2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST FREE RESUME BUILDERS
Building a Good Resume with an Online Resume Builder
Writing resumes comes with the territory when you’re applying for a new position. Your resume and CV can significantly impact the careers that are available to you, so your skill plays a large role. Recruitment professionals can often eliminate candidates simply by surveying the resume they submit initially.
Do you know how to build a resume that will get you the job of your dreams?
Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Free Resume Builders
Fortunately, you can use one of several available websites to build a resume for free. With the best resume builder behind you, you’ll have access to professional advice regarding what you should include and how to write it best. The best free resume builder will give you the assistance you need to write a stellar summary of all your achievements.
AdvisoryHQ understands how crucial it is to build your resume, and we want to show you the tools consumers are using to build a resume online. We’ve compiled these resume builder reviews so you can feel confident that you have the best online resume builder behind you.
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AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best Free Resume Builders
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the sites below to go directly to the detailed review section for that online resume builder):
Top 6 Best Free Resume Builders | Brief Comparison & Ranking
Online Resume Builders | Upgraded Options Available | Best Features |
| Kickresume | $15 per month Can make cover letters and personalized website |
|
| My Perfect Resume | N/A |
|
| Resume-Now | N/A |
|
| Resumonk | $19 per year or $59 for lifetime Access to more templates, removes Resumonk branding |
|
| ResumUP | $6 per month for one template $8 for any template, ability to change blocks, and personalized website |
|
| VisualCV | $12 per month (three-month minimum) Access to more templates and cover letters, personalized website, and removes branding |
|
Table: Top 6 Best Free Resume Builders | Above list is sorted alphabetically
Tips for Writing a Resume
When it comes to resume building, professionals generally keep a few rules of thumb handy. These tips come from both professional writers and recruitment personnel who are in charge of making hiring decisions. When it comes to building a good resume, it’s important to take a close look at what experts recommend.
Many consumers don’t even know the best place to get started, which is what leads them to search for the best free resume builder. It allows them to put together a polished and professional resume without putting much thought into it.
Here are a few good starting points if you want to take a closer look at an online resume builder:
- Contact information should be included (name, address, phone number, and email address at a minimum).
- Use logical formatting such as bullet points, bold headings, and simple font.
- Proofread your finished resume.
When it comes to content, you should be focused more on the things you accomplished in past jobs. The best resume builder should be helping to figure out exactly what your achievements were based on the responsibilities you had.
Image Source: Pixabay
Hiring managers want to know what you will be able to offer their company. Building a good resume should show them exactly what you’ve already achieved at a quick glance.
Experts also recommend using action words instead of speaking about your job duties passively. Rephrase bullet points to begin with a verb instead of a different part of speech. You can also include soft skills when you build your resume to show employers a more diverse side of your abilities.
You don’t want the best resume builder to cut your information short, but a resume isn’t meant to drag on either. The industry standard is typically around one page. Certain types of resumes or more technical career paths may require a slightly longer format than the usual single page.
Keep these concepts in mind to evaluate whether that free online resume builder you’re consider is really the best or not. It can help you to create fresh content for your resume to make the most of the best online resume builder you can find.
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Detailed Review—Top Ranking Best Free Resume Builders
Below, please find the detailed review of each site on our list of best resume builders. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these resume builder reviews to score so high in our selection ranking.
Kickresume Review
Kickresume offers a free subscription plan for users who are searching for the best free resume builder. With plenty of customization options, this best online resume builder makes it easy to condense your accomplishments into one document.
This free online resume builder boasts that its users get hired by top companies, including PayPal, Adidas, Amazon, and Apple. With success stories like these, it’s no wonder that Kickresume is considered to be one of the best free resume builders on the Internet today.
With their free membership, you gain access to build a resume online with basic resume templates and cloud storage. A premium membership grants you access to a handful of perks for just $15 per month. You’ll be able to utilize their free online resume builder as well as make cover letters and a personal website.
One of the major benefits of this best resume builder is the ability to customize each template. Once you select a design and enter all of the necessary details about your experience, you can alter the way it looks to make it feel more unique. Features that can be changed on their best resume builder include:
- Color
- Font
- Font size
- Line height
- Date and address format
Even though you may be using their free online resume builder, it’s important to be able to make it feel unique and personalized. This is a feature that should be noted in any of their resume builder reviews because it prevents you from having a resume identical to another job candidate.
You can also pay to have the grammar checked by a professional for an additional $19 per resume. Turnaround time for this service is typically one business day.
My Perfect Resume Review
My Perfect Resume is powered by LiveCareer.com and provides another solution to your resume writing woes that should be mentioned on resume builder reviews. This free service gives you access to a nice selection of free templates to help you stand out from the crowd of candidates with a professional and polished CV.
An advantage that should be included in resume builder reviews is the ability to create a resume with incredible specificity. For example, it allows you to choose what type of position you’re currently applying for:
- Student
- Entry-level
- Experienced
- Manager
- Executive
Not only does this best resume builder allow you to choose positions with that level of detail, but you can also select the industry. Based on your work experience and life situation (transitioning from the military, gaps in your work history, etc.), this best online resume builder can recommend a specific template for you.
Another feature that is often mentioned in resume builder reviews is the ability to use their pre-written job descriptions. This feature of the best resume builder ensures that they are already proofread and grammar-checked prior to submitting your resume with an employer. As an option for the best resume builder, it also allows you to finish your resume in record time.
At the end, the My Perfect Resume online resume builder puts together the finished piece. It is available for download or to print immediately.
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Resume-Now Review
Resume-Now, another online resume builder powered by LiveCareer.com, works very similarly to My Perfect Resume. You can build a resume for free using their basic templates that provide no shortage of options. Their best online resume builder makes creating the perfect CV painless and fast.
One of the first things that resume builder reviews should mention is that you are required to create an account up front. While this certainly has its perks, such as saving your document for future use, many consumers do not like to make accounts.
This best free resume builder does give you unique options to narrow down the type of position you are looking for. Name the job title and the field, as well as any concerns, and their resume builder reviews the information. When it’s finished, it can recommend a specific template and formatting that is flattering to your employment history.
There are a handful of features that allowed us to consider Resume-Now as one of our best free online resume builder programs:
- More than 20 free templates available
- Ability to customize sections
- Design the layout including margin size, line spacing, and more
- Free spell check
This best online resume builder gives you flexibility and powerful tools to make the most of your past experience. They even have plenty of templates that can assist in building a good resume that features pops of color and deviations from the traditional black-and-white formatting.
Resumonk Review
Resumonk is a great option for candidates who want to quickly gain access to a PDF format of their work history on the best resume builder. It is possibly the best online resume builder that gives users access to numerous templates and importing from LinkedIn under their free plan.
Not all memberships through Resumonk are free, as most resume builder reviews will quickly take note. Without paying a membership fee, you are certainly limited in how you can build your resume through this site. Four templates, including one photo CV template, are available.
Image Source: Resumonk
Information can be quickly imported from LinkedIn to save you time when writing up your new CV. Unfortunately, the free plan available from this best online resume builder does include the Resumonk branding in the footer. With a premium plan ($19 annually) or a lifetime plan ($59), this can be removed.
This best free resume builder grants users access to the five key areas included on all resumes: contact information, summary, experience, education, and skills. Fortunately, you can build a resume online with additional sections and personalized headers to include things such as awards, accomplishments, and other significant details.
Once your information is entered, switching to a new template on this best resume builder is simple. Preview your document and then scroll through the templates at the top.
You do not have to make an account to download or view your finished document on this best resume builder. However, resume builder reviews would encourage you to consider making an account so you can edit your resume at a later date without having to reenter all of your pertinent information.
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ResumUP Review
Well-known as an online resume builder, ResumUP has received plenty of attention for helping consumers to build a resume. They were named number one in best resume visualization for 2015 and have mentions with LifeHacker, Business Insider, Forbes, TIME, and TechCrunch.
ResumUP has three different plan options to suit your needs, including the best free resume builder:
- Basic Plan: This free option gets you a simple text resume.
- Winning Plan: For $6 per month, you gain access to any one template above basic text.
- Profile Pro: Gain any template listed, a custom URL, the ability to change blocks on the resume, change career plan and skillset, and more for $8 per month.
Image Source: ResumUP
Editing your document and building a good resume is relatively easy in this best online resume builder. You can go through the formatted sections one by one to cover your contacts, history, education, and more.
One component to their free online resume builder that should be noted in resume builder reviews is that the skills section can only be edited on upgraded plans. Likewise, so can the cover letter and reference sheet only be edited on the upgraded plan.
Overall, ResumUP has some solid features that make it possibly the best free resume builder, but you gain access to a lot of nice perks shown on resume builder reviews with a membership.
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VisualCV Review
VisualCV makes building a good resume simple with their best free resume builder. Mentioned in well-recognized publications including Forbes, Mashable, CNN, and Wall Street Journal, this best online resume builder puts you on the path to your new position in three simple steps.
Image Source: VisualCV
Resume builder reviews will note that there isn’t much guidance in terms of writing your resume through this best online resume builder. Unlike My Perfect Resume, which offers pre-written text, VisualCV only allows you to view examples of other completed resumes. You must be able to follow their lead in writing your own experience and education.
The free version of VisualCV only grants users access to six of their basic templates. That being said, the resume builder reviews on these templates are great. You have several options for CVs that feature photos and they are all professional and well put-together.
An upgraded membership, available for $12 per month (three-month minimum), promises access to the following services with a satisfaction guarantee:
- Access to all CV and web designs
- Create multiple versions of your resume
- No VisualCV branding
- Advanced tracking
- Personal domain name
Unfortunately, one of the major disadvantages to the VisualCV service that should be noted in resume builder reviews is the branding. At the bottom of your completed piece, you will have their URL printed as long as you build a resume for free.
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Conclusion—Top 6 Best Free Resume Builders
Consumers who need help with their resume building can benefit from the services offered by the best online resume builder. These programs can guide you through the necessary steps to change, enhance, and polish your employment history and skills for a new employer.
The best free resume builder often gives you access to a limited number of templates and plans. However, many of these include great features that are noted in our resume builder reviews. They can be simple to edit, easy to customize, and offer you the guidance you really need to build a resume properly.
No matter what position you plan to apply for, you can certainly benefit from the assistance included with the best online resume builder. Resume building doesn’t have to be as difficult as it once was.
Not sure which one is for you? Take another look at our resume builder reviews to find out which services appeal to your needs the most.
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Reasonable efforts have been made by AdvisoryHQ to present accurate information, however all info is presented without warranty. Review AdvisoryHQ’s Terms for details. Also review each firm’s site for the most updated data, rates and info.
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