Create an Online Resume With WordPress

Providing a downloadable version of your CV or resume is a standard way to get your information out there. However, it is a pretty static option. Consequently, you may be wondering how to present your resume information online in a dynamic way using WordPress. 

Fortunately, WordPress’s user-friendly interface and the wide variety of available themes make it a quick and easy method for getting your work experience out there in an eye-catching way. When you choose WordPress as your platform, you also gain flexibility and the ability to change and update information fast.

In this article, we’ll look at how to build a resume or CV in WordPress. We’ll outline some of the benefits of using WordPress, and explain how to choose the plugins and themes that are right for you. Then we’ll walk through some simple steps to help you put your resume online. Let’s get started!

How to Build a Resume in WordPress

Building a resume or CV in WordPress can be a quick and easy solution if you need to get your work experience and availability online fast. WordPress is a free content management platform with many options in terms of price, hosting, and functionality.

With that in mind, to get started on your WordPress resume website you’ll need just a few things, including: 

• Reliable hosting: A slow website doesn’t attract many visitors, so you’ll want to make sure your web host is secure and reliable. 
• Resume content: It’s best to have your content ready to drop into WordPress once you get set up with a host. 
• Functional themes: WordPress’ theme directory is stuffed with beautiful themes that can help you make a splash, and show off your resume to potential employers or clients. 
• Helpful plugins: While there are not many resume-specific plugins to choose from, we’ll go over the ones you don’t want to miss as they can add elegant functionality to your site. 

Getting your resume or CV online doesn’t have to be a hassle, especially when you use WordPress. Adding plugins and beautiful themes to the mix can also set you apart from your competitors.

Benefits of an Online Resume in WordPress

WordPress is a dominant force when compared to other Content Management Systems (CMSs). Its extensive directories of free and premium plugins and themes are just some of the many benefits that will help with building your CV or resume. 

Another advantage of using WordPress for your online resume is that it is primed and ready for Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This makes it much more feasible for you to get your resume to the top of the heap in online searches.

If you’re interested in taking the design of your WordPress resume a step beyond the standard page and post layouts that are available, you’ll likely want to check out the many available page builders. These plugins give you the ultimate flexibility when laying out your resume. 

Choosing the Right Themes and Plugins

WordPress themes come in as many unique styles and designs as there are career fields. Deciding which theme is best for your specific resume or professional area might take some consideration, and time spent trying out various options. 

No two themes are created equal, of course. Some are built with media elements in mind, while others are focused on text displays. Consequently, you can search the WordPress Theme Directory using keywords that represent how you want your resume to appear online:

One thing to consider is whether you’ll need to display different types of media. Will you want to include videos, a podcast, or a photo gallery to display your work or demonstrate your relevance in the field? You can then search the plugin directory for tools that can help enhance your media elements. 

The Best WordPress Themes and Plugins for Building a Resume

As we mentioned earlier, there are plenty of useful themes and plugins you can use to improve your resume site. One free plugin worth investigating is Resume Builder:

The Resume Builder plugin brings drag-and-drop functionality to your resume content. This enables you to turn your resume components into dynamic blocks. You can even create multiple resumes, and display a list of your skills in a visually-stunning way. 

In terms of resume themes, Zita is Gutenberg-ready, mobile-responsive, fully-optimized, and SEO-ready. Additionally, this theme comes with many pre-made website templates that can be installed in one click, so you can be up and running fast:

Zita also comes ready for use with your favorite page builders. Plus, there are many layouts available for customizing the footer and header sections of your website.

Another option to check out is the Experon theme. This is a modern and minimalistic approach to an online resume, which comes with some engaging features. It offers ten custom widgets, and lots of social media icons for easy linking to all your accounts:

The Experon theme also comes with regular updates, so you know your resume website will both look good and run smoothly. You can feature your most important work or information in the Experon feature slider, with confidence that the theme will respond and adapt to multiple devices. 

Building Your Resume (In 4 Steps)

Now that you have the foundation for your online resume, what about its actual content? Here are four quick steps you might want to consider as you prepare to build your WordPress resume website. 

1. Write Your Resume Content

If you already have a resume ready to go, that’s a great leap forward. If not, you might need some help getting it all down on paper. Once you’ve created it, saving a downloadable version of your resume to have at the ready is always a good idea:

You can either include this file as an option on your website, or have it on hand to email or upload if needed. Regardless of the way you present your resume, you might benefit from reviewing some advice from the pros before posting it online. 

2. Add Images or Media

Depending on what field you’re in or hoping to gain employment with, you might need to include videos, images, or audio files. While it’s not always recommended that you include a photo of yourself in your online resume, there might be other media items you want to include.

If you are in a media-rich field, like photography, videography, journalism, or the arts, you might want to explore WordPress’ portfolio plugins. These tools bring you lots of options for displaying media-heavy content on your resume website. 

3. Choose a Professional Theme

The Zita and Experon themes we previewed earlier are just two of many professional-looking options for WordPress. The Theme Directory provides you with information and documentation for all approved themes:

Your WordPress resume site will be your calling card to the world. Taking time to evaluate your theme options and match your desired outcomes to what your theme can achieve is an important step in creating your website. 

4. Test Your Site for Mobile Responsiveness

When you take into account the ubiquity of mobile internet use, testing your site for mobile responsiveness can make a big difference in the success of your online resume. Since one in five adults consider themselves ‘mobile-only’ internet users, there’s a decent chance that people will be viewing your resume from their phone.

Mobile responsiveness also plays a role in how Google indexes your site. The search giant now prioritizes faster mobile sites above slower, non-optimized ones. You can improve your online resume’s mobile-readiness by evaluating your theme’s adaptability, and exploring mobile-responsive plugins. 

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