If you’ve ever wondered how to make a resume on an iPhone, you’ve come to the right place.
Making a resume on an iPhone requires the use of either an online resume builder or a resume-building app that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store.
For many job applicants, crafting a resume on an iPhone offers great convenience and simplicity. Essentialy, it enables you to create an effective resume in minutes.
In this article, we discuss the ins and outs of making a resume on an iPhone, including a more in-depth breakdown of the tools needed to do so. Plus, we review the key elements of a perfectly-written resume.
Can you make a resume with an iPhone?
Crafting a resume may seem like a task that requires a computer. Yet, you can easily create a resume on your mobile device — such as an iPhone — provided you have the right tools.
To create a resume on an iPhone, you need either an online resume builder or a resume-building app. Apps are generally the better option for making a resume on an iPhone, as these tools are programmed specifically for use on a mobile device.
However, an online resume builder that’s optimized for mobile use can also work great on an iPhone.
Which tool is right for you depends on your individual needs and experience in making resumes.
Consider this:
- Online resume builders can sometimes include more complex customization features.
- Resume-building apps strive to keep features more simple and touch-screen friendly.
With this in mind, let’s look at how to create a resume with both of these tools.
How to make a resume on an iPhone using an online resume builder
Online resume builders allow you to create and edit a resume directly through a website or web browser. Most online resume builders will have either a drag-and-drop design style or a pre-built resume template that can be edited and customized.
In general, online resume builders fall into two main categories:
- Free online resume builders: Though free online resume builders can provide you with the ability to quickly whip up a good resume, they are often fairly basic in design capabilities and other features.
- Paid online resume builders: Comparatively, paid resume builders tend to offer more creative freedom, cool features, and customization options.
The best online resume builders to use in 2023
- Kickresume. Kickresume’s online resume builder offers you a wide range of professionally-designed resume templates with features and elements that let you customize it however you like. In the mobile version of the resume builder you can enjoy most of the features found on the web version. The web version features include:
- Customizable templates with more than a million possible configurations designed by a team of HR experts and typographers. They come in a wide range of different design styles, from creative and unique to simple and conservative.
- Kickresume Autopilot that lets you assemble your resume from pre-written phrases for more than 3,200 positions. This helps you find the right words right from the start and write your resume quickly.
- An AI resume writer which will generate a relevant work experience section for a specific job title.
- An AI resume checker which will analyse your resume to find out what needs to be improved.
- The option to import data from LinkedIn and turning it into a resume in a few clicks, saving you the hassle of starting from scratch.
- Our 1,500+ job-specific resume and cover letter samples that you can use to create your first draft or get inspired.
- The option to turn your resume into a personal website with a single click.
- Finally, all templates and designed features are optimized for ATS software, ensuring your resume receives a positive assessment and moves on for human review.
- Canva. This graphic design platform is widely used for tasks such as creating social media posts, presentations, infographics, and other visual forms of media. It also offers a free online resume builder that includes templates and drag-and-drop design elements.
- Google Docs. A well-known online tool offered by Google allows you to create a variety of different documents, including resumes. To create a resume on Google Docs, you can either select a resume template from their gallery or use the document editing tools to build one from scratch.
- Indeed. Indeed offers a free resume builder that includes simple-to-use resume templates and editing features. While the designs they offer are relatively basic, the resume building process is pretty straightforward and a great starting point for anyone unfamiliar with the essentials of creating a resume.
But there are many more resume builders out there. We've reviewed the top 10 most popular resume builders so you don't have to.
How to make a resume on an iPhone using a mobile app
Compared to online resume builders, resume-building mobile apps are more optimized for mobile use. Nevertheless, mobile apps work similarly to resume builders.
Here are some tips for how to use resume-building apps:
- Apps typically involve drag-and-drop tools, customizable templates, or even both. The key difference is that the tools found in a resume-building mobile app will be much easier to use on the phone and with your fingers or a stylus.
- Saving a resume on a mobile app will often require you to have an email address or digital storage account (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.) connected to the mobile app.
- Once your email or account information is connected, you can then easily choose the file format — usually a PDF — and quickly export your resume to the destination you’ve selected.
Like with online resume builders, mobile apps can be either free or paid. In many cases, a mobile app is offered for free with in-app purchases available for those who want specific upgrades or other additional tools and features.
Best resume-building mobile apps to use in 2023
- Kickresume: CV, Resume Builder. The Kickresume app is the ideal tool for building a resume on an iPhone. Although you can access Kickresume’s online resume builder through a web browser on your iPhone, using the mobile-optimized app is perhaps more convenient. Here are some of its unique features:
- 35+ customizable resume templates designed by a team of professional typographers and recruiters. Every resume template comes with alternate color schemes, fonts, and formatting options.
- Each template is ATS-friendly and stunning.
- Pre-written phrases for more than 3,200 positions that you can add to your resume just by tapping.
- Professional proofreading that will correct your typos, grammatical mistakes, and word order (available in English or Spanish).
- All your documents are stored in the cloud, meaning you can use it exclusively on mobile or pick up where you left off on desktop.
- It’s also available as an Android app as well.
- Canva: Design, Photo & Video. The Canva iPhone app offers many of the features available on the mobile web version, allowing you to access and edit templates on the go. Features of the app include text editors, graphic design elements, and a PDF export option to easily save documents.
- Microsoft Word. Microsoft Word offers a mobile app where you can easily create a variety of different documents, as well as access all Word’s templates. You can save documents as PDFs or Word files, or export them to online storage centers, such as OneDrive or Dropbox.
- Google Docs: Sync, Edit, Share. Google Docs offers the full app with all of its features for download on an iPhone and other Apple devices. When you edit documents and templates in Google Docs, it automatically syncs with the desktop version. This allows you to continue writing and editing on multiple devices.
The benefits of making a resume with an iPhone
As mobile phones become more and more advanced, the options for designing beautiful documents on these devices are broadening, too.
Here are three key benefits of making a resume with an iPhone:
- Convenience. More than anything, making a resume on an iPhone is very convenient. These days, almost all of us have a mobile device with us at all times. If you’re on the job hunt and discover a job posting online, you can easily create or edit a resume and apply to new jobs quickly.
- User-friendly. Well, resume-building mobile apps are designed to be simpler versions of resume builders. They also remove the stress of having to decide on resume formatting and style, thanks to their features that make it simple to design an impressive resume. Plus, using a pre-built template ensures you include all the necessary information.
- Accessibility. When you build and save a resume using a traditional word processing program (Microsoft Word desktop version, for example), you can only access the document when you’re sitting directly at the computer it’s saved on. Comparatively, a mobile app allows you to edit and access your resume 24/7, from anywhere. You only need an internet connection!
The key elements of a perfect resume
We’ve talked all about the ways to create a stunning resume on an iPhone — but what about the actual content of the resume?
It’s true that a good-looking resume can make a great first impression. However, at the end of the day, it’s up to you and your writing to captivate the employer’s attention further.
To do so, you must know the essential elements of a well-crafted resume.
Here are 4 key elements to include on your resume (or to look for in a resume template):
1. A visually-appealing structure
A visually-appealing structure refers to the overall formatting and visual style of your resume.
If you’re unfamiliar with the different resume structures to choose from, here’s a quick breakdown:
- Reverse-chronological resumes: Reverse-chronological format is the most common one. It puts the heaviest emphasis on your work experience, making the work experience section the largest of the whole document. You begin with your most recent position and proceed to older ones. Hence, it’s the best if you have experience in the field.
- Functional resumes: Functional resumes place less focus on work experience. Instead, these resumes focus on education, skills, and unpaid experiences (such as internships or volunteering). Though a functional resume is less commonly seen and used, it can be well-suited if you have little to no relevant work experience in the field.
- Hybrid resumes: Hybrid resumes combine elements of both reverse-chronological and functional resumes. The emphasis and focus of the document are more evenly distributed among all sections. This can be beneficial for job applicants who have some relevant work experience, but not enough to fill out an entire chronological resume.
Resume-building mobile apps are useful when it comes to achieving a visually-appealing structure, as you are working with pre-made designs optimized by graphic designers and resume experts.
Most of them also let you change the order of the sections, depending on the resume structure that you wish to use.
2. Clearly labeled sections
After sorting out what type of visual structure and style you want for your resume, the next key element to focus on is creating clearly labeled sections.
When writing a resume, you don’t want the document to appear as one big block of text. Instead, you must use clearly labeled sections to divide the information up.
Additionally, you should always utilize bullet points to help keep your information organized and easy to read.
Here are four sections to always include (and label) on your resume:
- Professional Header: A professional header is the only section that doesn’t require a label. They’re found at the top of the document and include your name, contact information, and professional title. In a header, you may also find a resume summary statement that highlights the top points found in your resume.
- Work experience. A work experience section is essential to all resumes. Even functional resumes should include at least a succinct work experience section. In the other formats, the work experience section should come first, directly after the header or key skills. You should list your most recent and most relevant jobs first.
- Education. Depending on the job and field you’re applying for, an education section can vary in length and the level of detail. For an reverse-chronological resume, an education section should be short and sweet, including your highest level of education, the institution you attended, and when you graduated. For resume formats with larger education sections, you can include educational achievements and awards, in-class experiences that are relevant to the job, or your GPA.
- Skills. A skills section is often found in a sidebar of a resume or before a work experience section. When listing skills on a resume, you should generally focus more on technical skills (also known as hard skills).
3. Value you can bring value to the company
As you write your resume, remember that employers are looking for details that show them you’re the right fit for their company.
It’s crucial to take the time to research the company and their job listing beforehand to try and uncover what kind of qualities and experience they’re looking for in applicants. Once you’ve done this research, you can prioritize and emphasize different details in your resume that are most relevant and impressive.
Additionally, including quantifiable information can help show the employer the business value you offer.
For example, let’s say you worked at a production factory as a production manager. In this role, you were able to increase operational efficiency by 25% by switching the factory’s power supply provider. This is an excellent quantifiable detail to include on your resume.
4. Excellent scannability
The final element to always keep in mind when writing a resume is scannability.
Most hiring managers will first screen your resume for information and keywords they’re looking for.
To make your resume stand out to employers, make sure it has great scannability that allows the employer to quickly skim over it and gain the most important details and information.
Here's how you do that:
- Use bullet points for listing your daily tasks, achievements, or skills.
- Use bolding to highlight the most important keywords or achievements.
- Use professional section names, such as Resume summary, not Who am I?
- Don't use colored text.
- Don't write your resume as one big block of text.
Key takeaways: iPhone resumes
Making a resume on an iPhone can be quick, convenient, and effective — if you know what apps to use.
Whether you opt for an online resume builder or a resume-building mobile app, the key is still to tailor the document to the specific role and company you’re applying to.
By doing so, you make the visual elements and information on your resume all the more valuable, as it’s more relevant to the employer.
To access an online resume builder, Kickresume’s mobile app, and stunning resume templates, get started with Kickresume today.