There are endless amounts of resume tips and tricks out there – no wonder people are intimidated to write one on their own. But it’s really not that difficult. If you are a good match for the role, making a strong resume will be a snap.
Your resume is not something you can just quickly throw together or copy from Google, though. It’s your introduction to a potential employer that tells them why you are the one they need to hire. A bad resume will make the wrong first impression and likely prevent you from even getting an interview.
Developing a strong resume takes time, as it’s unique to you and your experiences. That’s why it’s essential to get help with your resume, especially if you’ve been looking for a job for a while.
The good news is that there are plenty of free ways to get resume help, whether you want to do it yourself with a little support or want more hands-on assistance.
1. Ask Your Friends and Family
You should have another person review your resume at a minimum. They can help you catch typos and other grammatical mistakes, even if they know nothing about writing resumes or the industry you’re applying for.
Sometimes not knowing much about your chosen field is a good thing. The person reviewing your resume can pinpoint any time you use industry jargon or acronyms that may be unclear. Someone in the HR department may not be familiar with these terms, either. You should be using keywords from the job posting or job description to help avoid any confusion.
Your friends and family can also tell you whether or not your resume passes the 6-second glance test. If they can’t tell you within a few seconds what type of job you’re trying to get, your resume isn’t doing its job and needs fixing.
2. Ask Your Colleagues
Asking a trusted colleague or co-worker for help with your resume is smart because they know more about the industry and job responsibilities. This is particularly true for specialized and technical roles.
You do need to be careful about who you ask, though. Unless you are applying for a promotion or internal transfer, you might not want your coworkers to know that you are applying for jobs elsewhere. This information could be passed on to your manager, and you probably don’t want that to happen. Instead, you could reach out to a former colleague or someone from your network.
3. Use Grammarly
Grammarly is a free program that is essentially an elevated spell-checker and grammar checker. It will catch common writing mistakes and offer suggestions to make your sentences more concise. The clearer and easier your resume is, the better.
You can use Grammarly with the browser extension, copy and paste your text into their website editor, in Google Docs, or install the Microsoft Word and Outlook add-in. It even works on your text messages and social media updates if you download the app on your phone!
If you do a lot of writing and use Grammarly every day on every article, email, and resume I write.
4. Get Feedback From Reddit Resumes
Yes, strangers in the Reddit Resumes community will help you with your resume. And I have to say, as a long-time lurker and occasional commenter, I have been really impressed with the advice people in this community give. With over 1.1 million members in the subreddit, you can upload a version of your resume (with your personal details removed), and people will offer their advice and suggestions.
If you’re not comfortable posting your own resume, browsing through the threads is also incredibly helpful, especially if you can find people applying to similar jobs. These examples will show you what your resume should look like.
5. Find Advice on Career Blogs
Career blogs offer tons of advice and resources, usually for free. You can browse through the articles for resume tips or sign up for their email lists and job-related resources. Some resources and services may come at a cost, but signing up for an email list is usually all you need to get access. But there are also free career resources you can find without signing up.
6. Use Resume & ATS Scanning Websites
There are plenty of free (or free trial) sites that will review your resume and compare it to the specific job posting you’re applying for. The algorithms will tell you exactly what needs work, as well as what keywords you’re missing.
Most employers use scanning software (Applicant Tracking Systems or ATS) to initially screen applications. While these scanners won’t catch spelling mistakes or other errors, they will tell you if you are using the right keywords for the job. And you need those keywords to make it to the next step in the hiring process.
Sites like ResumeWorded.com and Jobscan.co are my personal favorites and are easy to use. (You will need to create a free account, but they don’t ask for a credit card or any payment info.)
7. Go To an Employment Center
You don’t have to search for a job alone. There are many different ways you can get assisted, professional help with your resume and job hunting for free.
Employment centers, unemployment centers, career centers, American Job Centers, employment agencies, employment assessment centers, training centers, skill development centers … No matter what they’re called, these organizations are government-funded and free for everyone to use.
The specific services offered at each location will vary, but generally speaking, you can expect to find access to computers and printers, job postings, resume templates, interview preparation tips, workshops, and career assessment tests. There is also staff available to answer your questions and assist you. As a bonus, if your local center also works with hiring managers and employers, you can get access to the hidden job market.
Employment counseling may also be available, but there might be eligibility criteria (such as being unemployed, working part-time, or within a specific age group).
8. Find a Social Service Organization
If you belong to a specific demographic, many social service organizations provide career and job search support. These groups include:
- Immigrants, refugees, and newcomers
- Veterans
- People with disabilities
- People with mental health illnesses
- People with criminal records
- Youth (typically ages 15-25, but can go up to age 29)
- People of Aboriginal descent
- Homeless people or those living in shelters
- People with barriers to employment
In North America, you can call 211 and be connected with the right help, or visit www.211.org (US) or www.211.ca (Canada).
9. Check Out the Library
Most libraries offer training workshops on various topics, including filing taxes and writing resumes. Unlike the do-it-yourself approach, attending workshops gives you the chance to ask questions and get the specific answers you need.
Some libraries also provide job-related information, resume examples, and helpful links on their website. And, of course, they have books and other resources to help with your career development beyond the hiring process.
You should also ask or check out what other free training courses they offer or can refer you to. Learning new job skills will make your resume stronger!
10. Try Adult Education Centers & Literacy Centers
Continuing education centers and community centers run various workshops, including job readiness, soft skill development, resume and cover letter assistance, and job searching tips. Depending on the center, they may also provide free career coaching.
If your local adult education or literacy groups don’t offer these services, they can tell you where you can go to get free resume help.
The employment center I work at has a close partnership with all education, upgrading, and training service providers in our region and will often run workshops for their participants.
11. Go to Your College Career Services
If you are a student, soon-to-be graduate, recent graduate, or alumni, check what career services your college or university provides. A benefit of working with your school’s career center is that they will be more familiar with the degree or diploma program you took and can provide more targeted assistance.
12. Try Staffing Agencies
Also known as temp agencies, staffing agencies are designed to match job seekers with employers who are hiring.
As a job seeker, you can meet with a recruiter (for free) who will ask about your skills and experience. They will critique your resume and provide feedback on how to strengthen it and what types of jobs you’re best suited for. If your qualifications match an open vacancy, you may not even need to worry about fixing your resume. You could be hired directly for the role!
13. Use Resume Builders
There are dozens of free resume-building sites, including Jobscan, My Perfect Resume, and Resume.com. Each site has its own guidelines for a free account, but most will cover what you need. With a resume builder, you add your details, and it does the rest, giving you a properly formatted and ATS-friendly resume.
Pro Tip: While these sites are fantastic, they aren’t perfect. Be sure to proofread your resume and correct any mistakes before sending it out.
14. Professional Resume Writers (Not Free)
Professional resume writers are not free, but they can be affordable and a worthwhile investment (especially if it means you get hired). Depending on what level you are at and what is included, expect to pay anywhere from $100 – $500 to have your resume written for you by a human.
According to the Balance Careers, the best resume writing services available online include Let’s Eat, Grandma, Monster.com, and The Muse.
If you prefer to work with someone who knows more about your local economy, search online for “professional resume writers near me” and read through the reviews. Unfortunately, anyone can call themselves a professional resume writer, even if they lack the qualifications. So, if you decide to go this route, asking for a personal recommendation is your best bet if you know anyone who has hired a resume writer before.
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Amanda Kay, the founder of My Life, I Guess, provides valuable career advice and support for anyone striving to make a living and, more importantly, make a life. Whether it's navigating job searches, learning new skills, overcoming unemployment, or dealing with debt, My Life, I Guess has been a go-to resource for career guidance and financial stability since 2013. Amanda's expertise and relatable approach have been featured in trusted publications such as MSN, Credit.com, Yahoo! Finance, the Ladders and Fairygodboss.