How To Build a Resume for Free (Plus Examples and Templates)
The job market is noticeably more competitive than a few years ago when employers were desperate to fill empty positions. It’s important that your resume presents your qualifications in the strongest way possible. This article will share guidelines and tips for doing so, resume examples, and the steps to creating a resume for free.
Why Building a Resume for Free is Beneficial
Cost savings
Professional resume writers have the expertise to effectively showcase your skills, experiences, and achievements to a target audience while saving you time and effort. But it comes at a cost. Based on your level of experience and the writer’s expertise, expect to pay anywhere from $350 to $2500 for their services.
You can avoid these fees by using our free resume tools and resume building tips.
Accessibility
Easily search hundreds of professional resume templates, tools, and resources to create your own resume quickly for free.
Flexibility
An online resume builder allows you to produce multiple versions of your resume and tailor them for each role of interest. The resume template’s formatting is already designed for you, leaving only text to fill in.
Steps To Building a Resume for Free
Choosing the right tool
Browse the free resume samples for your field or profession and level of experience. Select from standard chronological formatting options, skills-based resumes, and applicant tracking system (ATS)-friendly formats — essential for online applications.
Gathering necessary information
Prepare your contact information, work history, education, skills, certifications, and achievements. This will speed up the creation process.
Selecting a professional template
Choose a template that reflects the character of your field. For instance, if you’re seeking a job in banking and finance, choose a template with conservative fonts and formats. Professionals in arts and media can demonstrate creativity and personality with less formal fonts, formats, and a bit of color.
Detailed Guide To Filling out Each Section
Contact information
At the top of your resume, list your name, phone number, email, city, state, and a link to your LinkedIn profile.
Example:
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code
LinkedIn
Write a compelling summary (not an objective statement)
A summary section (aka profile) highlights the most prominent reasons you’re a match for the position within three to four sentences. It is the first thing a potential employer sees. Here, you share your biggest selling points related to the job.
By contrast, an objective reflects your goal for the resume, such as “to attain a position in marketing research” or “seeking a position where I can continue to develop my skills in _____.”
Summary example:
Experienced undergraduate biology professor with a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and an emphasis on genetics. Demonstrated skill in providing an engaging student environment, delivering rigorous curricula, and conducting impactful research. Average student recommendation rate of 98%. Recipient of multiple teaching awards.
Objective example:
Biology professor seeking tenure-track position at R1 institution.
The objective doesn’t tell the employer anything about your value to them and wastes valuable space on your resume. Since the job search is all about showing how you can meet an employer’s needs, begin selling yourself immediately with a summary.
Tips for writing your summary
Tailor your summary to what the organization needs. Read the job posting description carefully and make notes. Where do your background and skills match up with what the employer is seeking in candidates? What do you do particularly well? Incorporate these aspects into your summary or profile.
Avoid using personal pronouns (“I” or “my”) or complete sentences. Limit the summary to three to four sentences. In the rest of the resume, detail and prove your claims.
Detailing your work experience
List your experience in reverse chronological order — from most recent to least recent. If you’ve been in the workforce for over 10 years limit the listings to the last 10 to 15 years.
Take a strategic approach with the words you use. Whenever you describe any work, use action verbs to communicate your duties and accomplishments instead of listing responsibilities. Avoid using first-person language (e.g., “I was responsible for…”).
Show the scope of your job (people, money, projects managed) and achievements. Detail contributions you made and quantify results when possible, using numbers and percentages.
Focus on each description so the skills related to your target job are evident.
Highlighting your education
Outline your educational achievements from most recent to least recent. Relevant and recent (within the past five to 10 years) continuing education courses and certifications can also be helpful.
Showcasing your skills
Emphasizing significant skills is crucial, as many employers use keywords to search an ATS for candidates. Consider your skills that are applicable to your job of interest and list them under the skills section. In the experience section, demonstrate how you used them.
Adding extra sections
Certifications, volunteer work, and proficiencies in foreign languages can be helpful to include. Add relevant professional associations if you are a member. If there are no headings for these entries on the template, create them.
Using a free resume template
No-cost resume templates are available. Select your document and download it to your computer in the preferred format — PDF, Microsoft Word, or Google Docs. Then, fill in the template with your information.
Tips for making your free resume stand out
Customizing the template
Tailor the template to your job of interest and for every application. Read the job posting for keywords and desired qualifications, skills, and experiences. Adjust the location of sections, content of your profile, and skills to maximize your selling points. List your most relevant categories/assets early in the document.
Using keywords
Most employers will store applicant resumes using ATS. When ready to review applications, they search the database using keywords to find potential interviewees. Position yourself to be “found” by your relevant skill sets. For example, if you are applying for a role requiring proficiency in Microsoft Office, list it in your skills section.
Read the job posting to find the right keywords for your document. Use AI to search for skill sets common to the job and specific industry.
Highlighting achievements
Potential employers want to know how you’ve positively impacted each organization — i.e. improving customer satisfaction, sales, operational efficiencies, or decreasing turnover, waste, and costs. If you’ve been promoted or assumed an informal leadership role, mention that also.
Proofreading and editing
Check carefully for typos, grammatical mistakes, and punctuation errors. Presentation speaks volumes about your conscientiousness.
Free resume examples
Example and breakdown of an entry-level resume for a recent college graduate.
Aliya Jackson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
New York, NY 12345
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Profile
Ambitious, recent multi-disciplinary college graduate with degrees in business administration and computer science. Proven performer with experience as a junior software developer at Microsoft, with success in significantly lowering software bugs by 25%, and as a business administration intern at Johnson & Johnson, focused on lowering operational costs by 10%. Dedicated to continuous learning, networking, and professional development.
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Business Administration, June 2022
Columbia University, New York, NY
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science, May 2020
University of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY
Certifications
- Certified Governance of Enterprise Information Technology (CGEIT), Information Systems Audit and Control Association, 2021
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute, 2023
Key Skills
- Complex problem-solving
- Information systems
- Operational strategy
- Project management
- Software development, maintenance, and troubleshooting
- Technology auditing
Professional Experience
Junior Software Developer, Amazon, New York, NY
June 2021 – present
- Contributes to software development, maintenance, and troubleshooting tasks on client software applications
- Collaborates with multidisciplinary team to design user-friendly interfaces by applying the latest web development strategies
- Reduced bugs in software by 25% within the first few months of joining the team, resulting in a more seamless UX and improving customer satisfaction ratings by 32%
Business Administration Intern, Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ
June 2019 – May 2020
- Assisted team leads in preparing quarterly business performance reviews and updating company databases, improving operational efficiency by 15%
- Actively participated in the corporate decision-making process, suggesting cost reduction strategies that helped save the company 10% in operational costs during nine months
- Managed scheduling for team meetings and events, improving interdepartmental communications
Professional resume example
Example and breakdown of a mid-career professional resume.
Stephanie Adams
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
City, State Abbreviation zip code
Profile
A results-driven professional with significant experience in strategic planning, team management, and stakeholder engagement. Known for optimization of business plans and financial analysis demonstrated in past roles. Holder of multiple professional certifications including PMP, CBAP, and CMC, complementing a master’s degree in finance.
Key Skills
- Business strategy development
- Financial analysis
- Market research
- Project management
- Training
Professional Experience
Business Strategy Manager, PPG Industries, Pittsburgh, PA
March 2022 – present
- Develop strategic plans to expand the business portfolio which resulted in a 15% increase in annual revenue
- Supervise and provide training to a team of five business analysts, fostering a productive work environment
- Successfully managed relationships with key stakeholders leading to 50% increased customer satisfaction over 12 months
Senior Financial Analyst, Excel Financial, Philadelphia, PA
July 2019 – December 2021
- Conducted comprehensive financial analysis that guided the mergers and acquisitions team, resulting in a successful $50 million acquisition
- Collaborated in the project management of an organizational restructuring effort that reduced operating expenses by 10%
- Led market research initiatives that identified new potential markets for growth
Education
Master of Science in Finance
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA | 2021
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA | 2019
Certifications
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute, 2023
- Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), International Institute of Business Analysis, 2022
- Certified Management Consultant (CMC), Institute of Management Consultants USA), 2021
Career change resume example
Example and breakdown of a resume for someone switching careers.
Alexis Kelly
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation zip code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Profile
Versatile project manager with a solid background in digital marketing. Leader who prioritizes collaboration with the local community. Known for managing substantial budgets and diverse teams to meet goals within the health care industry.
Key Skills
- Collaboration
- Budgeting
- Digital marketing
- Project management
- Team leadership
- Training and development
Professional Experience
Stay-at-Home Mom, Self-Employed, Durango, CO
April 2018 – present
- Provide early education support to three children from ages 5 through 10 years old
- Manage a monthly household budget of $4,000 for a five-person family
- Volunteered with school PTA, coordinating with teachers and communicating on behalf of parents to find solutions to issues and organize fundraisers
- Launched an online local parenting group that has grown to over 250 members from across the county
- Partnered with 12 local businesses to sponsor various parenting group events
Project Manager, Denver Health, Denver, CO
January 2014 – April 2018
- Developed comprehensive plans for 10 major projects to execute and guide operations
- Directed the deployment of a $500,000 electronic health record (EHR) system upgrade
- Led an interdisciplinary team of 12 medical providers to improve data processing times by 30% with the implementation of the new EHR system
- Upheld strict compliance with all federal and state health care regulations
- Conducted 10 training sessions each year to keep staff competency up-to-speed on the latest health care technologies adopted by the organization
Marketing Associate, PharmaCare Innovations, San Diego, CA
April 2011 – December 2013
- Collaborated with sales and product management team to align on marketing strategies
- Managed an annual marketing budget of $300,000, allocating funds to optimize audience reach and engagement
- Conducted a successful email marketing campaign for a new probiotic supplement, resulting in a 35% open rate and 15% click-through rate
- Designed marketing materials such as brochures, flyers, and e-books to educate customers on pharmaceutical product lines
- Increased web traffic by 40% through targeted social media marketing campaigns
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Marketing, June 2017
University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Certifications
- Certified Associate in Project Management, Project Management Institute, 2016
- HubSpot Content Marketing Certification, HubSpot, 2010
Using templates can make the process of creating your resume easier and less costly. Look at the many available and start building one today. When that perfect job opening suddenly pops up, you’ll be glad you did.
Resources for Further Assistance
- Are Resume Templates a Good Idea?
- How To Put Contact Information on Your Resume
- How To Write a Convincing Resume Profile
Frequently Asked Questions About How To Build a Free Resume
Accept that writing your resume will take some time and effort. Only you can answer, “How have I demonstrated the skills desired by this employer in my past jobs?” or “How have I made an impact in past roles?” Updating your resume every three to six months will save time when an interesting opening comes along.
For most new professionals, one page is sufficient, while more experienced professionals will need two pages. If the information on the resume is relevant to the target job, then it belongs.
Yes. For example, if you prefer to list your community activities as “Community Service” rather than “Volunteerism,” simply backspace over the heading and type in the new one. Most templates also allow for cutting and pasting to rearrange sections.
Resume Templates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.