make a resume on indeed

Recruiting Explained

Is It Better To Use Indeed’s Resume Builder or Upload Your Own Resume?

Your resume is the most important part of your job application process. Depending on how well you design a resume, you will have better or worse results when you apply for a job.

This is one reason why there are so many resume writing services; many of which are overpriced or not reliable sadly. Even if you happen to be in a college that will prepare a resume for you (most city and state colleges provide free resume writing services) it’s not a guarantee that you will get a well formatted resume.

And of course there are many online resume builders to choose from. Some job posting sites like Indeed allow people to submit their own resume or use a custom resume builder.

The decision on what type of resume to use: custom resume builder or your own. There are some pros and cons to each method, which we can discuss below.

Table of Contents

What is the Indeed Resume Builder?

Indeed is one of the most used job posting sites in the country. If you are searching for work, then you’re going to probably end up on Indeed. Unless you are a high profile executive, or a person who is in a career field that uses LinkedIn instead of Indeed, then it’s inevitable.

Indeed is where recruiting firms, temp agencies, hospitals, and small businesses turn to post jobs. They are also a repository for jobs for the non-profit sector.

Because many of the jobs on Indeed are in industries where people might not normally have a good resume prepared (medical staff, labor staff, back to work individuals in the non-profit sector, and so on) they have a smart little feature.

The feature on Indeed that is particularly useful is their built in resume builder. This allows people who have never had a resume to create one in the program.

Now, you might wonder who has never written a resume? Well, it’s not that uncommon. If you went to a public school, then there were programs funded for students that helped them create the resume. However, many private schools do not have such funding. Students tend to be more proactive in private schools and they can create their resumes online with templates, but there are still those who might have graduated years ago and only have printed resumes.

Also, some people who are not computer savvy or working in fields such as medical work or non-profit workers might not even have a copy of their resume. In some instances, the agency that they work for creates a resume for them and sends it out to hiring managers.

So, the benefit to the Indeed resume builder is that you won’t have to stress about creating a resume on your own if you want to apply for a job. You can simply use the built in resume builder.

Do Resume Formats Matter?

Yes, resume formats matter when you are submitting to an online job posting. As covered in a prior article, you should only submit a resume in word or PDF. There’s a good reason why recruiters only want you to send them are resume in either of these formats .

It’s simply because other formats are not useful and don’t transfer well between different systems.

If you send someone a resume in HTML or Txt, then you can assume that it won’t be read. It’s simply not a clear and professional method of sending someone your resume.

Why Does Indeed Have a Resume Template Builder?

Indeed probably has a resume builder because they want to accommodate everyone. There are many people who do not have a resume, or perhaps do not have a up to date copy of their resume in a digital format.

Those people should be allowed to apply for jobs just like anyone else. So, in a wise move, there is a resume builder built into the functionality of the system.

Job sites want people to apply to jobs on their system, it makes them more successful. If no one applies, the companies would not use their platform to advertise.

So, in an effort to make applying to a job as easy as possible, it makes sense that Indeed has a resume builder.

When It Makes Sense To Use Your Own Resume

If you are in a professional industry: sales, marketing, tech, Project Management (at the corporate level) Communications, or any other white collar business, then you should have your own resume.

Most of the time, executive roles and professional roles in corporate environments will be found through LinkedIn or headhunters, however they occasionally might be sourced through a job posting site.

However, it’s much more common for job posting sites to have openings for non-executive roles and less competitive roles. The majority of the work will be in industries such as medical (hospital workers and clinic workers), non-profit work, manual labor work, construction, and other non-professional jobs.

For many of these people, the ability to create a resume is something that is a barrier to the job market. In many nursing schools, for instance, there are guidance counselors who are paid to write resumes for all nursing students so that the new graduates can obtain work when they graduate.

It makes sense to use your own resume that you’ve created if you happen to be applying to a competitive job in the private sector. As a good rule of thumb, private sector employers will want to see your personally crafted resume. They will likely assume that if you do not have the time or ability to make your own resume, then you’re not a good candidate for their office.

So, the first step is to consider the job that you’re applying for. Is it in a highly competitive, professional environment? Then you should use your own resume.

Is the job in a mainstream government, non-profit, or medical setting? Is the role a labor role, retail, or basic administrative role? Then you can use a standard resume builder design.

The important thing to remember is that your resume should be well written, regardless of what system you use to compose it. A poorly written resume with gramatical errors won’t yeild many jobs. It’s one of the main reasons people don’t get callbacks on their resumes.

If you are applying for a job in any of the following areas, then you can use a resume builder:

• Medical Work (nurses, techs, hospital administrative staff)
• Construction Work
• Non-Profit (Case Managers and Support Staff)
• Property Management
• Restaurant Work
• Labor and Skilled Labor (trade work)

The industries above are not in the professional, corporate world. Because of this, there is less importance placed upon resume presentation. In many instances (Medical and Construction, for example) the only requirement to be hired is a certification or license. In many fields, companies don’t even ask for ID when hiring on employees (which is not a legal practice).

If you’re applying for a role in one of these industries, then you should have your own resume:

• Sales Executive
• Account Management
• Account Executive
• Marketing/Public Relations

Hey I’m Chris . 20+ years in the industry.  I’ve worked every role from Executive recrutier to Agency founder and consultant.  If you want to learn more or reach me,vist the about page or use my contact form.

• Search Search Please fill out this field.
• Career Planning
• Finding a Job

How to Put Your Resume on Indeed

How to Upload Your Resume

How to create a new resume on indeed, public vs. private resumes, how to delete your resume, apply for jobs on indeed, how employers can find you.

• Tips for Making Your Resume Pop

Image by Bailey Mariner © The Balance 2019

When you're looking for a job online, having a copy of your resume online can save you lots of time. It can also help potential employers find you, and see your skills and experience.

Indeed.com's resume service enables job seekers to upload an existing resume or create a new resume using their resume-building tool. This allows users to quickly post their resumes when applying for jobs.

Users can also make their resume visible to employers. This way, if a hiring manager sees your resume and thinks you are a good fit, he or she can reach out to you.

Learn how to use Indeed’s resume service, and how to make your resume stand out from the crowd.

First, you need to sign in to Indeed.com or create an account if you're not already registered. Then, upload your resume. Indeed recommends uploading the following file formats: Word (.doc or docx), PDF (created from a text file, not a scanned image), RTF, and TXT. Have your resume file saved in one of these file formats so that it is ready to upload from your computer.

You'll be able to edit it online once you have uploaded it. You can edit particular sections of your resume, or even add or remove sections. Indeed offers suggestions for other sections to add to your resume, ranging from “Certifications/Licenses” to “Publications” to “Awards.”

Click “View & Edit Resume” to view what the final copy of your resume will look like when employers see it. If you want to start over, simply click “Remove your resume & profile.”

You can also start from scratch and create a new resume directly on Indeed. Once you register (or sign in, if you are already registered), you can click “Build Your Resume.”

Have your  contact information ,  work history , and  education ready to enter. Indeed will ask you to fill these sections out first as a way to get started. If you don’t want to fill these out first, you can skip these sections.

You can edit particular sections of your resume, and even add or remove sections. Indeed offers suggestions for other sections to add to your resume, including “Skills,” “Awards,” and more.

Click “View & Edit Resume” to view what the final copy of your resume will look like when employers view it.

Once your resume is on Indeed, you can choose to make it “Public” or “Private.” There are benefits to both options. When you make your resume public, it is visible to anyone. Visitors to a public resume page can forward, save, or download the resume as a PDF or email you through a secure contact form. Your street address is visible only to you, and your phone number and email address are only visible when you apply for a job.

One benefit of a public resume is that hiring managers can find you and reach out to you if they think you might be right for a job. This is a good option if you are unemployed, and do not care who sees that you are job searching.

When you make your resume private, employers cannot find your resume, so they cannot contact you if they think you might be right for a job. They can only see your resume when you attach it when applying for a job. This is a good idea if you are employed, and you do not want your boss to be able to find you and see that you are job searching.

Whether or not you make your resume private, you can still download a copy of your resume for your records.

If you don't want your resume online any longer, or if you want to start with a new document, click on “Remove your resume & profile” and it will be removed from the system.

If this is the only version of your most current resume, be sure to download it before you delete it so you have a copy.

When searching  for jobs, you will see that some jobs that say “Apply with your Indeed Resume.” This means that when you click “Apply Now,” you can include your Indeed resume in the application.

If you choose to apply with a different resume, simply click “Apply with a different resume.” You can then click “Choose File” and upload the file you want to use as your resume.

If a job doesn’t have the “Apply with your Indeed Resume” link, it likely means you have to apply for the job directly on the company’s website . 

Employers looking for job candidates can search through public resumes by job title, company, education, location, or keyword. They can then download a resume as a PDF or email the job seeker through a secure contact form.

Indeed.com users can also forward resumes to colleagues or other contacts who might be interested in a particular user’s resume.

You can also choose to promote your Indeed.com resume on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter. If you are comfortable making your job search public, this is a great way to increase the visibility of your resume, and use your social network to promote your job search.

Tips for Making Your Indeed.com Resume Stand Out

• Read samples. Before starting your resume, check out some sample resumes from people in your industry. Also, look at some of the public Indeed resumes . You can search by job title to get a sense of what other people in your field include in their resumes.
• Consider adding a headline or summary. Under the “Basics” section of the Indeed resume, you can include an optional headline and summary. A headline is a brief phrase that highlights what makes you stand out as a candidate. A resume summary is slightly longer – a couple of sentences or bullet points – and goes into more detail about how you might add value to a company . Consider adding one or both of these as a way to show hiring managers, at a glance, why you are a great candidate.
• Know what employers are looking for. Because you are using one resume for many jobs, you want to make sure the resume is tailored to the specific industry in which you are job searching. Make sure you know the skills and experience people in your industry are looking for in job candidates. Read some job listings on Indeed in your field to get a sense of what hiring managers want. Then, highlight relevant experiences and skills in your resume.
• Include keywords. One way to make your resume connect to your industry is to include common industry keywords . These might be words you often see in job listings in your field. For example, if you are applying for a job in marketing, you might include certain skills keywords like “SEO expert” or “analytics experience.”
• Emphasize achievements. In your descriptions of previous jobs, emphasize not simply what you did, but what you achieved. Whenever possible, quantify your achievements . For example, say how much money you helped a company make, or explain how your new filing system increased efficiency by a certain percentage. Numbers show an employer, at a glance, how you will add value to their company.
• Fill out all relevant information. Indeed provides a number of options for resume sections, including “Awards,” “Links,” “Patents,” and more. Fill out all relevant sections. For example, if you are applying for a job in academia, fill out the “Publications” section with any articles or books you have published. However, don’t fill out sections that are not relevant to your industry or your experience. If you have no military experience, for example, skip the “Military Service” section.
• Edit, edit, edit. As always, thoroughly edit your resume before uploading it for a job, making it public, or sharing it with someone. Click “View & Edit Resume” to see how it will look to an employer. Proofread the resume, and consider asking a friend or family member to look it once over as well. 

Related: Best Resume Writing Services