There are two types of resume builder software: downloadable and web-based. The older, downloadable programs usually come with more robust tool sets but have out-of-date interfaces that aren’t always easy to navigate. On the other hand, the web-based versions are attractive and easy to use but not as feature rich. While there is some trade-off, online builders are typically the most useful because of how much we rely on the cloud nowadays. Like our best overall pick, LiveCareer, Novorésumé is a web-based application.
However, Novorésumé tries to combine the best of both worlds and ends up missing the mark. Its interface is more cluttered and more difficult to navigate than those of the best online resume writing software, and it’s still not as feature rich as some of the downloadable programs we reviewed. It’s functional, and we didn’t encounter problems as we used it. But ultimately, there are better value options out there.
Novorésumé’s interface is darker than most, which makes the workspace a bit gloomy. Also, there are only eight templates to choose from. That isn’t necessarily a deal breaker because most resumes are formatted similarly, but it would be useful to have more templates, including industry-specific templates like you find in ResumeMaker Professional 20.
Novorésumé has only 12 fonts options, and you can adjust text to only three sizes: small, medium and large. We preferred systems with slider scales or numerical point sizes because they give you more options. The program includes about 32 color choices, which is far fewer than the more than 400 included in Zety, another web-based service. Also, while you can add and adjust section headings with Novorésumé, you can’t customize the margins – something you can do in other resume builders. The software’s tools are largely drag and drop, and there are helpful videos explaining what you should do with each section.
Like most web-based programs, Novorésumé can create a URL link to your resume. However, it doesn’t connect to social media platforms like others do. In addition, you can only download a PDF of your finished resume – the best builders allow you to download your document in a variety of file formats so you can edit it in a word processor or format plain text as you’d like.
One of Novorésumé’s most helpful features is its global archive, which functions much like the auto-input wizards in other programs. It can save sections of your work to drag and drop into different spots or new templates, so it’s easy to modify your resume according the job you’re applying for.
Novorésumé allows you to create one resume for free, but its monthly subscription cost is a little higher than the fees charged by many of the other services we tested. Rather than offering a variety of plans with different tiers of features, Novorésumé only has one that costs $16 a month. However, it costs less if you pay upfront for three or six months of service.
Even though they don’t have as many features, we generally preferred the simplicity of the online resume builders we tested. However, Novorésumé had both limited features and a less-than-intuitive interface. While the program certainly has its benefits, there are better resume builders out there.
