Let’s be honest. We hate writing resumes.
One of the most daunting tasks many job-seekers face when applying for a job is to create the first resume draft, then to tweak it over and over again for every job application.
In fact, research data from Pathrise reveals that it’s getting even harder to find a good job this year, than it was in 2023. In 2024, job seekers took an estimated 247 days to land a job—that equates to a staggering eight months. It’s also been estimated that they sent 221 applications before landing a role.
With many job-seekers going to painstaking lengths to make themselves stand out in each and every application for a job, it can be emotionally draining and exhausting to be have to create new resumes nearly every time, and can result in lowered productivity and job search effectiveness as well.
We already know that in a job market that is more fiercely competitive than ever, it’s most critical to ensure that your resume stands out, showcases your skills and accomplishments, and signposts evidences of your success such as your portfolio and LinkedIn profile.
So how do we solve the resume problem?
Enter…resume builders.
3 Resume Builders To Try In 2024
If you’ve been wandering all over the Internet in search of resume writing tips and advice, you’ve most likely stumbled into resume builders. These powerful software tools can generate beautiful documents that are not only good aesthetically, but most importantly, are functional enough to be scanned easily and be parsed by most ATS (applicant tracking system) software.
1. Rezi.ai
Cache Merrill, founder of Zibtek, has been on both sides of the hiring process—building teams from scratch and applying for jobs in the past. “When it comes to AI-powered resume builders, one tool that I highly recommend for job seekers is Rezi.” Merrill says that he especially likes Rezi’s actionable feedback, role-specific adjustments, and of course, the fact that it is ATS compliant.
2. Indeed Resume Builder
Indeed’s free resume builder has a set of templates that you can customize to adjust the wording, look, and feel of the document. However, it does not come with the smart AI features that some other resume builders are known for.
3. Novoresume
Another fantastic resume builder is Novoresume, which offers multiple resume template options (customizable) for different career paths, years of experience, job seniority level, and an AI content analyzer. This tool has a two different pricing options, with the basic plan being completely free for you to use and download.
What To Consider Before Using A Resume Builder
Finding the right resume builder can be tricky, as there are some who will promise and even go as far as to guarantee you success in landing job interviews, yet fail to provide quality.
You will need to evaluate several factors, such as your budget, key features that you know you will use and need the most, user reviews, any complaints others have made about the product in terms of technical or support issues, and any AI-powered features that will make your work easier. Weigh up the pros and cons of each and compare pricing plans as well to see what would be best for you, especially as relates to accepted standards in your role and industry.
ATS is another critical factor. You should compare your resume, created by the resume builder, with another draft, and upload it to a site that checks for ATS compatibility, such as Jobscan (which also offers a resume builder). Of course, the scanners will be biased as they will want you to pay for something so that you can upgrade your resume. However, it’s still worth the check, and it also might be useful to speak to a recruiter or hiring manager in the industry you are searching for jobs in, to assess if your resume is up to standard.
Finally, remember to not place over-reliance on a resume builder. You will still need to adjust some of the keywords used throughout your resume each time you apply for a job, and you will also need to personalize it and make it your own, instead of being satisfied with a copy/paste template that is ready-made for you. However, the resume builders above will certainly help in cutting short the process when applying for jobs.