Fill in the form and watch a clean one-column resume take shape. Save it as PDF or Word, then check it against a job post. Your resume is kept in this browser as you type. Nothing is uploaded. It is free.
How to build a resume, step by step
- Press Try the example to see a finished resume, or start with your own details. Fill in my details uses what you saved in Your Snowkit.
- Work through the sections: Contact, Summary, Experience, Education, Skills and More. Add jobs newest first and use the arrows to change their order.
- Read the Checks and fix anything it flags.
- Choose A4 or Letter paper.
- Save it as a PDF, Word or Text file.
What makes a resume ATS-friendly
Applicant tracking systems read your resume as plain text before a person sees it. They do best with one column, standard section names such as Experience and Education, real text instead of images, and no tables or text boxes. This builder only makes that kind of layout, in a common font, so nothing gets scrambled or skipped.
PDF or Word?
Send a PDF unless the job post asks for Word. A PDF looks the same everywhere, and the text inside it can be read by hiring software. The Word file uses the same plain layout and is useful when a recruiter wants to edit it or a portal only takes .docx. The text file is handy for pasting into online forms.
Writing strong bullet points
Start each bullet with an action, such as led, built, cut or trained, and add a number where you can: how much, how many, how fast. Keep each one to a line or two. The checks under the preview point out bullets that start with “responsible for”, jobs without dates and other common gaps.
Tailoring it to each job
Use Check against a job post to compare your resume with the post, see the words you are missing and whether the job title appears. Then Write a cover letter builds a first draft from your resume and the job, ready to edit. Your details can be filled in from Your Snowkit. To keep track of where you applied, try the application tracker.
Tips
- Keep the summary to two or three sentences that match the job you want.
- Use the same words for skills that the job post uses.
- Put your newest job first, with dates on every role.
- Keep it to one or two pages.
- Include only contact details you are happy to share.
Questions
Is my resume uploaded anywhere?
No. It is saved on this device as you type.
Why only one column?
Hiring software reads text in order, and columns, tables and text boxes can scramble it.
Can I include a photo?
The layout is plain text without images, which is what hiring software reads best.
Can I make a cover letter too?
Yes. Use Write a cover letter, or open the cover letter tool.