When and When Not to Use LinkedIn Resume Builder
There is never a bad time to apply for a new job, but updating your resume can seem like a daunting task (especially if you’re already overwhelmed with work). If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can use what you’ve already written to create and customize your strategic resume, and to speed up your application processes.
LinkedIn has a built-in resume builder that uses your profile information to create the perfect resume. This feature even suggests keywords to include based on the job you are applying for. We’re going to tell you when you should and shouldn’t use a LinkedIn resume builder and how to get the most out of it.
When should you use the LinkedIn resume builder?
If you already have a LinkedIn profile, a few quick updates will probably be enough to get you updated. You can add your current position, responsibilities and achievements to your profile and then you are ready to use the resume builder.
If you feel like you didn’t have time to put together a great resume, you can use the information you already have on LinkedIn to automatically generate one. From now on, you only need to shorten it to fit on a page or two and make sure you use all the relevant keywords for the position you want.
(Adding keywords is important because many businesses use automatic resume scanning software that completely rejects applications if it doesn’t detect certain words. LinkedIn’s resume builder also saves you the hassle of finding those keywords.)
Best of all, you can write your resume without touching anything mentioned on your LinkedIn profile. Any changes you make will be limited to your new resume.
How to use LinkedIn resume builder
To create your LinkedIn resume, go to your profile by clicking the Me button in the top bar next to your notifications and clicking View Profile .
When your profile is open, click More under your name, description and location. This will open a drop-down menu where you can select Create Resume .
LinkedIn will allow you to either upload a previously created resume or create one from your profile. Click Create From Profile to start building your resume. This is when LinkedIn asks for the title of the job you are applying for in order to suggest relevant keywords. Enter the title of the job and click Apply .
You will now see a preview of your LinkedIn resume. The right pane will display information about matching keywords found on your profile and suggested keywords you might consider. In the left pane, you will see a pencil icon next to each section of your resume. Just click on the pencil to start editing. Most people will look for conciseness so that their resume fits on one page, which is pretty easy.
To check if your resume fits on one page, click the Preview button at the top to get a good idea of what your resume looks like. Feel free to customize it until you’re satisfied, then click More and select Download as PDF to save your resume to your computer.
When You Should Avoid LinkedIn Resume Builder
A LinkedIn resume creator isn’t perfect – it has a few drawbacks that make it inappropriate for some, especially when you consider that it generates a simple resume that might not really stand out. If you’re applying in a creative field, such as as a designer, you might consider looking for a more attractive resume template in Google Docs or Microsoft Word, or design one from scratch to showcase your skills.
And, if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile yet, you shouldn’t create one just to create a resume. You can easily use and create any of the millions of templates available on the web without having to create or update your LinkedIn profile. Yes, LinkedIn helps you connect and find jobs, but if you don’t use these website features, then the resume function itself is not what you need an account for.