Writing your first resume – Page 3

Yes. Creating, editing and previewing a resume on ResumeBuilder.ae is free and does not need an account, and every template is free to use.

You also get, at no cost:

• The ATS-readiness check, an internal score out of 100 for structure and completeness.
• A comparison against a job description you paste in.
• Saving up to 10 resumes.
• A matching cover letter.

The only charge is US$1.00 if you want to download a PDF, paid once through Stripe Checkout with no subscription. After paying, you can download again for 7 days, up to 10 attempts, including after edits. You could start with the student or fresh graduate starter.

Keep a backup or log in, because a guest resume is saved in the browser you used. If you clear your site data or switch to another device, you can lose access.

On ResumeBuilder.ae you can protect your work by:

• Logging in, so your resumes are linked to your account.
• Using "Download all my resumes (JSON)" in the My resumes tab to keep a backup file.
• Continuing to use the same browser and device while you work as a guest.

It is also wise to keep your own notes of your content in a separate document, so nothing is lost if you change devices.

Yes, you can usually reuse it. On ResumeBuilder.ae you can import an existing resume in PDF or Word (.docx) format, up to 5 MB, and it is read in your browser rather than uploaded.

After importing:

• Check each section carefully, since imported text can land in the wrong place.
• Update old details, such as school year, contact information and activities.
• Remove content that is now too young for your target jobs.

Password-protected files cannot be imported, and scanned image-only PDFs have no text to read. In that case, copy and paste the text, or retype the parts you want.

Keep your sentences short and use common, direct verbs. Resumes use a simple style, which actually helps when English is not your first language.

Practical tips:

• Start bullets with a past-tense verb: "Organised", "Built", "Prepared".
• Avoid long sentences with many clauses.
• Use words you understand fully, so you can explain them in an interview.
• Check grammar with a tool, then ask a fluent speaker to read it.
• Compare your phrasing with good example resumes in your field.

Do not worry about sounding fancy. Clear and correct is better than complicated. Being multilingual is a strength, so list your languages honestly in a languages section.

English is the most common choice for UAE job applications, especially in private companies and multinational firms. Use Arabic if the advert is in Arabic, if the employer asks for it, or for roles where Arabic is central.

Some applicants prepare both an English and an Arabic version. If you do this, keep the content identical and check the Arabic version carefully, including dates and names.

ResumeBuilder.ae can produce resumes in English and in Arabic (laid out right to left), along with French, Spanish, German, Hindi and Malayalam. You choose the resume language on the Design tab.

Read the advert carefully, list what it asks for, and then show evidence for each point in your resume. This is how you turn a general resume into a targeted one.

Step by step:

• Highlight the skills, tools and qualities in the advert.
• For each one, find a matching example from your studies, projects or activities.
• Mention the role or field in your profile line.
• Move the most relevant items higher in each section.
• Use the advert's wording where it accurately describes what you did.

Example: if the advert asks for "experience with Excel", a bullet like "Built an Excel tracker for a class survey of 120 responses" gives proof, not just a claim.

Do not add skills you do not have just because the advert lists them. If you meet most requirements, apply anyway and let your strongest matches lead.

Yes, include dates for education, jobs, internships, volunteering and significant projects. Dates help employers understand your timeline and what is current.

Month and year is the common format, for example "Jun 2025 – Aug 2025". For very short activities, a single date or month can work, such as "Mar 2025". For school or degree studies, years alone are often enough: "2022 – 2026".

Skills and languages do not need dates. For certifications, include the month and year you earned them. Use the same format throughout the resume.

Use "Present" or "Current" as the end date, and write the bullets in present tense. This tells the employer the activity is ongoing.

Example:
"Peer Mentor, Student Success Centre | Sep 2025 – Present

• Mentor six first-year students each semester on study planning."

For a degree you have not finished, use the expected end date instead, such as "Expected Jun 2027". Check your resume before each application, because "Present" must still be true. If you finished something last month, change the date and tense.

Describe simple tasks clearly and add context about scale, accuracy or who relied on you. Small tasks done well still show reliability and skill.

Compare:

• Weak: "Did filing."
• Better: "Organised and filed over 500 client records, keeping the archive up to date for a team of eight."

• Weak: "Answered phones."
• Better: "Answered and directed customer calls during busy Ramadan opening hours."

Do not exaggerate. Adding detail about volume, deadlines, tools used or how your work helped others makes the task real without overstating it.

Avoid vague claims that every applicant uses and that you do not prove. They take up space without telling the employer anything.

Common ones to cut or replace:

• "Hard-working", "passionate", "motivated", "team player".
• "Responsible for" and "Helped with" at the start of bullets.
• "Various tasks" or "etc.".
• "Expert" or "fluent" for skills you have only started learning.
• Slang, text abbreviations and emojis.

Replace claims with evidence. Instead of "Good team player", write "Worked with three classmates to deliver a market research report, presented to a panel of lecturers." The example shows the quality without stating it.

Use well-known abbreviations, but write out anything the reader might not recognise, at least the first time. Clear wording helps both people and software.

Generally fine: BSc, MBA, GPA, IT, CEO, UK, UAE.

Write out first: course codes, club names, local schemes and technical terms. Example: "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) student branch".

Avoid shortening ordinary words, such as "mgmt" or "dept". For important skills, consider using both forms, such as "Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)", so the term can be found however someone searches for it.

A master resume is a longer private document that lists everything you have done, with full details. You do not send it; you copy from it to create shorter, tailored versions.

It is especially useful for students, because activities happen quickly and are easy to forget. Include:

• Every project, job, role and course, with dates.
• Numbers, results and feedback you received.
• Different versions of bullets for different types of job.

When you apply, pick the most relevant items and edit them down to one page. Update the master after every term or new activity.

Bring more copies than the number of employers you plan to visit, so you can give extras to people you meet unexpectedly. Keep them flat and clean in a folder.

Tips for printed resumes:

• Print on plain white or off-white paper.
• Check the printed version for layout problems, as colours and spacing can change.
• Prepare a slightly different version if you are targeting very different fields.
• Bring a pen and something to write notes on after each conversation.

Many employers will still ask you to apply online afterwards, so have the PDF ready to upload too.

Include it if the job involves driving or travel, or if it is useful in the country you are applying to. In the UAE and wider Gulf, many employers like to know whether you have a local driving licence.

Example: "Driving licence: UAE (light vehicle)".

For office or campus roles where driving is not needed, it is optional. If you hold a licence from another country, say which country, because it may not be valid locally. Do not claim a licence you are still learning for; you can mention "Learner, test booked" only if that is accurate and relevant.

Mention your availability in your profile line or cover letter, especially for internships, summer jobs or roles that start after graduation.

Examples:

• "Available for a full-time summer internship from June to August 2026."
• "Graduating in May 2027; available to start full-time from June 2027."

Be accurate about exam dates, travel plans or study commitments. If you can only work certain days during term, say so in the cover letter or application form rather than on the resume itself. Clear availability helps employers plan and avoids misunderstandings later.

Write facts, not praise. You do not have to call yourself brilliant; you only need to describe what you did and what happened as a result.

Try this approach:

• Write down what you did in plain words.
• Add what changed because of it, or who it helped.
• Remove adjectives about yourself.

Example: "Created a shared revision timetable for a study group of six; all members passed the module." This states facts and lets the reader draw the conclusion. Many people find this honest style easier, and employers often trust it more than self-praise.

Include them only if they are professional and relevant to the job, such as a design portfolio on Behance, a coding profile on GitHub, or a well-run account for a marketing role. Personal Instagram, TikTok or Snapchat accounts are usually best left off.

Before adding any link:

• Check what an employer would see, including old posts.
• Make sure it supports the role you are applying for.
• Use a short, clean link rather than a long one.

Even if you do not list your accounts, some employers may search for you online, so it is wise to check your privacy settings on personal profiles.

It is ready when it is accurate, error-free, easy to scan, and clearly linked to the type of job you want. It does not need to be perfect.

Final checklist:

• Contact details are correct and links work.
• No spelling mistakes, placeholders or leftover sample text.
• Each bullet starts with a verb and is specific.
• The most relevant items are near the top.
• It fits on one page and opens correctly as a PDF.
• Someone else has read it.

ResumeBuilder.ae shows a checklist before payment that flags missing contact details, leftover sample text and [bracketed] prompts. After that, send it; you will improve it with every application.