Shelby Brown Editor II
Shelby Brown (she/her/hers) is an editor for CNET’s services team. She covers tips and tricks for apps, operating systems and devices, as well as mobile gaming and Apple Arcade news. Shelby also oversees Tech Tips coverage. Before joining CNET, she covered app news for Download.com and served as a freelancer for Louisville.com.
- She received the Renau Writing Scholarship in 2016 from the University of Louisville’s communication department.
Zachary McAuliffe Staff writer
Zach began writing for CNET in November, 2021 after writing for a broadcast news station in his hometown, Cincinnati, for five years. You can usually find him reading and drinking coffee or watching a TV series with his wife and their dog.
- Apple software beta tester, “Helps make our computers and phones work!” – Zach’s grandparents
Katelyn Chedraoui Associate Writer
Katelyn is an associate writer with CNET’s services and software team. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in media and journalism. She believes in the transformative power of digital platforms, tools and communication to enhance accessibility to information and the even-more transformative power of a good cup of coffee.
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Writing a resume can be a confusing, time-consuming and sometimes stressful process. You have to figure out the right formatting, pick the best terms to describe your encounter and try to strike just the right tone. Having an up-to-date resume is always a good idea, whether you’re currently employed, knee-deep in job boards or haven’t applied for a job in a while. Fortunately, many resume writing services can help ease the process.
Some of what you’ll need to include in your resume will depend on the industry you want to work in. While it can vary, employers will likely look at your education, work history and skills. We’ve combed through dozens of resume services looking at the most helpful features across a variety of needs. Each of these templates and professional writing services will help you create a complete resume that best reflects your skills and encounter at an affordable price.
What’s the best resume builder website?
The best resume template and builder should give you a variety of options to customize your resume. Resume.com has many options and customization features that make it a useful tool for almost any candidate applying to any job. You can upload and edit an existing resume, customize an available template from its collection or let the service guide you through creating one from scratch. Resume.com also offers helpful guidance throughout your resume creation process, making sure you include and enhance all your content. Once you’re happy with your resume, you can download it for free in multiple formats.
Depending on where you’re at in the job application process, you might need more guidance than a template. These professional writing services will pair you with experienced writers and coaches to help you to craft and perfect resumes, LinkedIn profiles, cover letters and more.
As these services include more personalized coaching and features, they tend to be more expensive. We’ve collected a range of options for your budget and needs.
If you need some guidance on creating or updating a resume but aren’t ready to spring for professional service, check out these online tools to help you find templates and guides for doing it yourself.
We’ve included the features each service has, along with any options to upgrade to paid subscription tiers. Because your resume likely includes your contact information and some personal information, we’ve also included information about each service’s privacy policy. We have not included any service that might put your personal information at risk, but the policies for each are different. Each service’s specific terms are included below, and we suggest checking any site’s terms before uploading your information.
Best resume templates and builders of 2023
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Resume.com is a completely free resume writer that offers dozens of templates for creating your resume or cover letter, as well as job boards and career advice. You have the option to upload and edit an existing resume, create a new one, or customize one of the sample resumes offered on the site. It’s intuitive and easy to use, and it creates a professional-looking final product.
When starting from scratch, you’ll go section by section, entering your education, employment history, hobbies and interests, professional skills, languages and references. Resume.com provides question prompts and tips for guidance, as well as career-specific examples you can add if you’re struggling to find the right words. You can also select to forgo any of these sections, rearrange sections and add custom ones depending on what you need. As you update and save each section, you can see how it will appear on the page on your resume preview to the right. You can also change the template, font style and size, or spacing at any time and see it update in real-time in the preview.
Once you’re done, you can download your new resume (in PDF, DocX, RTF or TXT format), create a custom URL or print it out. You also have the option to upload it to Indeed, a job seek site that partners with Resume.com. The account you make will work with both Indeed and Resume.com. On the privacy side, the site does collect user information. If you want to delete your account, simply click your profile icon and then Account. Clicking Close My Account deletes your account and your data. If you didn’t make an account, you can still select Delete Guest Data. You can also inquire your data, and the company will send you an email with what it has collected.
On the review site Trustpilot, Resume.com only has 32 reviews, but of those, 63% of them awarded the site four or five stars. Some negative reviews speak of difficulty unsubscribing from paid services, so read carefully as you use the free aspects of this service.
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The website Resume Genius says you can “make a professional resume in 12 minutes.” We tested it out and indeed had a solid first draft of an easy resume completed in about 10 minutes. Resume Genius takes you step-by-step through the process, prompting you with questions about your education and work encounter to help you fill out the applicable sections. Resume Genius is particularly helpful because you can seek for a job and see prewritten text for the description that you can add or edit. When finished, you can easily toggle between different templates to see what looks best for the final product. You also have the option to directly share your resume with Indeed or Resume Library.
The site can also help you build cover letters and curriculum vitae. After you input all your information, you can select different layout styles and colors. It’s easy to advance through, but you have to do it in order and fill in all the information before continuing. Resume Genius also offers examples of resumes, CVs and cover letters for specific jobs, as well as recommended jobs near you. You can download the resume you create for $2.95 (which starts a 14-day trial for Resume Genius Pro), or $7.95 (which kicks off a monthly subscription scheme). However, if you falter to cancel your trial before the 14 days are up, you’ll be billed $24.95 every four weeks ($95.40 annually), according to the site.
On Trustpilot at the time of this publication, the site has 4.8 out of 5 stars based on more than 38,000 reviews. Note that if you register on the site, Resume Genius does collect personally identifiable information and may share it with third parties for advertising and other purposes, according to its privacy policy. The account deletion process is buried in the Terms of Service. According to Resume Genius, complete data erasure can take up to 30 days, but they may retain “certain information in accordance with privacy laws.”
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It’s free to create a resume or post your current resume on Indeed. If you’re building a new one, you can select between eight templates. The resume sections are highlighted and when you click, each section expands specific text fields. You can swap templates at any time without losing your work, as well. There are also options for toggling sections on and off, in addition to rearranging them. When you’re finished, you can download a free PDF of your work history.
Indeed Resume Builder also offers optional professional advice for your new resume. After you download the resume you created, you’ll get a prompt and can click Get Resume Help From a Real Person. Fill out a short questionnaire about what type of help you want and upload your resume (it’s OK if you haven’t built one). This service usually costs $89 unless you’ve applied to at least 10 jobs using your Indeed resume. According to Indeed, if you haven’t received an interview inquire within 60 days of receiving your new resume, you can inquire a one-time rewrite.
For $19, you can take a quiz and get feedback from a professional to get you started. You can also use Indeed’s automated instant report system for free. The system returns quick tips to better your resume.
Indeed’s privacy policy says that it does collect and share user data with third-party providers to connect job seekers with employers and better services. According to Indeed’s privacy policy, you can inquire an account or personal data deletion and inquire that your data not be shared while your account is active. CNET reached out to Indeed for more information and we’ll update when we hear back.
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CV Engineer is an easy-to-use smartphone app that creates a professional-looking resume. With 16 templates to select from, you can tap to enter information into all of the usual sections and add custom ones. When you tap on each section, you can tap through the bottom toolbar to get advice on what type of information to add, as well as view resume examples to show you how the section could look.
CV Engineer lets you send or download your first completed resume for free, but upgrading to CV Engineer Pro for a one-time payment of $6 gives you access to unlimited downloads. A Scan My CV feature is also included, which can detect common mistakes and suggest improvements, such as places where you can add more information. The Pro version also offers interview advice and a cover letter builder.
You can download CV Engineer from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. However, CV Engineer does collect personal information and can share it with Google Play Services and Firebase Analytics, according to its privacy policy. The app is free to download and ad-free.
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Resume Star 2 isn’t the most visually stunning resume design app for iOS, but it gets the job done. To use, tap each section of the resume, fill in your information and it will fill in a traditional template (you only get one layout). The app offers some example resumes you can start with and edit as needed, including job-specific ones for a: cashier, dental hygienist, receptionist, waitress, mechanic and senior manager.
You can add or delete any sections you admire without needing to hit save every time you add in information, and you can see your resume update as you go. The autosave feature makes it easy to toggle quickly between the different sections as well. At the end, you’ll have a basic resume ready to go. The app’s interface doesn’t offer as much guidance about how to write your resume or what types of information to include. If you need extra help, tap the information icon in the bottom left and select the Resume Writing Guide. This will open up a crash course on resume writing in your mobile browser. It also includes a job seek feature.
The app collects payment via donations after you use the service — you don’t have to pay if you don’t want to. The app connects to iCloud, and you can export your resume as a PDF to any location on your device(s). If you are happy with the service, you can select the $6 “helped a bit” tier, a standard donation of $10, or the “really helped me” tier for $25.
Resume Star 2 has a 4.8 out of 5 rating, and more than 1,800 ratings in the App Store. The first version, Resume Star: Pro CV Maker, which is the same except for the iCloud connection, had a 4.9 star rating and more than 16,000 reviews. The site does not collect personally identifiable information without user consent, which seems to make it one of the more safeguard options available.
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Intelligent CV’s Resume Builder App offers 42 resume templates and allows you to change font colors. Each resume section appears on a list, and you can advance through sections in whichever order you select, save and go on to another. You also have the option to add, delete or rearrange sections such as education, encounter and skills. There’s a Help icon in each section for a little bit of extra guidance. Once you’re finished, you can download your document for free as a PDF, which you can then save on your device or send via email or text.
On the downside, the app is ad-supported and ads for other resume creators do pop up, which can get confusing. The app also offers less guidance than some of the other services, which means it’s not a great option if you’re new to resumes.
Resume Builder App has one of the strongest privacy policies of the bunch. The app does not collect personally identifiable information, though third-party services (including Google Play services and analytics firms) may collect information. The app has 4.7 out of 5 stars and more than 361,000 Google Play Store ratings and is free to download.
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VisualCV has an easy-to-use interface that lets you build your resume in the way that works best for you. After signing up, you can upload an existing resume, begin with a prewritten sample or start entirely from scratch. You can use the basic editor to input information in a list form, the visual editor to edit directly on the resume and preview mode to see changes made on either version in real time. Revision history is also available.
The free basic edition allows you to select from over a dozen professional templates to create, edit and download one resume as a PDF. You can also create one free cover letter and apply to jobs through its job seek feature.
To download or share additional resumes, you’ll need to buy VisualCV Pro for $15 a month. Upgrading unlocks more templates, unlimited creations, downloading, career tracking and the ability to build a personal resume website. The website URL goes through VisualCV but can be shared online.
In terms of privacy, VisualCV’s policy says that it does not sell, trade, rent or license personal information to third parties. As of publication, VisualCV has 4 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot but only 131 reviews.
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Depending on where you’re at in the job application process, you might need more guidance than a template. These professional writing services will pair you with experienced writers and coaches to help you to craft and perfect resumes, LinkedIn profiles, cover letters and more.
As these services include more personalized coaching and features, they tend to be more expensive. We’ve collected a range of options depending on your budget and needs. Best professional resume writing services of 2023
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If you’re totally lost and are willing to invest several hundred dollars into your job seek, ResumeSpice is a resume writing and career coach service created by recruiters that connects you with a “resume expert” to build your CV from scratch.
Once you select, you’ll fill out a short questionnaire and plan a phone consultation with a resume expert to converse your encounter, job seek and career goals. The expert will take that information and turn around a personalized resume draft within two business days. You can review the draft and inquire any changes, and you’ll get the final version in PDF and Word formats.
An entry-level resume costs $479, a professional resume costs $589 and an executive resume costs $699. In addition to these packages, you can also add a cover letter, LinkedIn profile, interview coaching or other services to help you be more competitive in the job market.
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ResumeWriters.com offers a ensure: If you don’t get a job interview with a potential employer within two months of getting your new resume, they’ll rewrite it for free. The service claims that in the 20 years and tens of thousands of resumes completed under this ensure, it averages fewer than five requests for rewrites per year.
To use the resume writing service, submit your current resume or career information on the site, and an experienced resume writer will contact you to appraise your materials and scheme out what you need. You’ll get a first draft back within 72 hours and can work with the writer on revisions until you’re satisfied with the result.
ResumeWriters offers student, professional, executive and career-change resume services, as well as CV services for those conducting their job seek in fields specific to the military, IT and research. The resume services cost $170 for students and $200 for the professional level, with a cover letter, one-on-one consultation and LinkedIn profile. The career change level ($250) is a comprehensive package that includes everything plus a post-interview follow-up letter, and the highest tier is the executive package that guarantees applicants its most experienced writers for $300.
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Zipjob’s professional resume writers enhance your resume to get through the applicant tracking system (ATS) software used by the majority of employers to automatically scan and sort resumes. An expert writes your resume and scans it through the ATS to ensure it will make it through to the hiring manager’s desk.
To use the service, upload your resume or fill out a form to start from scratch. You’ll be matched with a professional resume writer who will work with you to better it and will then scan the final product to make sure it passes through the screening algorithms. Depending on which package you select, your resume will be ready in three to seven days.
You can select from three packages: Launch (resume writing and unlimited revisions for $139), Fast Track (adds a cover letter and a 60-day interview ensure for $189) or Premium (adds a top resume writer, LinkedIn profile optimization, future resume updates and expedited delivery for $299).
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Find My Profession offers professional resume writing services as well as career coaching. Every resume gets reviewed by two different consultants.
You’ll find packages that include entry-level, professional, C-level and executive resume writer services, as well as IT, engineering and federal options. In each, you can select a base, premium or VIP package depending on your needs. For example, the professional resume package starts at $595 for a resume compatible with automated systems. You can also add help with a cover letter for an additional $119 or a LinkedIn profile for $399.
You’ll get the first draft of your resume within three to five business days after your consultation with a writer. Or, upgrade to a priority service for another $149 to get it within 48 hours.
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When we evaluated the different resume templates and builders, we looked at how each site or app allowed you to create new resumes, browse templates or upload and edit existing resumes. We also looked at how easy or hard it would be to customize different templates and sections, how much guidance was available, how user-friendly it was to pilot, plus reading and understanding each company’s privacy policies.
Some of our picks are free, some employ the help of professional writers and some demand a subscription or one-time payment. When it comes to premium or paid services, we evaluated how inclusive its packages were compared to basic or free versions. In many cases for the professional writing services, these paid tiers included more guidance and additional job seek maintain admire cover letter and LinkedIn editing, suggested jobs to apply to and interview coaching.
Cost
This was a key factor when compiling this list. Whether you’re looking for a free service to boost your current resume or interested in professional editing services, there’s something for everyone’s price range.
Ease of use
When looking at each website, we looked at how easy it was to pilot, browse templates, and add, edit or eradicate different sections. We also considered whether you can download and share your resume for free and in what format.
Customization options
Customization optionswere essential, as everyone’s resume is going to look different. Having easy user control over your resume helps you create a resume that meets your industry’s standards and showcases your professional experiences.
Privacy policies
Privacy policieswere the final important factor to consider, as many of these are websites and apps that have the ability to collect and store your personal information. All of the services and websites included on this list have decent privacy settings, and we noted which ones have exceptionally clear use cases and account deletion policies.
What is a resume builder?
What is a resume writing service?
What is the best resume format to use?
