Creating Resumes Online

It is always good practice to keep your resume updated — whether you’re employed, self-employed, in-between jobs, a fresh graduate or an undergrad. There are bunches of online resume creating sites nowadays, and picking one out from the pages of Google search results can be daunting.

Creating Online Resumes

Online resume creating can be a bit of a faff, but your resume is an essential tool in grabbing your ideal job. (Image: Shutterstock.com)

I have a couple of online resumes saved here and there (JobsDB, Monster, LinkedIn) — and I also have copies in MS Word and PDF formats, just in case. I’m not actively seeking new work because I am very happy with my employer. But I keep my online accounts updated anyway.

It’s always a good idea to include new projects or newly-acquired skills a few weeks after you accomplished or learned them, because the process is still fresh in your head. Instead of racking your brains trying to remember these details several months down the line — while getting stressed out because you have a job application you need to send your updated resume to.

If you’ve had several years’ experience working and need a change of scene, you can create several types of resumes that highlight specific skills. If you see a job opening that requires image editing expertise, you can snip out the extraneous bits from your resume and focus on the experience you gained as a graphics artist. Don’t lie on your resume however, because that is a bad idea that will blow up in your face. I’m talking about focusing your resume (with the actual skills and job experience you have) to fit the job requirements of a certain opening.

It is important to have your resume handy, which is why online resumes are popular. As I mentioned, there are truckloads of resume builder sites and you will be spoilt for choice. Jobseekers who want a touch of elegance to their resumes can try Resumonk.com.

Create elegant resumes online with Resumonk.com

You can create elegant resumes online with Resumonk.com (Image: Resumonk.com)

This newcomer offers a quick and easy to use resume builder for beginners and pros alike. Creator Bharani Muthukumaraswamy says the intuitive and user-friendly interface will put users at ease with Resumonk. The free version gives you PDF and HTML versions of your resume for easy distribution. You can also create several versions of your resume for free.

For a one-time fee of $9.99, you can import your resume to LinkedIn, get “date-wise and location-wise analytics”, and eventually (widget still under development) embed your resume on your blog or website. A cover letter generator is also reportedly in the works. The analytics functionality gives you information on who has seen your online resume and when they last viewed it. This is a key feature in LinkedIn’s paid version as well (a SG$12.95 per month subscription for the Personal Plus plan).

I prefer my resumes free of charge, and I like saving my CV in a jobsite for quick and easy job applications. My resumes don’t have the “touch of elegance” that some people want, but that’s fine with me — I like a straightforward CV anyway.