a good-looking one. The wizard gives you recommendations on which keywords and skills you need to add according to the job position you’re applying for so that you stand out from the competition.

Zety will create a URL for your resume that you can then share with your potential employers. Getting a Premium membership will allow employers and recruiters to find and access your resume directly via Zety’s platform.

Zety Cover Letter Builder

Zety offers about 20 cover letter templates. Aiming to craft the best presentation of your experience and skills, the cover letter builder delivers professional-looking designs by highlighting the most critical information from the resume and why the hiring managers should consider you. 

You can easily highlight the most crucial career achievements using colors, styles, and bullet points. As with the resume builder, to craft a Zety cover letter, you’ll need to fill in the form with some basic information. You need to choose the top three skills and select the adjectives that describe your working style. 

Zety then uses this information to compose the cover letter, which you can further personalize. You can change the templates and format through the dashboard before finalizing it. 

Another interesting feature of Zety is managing sections like date, greeting, recipient, and more. Additionally, you can add requirements for availability, relocation, confidentiality, gaps, and salary. Our Zety cover letter review showed that users love the freedom to edit and personalize these sections as they see fit. 

If you need to send a CV, you must ensure it’s professional and straightforward. Zety helps you build a CV that displays your achievements. The process is similar to building a resume and cover letter — you need to pick a template and choose from a selection of ready-made sections, optimize them, or use pre-written bullet points. In addition, the builder allows you to add a personal profile and sleek icons to highlight important info. 

Comprehensive Knowledge Base 

Multiple reviews of Zety praise the extensive knowledge base crafted by recruitment professionals. It includes step-by-step instructions that can guide you through job searches and interviews. The knowledge base also has dedicated sections with articles that help you create your resume, CV, and cover letters. On top of that, you can get valuable career advice.

Personalized Feedback on Resumes

In addition to the extensive base of informative articles, Zety resume builder reviews commend the personalized feedback in the form of a built-in spell checker and text-suggestion feature. The spell checker isn’t the most streamlined, though, as it doesn’t detect misspellings on its own, and the text-suggestion component is keyword-dependent. Despite this, both features perform well in our experience.

Zety Online Reviews and Ratings

Zety has a 4.4 overall rating on Trustpilot from over 3,500 reviews. More than 93% have rated it with four or five stars. Only less than 1% rated their experience with Zety as poor, and 5% gave it one star. Overall, users are impressed by how simple and valuable Zety templates are. Also, they highlight that it’s simple to customize the information and craft CVs and cover letters. Users also appreciate the ideas for skills and job descriptions. Almost all reviews mention excellent customer service, highlighting how helpful the reps are.

On Site Jabber , Zety has a significantly lower number of reviews. Its average score is 4.92, indicating most customers are generally happy with its service. Also, they mention that the Zety resume cost is reasonable, considering the value you get. 

Users mainly complain about the auto-renewal of the membership; they had money taken out of their account, entering a monthly membership after the two-week pass. However, Zety has transparently disclosed this policy, so it’s really up to you.

Zety Customer Service

You can reach Zety’s customer support team via phone or message. According to the website, the average waiting time for phone support is two minutes, and our Zety resume review confirmed this. On the other hand, if you contact them via message, you’ll receive a reply within two days.

The reps are available Monday through Friday from 8 am to 8 pm. On Saturdays, you can reach them between 8 am and 5 pm, whereas the team’s working time is from 10 am to 6 pm on Sundays. The staff is knowledgeable, helpful, polite, and provides straightforward answers and excellent assistance. Many customers mentioned that the agents patiently explained how to fix the issues they inquired about.

Zety Pricing

Zety allows you to create a free resume and a cover letter, as well as use Zety’s resources on its website. At first, you’ll need to create an account and generate your documents using the templates entirely for free. However, to download the document, you’ll have to buy a two-week pass which costs $2.70. Keep in mind that it will auto-renew if you don’t cancel it.

Zety cost will then jump to $5.95 a month. Besides the monthly subscription, you can subscribe to Zety for a year, costing you $71.40. While you can’t download your resume for free, you can generate a plain text document with your resume information by clicking on “download” in the header.

Zety Alternatives

As part of our Zety resume review, we have compared Zety with its competitors to determine how it ranks among them. If you aren’t sure whether Zety can cover your needs or not, look at the head-to-head comparison with the top resume builders .

Zety vs. VisualCV

VisualCV offers a resume website builder that allows you to make a resume or cover letter for free. However, the cover letter feature is a bit basic. VisualCV’s paid packages are cheaper than Zety’s, and you can choose from 3 free and 20 paid templates. As we discovered through our VisualCV review , the paid plans offer a range of features like resume performance analytics, Google Doc integration, the ability to create a unique domain, and more. As per our Zety review, Zety is better than VisualCV in terms of document extraction as it offers a TXT format option in addition to PDF and Word. 

Zety vs. Resume Genius

Both Zety and Resume Genius provide cover letters and resume templates. Moreover, both provide solid customization options and helpful writing wizards. The two-week passes cost about the same as well. However, Zety resume reviews confirm that Zety is a cheaper option as Resume Genius renews at $39.95 a month. 

The price is worth it as you get a professional to write your resume. On Resume Genius, the preview option is possible only at the end of the resume creation, while you can preview your work throughout the process with Zety.

Zety vs. Resume.io

Zety free trial isn’t available per se — you still have to pay $2.70 to gain a two-week free pass. On the other hand, Resume.io offers free premium features that you can access for seven days. However, according to our Resume.io review , you aren’t allowed to download the resume with your free subscription. Like Zety, the platform includes a built-in grammar checker and excellent editing and customization features. It also allows you to add pre-written phrases and save your document in multiple formats.  

Zety Reviews Verdict: Is It Worth It?

Zety is an easy-to-use resume builder with 20 sleek templates, plenty of customization options, and a flexible text editor. It’s free to craft your document, and you can download it for free in TXT format. Paying the total cost for Zety can also be an excellent investment if you plan to use it multiple times to strengthen your brand on the internet. The platform can also help you create a professional cover letter and CV. 

Zety Frequently Asked Questions

Creating a resume, cover letter, and CV on Zety is free. You can start the process right from the Zety website. After passing the first few steps, you will need to create a free online account. However, to download them, you must buy at least a 14-day pass which costs $2.70. A monthly subscription costs $24.70, whereas an annual subscription is $71.40.

You can cancel the Zety subscription by contacting the customer service team. Alternatively, you can do it via the online cancel page, which you can access from your account settings. Once you request a cancellation, you’ll receive a cancellation number and confirm the request. If you cancel the subscription before your 14-day trial pass ends, Zety will also issue a refund notice.

Zety has a Certified Professional Resume Writer and NCDA credentials displayed on its website, proving it’s safe to use. According to Scamadviser.com, Zety’s trust score is 100%. Additionally, the Alexa rank of Zety.com is 1,925, and the site’s domain age is 22, which is pretty impressive. Hundreds of reviews online also confirm that the site is entirely legit.

As we said, you can use Zety for free. To craft your documents, you only need to create an online account. To download the documents, you need to pay at least $2.70 for a two-week pass. However, there’s an option to generate the resume for free in plain text format (TXT). To do so, click on “download” from the header, and choose the TXT format. As we learned during our research for this Zety review, users appreciate this option.

This post contains affiliate links. We may earn commission from any sales made or actions taken as a result from users clicking the links on this page.

Zety Review

Like many of the online resume builders we reviewed, zety has fewer features than most downloadable programs. however, its simplicity makes resume creation feel easier than it does with more complex software..

Top Ten Reviews Verdict

Zety is easy to use, but it’s missing a few features that would make it one of the best resume builders. It also isn’t the best value out there.

The program’s wizard saves your information and can populate it into a new resume.

It has limited connectivity and download options.

Why you can trust Top Ten Reviews Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

Like many of the online resume builders we reviewed, Zety has fewer features than most downloadable programs. However, its simplicity makes resume creation feel easier than it does with more complex software. Rather than creating your document with drag-and-drop tools or filling in editable sections right on the page, Zety uses a wizard. Basically, you fill out a form and it generates your resume after you select a template.

After Zety generates your resume, you edit it as you would with a typical word processor. You can choose a font from a list of about 10 or use script to write in a different language – the program includes options for Hebrew, Arabic and a variety of Asian languages. Zety doesn’t have as many font or sizing options as CakeResume, although many of its resumes are a bit more colorful. You can select from a variety of premade coordinating color palettes to make your resume more attractive.

Like many of the best resume builders, Zety lets you adjust margins and spacing. You can also add sections to an existing template if you like how it looks but want to be more specific about your achievements and skills. In addition, you can go back to the wizard at any time to add or change information if you are concerned about how it appears in the preview mode. Few programs let you navigate back and forth between the preview and wizard building modes. In fact, some programs require you to start fresh from the beginning rather than just make simple adjustments if you fail to understand the wizard’s initial instructions.

Like many up-and-coming builders, Zety can create a URL for your resume, and you can share the link with employers. If you sign up for the Premium membership, employers and job seekers can access your resume from Zety’s platform. We couldn’t find embedded links to Facebook, LinkedIn or other social media platforms like those in CakeResume , and you can only download your resume as a PDF. As such, you can’t make edits in a separate word processor, like you can do with LiveCareer's export options. There’s an option to download the plain text, but you have to start again if you lose the formatting.

Buying Guides

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This service doesn’t have a free trial. The basic version costs $4.99 a month, and it gives you access to four resume templates and unlimited downloads – you download and adjust your resume for as long as you pay the subscription fee. Zety’s Premium subscription costs $14.99 a month and gives you access to a cover letter builder, which is a standard feature of most job search and resume building websites and programs.

Zety’s limited number of colorful templates and editing tools makes it simpler than other software we reviewed. We found it easy to use and thought its resumes were good quality. However, we found programs with more sharing and download options that cost less. Overall, Zety is a solid choice if you need to make a resume fast.

Jessica Richards is a former writer for Top Ten Reviews. She graduated with a master’s degree in English from Weber State University, where she now teaches. You'll find her bylines across a number of articles concerning software, especially when it comes to typing software. She has also written about grammar checker software packages too.

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Zety is a career website with an online resume builder and easy-to-use cover letter generator . Users can choose from over 20 customizable templates and design the perfect resume or cover letter with the help of prompts, tips, and expert advice. Zety also provides access to useful guides, cover letter examples, and information articles.

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You can use Zety's career resources at no cost. Users can also create a free resume or cover letter, but they will be required to buy a 14-day pass for $2.70 to download their document. Those who require extra features can pay the discounted rate of $71.40 for an annual subscription.

Zety offers a broad range of templates for cover letters and three main resume types including chronological, functional, and combination. This career site will help you create a tailored resume and cover letter in minutes. The website is easy to navigate and also provides access to career guides, tips, and advice. Over 2.5 million people use Zety.

• You can use the site and all its resources for free.
• Easy-to-use resume and cover letter builder, with tips and prompts.
• User-friendly website boasting helpful resources for job seekers.
• A broad selection of sleek, highly customizable resume templates.
• Many resume templates contain color blocks, and using color is seen as unprofessional by some hiring managers.
• Some templates contain graphics (little icons), which could interfere with ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems).
• While you may use the site at no cost, you will have to pay if you want to download your resume or cover letter at the end of the process.

Reputation:

Zety has a rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot , based on more than 4,000 reviews. Many users expressed their appreciation of how quickly they are able to create resumes and mentioned that they don't mind paying the subscription costs considering the quality of the service.

However, some dissatisfied customers cited difficulties when trying to unsubscribe and claim they were charged for the service without their knowledge.

At-a-Glance:

Zety vs. indeed:.

Zety and Indeed offer similar features despite Indeed being entirely free. They both offer pre-written content and professional designs, although Indeed only offers 8 to choose from. There is no clear reason why you'd want to pay for Zety when Indeed can do an equal job.

Zety vs. Indeed Comparison:

Zety vs. resume genius:.

Zety and Resume Genius both provide resume and cover letter templates that can be tailored to your requirements. Zety is cheaper, but it does not have the option to get a professional to write your resume, while Resume Genius provides this service. For a detailed comparison, read our Best Resume Builder article.

Zety vs. Resume Genius Comparison:

Key information, is zety resume builder free.

You can use Zety's career resources and read their articles for free. You are even allowed to generate your Resume or Cover Letter using their templates, but if you want to download the finished product, you will have to pay $2.70 for a 14-day full access pass.

If you do not cancel your access pass within 14 days, it will auto-renew and be billed at $24.70 every 4 weeks.

Is Zety a good resume builder?

Yes. Millions of job seekers have used Zety to help them land their dream jobs and it ranks as our second-best resume builder. Zety provides a large selection of modern templates, expert resume advice, and useful articles. Users can pay for monthly access, or sign up for an annual subscription at the discounted rate of $71.40 per year.

What are some alternatives to Zety?

• Resume Genius .
• Resumizer .
• LiveCareer .
• Resume.com .
• ResumeCompanion .
• MyPerfectResume .
• Kickresume .

Related Articles:

Indeed resume builder, resume build, best resume layout, resume tips.

Resume Templates

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Choose a [Free] Resume Template

Pick one of our professional resume templates to get started on your job application. Just fill out your favorite resume template to create a flawless, ATS-friendly resume in under 5 minutes. Try out one of our 8+ free resume templates to make an impressive resume and land your dream job in no time!

Skill-Based

Traditional

Professional

Why Novorésumé?

Free AND Premium

We offer both free and premium resume templates, so whatever your budget might be, you can still take advantage of our resume builder.

Creative & Professional Resume Templates

Whether you’re a creative advertiser looking for an outside-the-box creative resume template, or a banker seeking a more professional resume template, we’ve got a template for you!

NO Hidden Fees

If you’ve tried other resume builders, you’ve probably experienced this: You spend hours creating a resume, and when you click “download,” you get hit with a paywall asking you to subscribe.

At Novorésumé, we don’t do that . We have NO hidden fees - upgrade to Premium ONLY if you LOVE our resumes!

ATS Friendly

All Novorésumé resume templates are built with the most popular Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) in mind. What this means for YOU is that whichever job you apply for, the CV filtering software they use will be able to read your resume (and NOT automatically discard it).

Expert Reviews

Oana Vintila

Career Counselor

For over 10 years now, I've been on both sides of the fence, career counseling, and recruitment, and let me tell you, the writer's block hits hard when it comes to drafting your resume.

Novorésumé not only offers you a smart and modern template for you to fill in, but their team has also crafted a winning combo of aesthetics and functionality that will inspire you to apply for the job you thought was out of your league. Give it a try!

Biron Clark

Former Executive Recruiter

Novorésumé is one of the few resume builders that I recommend online. Their resume templates are modern and eye-catching, and will grab an employer's attention. As a former Recruiter, if a candidate sent me a resume built with one of these templates, I would take notice and be impressed.

The software also makes it easy to enter your info and handles all of the formatting for you, so you can get your resume ready to send out as quickly as possible. I recommend these templates whether you're a recent graduate or experienced candidate.

Gabriela Tardea

Career Strategist, Coach & Trainer

When I consult people on resume writing, the most common question that I am asked it is about the content and what components to add or avoid, when they have less than 5 years of work experience.

On this platform, you not only have access to many options, but you get guidance on what to choose and why. When the work experience is less than 5 years, the other components such as languages, projects, volunteering experiences, hobbies etc, make a huge difference.

Resume Resources

What is a resume.

A resume is a brief summary of personal and professional experiences, skills, and education history. Its main purpose is to show off your best self to potential employers.

When applying for a job, you’re (in most cases) going to be asked for a resume accompanied by a cover letter.

If you manage to create a “good” resume, you’re going to 2x your chances of getting hired . Want to learn how? Check out our complete guide on how to make a resume .

How to Write a Resume With No Experience?

The process of writing a resume might seem super scary to you. After all, most resume examples you see on the web are 80% about work experience. So, what the heck can you include in your resume if you have none?

Well, here’s some good news. If you’re applying for an entry-level job or an internship, no one expects you to have ANY work experience.

Instead, you should focus on what you DO have: education, projects, volunteering experience, hobbies & interests.

For a complete guide on how to make a resume with no work experience stand out, check out our article.

What to Put on a Resume?

The most common sections on a resume are:

Contact information

Resume summary or objective

Work experience

If you want to personalize your resume a bit more, you can also include the following sections:

Volunteering experience

Hobbies & interests

For more information on how to place these sections on your resume, check out our article on what to put on a resume .

How to Format a Resume?

Here are the three most popular resume formats:

Reverse-Chronological Resume

Functional Resume

Combination Resume

In 99% of the cases, you’ll want to go with the reverse chronological resume format . That’s the format most resumes you’ve seen follow - its main focus is your work experience, written down in reverse-chronological order.

So, unless you’re a student with no professional experience or a career changer, we’d recommend sticking with this format.

If you want to learn more about three resume formats , check out our comparison guide.

How to Write a Resume For a Student?

A good student resume takes advantage of the education section to highlight the candidate’s skills and qualifications.

So, the first thing you should do is talk about all your academic achievements, including any classes you’ve taken that are relevant to the position.

As a student, hiring managers don’t expect you to have extensive professional experience, so you don’t have to worry about the work experience section missing from your resume. Instead, you can focus on highlighting your extracurricular activities , any volunteering you’ve done, and your awards or certifications.

This student resume guide has all the information you need to perfect your resume and land your first real job.

How to Write a Resume For My First Job?

If you’re applying for your first job, chances are you don’t have substantial work experience. That’s fine - hiring managers expect that from entry-level positions.

First things first, go for the reverse-chronological format. Instead of writing a resume summary, use a resume objective to highlight your skills and career aspirations. If you have any work experience, do include it on your resume.

If not, you should put more focus on the following sections:

Internships , where you should focus on what you learned and achieved

Extracurricular activities , where you should highlight your role, responsibilities, and achievements.

Volunteering experiences , where you should mention the organization name, and relevant tasks and achievements.

Projects , where you talk about any personal projects you’ve worked on (that are also somehow relevant to the job you’re applying for).

Check out this guide on writing a resume with no experience to learn more about the topic and get inspired by real-life examples.

How Long Should a Resume Be?

Short answer: one page. If you're a seasoned professional with a lot of work experience that's relevant to the position, you can create a 2-page long resume MAX.

Long answer: check out our guide on how long should a resume be .

P.S. all of our templates are one page long , so you shouldn’t have a lot of trouble sticking to the one-page limit!

How to Write a Resume Summary?

Your resume summary is a “hook” that goes on top of your resume. Think of it as an introduction to the rest of your resume. It should, in 2-4 sentences, explain what your background is, and why it’s relevant for the position you’re applying for.

To learn more about how to create a resume summary that stands out, check out our guide.

How to List Work Experience on a Resume?

Work experience on a resume is one of those things that’s easy to learn but hard to master.

Each work experience entry should contain the following information:

Company name/description/location

Achievements or responsibilities

Dates employed

Now, if you want to create a work experience section that stands out, you want to make your achievements quantifiable. What this means is, instead of creating a responsibility-focused entry, like:

“Carried out sales operations.”

You list your achievements:

“Hit and exceeded monthly sales KPIs for 5 months in a row.”

This shows the employer that you’re not just a random candidate, you’re an A-player! To learn more about how to list achievements in your work experience (and land the job), check out our article.

How to List Skills on a Resume?

Simply create a ”skills” section on your Novorésumé resume template, and list your top skills. We usually recommend going for a mix of hard and soft skills .

Not sure what skills to include in your resume? Check out these 101 essential skills for any resume .

How to Make a Cover Letter for a Resume?

You should always submit a cover letter along with your resume for any job you apply to. Here are some of our top cover letter tips on how to do this right:

Tailor your cover letter to the employer. The more personalized it is, the more likely it is for the recruiter to like you.

Outline your general background (work experience, profession, etc.) and mention your top 2-3 achievements to show off your skills.

If you really want to stand out, create a cover letter that matches your resume template. To do this, you can use one of our cover letter templates here .

If you want to learn more about how to write a convincing cover letter, check out our comprehensive guide.

What Is the Best Resume Template?

There’s no such thing as “the best resume template” - every recruiter/employer has their own personal preference. Our general recommendation is to do your research on the company and its values.

For example, if you’re applying for a position at a bank, you’d want a more traditional resume template. Or, if you want a job in a startup where they value innovation more, you could opt for a creative resume template .

Alternatively, if you want your experience and skills to do all the talking, you can pick one of these minimalist resume templates .

Finally, if you’re still not sure which type of template is right for the job you’re applying for, you can just use a simple resume template just to be safe.

Do I Need to Include a Photo on my Resume?

No, you don’t need to include your photo together with your other contact details. Companies hire based on merit, which means your physical appearance shouldn’t matter to the hiring manager.

Instead, in your contact information section, make sure to include the following:

Professional title

Valid phone number

Email address

Location/where you’re based

Link to website/ LinkedIn /online portfolio, etc.

What’s the Difference Between a Resume and a CV?

In most cases, when people are talking about a CV or a resume, they are referring to the same thing! The only difference is that it's called a resume in the US and a CV in Europe (and most other countries around the world).

Now, in the US, a CV is a very in-depth document that describes your career journey step-by-step, including all sorts of personal information . Depending on your amount of experience, a CV can range between 2 to 8 pages and it’s typically used when you’re applying for jobs in academia.

Check out our guide for a more comprehensive run-down of the differences between a CV and a resume .

6 Tips for Creating a US Resume (That’ll Land You the Job)

Looking to get hired in the US? Check out our tips for creating a US resume below!

Keep your resume between 1-3 pages . A one-page resume is preferable unless you’re a seasoned professional. In such a case, you can go for two or even three, if your experience is really relevant.

Use Standard American English . So, for example, write “color” instead of the UK version, which is “colour.”

Leave out personal information , such as marital status, birthday, gender, photo, number of children, age, religion, personal identification numbers, and ethnicity/country of origin. They can be grounds for discrimination.

Don’t include references, unless the employer specifically asks you to.

Don’t list English as a foreign language.

Don’t list your GPA, SAT, TOEFL, or ACT scores on your US resume unless otherwise stated. Hiring managers usually don’t care.

Check out this guide for the full list of resume tips and tricks !

Get Inspired with Our Resume Examples

Resume templates faq, how to make a resume with novorésumé.

Follow these simple steps:

Choose one of our top resume templates above

Follow the tips & tricks built-in our resume builder

Fill in your work history and other experiences

Hit download and start applying to jobs!

What If I Am a Student?

All of our resume samples are student-friendly! If you’re looking for something a bit more tailored, we’d recommend picking the “college resume template”

Or, if you want to learn how to create a convincing student resume , check out our guide.

Do I Really Need a Resume?

Yes, you definitely need a resume!

Practically every job out there requires that candidates submit a resume and a cover letter, so if you want your application to be considered by the hiring manager, you definitely need a resume .

Are These Resume Templates Free?

Yep, all of the templates listed above are free resume templates.

However, our resume builder comes with a ton of premium features. So if you want to personalize your resume and make it truly yours, you can upgrade!

Who Created These Resume Samples?

At Novorésumé, we put extensive care in creating each resume template.

We interviewed recruiters and analyzed applicant tracking systems to create resume samples that will maximize your chances of getting hired.

Then, our professional graphic designer worked his magic to make the resume samples compelling, well-designed, and easy to read!

Which Template Do Most Employers Prefer for Resumes?

Typically, employers prefer simple, professional-looking resume templates that follow the reverse-chronological format and don’t surpass two pages MAX in length.

All the Novoresume templates above meet these requirements, so rest assured hiring managers will dig whichever one you choose.

Are These Resume Templates ATS-Friendly?

Yes! All Novorésumé templates are ATS-friendly .

Keep in mind, though, that using the right template is step #1. You should also optimize your resume content for applicant tracking systems. For more on that, check out our guide to creating an ATS-friendly resume .

Do You Offer One-Page Resume Templates?

Yep. All the templates you see above are one-page resume templates. They are, however, pretty flexible, so if you decide to go for 2 pages, our templates will get the job done!

Should I Download My New Resume In PDF or Word?

You should always download and save your resume as a PDF .

Here’s why:

PDF formatting never gets messed up.

It’s compatible with practically any system or device.

PDF documents look cleaner and are overall more professional.

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