- What is an ATS, and do your resumes work with it?
- An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software that automatically scans and sorts job applications. Many large employers use it, and in the United States it's almost always the first step. This kind of system doesn't read formatting, only text, and gets confused by columns, sidebars, and a name placed in a colored bar. That's why we tested our templates ourselves: we turn them into a PDF and read them back the way an ATS does. The templates that come out well, 15 out of 38, carry the label ATS-friendly. You can filter for this on the templates page.
- What tools are available, and what do they do?
- Four. Two of them create a resume: with Upload your resume you have your existing resume read and reformatted, and with Build your resume you fill one in yourself in four steps. There's also Write your cover letter, which writes a letter that matches your resume and the job posting, or reviews a letter you already have. And Negotiate your salary shows you whether there's room to negotiate your salary, and how to approach it. You don't need to choose anything in advance: each tool works independently and you pay per result.
- How do I create a resume with your tool?
- If you already have a resume, choose Upload your resume: you upload your file, we read it, and prepare your information. If you don't have one yet, choose Build your resume and fill in your personal details, work experience, education, and skills in four steps. Then you pick one of the 38 templates and your resume appears fully formatted on your screen right away. From there you can still adjust everything: text, font, colors, and the alignment of each section. You only pay when you want to download. You'll then get one file with your resume as both a PDF and a Word document.
- How does the cover letter tool work?
- It can do two things. Write a new letter: you enter the job posting, choose the tone, and can add extra requests, for example that you want your team leadership experience highlighted, or that you're available starting October 1. If you've just created a resume on this site, the tool uses that resume and you don't need to upload anything. Or review an existing letter: you paste your text and get feedback on grammar, spelling, coherence, and tone, plus an improved version. In both cases you see the result on your screen first and can edit it; you only pay to download it.
- How does the salary negotiation tool work?
- You provide your resume and the job posting, the country where the job is located, and your own bottom line: the amount below which you'll say no, what your alternative is, and what matters more to you than money. You get advice with a cheat sheet for right before the conversation, an indication of what the market pays, what speaks for and against you, and answers to objections like "that's above our budget" or "we want to see what you can do first." It also includes a draft counteroffer email. This tool works differently from the others: you pay upfront, because creating the advice is the service itself. There's no separate download step.
- Is this a subscription?
- No. You pay once for what you order. There is no recurring payment and no automatic renewal. That's also stated in our terms and conditions, so we can't quietly go back on it.
- How does CV-Refresher differ from Zety, Resume Genius, and Resume.io?
- At Zety, Resume Genius, and Resume.io, a low trial price automatically turns into a recurring subscription if you don't cancel in time. With us, you pay once for what you order: no subscription, nothing to cancel. You create your resume and a matching cover letter here, and you get salary advice, all in one place. You see your resume and letter in full on your screen first, and you only pay to download them.
- Do I need to create an account?
- No. There's no registration and no password. After you place your order, you get a personal link to access your credits.
- Can I preview my resume or cover letter before I pay?
- Yes, with the resume tool and cover letter tool, you can see the full, formatted result on your screen for free and edit it right away. You only pay to download it. With the free resume builder, you get one basic resume as a PDF at no cost; extra options for color, a photo, and other templates are paid features. The salary negotiation tool works differently: we generate the advice right after payment, since creating the advice itself is the paid service. There's no separate download step.
- What exactly do I get for free?
- You get one free basic resume: fill in your information, see the result on your screen, and download it as a PDF, no account and no trial period required. It uses one template, Sleek Mono, without color and without a photo. Extra options for color, a photo, and the other 37 templates are paid features, just like the Word file. There's a limit per hour and per day; once you reach it, you can try again the next day.
- How do I access my credits later?
- Via the link in your order email. That link and your credits are valid for 90 days; the expiration date is in that email and on your credit page itself. After that, the credit expires and nothing is automatically renewed or charged.
- What if I lost the email?
- Enter your email address on the Find Order page, and we'll resend the link. If that doesn't work, email support@cv-refresher.com.
- I created and paid for my resume or letter, but I never got a download. What now?
- Your credit isn't used until a download actually succeeds, so a failed attempt costs you nothing: it's still available to you. First look for the order email with your personal link, including your spam folder. If you can't find it, enter your email address on the Find your order page; we'll resend the link. That link takes you straight back into the tool, with your credit intact. If you already closed the tab, your resume or letter will no longer be in your browser, so you'll need to fill it in again. Your credit stays valid for 90 days. If it still doesn't work after that, contact our support team at support@cv-refresher.com, preferably from the email address you used to pay. We'll take a look and find a suitable solution.
- What if the result isn't right?
- The tool rewrites what you provide and doesn't make anything up, but automatically generated text can contain errors. So always check the dates and employers yourself. If the output demonstrably doesn't match your upload, we'll refund you or redo it.
- What happens to my resume data?
- Your upload is deleted as soon as your document is ready, and whatever you enter in the tool stays in your browser session. We don't keep a copy and we don't use your data to train models.