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Jerome Powell says the AI hiring apocalypse is real: ‘Job creation is pretty close to zero’

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 10:54:37 +0700

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell drew a stark picture of a labor market that looks fine on the surface—4.3% unemployment, solid consumer spending—but is quietly losing momentum underneath. Once you adjust for statistical overcounting in the payroll data, he said during a press conference Wednesday following the FOMC meeting, “job creation is pretty close to zero.”

He connected that slowdown, at least in part, to what CEOs are now openly telling investors: AI allows them to do more with fewer people.

He noted “a significant number of companies” have recently announced layoffs or hiring pauses, with many of them explicitly citing AI as the reason.

“Much of the time they’re talking about AI and what it can do,” Powell told reporters after the Fed’s rate-cut decision, warning large employers are signaling they won’t need to add headcount for years. “We’re watching that very carefully,” he added.

The comments come as the Fed cut interest rates by a quarter point to a range of 3.75%–4%, citing “downside risks to employment” even as inflation remains elevated. Powell said the U.S. economy is still expanding at a “moderate pace,” even as hiring slows. He described that spending as one of the “big sources of growth in the economy,” driven by companies building data centers and other equipment tied to artificial intelligence.

Powell also pushed back on the idea that all that spending is amounting to another speculative bubble. He drew a clear line between today’s surge in capital expenditure and the dot-com era, noting “these companies actually have earnings.” Those projects, he said, aren’t especially sensitive to interest rates, though, since they reflect long-term bets on higher productivity.

At the same time, Powell emphasized the boom creates a policy dilemma for the Fed. AI and automation are boosting output, but they’re also allowing companies to do more with fewer workers, leaving the labor market softer, even while GDP stays positive.

“We have upside risks to inflation, downside risks to employment,” he said. “This is a very difficult thing for a central bank, because one of those calls for rates to be lower, one calls for rates to be higher.”

A bifurcated market

Recent corporate announcements illustrate Powell’s warning. Amazon announced this week it laid off 14,000 middle managers—about 4% of its white-collar workforcein an effort to “remove organizational layers.” The layoffs come amid their rampant investments into AI. Target, Paramount, and other large firms followed with their own cuts.

According to a Challenger, Gray & Christmas report, U.S. employers have announced nearly 946,000 layoffs so far this year—the highest total since 2020—with more than 17,000 explicitly tied to AI and another 20,000 to automation.

“Job creation is very low, and the job-finding rate for people who are unemployed is very low,” Powell said.

The phenomenon is so widespread some economists have coined a new term—the “Great Freeze”—to describe the dismal labor market conditions. With unemployment among recent college grads topping 5%—and AI threatening to automate entry-level office jobs—many Gen Z workers are turning to graduate school as a strategic timeout.

That awkward balance—strong investment but weak hiring— is now at the center of the Fed’s decision-making. Powell said the economy increasingly resembles a K-shape, with higher-income households and large corporations benefiting from strong stock markets and AI-fueled productivity gains, while lower-income consumers pull back under the weight of rising costs.

He pointed to anecdotal reports from major retailers and consumer companies describing a “bifurcated economy,” in which wealthier Americans continue to spend freely but those at the bottom are trading down to cheaper goods.“

“Consumers at the lower end are struggling and buying less and shifting to lower-cost products,” Powell said, noting the uneven effects of growth make the Fed’s balancing act even more complicated.

“There is no risk-free path for policy,” Powell said. “We’re navigating the tension between our employment and inflation goals as carefully as we can.”

Reference:

Jerome Powell says the AI hiring apocalypse is real: ‘Job creation is pretty close to zero’

Image: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

6 Reasons Why It is So Hard to Get a Job After College With Helpful Tips

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:54:37 +0700

There are many reasons why it can be difficult to land your first job after college. While some factors are out of your control, such as the current state of the economy or personal issues, it’s a good idea to start preparing to enter the job market before you actually graduate. In this article, we discuss why your first job matters so much, list six reasons why it’s so hard to get a job after college and offer a list of tips to help.

Why the first job matters

The first job a graduate takes after college often has a significant impact on the rest of their career. Graduates who obtain a role that has little to do with their area of study (or doesn’t require a degree at all) are more likely to stay in either it or a related role for the next five years. Individuals find it difficult to deviate from that path once chosen, decreasing their odds of obtaining employment in their field. You don’t have to start off with your dream job, but finding a job that’s at least within your desired field is important.

6 reasons why new graduates struggle

From local economic issues to undervalued majors, there are many reasons why graduates struggle in their job search. Common reasons why it’s hard for recent college graduates to find jobs include:

Uncertainty with major
High competition
Little work experience
Few or no skills
Little networking
Lack of follow up

1. Uncertainty with major

Upon graduation, some students discover they have no greater interest in their majors. Others discover a severe lack of job opportunities within their chosen field. Take some time to think about what specifically you enjoyed the most about your major or the classes you took. Research jobs that are a good fit for your specific major or look up potential career paths that don’t necessarily require a related degree.

2. High competition

With so many people searching for jobs at the same time after graduation periods in December and May, the job market for entry-level positions is naturally going to be much more competitive. Some industries experience more job competition than others and it becomes harder for individual graduates to stand out, even with excellent grades and experience.

While it is enticing to savor the college scene in your senior year, the work you invest in your job search early on will pay in dividends later. Get started early and be consistent with your job seeking activity. Employers are looking for proactive college seniors. — Carolynn Bruce, SHRM-SCP

It can take more time than expected to find a job, so it’s best to start applying well before your grad date. And if you don’t meet all the qualifications a job posting lists, apply anyway. Most applicants don’t meet all the desired criteria

3. Little work experience

Unfortunately, earning a college degree doesn’t automatically mean you can secure an interview for your dream job. Many job postings require some level of experience, whether it advertises an entry-level position or not. Consider applying for internships or jobs related to your desired career before you graduate, so that by the time you’ve finished school, you have some past experience you can include on your resume.

4. Few or no skills

Along with experience comes valuable skills, some of which individuals only learn while on the job. Employers often seek specific skills when fulfilling their roles and they may ignore resumes without them. You can gain skills valued by all kinds of employers by volunteering, interning or working, even if they aren’t in related jobs.

5. Little networking

Without work experience, it’s harder to find networking options, but you can definitely still network before you get your degree. Consider the networking opportunities that are available to you as a student or recent graduate such as:

College job fairs
Meeting up with your favorite professor or a potential mentor
Virtual or in-person networking events
Industry-focused groups
Social media
Volunteer opportunities
Connections through friends or family

6. Lack of follow up

Many recent graduates often underestimate the power of following up. After completing an interview process, it’s important to follow up with the person who interviewed you via email. Keep it professional and concise, thanking them for the opportunity and mentioning anything that could set you apart from other candidates.

Tips for getting a job after college

If you’re struggling in your job search, there’s hope. Correcting a few minor mistakes often leads to a greater job outlook. Consider these tips when looking for a job after college:

Research
Enhance your resume
Build your online presence
Apply to internships
Network

Research

Before finalizing a decision on a major, prospective students should research their field of interest and see what the job outlook for their prospective job is. If you can’t change your major, consider adding a minor in another field you’re interested in, taking or seeking an internship in the industry you’d prefer to work in. Use job sites like Indeed to personalize your job search with filters to find jobs that fit what you’re looking for. While you may be tempted to take the first job you’re offered, consider first checking out company reviews from current and former employees to learn about work conditions, typical salaries and company culture and decide if an employer is right for you.

Enhance your resume

A common factor among many graduates struggling in their job search is the quality of their resumes. Even the greatest education and experience fail to stand out with a poor resume. Creative industries, in particular, prefer resumes with color and style, showing off the character of the applicant. Most industries prefer single-page resumes that list only the most important information.

Build your online presence

In the digital age, there’s no better way for an individual to sell themselves than by building and maintaining their online presence. You can do this by simply making sure all your public profiles are cleaned up and professional profiles are detailed and up to date. You could also go even further and create your own website. Websites can host portfolios and resumes and provide a personalized, informative peek into what an individual is like. Profiles on networking sites and personal websites can answer many of the questions managers hold for interviews, putting these applicants ahead of others.

Apply to internships

Most fields have some sort of internship opportunities. They act as valuable sources of education and experience during and after college. Some educational institutions host their own internships or require outside internships as part of their curriculum, but it’s always a good idea to complete at least one internship while in college, if possible. Employers look for applicants with experience, and an internship is a great way for you to get that experience before entering the workforce.

Network

Networking is one of the most vital components of a successful job search. As mentioned before, take advantage of networking events and other opportunities that place you in front of industry professionals. A friendly introduction is sometimes all it takes to obtain a job later on. Such events are also prime areas to exchange business cards. When jobs open, employers from these events may reach out.

The information on this site is provided as a courtesy and for informational purposes only. Indeed is not a career or legal advisor and does not guarantee job interviews or offers

Reference:

6 Reasons Why It’s So Hard to Get a Job After College (With Helpful Tips)

Image:

Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik

4 Best Resume Formats for 2024

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 21:54:37 +0700

How you format your resume matters.

When reviewing your resume, the first thing hiring managers notice is how your resume looks, not what it contains.

And if the first thing they see is a messy, cluttered, crowded resume, chances are you won’t make a great first impression.

So, this begs the question: what are the best resume formats, and which one should YOU use?

Resume Formatting Guidelines

If you’re formatting your resume from scratch, you’ll first want to pay attention to the layout.

That involves setting the margins, picking the font size, and determining your resume’s length.

To create a professional-looking resume, follow these general formatting guidelines:

Don’t make your resume longer than one page. Unless you have 5+ years of relevant work experience, there’s no reason for your resume to be two or three pages long.
Pick an 11 or 12-pt font size for normal text and 14-16pt for section titles and headers.
Pick an attention-grabbing (but professional) font. We recommend Ubuntu, Roboto, or Overpass.
Use standard and legible resume sections. For example, your work experience should be called just that “Work Experience” and not “work history” or something else.
Leverage bullet points to list information such as work achievements and responsibilities, academic details, etc. They help make the resume much more reader-friendly.
Be consistent with resume formatting (e.g. use the same date format everywhere, instead of using 11.2018 in one place and November 2018 in another).
Have good line spacing. You don’t want the information on your resume to look all cramped up.
Always save your resume as a PDF file. It’s the safest choice, as it guarantees your resume layout will stay intact no matter what device opens it. Only save your resume as MS Word if the job you’re applying for specifically requires you to and never, ever, submit a JPEG or PNG of your resume.

Resume Formats

The first thing you want to know is that there are four main resume formats out there, namely:

The reverse-chronological resume format. This is the most common and practical resume format in 2024.
The functional resume format is also known as the skills-based resume format.
The combination resume format, or hybrid resume format, is a combination of the other two formats.
The infographic resume format, An infographic resume example uses visual elements to highlight a candidate’s creative qualifications.

At this point, you’re probably asking yourself how these 4 formats are different from each other.

Well, the main difference is that they focus on different parts of an applicant’s experience by listing sections in different orders.

So, in a nutshell:

The reverse-chronological resume format focuses on your work experience, listing them from most to least recent.
The functional resume format focuses on your skills that are relevant to the job.
The combination resume format focuses on your experience and skills by aiming to prove that you possess the skills you list through your work achievements.
The infographic resume format focuses on your creativity and presents it visually.

Chronological Resume

A chronological resume emphasizes your career progression by listing your experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent job listed at the top and each previous position in descending order. This is the most widely used resume format.

The main thing about this resume format is that it’s useful for practically every job-seeker.

The reverse-chronological format has a very simple structure, it’s easy to skim, and overall, it’s the most popular format around the globe.

For this reason alone, we typically recommend using this format to most people - even if using one of the other formats also makes sense.

It usually looks like this:

Here’s what you’d include in a reverse-chronological resume:

What to Include

Contact Information - Your name, phone number, location, and email address. In some cases, you can include useful links such as a LinkedIn or GitHub profile.
Resume Summary or Objective - A brief 2-4 sentence summary of your work experience, or your objective for applying for a given position.
Professional Title - Your title. This should mirror the exact position you’re applying for.
Work Experience - Your work experience in reverse-chronological order. When possible, talk about achievements over responsibilities.
Skills Section - Skills relevant to the position you’re applying for.
Education - Your educational history. Pro tip - if you have a B.A., feel free to skip your high school education.
Optional Sections - Sections like volunteering, projects, portfolio, hobbies, etc. While they’re not a game-changer, they can help fill up some space on your resume.

As we already mentioned, this resume format primarily focuses on the one part that’s relevant to most hiring managers - your work history.

As such, the key to making the most out of this resume format is nailing the work experience section. To do that, here’s how you should structure it:

Start with your most recent job and go backward from there.
Tailor the section to the job description. This means that you shouldn’t list every job you ever worked - only the ones that are relevant for this one.
For each job that you list, include your job title, the name of the company, the location, and the time period you worked there.
Below, add four to five bullet points for recent jobs and two to three bullet points for earlier jobs.
Focus on your achievements instead of your responsibilities. Hiring managers already know the basic responsibilities of the jobs they’re hiring for. So, rather than your responsibilities, they want to learn about your achievements.
Whenever possible, quantify your achievements. Facts and numbers are more convincing than words.
Use action verbs and power words. (E.g. “created” instead of “was responsible for creating”).

Example

As we already mentioned, the best thing about the reverse-chronological format is that it’s a great choice whether you’re an entry-level worker or a seasoned professional.

Any relevant experience you’ve got, the chronological experience will highlight effectively.

For example, here’s a digital marketer’s resume work experience section created using the reverse-chronological format:

Digital Marketing Manager
Wonderfull Agency Inc.
06/2017 - Present

Created a new format for reporting and presenting the sales, customer engagement and Google Ads reports that decreased the number of meetings by 24% in the last three quarters.

Updated and monitored the Bid Strategy in Google Ads and Bing Ads which resulted in a CTR increase of 3.2% in the first month.

Redesigned the webpage UX, decreasing customer turnover by 25% within a period of two months.

Conducted keyword research for updating the product pages on the online shop, increasing the organic keywords in the Top 100 by 5.600 and in the Top 10 by 315 for high-volume searches.

Digital Marketing Specialist
Company X
02/2015 - 05/2017

Collaborated with a copywriter and designer to update landing pages based on search intent, increasing conversion rates by 20% on average for select clients.

Worked directly with company clients, handling their Google Ads accounts.

Managed a total of $40,000 in ad spend per month.

Achieved an average of 200% ROAS overall ad accounts.

Pros & Cons

Still not sure if the reverse-chronological resume format is the right choice for you? See our pros and cons below!

ℹ️

Pros

Recruiters and HR managers prefer this format.
It will definitely “beat” Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software.
Provides a reader-friendly chronological history of your work experience.
The most popular resume format in 2024.

⚠️

Cons

You need to make your work achievements stand out to catch the recruiter’s attention.
Hard to fill in for a recent graduate with no work experience.
Makes career gaps very obvious. If you’re a career changer, you need to explain those employment gaps on your resume.

Functional Resume

Changing careers or have big gaps in your employment history? The functional resume format may be for you.

If you have a lot of career gaps or don’t have much work experience, you’ll benefit from using a resume format that focuses on your skills — and that’s exactly what the functional resume does.

As we already mentioned, the functional resume format is also known as the skills-based resume format.

As the name suggests, the functional resume format focuses on your skills and your key strengths.

In a nutshell, this resume format takes the spotlight away from your work experience by highlighting what you’re good at instead.

As such, this resume format is perfect for recent graduates or career changers who have little-to-no experience in a particular field.

Here’s an example of what it looks like:

What to Include

Contact Information
Resume Summary or Objective
Professional Title
Skills Summary
Additional Skills
Work Experience
Education

As you can see, the main difference from the reverse-chronological format is that the focus of the functional resume is the skills summary and the resume objective that’s placed right at the top of the resume.

Here is exactly how you should write them to impress the hiring manager:

Use your resume objective to state your career intent and explain what makes you the ideal candidate for the job.
Start off your resume objective by mentioning a skill, education, or certification relevant to the job, mention the responsibilities you could handle, and include your motivation for working that particular job.
In the skills summary, include four or five skills that are most relevant to the position.
Instead of just listing your skills, be descriptive. In bullet points or in plain paragraphs, give examples of how you applied these skills in practice and try to make them as quantifiable as possible.

Example

Let’s assume that you’re an entry-level journalist.

Since you graduated, you’ve worked as a part-time intern at a magazine and published a dozen articles online and in print. You also run a blog that has a modest but loyal readership.

Now, you want to apply for an actual journalism position at a recently founded newspaper. So, you’re using the functional resume format.

Here’s why it’s the right choice:

It highlights your skills. In this case, you don’t have the experience to apply for the job, but you may have all the right skills.
It allows you to prove your skills. There’s ample space to show exactly how you can put your skills to use for the upcoming job.

Now let’s see what your resume objective and skills summary (or areas of strength) would look like in this case:

Resume Objective
Driven and hardworking journalism graduate looking to get hired as a reporter in The Daily Prophet. I interned at Who Magazine for six months, where I gained hands-on experience in research, fact-checking, and interviewing. Passionate blogger at Fake Blog Website, which is currently followed by over two thousand readers.

Skills Summary
Research & Fact checking

Able to systematically look for information, resources, data, etc. through a variety of sources, such as books, online directories, or social media.

Careful to always ensure that every claim and data that gets published is accurate and legitimate.

Interviewing

Full knowledge of journalism ethics and standards that are required to conduct successful and dignified interviews.

Skilled at connecting with interviewees on a deeper level to ensure comprehensive and detailed interviews.

Writing

Excel at several types of journalistic writing, including news, feature writing, columns, and reviews.

Have published over 15 articles in different newspapers and magazines since graduating.

Considering that the functional resume focuses solely on a candidate’s skills, the only groups of candidates who should consider using it are:

Freelancers with impressive portfolios
Professionals in creative industries
Career changers
Recent graduates, and entry-level professionals
Military veterans passing into civilian roles

Pros & Cons

So, to sum it all up:

ℹ️

Pros

Good for highlighting specific skills.
Useful if you’re switching careers since you can explain how your skills transfer to the new job.
Useful if you’re a recent graduate with practical skills but not much work experience.

⚠️

Cons

The functional resume format is not very popular in 2024, and most recruiters and hiring managers aren’t familiar with it, so using this format carries a bit of a risk.
Since the functional resume has less focus on work experience, recruiters might think you’re trying to hide something.
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) have difficulties reading functional resumes.

When to use

You should use a functional resume in the following situations:

You want to explain long periods of unemployment.
You’re switching to a new career and don’t have much relevant experience.
You want to highlight specific professional skills rather than your experience.

By focusing on your skills, the functional resume emphasises the value you offer employers and draws attention away from your work history.

Combination Resume

The combination resume format, also known as the “hybrid,” is a mixture of the functional and the reverse-chronological format.

The combination resume format is especially well-suited for highly-trained job seekers who want to place equal emphasis on their skills and work history.

This resume format gives equal attention to an applicant’s skills section and work experience. As such, you end up including both the Skill Summary and the Work Experience sections:

Contact Information
Skill Summary
Additional Skills
Work Experience
Education

The focal point here is the skills summary. Placed right after the contact information section, this is where you list the skills that are required for the job and then prove that you have them through your professional experience and achievements.

Here is exactly how you should write it:

List the skills that are required for the position you’re applying for and that you actually possess.
Add up to 4 professional achievements underneath each skill to prove that you possess it.
Make your achievements as descriptive and quantifiable as possible.

Example

Say you’re a senior program manager with over a decade of experience in your field.

You can plan, execute, evaluate programs and projects across diverse industries, and inspire your team to do great work.

Recently, someone told you about an opening for a program director in an international company. To apply, you’re putting together a hybrid resume format.

Here’s what makes it the best choice:

Saves space. For highly competitive positions, you want your resume to be able to cut through the noise. The hybrid format allows you to do that by bringing into focus your most relevant achievements right from the start.
Combines the best parts of the other two resume formats, which is perfect for senior professionals or executives that have plenty to show for both experience and skills.

For example, some of the skills required for the program director gig mentioned above may include interpersonal skills, budget management, and project management.

Here’s what the skills summary in your hybrid resume would look like in practice:

Interpersonal Skills

Initiated formal and informal coaching and mentorship to 50+ team members regarding project charter development, resource planning, best practices of project management, and appropriate delivery of project outcomes.

Coordinated all project inputs with several functional/technical directors, managers, and project core teams, to formulate appropriate project tools and methodologies.

Budget Management

Oversaw the implementation of the enterprise’s multi-year, multi-million dollar research system software that benefited employees company-wide.

Analysis of financial and statistical data reduced operational costs by 12%.

Strategically supervised the project execution teams to ensure the timely and cost-effective completion of projects, saving the company $250K in project costs.

Project Management

Provided strategic direction, leadership, and project governance for a multimillion-dollar application project portfolio, which successfully supported a population of 60K+ end-users across the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Streamlined project management methodologies and communication in the IT division, which increased efficiency by 90%.

Accurately report on project status throughout its life cycle to 20+ project teams, stakeholders, and sponsors, encompassing budget estimation, scheduling, and resource planning.

Pros & Cons

ℹ️

Pros

Allows you to show off more of your experience and skills using less space.
Useful for very senior professionals or executives who need to highlight more than just their work experience.
Good for applicants who may have a noticeable employment gap but plenty of work experience nonetheless.

⚠️

Cons

As with the functional resume format, applicant tracking systems have difficulties reading combination resumes.
If you’re a recent graduate or don’t have much work experience, this resume format is not very useful.
As is the case with the functional resume, most hiring managers aren’t very familiar with this format, which might cause some confusion in the process.

When to use

You should use a combination resume in the following situations:

You’re making a career change and want to emphasize your transferable skills
You have a specific, well-developed set of technical skills you want to highlight
You’re a senior-level candidate with a diverse range of experience and skills

Infographic Resume

Want to make an infographic resume that helps you land your dream job? Use our examples, templates and expert tips below to get started in the right direction.

The job market is competitive, so it’s important to make your job application stand out any way you can. Using an infographic resume is one way to show off certain skills and set yourself apart from other applicants.

However, using an infographics resume isn’t for every job seeker. Before you try making an infographic resume, it’s important to consider whether it’s the right option for you and the job you want.

An infographic resume is a resume that uses graphics to visually represent information, often in the form of bar charts, graphs, timelines, or statistics.

This style of visual resume is often used to convey a candidate’s skill in graphic design or another artistic field.

An infographic resume is useful for grabbing attention and highlighting your skills in a creative way. However, in some cases using an infographic resume could come across as unprofessional and negatively impact your chances of landing a job.

That’s why it’s important to know when exactly it’s appropriate to use an infographic resume (and when it’s not).

When to use

You should only use an infographic resume when you’re using it to showcase skills directly related to the job you’re applying for (such as graphic design) and you’re capable of making it look professional. Generally, infographic resumes are only used if you’re applying for work in the arts or marketing.

More specifically, here are some fields in which an infographic resume may strengthen your application:

Graphic design
Content creation
Brand management
Marketing
Art

Outside of creative fields like these, however, using a graphic resume may wind up hurting your chances of landing a job by making you appear less professional or distracting from your work experience.

The Verdict: What Is the Best Resume Format?

Now that we’ve covered all 4 of the common resume formats, you’re probably wondering which one’s best resume format out there.

Here’s our verdict:

In 90%+ of the cases, we’d recommend going with a reverse-chronological resume format.

In 2024, it’s the most common and useful format:

Applicant tracking systems can read it without any problems.
All recruiters and hiring managers are familiar with this format.
Whether you’re a recent graduate or a senior professional, it’s the easiest format to work with.

So, even if you’re a career changer, a highly-qualified professional, or a college student, it’s risky to choose one of the other two formats over the reverse-chronological one.

There’s a good chance that the applicant tracking system won’t be able to read your resume and automatically discard it - after all the time you put into creating the resume!

At the same time, recruiters might just not be familiar with these resume formats, or think that you’re just trying to hide the fact that you’re not experienced, and disqualify you based on that.

So, the rule of thumb - when in doubt, go for the reverse-chronological resume.

Written by: Andrei Kurtuy
Source: https://novoresume.com/career-blog/resume-formats

Reference:

The Best Resume Builders for 2024: Top 12 Online Resume Builder Websites

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 21:54:37 +0700

Everyone knows that writing a resume can be time-consuming and difficult. That’s why I’ve taken the time to thoroughly test and evaluate the top online resume builders.

As a hiring manager with 6 years of experience who’s spent countless hours reviewing resumes, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to create a standout resume.

That’s where online resume builders come in. They simplify the process, offering templates, pre-written content, and design options to help you create a professional-looking resume quickly. But with so many options out there, how do you know which one is worth your time and money?

To help you make a more informed decision, I’ve reviewed the 12 best online resume builders for job seekers in 2024, rating them on the quality of their software, template options, pricing, and more.

Resume Genius

The Genius resume builder offers users 15 modern resume templates to choose from, all of which are highly professional and designed to be ATS-friendly.

But what really sets us apart is our AI-powered resume software that adds pre-filled bullet points to your work experience section.

Each bullet point is pulled from a database of common professions, and highlights skills and responsibilities relevant to your career. The end result is that making your resume with our software is extremely fast and easy.

The Resume Genius builder charges a one-time fee of $2.95 to download your custom-built resume, or a monthly fee of $7.95 for unlimited resumes and cover letters.

Indeed Resume Builder

While Indeed is mostly known as a job board, it also provides one of the best free resume builders online.

Featuring eight unique templates, Indeed gives you everything you need to put together a strong resume. Additionally, its builder provides the option to add less common resume sections like military experience and patents, which makes it a good choice if you have nontraditional work experience.

Indeed’s resume builder is straightforward and gets the job done. However, its templates are a bit basic and don’t do a great job of maximizing available space. I found myself wishing for additional features—like pre-written bullets and the ability to add skill bars—that other online resume builders provide.

Verdict: If you’re on a tight budget and need a simple, no-frills resume, Indeed’s builder is a solid choice. However, its template offerings aren’t exciting and its builder is missing some key features provided by other builders.

ℹ️

Pros

Costs nothing
Easy to use

⚠️

Cons

Templates are unimpressive
The builder lacks features found in other software options

Zety

One of the biggest career advice websites on the internet, Zety provides a helpful paid resume builder with plenty of template options.

Zety’s resume builder offers an extensive library of pre-written bullet points, skills, and resume summaries, making it one of the more helpful builders I tested.

I found it incredibly time-saving. Zety’s industry-specific bullet points and resume summaries are genuinely helpful. The fill-in-the-blank templates for each section made the writing process a breeze.

My main critique of Zety is that the templates are a tad too similar in style for my liking. While they’re great for creating a modern, minimalist resume, you might struggle to stand out if you’re looking for something more unique. Still, for efficiency and helpful content, Zety is hard to beat.

Zety’s resume builder costs $1.95 for a 14-day trial, after which they charge $25.95 per month.

Verdict: Zety’s resume builder is beginner-friendly and convenient to use. However, their templates all feature a very similar style.

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Pros

Convenient and fast
Helpful pre-written content

⚠️

Cons

Templates all use the same style

Canva Resume Builder

Canva offers the best free resume builder, with a wide range of templates and customization options.

Canva’s free builder is a designer’s dream, boasting an unmatched variety of templates. I was honestly blown away by the sheer number of options – it’s perfect if you want your resume to have a distinct visual flair.

But be warned: you’ll need to manually input all your info. Unlike some other online resume builders, Canva doesn’t offer pre-filled text or provide advice on how to write your resume.

Additionally, you can’t upload your current resume for a redesign, and will have to fill in each text field individually. This makes it a more time-consuming option than other websites I tried.

Canva’s resume builder is free to use, but many features and templates require you to sign up for a Canva Pro account, which is $120 per year.

Verdict: With a huge library of templates, Canva is the best free resume builder online, and is a great choice for graphic designers in particular. However, if you’re short on time or aren’t sure what to include on your resume, you’re better off using a more streamlined, content-focused resume builder.

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Pros

Many resume template options
Highly customizable

⚠️

Cons

Need to manually fill in each section
Little resume writing guidance offered

LiveCareer

LiveCareer has provided expert advice and resume building services for over 15 years.

LiveCareer’s resume builder is fast, intuitive, and provides a wide variety of professional-looking templates.

I love that you can import existing resumes – it’s a real time-saver if you’re just looking to refresh your current CV. The builder is fast and user-friendly, clearly refined over years in the business.

My only gripe? The templates look outdated. They’re functional, but lack the modern edge you might want for creative or tech-focused roles. That said, for traditional industries, these templates might be just what you need.

LiveCareer’s resume builder provides unlimited 14-day access for $2.95 or $5.95 for a monthly subscription, making it a cheaper option. However, it doesn’t offer a free trial period.

Verdict: LiveCareer’s resume builder is quick, affordable, and easy-to-use. It’s a great option for the average job seeker. However, their templates are due for an update.

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Pros

Numerous template options
Fast, easy-to-use builder

⚠️

Cons

Templates look outdated

Resume Companion

Although relatively small when compared to the other sites on this list, Resume Companion provides a high-quality resume maker that’s just as good (if not better) than most of the other options online.

Resume Companion’s builder impressed me with its modern, colorful templates—perfect for younger job seekers or those in creative fields. I particularly loved the pastel color options, which add a touch of personality without being unprofessional.

Their builder is user-friendly and straightforward, though it lacks some advanced features found in competitors.

The Resume Companion resume builder charges a $2.95 trial fee, or a monthly fee of $7.95 for full access to their product.

Verdict: If you’re after a fresh, contemporary look and don’t need tons of bells and whistles, Resume Companion is worth checking out.

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Pros

Great resume templates
Beginner-friendly builder

⚠️

Cons

Lacks some features offered by other builders

Novorésumé

Based in Denmark, Novoresume provides a modern resume builder that works well for job seekers on either side of the Atlantic.

I appreciated that Novoresume’s builder allows you to adjust fonts, margins, and layouts—it’s great if you like to fine-tune every detail. The built-in tips were also genuinely useful, especially for less experienced job seekers.

However, Novo’s templates are quite similar, and some features (like encouraging users to add a profile picture to their resume) aren’t ideal for US/UK job seekers. It’s clearly more geared towards European markets, which could be confusing for some users.

Still, if you want a highly customizable experience and don’t mind a learning curve, Novoresume is a good option.

The Novoresume builder uses a freemium model, so you can download your resume as a PDF for free. However, if you want extra features, you’ll need to pay $19.99 per month or $39.99 for three months.

Verdict: Novoresume offers a good free resume builder. Their software is powerful and has some unique features. However, their templates are all quite similar and their builder seems geared more toward European job seekers.

ℹ️

Pros

Helpful writing tips inside the builder
Free to try

⚠️

Cons

Might be confusing for U.K. or U.S. users
Template offerings are very similar looking
Premium access is expensive

ResumeNerd

ResumeNerd’s builder is a godsend for beginners, offering tons of pre-written examples and tips.

I was impressed by how thoroughly it guided me through each section — it’s like having a career coach by your side. The tips before each section are also genuinely helpful and insightful.

But their templates? Not the most impressive or space-efficient I’ve seen. If you have a lot of experience to showcase, you might find yourself struggling to fit everything in. It’s an excellent choice for entry-level job seekers or those creating their first resume, but experienced professionals might find it limiting.

ResumeNerd’s paid resume builder costs $2.75 for a 14 day trial, and a $23.75 per month subscription.

Verdict: ResumeNerd’s builder is very easy to use and provides a range of tips and pre-written content, making it a great option for entry level job seekers. However, their template options aren’t as impressive as those offered by competitors.

ℹ️

Pros

Beginner-friendly
Pre-written content helps with writer’s block

⚠️

Cons

Basic template options

EnhanCV

EnhanCV offers one of the best free resume builders online.

When starting EnhanCV’s resume builder process, you’re greeted by Julia, a virtual assistant and “resume expert”. While a bit gimmicky, the overall aesthetic is very modern and cutting-edge, which I loved.

However, unlike some other resume builders, EnhanCV doesn’t offer a guided experience or pre-written options to speed the resume writing process along. Not having these elements makes EnhanCV’s service a bit intimidating for anyone without experience writing a resume.

It’s also on the pricier side, which might be a deterrent for some. EnhanCV provides a freemium service, so you’re able to download a basic resume from their builder without paying.

However, to access their full library of templates, designs, fonts, and colors, you’ll need to pay $24.99 per month.

Verdict: EnhanCV’s resume builder is sleek and modern, but doesn’t offer a lot of help for beginners. Additionally, their premium service is costly compared to other online resume builders.

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Pros

Modern resume template designs
Polished experience

⚠️

Cons

Not beginner-friendly
Full access is pricey

MyPerfectResume

JobScan’s resume builder is straightforward and formats information well, even if you don’t have much work experience to list.

But where JobScan excels is its ATS-compatibility check. Once you’ve generated your resume, you’re offered a free scan to determine what information you’re missing, if you need to add keywords, and how your skills stack up against the competition.

The downside? Very limited template options. The designs are basic and not particularly eye-catching. But if your primary concern is getting past ATS systems at large companies, JobScan is definitely worth considering. Just be prepared to sacrifice a bit on the visual appeal front.

JobScan’s resume builder is free. But if you want extra features and more in-depth resume scans, you need to pay $49.95 per month.

Verdict: JobScan offers one of the best free resume builders online, with a focus on getting you through ATS scans. However, their template offerings are very limited and their builder lacks some of the features available in other builders.

ℹ️

Pros

Templates are tailored for different experience-levels
Helpful pre-written content

⚠️

Cons

Many templates are old-fashioned or are poorly formatted

JobScan

JobScan’s resume builder is straightforward and formats information well, even if you don’t have much work experience to list.

JobScan’s resume builder is free. But if you want extra features and more in-depth resume scans, you need to pay $49.95 per month.

ℹ️

Pros

Free
Includes an ATS scan

⚠️

Cons

Very basic templates
Few features

Resume.io

Resume.io’s sleek platform immediately caught my eye with its polished interface and user-friendly design.

The standout feature here is the live preview – being able to see changes in real-time is a game-changer. Their editor is also top-notch and refreshingly problem-free compared to some other builders I’ve wrestled with.

However, it’s not without its drawbacks. Being forced to sign up before you can start creating is mildly annoying. Plus, the limited customization options and small template selection left me wanting more.

Pricing is tiered, with a 7-day trial for $2.95 that auto-enrolls into a $24.95/month subscription if you don’t cancel. They also offer 6-month and 12-month packages at $44.95 and $74.95 respectively.

Verdict: Resume.io is a solid choice if you prioritize a smooth user experience and don’t need extensive customization. That real-time preview feature is truly impressive. But if you’re after variety and deep customization options, you might want to keep looking.

ℹ️

Pros

Sleek and professional interface
Live preview feature

⚠️

Cons

Forced signup before starting
Limited customization options

Frequently asked questions about resume builder websites

Here’s a list of answers to questions we frequently receive about resume builder websites:

What do employers think of resume builder platforms?

Here’s what employers think of resume builder platforms: they care about the content of your resume, not how you made it.

Whether you wrote your resume from scratch, used a resume template, or created it using a resume builder platform, employers are focused on your resume’s content. To give yourself the best chance of getting called in for an interview, ensure you:

Quantify the achievements on your resume with hard numbers
Use action verbs to make yourself seem proactive and flexible
Include keywords from the job ad in your resume

What is the best free resume maker?

The best free resume maker is any resume builder that allows you to:

Select a professional, pre-formatted template
Enter your personal information (name, email address, and phone number) and automatically fit those details into your template
Pick pre-written, error-free bullet points for jobs in your field, and format them for you in your work experience section

Any good resume maker should offer these features and more, and help you write a resume in about 15 minutes.

Written by: Conrad Benz
Source: https://resumegenius.com/blog/resume-help/best-resume-builder-website