With the prevalence of smartphones and mobile apps, many people wonder if they can create and edit resumes directly on their iPhones. The short answer is yes – there are several apps available in the App Store that provide resume templates and builder functions to iOS users. Having the ability to work on your resume on-the-go can be very convenient, especially for anyone who is actively searching and applying for jobs. The resume builder apps allow you to craft customized resumes, manage different versions, and export final versions as PDFs for easy sharing and submitting to employers.
Benefits of a Resume Builder App on iPhone
Here are some of the main benefits of using a resume builder directly through your iPhone:
– Convenience – You can work on your resume anytime, anywhere if you have your iPhone with you. This allows you to capture ideas and make edits on-the-go rather than having to wait until you’re back at your computer.
– Organization – The apps provide templates and structures to help craft well-formatted, organized resumes. This takes a lot of the layout work off your plate.
– Customization – You can customize all aspects of the resume, including layouts, color schemes, fonts, margins, headings, and content. The templates just provide a starting structure.
– Storage – The apps securely store your resume drafts locally on your phone and through cloud syncing. This provides easy access from anywhere.
– Exportability – When finished, you can export the final resume as a PDF file for easy sharing and submitting to job applications. The conversion is seamless.
– Wide device access – In addition to iPhones, many resume builder apps are also available for iPads and Android devices, providing maximum flexibility.
Top Resume Builder Apps for iPhone
Here are some of the top-rated and most popular resume builder apps available from the Apple App Store:
LinkedIn Job Search & Resume Builder
– Cost: Free version available with premium paid upgrades
– Standout features: Strong templates, easy PDF exporting, syncs with LinkedIn profile, robust mobile experience
Resume Star – CV Maker
– Cost: Free version with paid subscriptions for advanced features
– Standout features: Modern ATS-optimized resume templates, custom sections and layouts, PDF and .TXT exporting
Resume Builder for iPhone & iPad
– Cost: $4.99 one-time purchase fee
– Standout features: Customizable sections/layouts, templates for over 20 industries, experience timeline builder, cover letter builder
CV Make –Resume, CV Creator
– Cost: Free version available
– Standout features: Minimalist resume designs, easy-to-use resume editor, built-in job description scanner
resumeLAB: Resume Builder App
– Cost: $6.99 one-time purchase fee
– Standout features: Pro resume examples and templates, skills graph feature, one-tap LinkedIn import, detailed resume analytics
Key Features to Look for in a Resume Builder App
When evaluating the many resume builder app options for iPhone, here are some of the key features to look out for:
– Customization – Look for ample customization options for sections, length, fonts, colors, and layouts. This allows you to tailor your resume to your needs.
– Templates – Pre-built resume templates and examples are a huge time-saver and ensure a professional look. Make sure there are mobile-friendly templates.
– Automation – Features like one-click LinkedIn integration, automatic language analysis, and job scanning make building your resume much easier.
– Analytics – Apps with analytics give you insights into your resume and things like competencies, readability, and impact.
– Security – Ensure the app safely stores your resume details locally on your device and through encrypted cloud backups.
– Support – Look for responsive customer support in case any issues come up while building your resume.
– User Reviews – Browse user reviews to get honest feedback about the app functionality and utility. Pay attention to design complaints and feature wishes.
Resume Sections to Include on Your iPhone Resume
When building your resume through an iPhone app, make sure to include these critical sections just like you would on a traditional resume:
Contact Information
This includes your full name, phone number, email address, city/state, LinkedIn URL, and personal website (if applicable). This information should be at the very top.
Professional Profile or Summary Section
A 4-6 sentence professional summary at the top highlighting your biggest achievements, skills, and professional attributes.
Work Experience or Employment History
A reverse chronological listing of your work history, including company names, job titles, employment dates, and bulleted achievement statements.
Education
List your degrees, including university names, graduation dates, fields of study, GPAs (if high), study abroad, and scholarships.
Skills
Include a skills section or weave key skills into your profile and work history. Technical skills and industry keywords are crucial.
Optional Sections
Awards, certifications, languages, publications, volunteer work, and interests if you have space.
Resume Design and Formatting Tips for iPhone
Here are some key resume design and formatting tips to keep in mind when building your resume on your iPhone:
– Use a clear, standard font like Arial, Georgia, Garamond, or Calibri. Avoid ornate fonts.
– Keep font sizes between 10-12 points for optimum readability on desktop and mobile.
– Use bulleted lists rather than dense paragraphs for easy scanning.
– Leave ample white space and margins on the page. Do not make your resume cramped.
– Ensure your name is prominent at the top in a slightly larger font (e.g. 14-16 points)
– Be concise with your content. Keep descriptions brief and impactful.
– UseResumeStar mobile app has great text wrap functionality to prevent awkward text breaks.
– Make sure your resume is only 1-2 pages max when exported as a PDF. Do not cram in too much text.
– Carefully proofread your resume for any spelling/grammar errors which are magnified on a small screen.
How to Export Your iPhone Resume as a PDF
Once your resume is complete on your iPhone app, here is how to export it as a PDF to use for job applications:
1. Locate the share, export, print or save function within the app. This is commonly depicted by an icon showing a box with an arrow coming out of it.
2. Choose the “Export as PDF” or similar option.
3. Select the appropriate PDF naming conventions and save location on your iPhone. Your resume PDF is now accessible through your Files app or iCloud drive for easy sharing and attachments.
4. You may have to allow the app access to your Files functionality on your iPhone in your Settings app. This enables seamless PDF exports.
5. Before applying to any jobs, open the exported PDF to ensure formatting translated properly and all information is visible. Zoom in on sections to check.
Following these simple PDF export steps will allow you to get a polished, professional resume document straight from your iPhone app that is ready for job applications.
Should You Use an iPhone Resume Builder App?
Here are some pros and cons to help determine if using an iPhone resume builder app is right for your needs:
Pros
– Convenience of mobile editing and access
– Professional templates provide structure
– Customization for all preferences
– Tools like analysis, language, and job scanning
– Easy exporting and sharing capabilities
Cons
– Smaller screen makes editing/formatting tricky
– Functionality limitations in free versions
– Potential app glitches or crashing risks
– PDF exporting can have errors or omissions
– Apps may lack sufficient customization options
For most people, the convenience factor of direct mobile resume access outweighs the potential downsides. Just be diligent about carefully checking the exported PDFs and using apps from reputable developers. The utilities of iPhone resume apps give you flexibility.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several highly capable resume builder apps like LinkedIn Job Search and Resume Star that you can utilize directly on your iPhone. The best apps provide robust templates, customization, easy PDF exporting, and other utilities to empower resume creation on-the-go. The convenience of mobile access coupled with the helpful templates and automation functions make iPhone resume builder apps a smart solution for many job seekers. Just be sure to verify the final export format and carefully proofread details before submission. With a solid app choice, your iPhone can provide an excellent platform for crafting and managing professional, polished resumes.