How to use this resume builder
- Fill in your details. The preview shows an example until you start typing, then it shows your own resume as you go.
- Add your jobs, newest first. Put one achievement per line. Start each with a verb and add numbers where you can, like "cut costs by 15%".
- Check the length. Aim for one page. If you have a lot of relevant experience, two is fine. Compact spacing fits more on a page.
- Download the PDF. We don't keep a copy, so press Save draft if you want to edit it again later.
What goes on a US resume
This builder follows the resume guide from CareerOneStop, which is sponsored by the US Department of Labor.
| Part | What CareerOneStop suggests |
|---|---|
| Contact details | Your name, city and state, phone, a personal email address, and your LinkedIn or portfolio link. You don't need your full street address. |
| Length | 1 to 2 pages. Use two only if your experience needs it. |
| Leave out | Your birthdate or age. Also leave out images and graphics, which applicant tracking systems can scramble. |
| References | Not on the resume. Keep a separate page of references to give when an employer asks. Most employers ask for three. |
| Paper size | US Letter (8.5 × 11 inches), which is what this builder uses. |
Never put your Social Security number on a resume. You don't need it to apply. The builder warns you if it spots something like an SSN or a date of birth.
How the builder lays out your resume
Everything goes in one column in a standard font, with your name at the top, a line of contact details, then clear section headings: Professional Summary, Skills, Work Experience, Education and Certifications. Dates sit on the right of each job. The PDF contains real text, not a picture, so applicant tracking systems and screen readers can read it.
The preview and the PDF use the same measurements, so lines and pages break in the same places in both.
Worked example
Jordan Rivera is a graphic designer in Austin, Texas, with about six years of experience. Press Load example above to open Jordan's resume in the builder. It has a two-line summary, eight skills, two jobs with three achievements each, one degree and one certificate, and it fits on one page of US Letter.
Look at how each achievement is written: "Redesigned packaging for a snack line, helping the client win shelf space in 40 new grocery stores" says what Jordan did and what changed because of it. That's more useful to an employer than "Responsible for packaging design".
Tip: change your summary and skills for each job you apply for. Use the same words as the job posting where they honestly describe you. Many employers use software that searches resumes for those words.
Frequently asked questions
Is this resume builder really free?
Yes. There's no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on downloads. The site is paid for by advertising and affiliate links on other pages, never by charging for your resume.
Do you see or store what I type?
No. Your resume is built and turned into a PDF by your own browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or saved on your device. When you close the page it's gone, unless you press Save draft, which downloads a file to your own device. You can open that file here later to carry on editing.
Should my resume be one page or two?
CareerOneStop suggests one page for most people, and two if you have a lot of relevant experience and one page would look crowded. The preview shows your page count as you type.
Will my resume work with applicant tracking systems (ATS)?
The builder avoids the things CareerOneStop warns can confuse these systems: tables, text boxes, columns, images and graphics. Your PDF is one column of real text with standard headings. Every system is different, so we can't promise how each one reads it. If an application asks you to paste your resume, use Copy as text.
Can I get a Word version?
Not yet. If an employer asks for Word, press Copy as text and paste into Word or Google Docs, then save it as a .docx file.
Sources (checked 29 September 2026): CareerOneStop resume guide: introduction, header, formatting, references. ToolNest is not connected to CareerOneStop or the US Department of Labor.