Andrei combines academic knowledge with over 10 years of practical experience to help job seekers navigate the challenges of resumes, interviews, and career growth. Through the Novorésumé Career Blog, he offers actionable advice to simplify and ace the job search process.
Updated on 01/14/2026
Creating a resume from scratch can feel overwhelming. You need to sort out the format, layout, content, and dozens of other details that can make or break your job application.
With so many different elements to consider, many job seekers turn to resume builders to simplify the process.
But can using a resume builder help you land that dream job?
In this article, we'll explore:
What a Resume Builder Is
When You Should You Use One
Pros and Cons of Using a Resume Builder
Let's dive in!
Want to try out a resume builder created for job seekers? Get started with Novorésumé and make your resume in minutes!
without needing design skills or extensive knowledge of resume writing. Typically, resume builders come with pre-designed templates, content suggestions, and formatting functions that can streamline the resume writing process.
Modern resume builders do a lot more than just provide a fancy design. The right resume builder can guide you through each section of your resume, offer industry-specific content suggestions, and optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Should You Use a Resume Builder?
Whether or not you should use a resume builder depends on your specific needs.
You want to make sure your resume passes the ATS screening
You need to create multiple versions of your resume for different jobs
You're in a rush and need a professional-looking resume quickly
You don’t have any design skills but want a visually appealing document
However, a resume builder might not be necessary if:
You already have a well-formatted resume that only needs minor updates
You have graphic design skills and prefer to create your resume and cover letter from scratch
You work in a very creative field that appreciates unique, personalized resumes
You’re applying for a very traditional industry where a bare-bones, black-and-white plain text document is the norm for resumes
But you don’t have to make that decision immediately. First, let’s go through the pros and common misconceptions about resume builders.
9 Pros of Using a Resume Builder
Before you can make an informed decision, you need to know the pros and cons of using a resume builder. Let's explore them starting with:
#1. Adjustable Layouts
Before you fill in the contents of your resume, you need to sort the layout.
This is about how you arrange the information on the page and, in turn, impacts your first impression to the hiring manager.
If you’re using a text processor program, like Microsoft Word, there are a lot of elements to consider:
Page margins. For your resume to look neat, set the margins to one inch on all sides of the page.
Line spacing. Give your text enough room to breathe by setting it to 1.0 between text and up to 1.5 between section headings.
Font size. Your font needs to be easy to read, so you shouldn’t make it too small; but don’t go overboard, either. Use 11-12 pts for the body text and 14-16 pts for any headings.
Bullet points. Paragraphs are clunky and difficult to read, so bullet points are the best way to organize the bulk of the information on your resume. The hiring manager will be able to skim through it and read it faster.
If you’re using a resume builder, however, you don’t have to go through the hassle of adjusting your resume’s layout.
The Novorésumé resume builder lets you choose from different layout options and easily switch between them without losing your content.
In turn, you can pick the layout that best highlights your qualifications and professional experience. You can seamlessly switch between single-column and two-column layouts or try different resume formats until you find what suits your needs.
#2. Design Customization
Your resume’s design can help you stand out from the crowd. If it’s visually appealing, it can capture the hiring manager’s attention before they even read a single word and make a great first impression.
Resume builders can help a lot here. Most offer a wide range of sleek, modern resume templates specifically designed to make your qualifications shine.
Popular customization options include:
Color schemes. Choose colors that reflect your personal brand or industry standards – from classic black and white to subtle color accents that help key sections stand out.
Photo options. Depending on your location and industry, you can easily add or remove a professional photo from your resume with a single click.
Visual elements. Adjust progress bars for skills, custom icons, or other visual elements that help break up text and highlight important information.
Some resume builder naysayers claim that the template designs are always too flashy and distract from your resume’s contents but that’s just a misconception. It depends entirely on your chosen template and how well you balance design with quality content.
Creative fields like marketing, graphic design, or digital media often appreciate more distinctive templates, while traditional industries like finance or law typically expect more conservative designs.
At Novorésumé, all our resume templates are created in collaboration with HR professionals who understand exactly what hiring managers are looking for in different industries around the world. So, you can easily pick one that matches your chosen industry!
There are plenty of misconceptions on this topic, so let's clear them up.
First, well over 80% of employers use ATS as part of their initial resume screening process. So, if you want your resume to make it to the hiring manager at all, ATS compatibility is non-negotiable.
Next, some people think resume builders aren’t ATS compatible because some builders prioritize flashy designs over functionality. If you don’t know how to make an ATS-friendly resume, you might fall into this trap, thinking that a beautiful resume is enough to land a job.
But no matter how stunning it is, if your resume is impractical, it will always be rejected by an ATS. Substance always comes before style on a job application.
Another misconception here is that two-column resumes are automatically ATS-unfriendly. This isn’t necessarily the case - as long as you avoid the biggest ATS formatting mistakes, like adding too many graphics or unusual fonts, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about here.
That being said, a single-column resume layout is simpler and it’s a foolproof option if you’re worried about the older applicant tracking systems still in use.
Thankfully, you don’t have to choose between substance and style if you use Novorésumé. Each of our templates is designed to be visually appealing while maintaining the structural integrity to breeze past any applicant tracking systems out there.
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Quick Tip
If you want your resume to make it past the ATS and impress the hiring manager, you need to perfect your work experience section. Learn how with our detailed guide!
#4. Job-Specific Tailoring
One-size-fits-all resumes rarely make it past the first screening. One of the tricks here is to include keywords from the job ad so the ATS sees that your application is relevant.
A quality resume builder makes this crucial step significantly easier. With a resume builder like Novorésumé, you can create a master resume and tailor it to different job postings efficiently.
This is where your input comes in – really zero in on the experiences that make you the right candidate for the job. Cross-reference the job ad so you know which important skills to highlight on your resume and tailor your work experience to complement the role you’re applying for.
You need to be flexible to apply to multiple positions, even within the same field. For example, a marketing manager might highlight social media expertise for one role and content writing skills for another.
With features like the job tracker, you can also easily store those different versions according to different roles, industries, or companies, so you won’t have to start from scratch next time.
#4. Personalized Tips
Another perk of an effective online resume builder is having real-time tips while you’re filling in your resume’s content.
Good resume builders offer tailored advice as you’re working on your resume, not just templates. The right tool can guide you through the entire resume writing process and help you perfect it on the first draft.
Novorésumé's platform includes personalized tips that do just that! As you work on your resume, suggestion boxes will help you make better decisions about your content.
Some features include:
Content recommendations for each section
Advice on optimal section length
Suggestions for what to include or omit
For example, if you’re adding hobbies and interests to your resume, the tip box will explain how many you should list so you don’t go overboard.
Beyond the in-builder tips, you'll also have access to numerous real-world resume examples specific to your field, showing you exactly how successful candidates structure their information. This way, you can get interactive guidance and practical examples to ensure your resume follows the best practices.
#6. AI-Integration
With AI taking over the job market by storm, many resume builders are implementing state-of-the-art AI features to make resume creation even more convenient.
Many of these smart tools go beyond basic spell-checking to actually enhance your content. AI writing assistants can transform bland job descriptions into impressive statements that can capture a hiring manager's attention.
The best AI integrations work as collaborative tools that offer suggestions instead of outright replacing your content. This lets you maintain your authentic voice while benefiting from data-driven enhancements that can make your qualifications shine.
And when it comes to AI features, Novorésumé is right there with an integrated AI assistant, ready to help with all your resume needs!
A cover letter can tie your job application together and show the hiring manager your attention to detail and professionalism. It doesn’t matter whether the job ad requires a cover letter or not - you should always include one.
Some resume builders offer matching cover letter templates to help you create a cohesive job application.
When your resume and cover letter have the same design, you’re effectively creating a strong personal brand that can make a memorable impression on the employer.
At Novorésumé, we know that your job application isn’t complete without a cover letter, so each of our resume templates comes with a matching cover letter template.
Just look at how polished your job application can look in minutes:
#8. Time-Saving
Creating a resume from scratch can be incredibly time-consuming. You might spend hours formatting, researching best practices, and second-guessing your design choices.
But with a resume builder, you can do all that in minutes. Novorésumé's intuitive platform streamlines the entire process by:
Simplifying the resume layout and formatting
Saving your content to a personal library for future reference
Offering built-in guidance at every step
Letting you easily switch between formats, templates, and color schemes
You can save yourself time and stress and focus on your job hunt instead of just your resume. If you see a promising opportunity with a tight application deadline, quickly creating a professional resume could make the difference between missing out and landing an interview.
#9. Affordable
Professional resume writing services can cost hundreds of dollars and it’s an expense most job seekers just can't afford, especially during an employment gap.
Resume builders, however, offer a more budget-friendly solution without sacrificing quality.
That said, some resume builders do use deceptive pricing tactics. These platforms lure you in by promising to let you create a resume for free, only to spring a surprise paywall right as you finish your document and hold your work hostage until you pay an unexpected fee.
This bait-and-switch approach wastes your time and is unnecessarily stressful when you’re already worried about finding a job. Instead, look for a resume builder that’s upfront about its pricing and compare its free and premium features.
Novorésumé provides a range of pricing options, including a free basic plan that gives you access to essential resume-building features and a gallery of professionally designed templates to get started immediately.
Just look at how one of our templates compares to a resume made using standard text editor software:
Key Takeaways
And that's a wrap!
If you've read through the entire article, you should know everything you need about resume builders and whether you should use one.
Let's recap the most important points:
A resume builder is an online tool that helps you create professional resumes with pre-designed templates, formatting tools, and content suggestions.
Resume builders are especially useful if you're creating your first resume, need an ATS-friendly document, want to create multiple versions, or are short on time.
Some of the biggest advantages include built-in formatting that saves you hours of design work and tons of professional resume templates to choose from.
With the right resume builder, tailoring your resume to different job roles can be quick and easy, so you can navigate your job hunt with one less thing to worry about.
Novorésumé offers a variety of free templates with our basic plan and you always have the option to upgrade to the premium features and take your job search to the next level.
