Resume Genius Review [Templates + Customer Reviews]

Is Resume Genius a smart choice for job seekers looking to create a resume? Only one way to find out—a Resume Genius review that doesn’t hold back.

Cory Streiff

Career Expert

Updated 09/28/2020

“Getting started is the hardest part” can be true for many things—resumes included. And the sooner your resume is ready, the sooner you can start applying for jobs.

But for many, a more accurate saying would be: “Formatting a resume is the most frustrating part.”

Fortunately, that’s what resume builders are for. They take care of the appearance and formatting, you just have to provide the content.

But with your dream career potentially on the line, it’s worth making sure you haven’t chosen the wrong tool for the job.

Let’s run Resume Genius around the block and see if it can keep up.

This guide will show you:

customer reviews of Resume Genius
a Resume Genius review (including templates)
a list of free Resume Genius resume templates

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.

Sample resume made with our builder—See more templates and create your resume here.

Interested in other resume builders? Check out:

Let’s get started by checking out the templates you’ll find on Resume Genius!

1. Customer Reviews of Resume Genius

Resume Genius’ resume builder lets you input your work history and other personal information, and returns you with a formatted resume in one of 17 different custom templates.

Let’s see whether customers come away satisfied after using Resume Genius.

On Trustpilot, Resume Genius has 4.8 out of 5 stars with over 12,000 reviews. Only 2% of their reviews are one-star reviews, with 84% being excellent.

On Site Jabber, Resume Genius has 4.4 stars out of 5 with more than 25,000 reviews recorded. Just over 4% of their reviewers gave one star, and the vast majority gave four or five stars.

On Google, Resume Genius has earned an overall rating of 4.8 from 14,000 reviews.

Overall, the reviews for Resume Genius seem quite positive. Let’s dig deeper.

2. Does Resume Genius Deliver?

Here’s how the Resume Genius builder works. You’re asked to fill in information on your education, work experience, skills, contact information, and certifications. And then out comes your resume, pre-formatted and ready to download (after you pay).

Everest Resume Template from Resume Genius

The tool can definitely save you time that would otherwise be spent looking for templates and making sure all the formatting looks just right. But there are some drawbacks to Resume Genius:

1. Few Options for Customization

Every job seeker has a different background, so it’s important that resume builders can accommodate job seekers who are at different points in their careers.

Unfortunately, Resume Genius could do better in terms of customization. You’re not allowed to create your own resume section, so you’re stuck with the defaults (objective, education, experience, licenses/certifications, skills, and contact information). So if you wanted to make an awards and achievements section or a hobbies and interests section, you’d be out of luck.

Similarly, the resume layout of the templates is fixed, meaning you won’t be able to move sections around to highlight your best attributes. You also can’t change the resume font.

2. Payment Details Are Confusing

One common complaint found in Resume Genius reviews is that customers weren’t aware that the builder costs money until they wanted to download their resume. The reason for the confusion is that Resume Genius says you can download your resume for free, but the fine print is that you can only download it in a .txt format (not Word or PDF). Which is a problem, seeing as PDF is the standard format to submit.

In order to get your resume in Word or PDF format, you’ll have to pay the following:

$1.95 for a 14-day trial—and then $39.95 per month
$7.95 per month if you pay upfront for a year ($95.40)

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.

Create my resume now

When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

3. Review of Resume Genius Templates

Recruiters seem to be in a rush. They only spend 7 seconds on average scanning each resume (according to HR statistics). That means your resume needs to catch their eye and then pull them in.

Templates play a big role in formatting your resume so that you can fit everything on one page and keep the content readable.

Milano Resume Template from Resume Genius

As you can see, Resume Genius does have professional resume templates that will get the job done. But at the end of the day, the lack of customization means they won’t suit every candidate.

4. Free Resume Templates from Resume Genius

Resume Genius does offer some MS Word templates available for free. Just keep in mind you won’t be able to use their builder to fill them in. Let’s take a look.

1. Unique Resume Template from Resume Genius

This two column resume template has all the sections needed to become a great resume. One note though—for most professions it’s better to leave off your social media handles. If you are applying for a position related to social media, remember to check your online presence beforehand.