Question 1

How do I create a resume?

Accepted Answer

Sign up, choose a template, and fill in your details. You can edit anytime and download as PDF or DOCX.

Question 2

What is ATS and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Applicant Tracking Systems scan resumes before humans see them. We optimize your content so it passes these systems and reaches recruiters.

Question 3

Can I use my resume offline?

Accepted Answer

Yes. After you download your resume as PDF or DOCX, you can use it anywhere — email, job portals, or print.

Question 4

Is there a free plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our free plan includes resume creation, a set of templates, basic ATS scoring, and 3 AI cover letters.

Question 5

What does Premium include?

Accepted Answer

Premium unlocks unlimited resumes, every template, advanced ATS scoring, AI optimization, the Build with AI resume importer, unlimited AI cover letters, and PDF & DOCX export. Available on monthly or annual billing — see the pricing page for current rates. Cancel anytime.

Question 6

Can I generate cover letters?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Paste a job description into our AI Cover Letter Builder and get a tailored, professional cover letter in seconds. Free users get 3 letters; Premium users get unlimited.

Question 7

What is Build with AI resume?

Accepted Answer

Upload an existing resume (PDF or DOCX) and our AI extracts all your information and fills it into your chosen template automatically. This Premium feature saves hours of manual data entry.

Question 8

How do I cancel my subscription?

Accepted Answer

Go to your Dashboard, open Billing, and cancel your subscription. You keep Premium access until the end of your current billing period.

Question 9

What is an ATS-friendly resume?

Accepted Answer

An ATS-friendly resume is structured so applicant tracking software can parse your work history, skills, and education reliably. In practice that means a single-column layout, standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills), consistent date formatting, plain-text contact details (no images), and bullet points that lead with outcomes and relevant keywords. Resume Helper templates are designed to be parseable by every major ATS — Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, iCIMS, Taleo, and more.

Question 10

How does Resume Helper score my ATS compatibility?

Accepted Answer

Our scoring engine checks your resume across multiple dimensions: parseability (can the ATS extract structured fields?), keyword alignment with the job description you provide, section formatting, file structure, and quantifiable impact in your bullet points. The result is a 0–100 score with line-level suggestions so you know exactly what to fix.

Question 11

What file format should I use — PDF or DOCX?

Accepted Answer

Use PDF unless the employer specifically requests DOCX. A modern text-based PDF (like the ones Resume Helper exports) preserves your formatting on every device and is parseable by all major ATS platforms. Avoid scanned PDFs or image-based files — those require OCR and can fail to parse cleanly. When a job portal asks for DOCX, use the DOCX export instead.

Question 12

Can ATS systems read tables and columns?

Accepted Answer

Most modern ATS platforms can parse simple tables, but multi-column layouts and complex tables remain risky. The parser reads left-to-right in a single text stream, so a two-column resume often gets your job titles and dates jumbled into the wrong order. Resume Helper templates default to a single-column structure that every ATS can parse correctly.

Question 13

Do I need to customize my resume for every job application?

Accepted Answer

Yes — at minimum, tailor your skills section and the top 3–5 bullets to mirror the keywords in the job description. Jobscan analyzed nearly one million applications and found resumes that matched the exact job title received over 10× more interview invitations. Resume Helper makes this fast: paste the job description, see which keywords are missing, and apply suggestions in one click.

Question 14

How long should my resume be in 2026?

Accepted Answer

One page if you have less than 10 years of experience. Two pages if you are mid-career or senior with substantial relevant achievements. Three pages only for federal, academic, or specialist scientific roles where a full CV is expected. ATS systems do not penalize length, but recruiters skim — keep your strongest content above the fold on page one regardless of total length.

Question 15

Will my resume look the same after I download it?

Accepted Answer

Yes. PDF exports preserve fonts, spacing, and layout exactly as you see them in the editor. DOCX exports use standard Microsoft Word styling that opens identically in Word, Google Docs, and Pages. The visible layout you build is what every employer will see.

Frequently Asked Questions — Resume Helper