Free resume builder, no sign-up: how to make a resume that gets read

Many "free" resume sites ask for your email or charge you at the download button. Ours does neither. Here is how to use it, and how to write each section so a busy hiring manager keeps reading.

How our resume builder works

1. Pick a template from the gallery and an accent color.
2. Type over the sample, or press Start blank. The preview updates as you type.
3. Download a PDF to send or print, or plain text to paste into online job applications.

Your work saves in your browser on this device, so you can close the page and come back. We never see what you type. If you switch phones or clear your browser, download your PDF first.

Write each section the right way

Contact line

Name, city and state, phone and a professional email. You do not need your full street address. If your email is a nickname from high school, make a new one with your name in it; it takes two minutes.

Summary

Two or three lines that answer, "Why should we call you?" Lead with the job you want, your years of experience and one or two strengths that matter for that job. Skip phrases like "hard-working team player"; show it in your experience instead.

Experience

List jobs newest first: job title, employer, city and dates. Under each, write three to five bullets. Good bullets start with an action word and show a result:

• Weak: "Responsible for customer service."
• Better: "Answered customer calls and emails and solved billing problems the same day."
• Best, if true: add a number you can stand behind, such as how many customers, orders or people you handled.

Only use numbers you know are true. An interviewer may ask about them.

Skills

List the tools, equipment, software, licenses and languages the job posting asks for, using the same words it uses. If the posting says "pallet jack," write "pallet jack," not "material handling equipment."

Education and certifications

Highest school completed, plus any certificates, licenses or training. Put certifications near the top if the job requires them, such as a forklift card, a CDL or a food handler card.

Make sure software can read it

Many employers run resumes through an applicant tracking system before a person sees them. These programs read simple layouts best. That is why all four of our templates are single-column with standard headings. A few more tips:

• Use standard section names: Summary, Experience, Skills, Education.
• Do not put important words in a picture or a text box.
• Upload the PDF unless the job asks for a different file type.
• When an application has a big text box, paste the plain text version.

Tailor it in five minutes per job

Keep one master resume. For each job you apply to, read the posting and adjust three things: the summary, the order of your bullets, and the skills list. Five minutes of tailoring is usually worth more than five more applications sent unchanged.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Typos in your name, phone or email. Read your contact line twice.
• Long paragraphs instead of bullets.
• Listing duties with no results.
• A photo, age or marital status. Most US employers do not want them on a resume.
• Gaps with no explanation. A short line such as "Family caregiver" or "Full-time student" is enough.

Working an hourly job?

Warehouse, driving and production jobs read resumes a little differently. Our guide to a resume for warehouse jobs has example bullets for forklift operators, warehouse associates and CDL drivers.

Frequently asked questions

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