We’re hearing this question more and more in IT outsourcing: ‘Can I just send a link to my LinkedIn profile, or do I still need a traditional CV?’ The Titans answer is: ‘Be prepared and have both.’ Although a quality LinkedIn profile is all you need for many freelance IT positions, a good CV is still generally the basis for getting a project or job you want. Although TITANS receives the CVs when they’re finished, we like to look for ways to make your job of creating them easier. We put our recruiter heads together and combined our experience with artificial intelligence. The result is a selection of 5 handy online tools for creating CVs with their advantages and disadvantages.  

Why isn’t LinkedIn enough for every company? Although it offers a comprehensive view of the candidate, it can be difficult to use for a systematic evaluation. Whether it’s a short-term IT project or full-time job, a classic CV allows HR to easily find key information and better compare applicants. But most importantly, you can put more specific information about your past jobs on your CV that you may not want to present publicly on the network for many reasons. In addition, many companies still have internal processes in place that require traditional documents, and a CV is a must-have in the selection process.

So which online tools can help you create a CV that will leave an impression and set you apart from the crowd?

Zety

Zety is great if you don’t have much experience and you’re looking for a step-by-step guide. It allows you to create a CV with minimal effort that provides a decent representation of you; it’s without dazzling effects, but it’s professional and clear.

Advantages:

• A step-by-step guide through the whole CV creation process
• Automatic formatting
• Highly variable templates

Disadvantages

• Limited number of free templates
• Most quality templates are only available for paying users
• You need to sign up to download the CV

A hack you should definitely try:
Zety does have one specialty: it works with keywords. Depending on the position you are applying for, it will suggest words to add to your CV and the appropriate sections. We tested it for the position of IT team leader, and the tool advised us to remember leadership, project management, technical skills, communication, problem solving and reporting, and the specific sections where we should put these expressions. This will help you better impress living recruiters, who will often quickly ‘scan’ the CV in the first step you, and it will also help you pass the ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems), which many large companies use.

Resume.com

Resume.com is the perfect choice for you if you are looking for a free CV builder with a simple interface and the ability to export to various formats. It will quickly create a basic CV free of charge.

Advantages:

• Completely free with no hidden charges
• Simple interface
• Option to export to various formats, including PDF and Word

Disadvantages

• Less professional designs
• Some templates may appear out of date
• Lower flexibility in editing the designs

A hack you should definitely try:

This tool can instantly edit your CV. As you type, it suggests improvements to make your experience and skills easier to read for HR people.

VisualCV

If you want to create a modern looking CV, VisualCV is the right place. This is a perfect tool for professionals who want to present their experience in an innovative way.

Advantages:

• Interactive templates
• Clear statistics – track how many times your CV has been opened and viewed
• The option to import information from social networks – e.g. LinkedIn

Disadvantages

• Higher price – the full version with advanced features is quite expensive
• The more complex interface may be difficult for beginners to use

Hacks you should definitely try:
You can create your own URL here to save your CV, e.g. visualcv.com/yourname. This looks professional and the link is easy to share. And even better – VisualCV offers a ‘timeline’ feature to chart your career path. A picture often says more and faster than a thousand words.

CV generated directly from LinkedIn

You can take this approach if you want to quickly create a CV without manually entering information and if you have a well-maintained LinkedIn profile. However, don’t forget to review the generated CV carefully and, if necessary, edit it to make sure it only contains the information you wanted to transfer from LinkedIn.

Advantages:

• Speed and simplicity – automatic CV generation from a LinkedIn profile saves time and eliminates the need for manual data entry.
• Real-time updates – when you edit your LinkedIn profile, the changes will immediately show up in your CV.
• Format standardisation – a CV generated directly from LinkedIn has a uniform and professional look, making it easy for recruiters to read and compare.

Disadvantages

• Limited customisation options – less flexible options for editing design and content compared to tools designed specifically for CV creation.
• Dependence on LinkedIn – the quality and accuracy of your CV is directly dependent on the completeness and correctness of the information in your LinkedIn profile.
• Possible issues with formatting – automatically generated CVs may have formatting issues that will have to be edited later.

A hack you should definitely try:

In a ‘LinkedIn’ CV, you can make the most of all the useful things that LinkedIn offers. You can embed links to projects, multimedia content, recommendations from colleagues… Because this generated CV has a standardised format, you don’t have to worry about your own design and editing, so you can spend more time on the details in descriptions.

Canva

Canva is mostly known as a handy graphic design tool, but it’s also a great choice when you want to easily create an attractive and professional-looking CV with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It offers a wide range of templates, and you can integrate your own graphics and other elements.

Advantages:

• Easy to use
• An intuitive drag-and-drop interface that is perfect for beginners
• Wide selection of templates

Disadvantages

• Time consuming editing – especially for beginners
• Some templates and graphics are paid

Hacks you should definitely try:
Take full advantage of Canva’s graphic options. Infographics, icons… there are hundreds of options and your CV is guaranteed to stand out among others. How about a creative collage of your skills and abilities? And you don’t have to be afraid of dynamic elements – animations and videos. Canva is keen on these and can help you with them.

It’s best to have both

Do you want to be well prepared for an offer that may come tomorrow? Invest time in maintaining your LinkedIn profile and professional CV. This offers several advantages. LinkedIn allows you to instantly share your professional history and network, and you’ll will be asked for a CV anyway when applying for a specific IT project or full-time job . Your CV can be your strongest weapon in competition with others. And if you also have a quality, professional and up-to-date LinkedIn profile, HR people will immediately see you as a contender – a professional who makes their selection for an interview significantly easier.  

And the final piece of good news? As a contractor of TITANS, you will always have the support of our recruiters and the option to consult them in the creation of your CV. We will fine-tune your CV together to make it grab the attention of a specific client and help you prepare for the interview. Choose from our current offer of freelance IT projects or full-time jobs and we can get down to business!