How to Build a Resume Online
Create a professional, ATS-optimised resume with our free Resume Builder. Choose from multiple templates and download as a formatted PDF.
Steps
Choose a resume template
Select a template that suits your industry and experience level. Clean, single-column templates perform best with ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software used by large employers. More visually designed templates work well for creative roles where the resume itself showcases design ability.
Add contact information
Enter your full name, professional email address, phone number, location (city and country — full street address is no longer standard), LinkedIn URL, and optional GitHub or portfolio URL. Do not include photos, marital status, or date of birth on resumes for the US, UK, or Canada — these can cause unconscious bias and are not expected.
Write your professional summary
Write a 2–4 sentence professional summary at the top. Lead with your years of experience and specialisation, follow with 2–3 key achievements or skills, and close with what you are looking for. Tailor this for each application — it is the first thing a recruiter reads and must immediately signal that you are relevant.
Add work experience
List roles in reverse chronological order (most recent first). For each role: company name, your title, dates (month and year), location. Write 3–5 bullet points describing accomplishments, not just duties. Use the formula: Action verb + what you did + measurable result. 'Reduced page load time by 40% by implementing image optimisation' is far stronger than 'Responsible for website performance'.
Complete education, skills, and download
Add your highest education qualification. List technical skills grouped by category. Add any certifications, languages, or awards. Review the live preview and download as a PDF. Filename should be: FirstName-LastName-Resume.pdf rather than 'CV.pdf' or 'Resume (Final v3).pdf'.
Writing Achievement-Focused Bullet Points
The difference between a mediocre resume and a great one is almost entirely in how work experience is described. Most people describe what they were responsible for; effective resumes describe what they achieved. The XYZ formula developed by Google recruiters is a reliable structure: 'Accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z.' Applied to a software developer role: 'Reduced API response time by 60% (from 800ms to 320ms) by implementing Redis caching for frequently queried endpoints.' For roles where quantified achievements are not straightforward, add context about scope and impact: 'Led UX research with 12 user interviews that identified the navigation issue causing a 35% drop-off at the checkout page, informing the redesign that shipped in Q3.' Every bullet point should make the reader think 'this person creates value' rather than 'this person did tasks'.
Resume Formats: Chronological, Functional, and Hybrid
Three main resume formats exist, each suited to different circumstances. Chronological (reverse-chronological): lists work experience starting with the most recent role. This is the standard and preferred format for most applications, particularly for candidates with a strong, relevant work history in the same field. Functional (skills-based): leads with skills and capabilities rather than job history, relegating experience dates to minimal mentions. This format is sometimes recommended for career changers or those with employment gaps, but it raises red flags with many experienced recruiters who see it as hiding a weak work history. Use it cautiously. Hybrid (combination): leads with a skills summary but lists work experience in chronological order with accomplishments. This is the recommended format for career changers, as it highlights transferable skills upfront while maintaining the chronological credibility recruiters expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software used by most medium and large employers to filter resumes before a human reads them. It scans for keywords from the job description, education, experience, and skills. To optimise for ATS: use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills), incorporate keywords from the job description naturally in your experience descriptions, avoid tables, graphics, and multi-column layouts that confuse parsers, use common fonts, and submit as a Word or PDF file (not a Google Docs link or JPEG).
One page for candidates with under 5–7 years of experience. Two pages for senior professionals with extensive relevant experience. Three or more pages only for academic CVs listing publications and research. The 'one page rule' is a guideline not a law, but it forces valuable prioritisation — if every bullet point on your resume is truly impactful, it will likely fit on one or two pages. Never pad a resume with filler to reach a page count.
Yes, always. Tailoring does not mean rewriting entirely — it means ensuring the keywords and priorities from the job description are reflected in your summary, skills section, and key bullet points. A generic resume is less likely to pass ATS screening and less compelling to a hiring manager who reads dozens of resumes. Spend 15–20 minutes per application comparing the job description to your resume and aligning language where you genuinely have that experience.
Omit: irrelevant jobs from over 15 years ago (unless they are relevant or there is a gap to explain), hobbies unless directly relevant or genuinely interesting, references and 'References available upon request' (assumed), graphics and photos, GPA unless above 3.5 and for recent graduates, every single duty for every job (focus on achievements), and personal information (age, marital status, nationality) for North American and UK applications.