How to Create a Resume from Scratch Using AI: A Step-by-Step Guide

Starting a resume from scratch can feel intimidating—especially if you’re switching careers or haven’t touched your resume in years. The good news? AI tools like ChatGPT make the process faster, easier, and more personalized than ever. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to build a polished, tailored resume using AI—whether you go the free or paid route.

Free AI vs. Paid Resume Builders: Which Is Right for You?

AI-powered resume tools come in both free and paid versions. While tools like ChatGPT give you more flexibility and control for free, paid builders can save time and effort with their built-in design and formatting features.

✅ Benefits of Paid Resume Builders

Professional Templates: Access to beautifully designed, ATS-optimized layouts

Automatic Formatting: No need to fuss with fonts or spacing

Guided Experience: Step-by-step prompts walk you through each section

Instant Downloads: Export in PDF or Word with polished formatting

Bonus Features: Cover letter builders, LinkedIn support, even job-matching tools

🤔 When It’s Worth Paying

1. You're applying to highly competitive roles where design and structure matter
2. You want a quick, polished resume without tinkering in Google Docs or Word
3. You're not confident in your writing or formatting skills
4. You need multiple versions or languages, fast

👉 Check out Recommeded Resume Builder tools — we’ve even created a comparison chart to help you pick the right tool for your needs.

💬 Why Free AI Tools Still Shine

Free tools like ChatGPT are still a great option, especially if you:

1. Want more creative control and customization
2. Are changing careers or following a non-traditional path
3. Prefer a DIY approach and want to learn as you go

Bottom line: If you’re comfortable writing and editing, free AI gives you full control. If you need a polished, ready-to-go resume fast, a paid tool may be worth the small investment.

Best Free AI Tools for Resume Building: My Experience

I tested four free AI tools using the same resume prompt. Here’s what I found:

🏆 ChatGPT — Best for Templates

1. Offers basic but downloadable templates with multiple styles
2. Lists skills, but you may need to add context or rewrite the section
3. Great one-stop option if you don’t have much experience and want simplicity

✨ Gemini — Best Content Quality

1. No template output—you’ll need to copy/paste into your own format
2. Provided the most polished, professional content with minimal editing needed
3. Best if you’re comfortable formatting the resume yourself

⚠️ Perplexity — Do Not Recommend

1. Skills section was vague and impersonal
2. Lacked the detail needed for a strong resume
3. Not recommended for resume building

❌ DeepSeek — Do Not Recommend

1. Output lacked structure and personality
2. No template support—copy/paste only
3. Not suitable for resume creation from scratch

Are Free AI Tools Better Than Paid Resume Builders?

It depends on your goals.

1. Free AI tools are perfect for entry-level or low-experience roles, especially if you’re comfortable formatting your resume manually. Find a free template you love such as with Canva or document program like Word.
2. Paid resume builders offer cleaner designs, less editing, and job-specific customization—all for under $10 with a trial. For competitive or high-level roles, that can be a worthwhile investment. If you go this route, make sure to save an edible format that you can modify on your own (with the help of free AI).

How to Create a Resume from Scratch Using AI (Free Version)

✅ Step 1: Gather Your Information

Before AI can generate a resume, you’ll need to provide the following:

📄 Basic Info

1. Full name
2. City & State
3. Phone number & Email
4. LinkedIn or website (optional)

🔍 Job Target

1. What kind of role are you applying for?
2. Any industry or type of company?

✍️ Summary or Objective (Optional)

1. 2–3 sentence intro about your experience and goals
2. Or ask AI to write one for you!

🧠 Skills

1. Hard skills (e.g., Photoshop, SQL)
2. Soft skills (e.g., collaboration, problem-solving)
3. Tip: Ask AI to suggest skills for your desired job

💼 Work Experience

For each job:

1. Title, company, location
2. Dates of employment
3. 3–6 bullet points with accomplishments (quantify if possible)

🎓 Education

1. Degree(s), school name, location, graduation year
2. Optional: GPA, coursework, honors

🌟 Optional Extras

1. Certifications, volunteer work, freelance projects, awards

✅ Step 2: Let AI Do the Heavy Lifting

Once you have your info ready, AI can:

1. Write a tailored professional summary
2. Suggest relevant skills
3. Create clear, concise bullet points
4. Organize everything in a resume-friendly format
5. Provide different layout options (modern, traditional, creative)

✅ Step 3: Tailor and Optimize

Make your resume stand out by asking AI to:

1. Use industry-specific keywords to help with ATS scans
2. Write targeted summaries for different companies
3. Create multiple versions based on the job or industry

✅ Step 4: Export and Apply

Once you’ve got your final draft:

1. Paste it into your favorite resume template (Canva, Word Doc . . . )
2. Export as a Word or Google Doc
3. Customize slightly for each job
4. Bonus: Ask AI to help you write a matching cover letter!

Final Tips

1. Be honest and accurate—don’t exaggerate experience
2. Proofread before sending
3. Keep the formatting clean and consistent

Creating a resume from scratch doesn’t have to be stressful. With AI, you can go from a blank page to a job-ready resume in under an hour—and feel confident hitting "submit."

Ready to get started? Gather your details and let AI take it from there.