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How to use the Layout functionality (1.0)

Find out how to easily define how the different sections of your resume are organized and add/remove extra sections.

Andrei Kurtuy avatar
Written by Andrei Kurtuy
Updated this week

The Layout Tool is found on the top menu of the resume builder. This tool allows you to easily define how the different sections of your resume are organized and which content elements to include or exclude.

The first option is selecting the Experience Level from the drop-down menu. This gives you five choices:

  • Student/Just starting out

  • Graduate/Some experience

  • Intermediate/1-5 years of experience

  • Senior/5+ years of experience

  • Freelance/Any experience

By choosing the Experience Level corresponding to your background, your resume will be set to a preset length and with recommended sections.

The Format menu also allows you to quickly choose whether you want your resume sized for US Letter Format (ideal for applications in the US).

You can also select if you wish to include a title, summary and photo on your resume from the Layout menu.

Predefined Layout (Free)

By selecting the Experience Level that corresponds to your background, your resume will be formatted with a default set of sections. You can always choose an experience level that best suits you in terms of the sections available. Please note that all Predefined (default) layout options are included in our Basic (Free) plan.

For example, a Student resume layout will place the Education section first, and it will be set at one page length because students have less experience they need to highlight.

You will note that some sections have an asterisk; this indicates that they are mandatory, as they are the minimum requirements expected from recruiters. Other sections can be removed or added back. From the Predefined selection, you can add or remove sections by hovering over them.

Or to add back:

To conclude, regarding the Predefined Layout option, you will be given a series of layouts corresponding to the Experience Level you select under Preferences and Experience Level. This is ideal for those who want to eliminate the guesswork of determining which resume sections to include.

Custom Layout (Premium)

The Custom option is available on Premium accounts. This feature gives you total control over which resume sections to include and where they are placed. You can also decide whether you want your resume to be organised in one column or two.

Note that when you are a Premium user, the default setting is with "Single Column Document" active.

Creating a custom layout involves simply dragging and dropping sections from the right side of the screen into the desired position within the layout on the left. This can also be done without the "Single Column Document" option.

The Custom Layout unlocks all our sections, providing access to 18 sections that are structured and professionally designed.

Note that you can repurpose a section as all fields can be edited; this gives you extra customisation freedom.

It’s important to remember that removing a section from your resume using the Custom Layout tool will not mean you lose the content you’ve already written. For example, if you wrote a list of References on a previous resume version but decide a new version won’t include a Reference section, drag this section off your layout. Your written content is saved if you want to re-insert this section later.

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