10 Great Free Online Courses for Creating a Resume

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A well-crafted resume is one of the key components of landing your dream job, but not everyone knows the best way to go about it. While some people are natural-born writers, others find that even composing a thank-you note is a challenge. You may excel at many marketable skills and be an expert in your field, but without a great resume, it’s hard to highlight your best qualities. That’s why it’s essential to know how to write an effective resume.

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Disclaimer: Some courses may include an affiliate link. Courses were chosen first based on the methodology with affiliate links only added after the ranking was complete.

In this article, we are featuring 10 of the best free online courses for creating a resume. They are ranked in descending order with our favorite choices at the top, but don’t let that fool you—each of these courses has its merit and different ones will be more appealing to you than others. We picked them using a methodology we developed to sort out the best free online courses, and there is something on this list for anyone who is ready to take their resume writing skills to the next level.

Ranking 10 Free Online Courses for Creating a Resume

1. PRDV102: Resume Writing

Offered by Saylor Academy

This cool free online resume writing course offered through Saylor Academy is one of our top choices. The platform offers over 100 free and open courses where students can learn a variety of core subjects. They have an expensive list of professional development classes to choose from, and this course in resume writing will even earn you a certificate, provided you get a passing grade on the final exam.

There are three parts to the free online course:

• Introduction to the Resume (1 hour)

• Key Components of a Resume and Cover Letter (1.5 hours)

• Enhance Your Resume and Cover Letter (1 hour)

By the end of the free resume writing course, you will have all the tools you need to create an impressive resume or update an existing one. You will also be well on your way to crafting an effective cover letter.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes

Time to Complete: Approximately 3.5 hours

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

• Excellent user experience

• Demonstrates a variety of techniques

• Certificate of completion is available

Cons:

• None

2. Resume, Networking, and Interview Skills

Offered by FullbridgeX via edX

In this four week course hosted on the edX platform, students will learn how to stand out from the crowd by highlighting their marketable skills and presenting themselves in the best possible light. It’s a self-paced offering that can be completed on your own time, although it is recommended that you work on it for two hours a week for four weeks to get the most out of the class. Students who do not need a certificate can enroll and take the course for free in audit mode.

The modules are thorough, and cover all the basics of resume writing, networking, and interviewing, including:

• Creating eye-catching resumes and cover letters

• Customizing your resume and cover letter for different opportunities

• Creating professional profiles on social media platforms like LinkedIn

• How to grow and use your network

• How to prepare for and be successful at interviewing

• How to follow up with hiring managers throughout the interview process

The resume writing class is offered by Fullbridge, a technology company that helps people bridge the gap between knowledge and practical skills.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with an upgrade fee

Time to Complete: Four weeks

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

• Well reviewed by former students

• Excellent user experience

• Taught by a prior admissions officer at Harvard

Cons:

• Certification is part of a paid component

3. Writing Winning Resumes and Cover Letters

Offered by University of Maryland via Coursera

Coursera is one of the best places to take free online courses in resume creation, and although you can pay for an upgrade and earn certification, you don’t need to. You can take this entire resume writing course at no charge in audit mode.

Writing Winning Resumes and Cover Letters is around 14 hours long and is very comprehensive. It’s taught by Charles Duquette, a lecturer and marketing coordinator at Maryland English Institute, and he really knows his stuff. There are four learning modules covering a variety of topics, including how to:

• Craft your resume with specific marketing purposes in mind

• Create a resume that is tailored to the needs of an organization

• Construct powerful accomplishment statements

• Use action words that present you as a doer and an achiever

• Utilize web resources to broaden your writing vocabulary

• Select the best resume format

• Submit your resume and cover letter electronically

• Prepare effective cover and follow-up letters

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with a fee

Time to Complete: 14 hours

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

• One of the most interactive learning platforms available

• Excellent user experience

• The course is especially helpful for those who want to learn how to create resumes for a living as well as personal use.

Cons:

• Certification requires a fee

4. How to Write a Resume (Project-Centered Course)

Offered by SUNY Online Via Coursera

In this practical and hands-on course in resume writing, students will receive expert instruction from Holly Justice, a career counselor at the University of Buffalo. You will learn all the current best practices in resume writing and explore new trends. This is a project-centered course, so when you are finished, you will have a complete resume in hand.

There are seven modules divided into four weeks of classes, although you can take them at your own pace. The entire course takes about six hours from start to finish. Students will examine each section of the resume and define transferable skills they can use to help them land a job. The writing portion covers action statements, verbs, numbers and other characters, and some pitfalls to avoid. Students will also identify buzzwords for different industries and various headings to use depending upon the position you are interested in.

The final part of the course covers frequently asked questions that may not necessarily be part of the body of the course. There are quizzes and readings throughout that will help you test your knowledge of the resume writing skills you’ve obtained. The online course for resume writing can be taken for free in audit mode, or you can obtain a certification by paying for the full course.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with a fee

Time to Complete: Four weeks

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

• Taught by a SUNY career counselor

• Well-reviewed by over 2400 former participants

• Sign up and start immediately

Cons:

• Students looking for an offering with a strong focus on cover letters as well may need an extra course.

5. Resume Secrets: Writing Resumes that Get More Job Interviews

Offered by Udemy

Author and Rolespark founder Andrew Tye walks students through this two-hour course on creating resumes that stand out to potential employers. If you’re having trouble getting noticed among a sea of other applicants, this free online resume writing course is perfect for you. Instead of using resume templates, students will learn how to create a unique resume and cover letter that will actually get read.

Participants will go over best practices and resume basics as well as the proper guidelines for writing a resume. You will have the opportunity to check out examples of resumes that work and those that don’t and learn how to avoid common resume writing mistakes. There are 37 short lessons in the free online course.

Cost: Free

Certificate: No

Time to Complete: Two hours

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

• Highly rated and reviewed by 600 former students

• Only need a computer and internet connection

• Engaging Instructor

Cons:

• None

6. Job Search Skills – Preparing Your Resume and Cover Letter – Revised

Offered by Alison

In this short free online course on resume and cover letter preparation, students will learn how to plan, design, and create the perfect cover letter and resume. Its offered through the Saylor Foundation, and is similar to our number one choice, but is hosted on the Alison platform as an alternative. There are three modules in all, plus a course assessment.

If you are looking for in-depth resume writing skills, this is the ideal course to take. It goes beyond the basics and teaches students how to format each section, including the header, objective, education, work experience, skills, and references sections of your resume. You will also learn about how to identify your ideal position and create a cover letter from a template that you can adapt to your own needs.

Courses on the Alison platform are free, but learners can purchase a certificate in the Alison store upon successful completion of any of the course offerings. If you do not wish to purchase a certificate but you need to show proof that you have taken the class, you can download a learner verification statement from your dashboard on the platform.

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with a fee

Time to Complete: Two to three hours

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Good

Quality of Instruction: Good

Pros:

• Excellent step-by-step instructions for each section of your resume

• Covers all the basics

• Signup is easy with Google, Facebook, or an email

Cons:

• Certificates of completion are not free

7. Grow With Google’s Refresh Your Resume

Offered by Google via Udacity

If you want to land a technology job, you need a resume that stands out among a sea of applicants. That’s where this free online resume writing course can help. It’s offered by Grow With Google on the Udacity learning platform and is completely free. Filled with rich-learning content and interactive quizzes, you will learn from the experts at google how to craft the perfect tech-focused resume.

This course is especially helpful for students who are trying to land a job in data science, machine learning, web and app development, AI, and other tech industries. It is taught over the span of two days but can be taken at your own pace. Career Programs Manager Trinh Nguyen leads this engaging course, and her easy-going style makes learning a breeze.

Cost: Free

Certificate: No

Time to Complete: Varies

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Good

Quality of Instruction: Good

Pros:

• Refer back to the materials at your leisure

• Sign up with Google, Facebook, or email

• Read plus video format may be preferable for some learning styles

Cons:

• Certification not offered

8. Resume Makeover

Offered by LinkedIn Learning

If your current resume is starting to look a bit lackluster, it’s time for a resume makeover. Everyone should have an up-to-date and engaging resume on hand, and in this free online course, taught by career strategist Jenny Foss, that’s exactly what you’ll accomplish.

It’s a little less than two hours long, and Foss takes you through the exact process she uses to create resumes for her own clients. You will learn how to condense years of experience into a compelling document, what to do about gaps in employment, and how to format the ideal resume. You will also learn more about the hiring process and resume scanning software.

Enrollment in all LinkedIn Learning courses is free for users who have a premium account on the social platform. For those who do not, LinkedIn offers a free one month trial which you can use to take this and other course offerings. There are thousands of subjects covered on the platform, so it’s worth taking a look.

Cost: Free Try a free trial for Linkedin Learning.

Certificate: Yes, completion badge to share on your profile

Time to Complete: One hour and 45 minutes

Curriculum: Introductory

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

• Access on your PC, tablet, or phone

• Earn a badge to display on your LinkedIn profile or website

• Quizzes to assess your progress

Cons:

• Must remember to cancel your membership before the 30-day trial is over to avoid being charged.

9. Kick-Ass Resume Writing: The Applicant To Hired Masterclass

Offered by Skillshare

Career consultant Christian Gray walks students through this free online two-hour course on how to write a kick-ass resume that will give hiring managers exactly what they want. It’s designed for those who want to beef up their resume and acquire their dream job as well as those who would like to write resumes professionally and get paid for it.

Unlike many free online resume courses, this offering digs deep into how you can uncover new career opportunities and land the job you want. Yes, you will learn how to create a terrific resume, but you will also gain valuable knowledge like:

• How to debunk job descriptions so you know exactly what to put on your resume

• Positioning yourself with authority

• Using lateral thinking to answer tough interview questions

• Developing a master list for extracting your work history

• Understanding the on-boarding process

• Removing the belief that you need a network to get a good position

Cost: Free

Certificate: Yes, with a fee

Time to Complete: Six months

Curriculum: Introductory to Intermediate

User Experience: Excellent

Quality of Instruction: Excellent

Pros:

• Includes templates for your resume and cover letter

• Several pdf cheat sheets provided

• Ideal for students at all learning levels

Cons:

• This is a newer class so there are not many reviews available yet

10. How to Make a Resume for a Job [Professional Writing Guide]

Offered by Zety

Some students learn better by reading and practicing on their own than by going through a structured course or watching videos. If this describes you, the tutorials offered by Zety could offer you the free resume writing training you’ve been searching for.

The comprehensive resources on this site include 11 different types of resumes and over 500 industry-specific examples to learn from. You will learn step-by-step how to craft the perfect resume for your needs along with common things to avoid putting on your resume. You will also learn to create an engaging cover letter that will get noticed.

No sign up is necessary and there is no cost to proceed through the lessons on Zety. You can jump in at any point and learn at your own pace. If you feel you need some extra help writing a memorable resume or cover letter, you can also avail yourself of Zety’s paid services.

Cost: Free

Certificate: No

Time to Complete: Varies

Curriculum: Introductory to Advanced

User Experience: Good

Quality of Instruction: Good

Pros:

• Best for those who like to learn by reading

• No sign-up necessary

• Perfect for industry-specific resume writing

Cons:

• Not as structured as courses offered on learning platforms

BONUS: Penn State’s Guide to Writing the Conventional Resume

Offered by Penn State

John A. Dutton of the E-Education Institute at Penn State has written this informative guide on resume writing that is ideal for those who want to learn without bells, whistles, or distractions. It’s the eighth chapter in Effective Technical Writing in the Information Age, and It’s perfect for those who prefer to read rather than listen to lectures. There are no time constraints or sign-ups needed and it can be accessed at any time from your computer, phone, or tablet.

The guide offers a clear and concise approach to resume writing with tips on how to quality-check your resume, use action verbs to describe your job experience, and links to other helpful resources. In addition to traditional resume styles, this free online resume writing course also covers more daring resumes, resumes for graduate and post-graduate students, and computer scannable resumes—with plenty of examples of each version.

Cost: Free

Certificate: No

Time to Complete: Varies

Curriculum: Introductory to Intermediate

User Experience: Good

Quality of Instruction: Good

Pros:

• Perfect for those who want instruction in a read-only format

• Lots of other great writing resources in the guide

• No nonsense and straightforward

Cons:

• Certificates not offered

Frequently Asked Questions About Free Resume Writing Courses

If you are new to the world of online learning, you’re in luck. We’ve got the scoop on how online courses work right here. You probably have a lot of questions, but in this next section, we will attempt to answer the most common ones and get you set up to learn something new and exciting right away.

Who Should Take Free Resume Courses?

Whether you are a student or you’re part of the workforce, nearly everyone can benefit from having a resume. For some people, creating a resume is a simple process. But the majority of individuals find themselves with writer’s block when it comes down to actually creating the document. If any of the following situations apply to you, then you will most likely benefit from taking a free resume writing course:

• You are a recent high school or college grad just entering the workforce and you have never created a resume.

• You are looking for a new job with better benefits and a higher salary.

• You’ve created a resume in the past but it was years ago and you need to update your skills.

• You’ve been out of the workforce for some time and you don’t know how to frame the gaps in employment.

• You need to create and send a digital resume but you don’t know how.

• You are a student trying to get an internship.

• You are a high school student entering college.

• You are a college student trying to get into grad school.

What Are the Requirements and Prerequisites?

If you want to take a free online resume course, there are no restrictions. As long as the learning platform you choose is available in your country (most are) you can start taking classes immediately. The only thing you will need is a computer or tablet, an internet connection, and some basic computer skills.

How Long Do Free Online Courses in Resume Creation Take?

All of the free resume courses on our list can be taken at your own pace, and completion times vary. In general, the courses take two to 15 hours, depending upon how involved they are. You can fit them into your own schedule and work them around prior commitments to complete them faster or slower than the suggested time frames listed.

Are The Courses Graded?

A couple of the courses on our list have a final exam and obtaining a certificate will depend upon a passing grade. The majority of online courses, however, are not graded, especially when they are taken for free in read-only or audit mode. If you want to measure your progress, you will often find auto-graded quizzes and exercises as part of the curriculum.

The Course I Want to Take Says It’s Free. Why Does It Look Like There Is a Fee Involved?

In some cases, learning platforms offer upgrades that give users access to other features such as certification, graded components, class projects, or one-on-one communication with an instructor. Please note that these paywalls can be circumvented by taking classes in audit mode only.

A few of the listed courses are on platforms where a free trial membership is offered. While the membership will almost always give you adequate time to complete the free course, you will want to keep track of the dates and cancel before the trial is up to avoid being charged. You may find you enjoy a platform so well that you want to keep your monthly membership, but this is not a requirement.

If you find a class you want to take and you really need certification, you should check with the website to see if there are any scholarships or financial aid available. Many platforms offer this type of assistance. You may also want to speak with your employer to see if your company offers an educational benefit you can use to further your skills.

Are Free Resume Courses Worth It?

Absolutely! A resume is one of the only tools at your disposal that can set you apart from other applicants, and it is the primary document you will need when applying for a new position. In recent years, best practices for creating resumes has changed, and staying abreast of new formats and styles is vital if you want to remain relevant in the rapidly-changing employment landscape. If you have a few hours to spare, you can take your current resume and make it eye-popping or create a brand new resume that could open up doors of opportunity you could never imagine.

OCR Staff August 2020