Frequently asked questions

What is an ATS, and do your CVs work with it?

An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software that automatically reads and sorts job applications. Many large employers use it, and in the United States it's the first step almost everywhere. This kind of system doesn't read formatting, only text, and gets confused by columns, sidebars and a name placed in a coloured bar. That's why we've tested our templates ourselves: we turn them into a PDF and read it back the way an ATS would. The templates that come out well, 15 of 38, carry the ATS-friendly label. You can filter for this on the templates page.

What tools are there, and what do they do?

Four. Two of them create a CV: with Upload your CV you have your existing CV read and reformatted, and with Build your CV you fill one in yourself in four steps. There's also Write your cover letter, which writes a letter tailored to your CV and the vacancy, or checks a letter you've already written. And Negotiate your salary shows whether there's room to negotiate your salary, and how to go about it. You don't need to choose anything in advance: each tool works independently and you pay per result.

How do I create a CV with your tool?

If you already have a CV, choose Upload your CV: you upload your file, we read it and prepare your details. If you don't have one yet, choose Build your CV and fill in your personal details, work experience, education and skills in four steps. Then you choose one of the 38 templates and your CV appears fully formatted on your screen straight away. From there, you can still adjust everything: text, font, colours and the alignment of each section. You only pay when you want to download it. You then receive one file containing your CV 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 provide the job advert, choose the tone and can add extra wishes, for example that you'd like your team leadership experience highlighted, or that you're available from 1 October. If you've just created a CV on this site, the tool uses that CV so you don't need to upload anything. Or check an existing letter: you paste in your text and receive feedback on grammar, spelling, coherence and tone, plus an improved version. In both cases, you see the result on your screen first and can adjust it; you only pay to download it.

How does the salary negotiation tool work?

You provide your CV and the job advert, the country where the job is based, and your own bottom line: the amount below which you'd say no, what your alternative is, and what matters more to you than money. You receive advice including a cheat sheet for just before the conversation, an indication of what the market pays, what speaks for and against you, and answers to objections such as “that's above our budget” or “we want to see what you can do first”. It also includes a draft counter-offer by email. This tool works differently from the others: you pay upfront, because drawing up the advice is the service itself. There's no separate download stage.

Is there a subscription?

No. You pay once for what you order. There's no recurring payment and no silent renewal. That's also set out in our terms and conditions, so we can't quietly go back on it.

How does CV-Refresher differ from Resume.io, LiveCareer and MyPerfectCV?

With Resume.io, LiveCareer and MyPerfectCV, a low trial price automatically rolls over 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. Here, you create your CV and a matching cover letter, and you get salary advice, all in one place. You see your CV and letter in full on your screen first, and you only pay to download them.

Do I need an account?

No. There is no registration and no password. After ordering you get a personal link that takes you to your credits.

Can I see my CV or cover letter before I pay?

Yes, with the CV tool and the cover letter you see the full, formatted result on your screen for free and can adjust it straight away. You only pay to download it. With the free CV maker you get one basic CV as a PDF without paying anything; extra options for colour, photo and other templates cost money. The salary negotiation tool works differently: there, we generate the advice immediately after payment, because drawing up the advice itself is the paid service. There is no separate download step.

What exactly do I get for free?

You get one free basic CV: you fill in your details, see the result on your screen and download it as a PDF, with no account and no trial period needed. It uses one template, Sleek Mono, without colour and without a photo. Extra options for colour, a photo and the other 37 templates cost money, as does the Word file. There is a limit per hour and per day; once that's reached, you can try again the next day.

How do I get back to my credit later?

Via the link in your order email. That link and your credits are valid for 90 days; the expiry date is shown in that email and on your credits 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 your order page and we resend the link. If that fails, email support@cv-refresher.com.

I created and paid for my CV or letter, but I never got a download. What now?

Your credit is only deducted once a download has actually succeeded, so a failed attempt costs you nothing: it's still waiting for you. First look for the order email with your personal link, including in your spam folder. If you can't find it, enter your email address on the Find my order page; we'll send the link again. That link takes you straight back into the tool, with your credit still there. If you'd already closed the tab, your CV or letter will no longer be in your browser and you'll need to fill it in again. Your credit remains valid for 90 days. If it still doesn't work after that, please contact our support team at support@cv-refresher.com, preferably from the address you paid with. We'll then take a look and find a suitable solution.

What if the result is wrong?

The tool rewrites what you provide and doesn't make anything up, but automatically generated text can contain errors. 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 CV data?

Your upload is deleted as soon as your document is ready, and what you type into the tool stays in your browser session. We keep no copy and do not use your data to train models.

Question not listed? Get in touch.