Getting Started

How to Create a Resume from Scratch (Even If You've Never Had One)

March 18, 2026 · resumesXai

You don't need an existing resume to get a professional one. If you've never written a resume before — or if your last one is years out of date and lost — this guide walks you through creating a simple document with your career information that our AI can transform into an ATS-optimized resume scoring 90+.

The goal isn't to build a perfect resume yourself. It's to get your raw information into a file so a professional service can do the heavy lifting. Here's exactly how to do that, step by step.

What Information You Need to Gather

Before opening any app, take 15 minutes to collect these details. Write them on paper, in your phone's notes, wherever is easiest. You'll organize them into a document afterward.

Contact information:

• Full name
• Phone number
• Email address (use a professional one — firstname.lastname@gmail.com, not partyguy99@hotmail.com)
• City and state (full street address is no longer necessary)

Work history (for each job, starting with the most recent):

• Job title
• Company name
• Start date and end date (month and year is fine)
• 2-4 sentences about what you did — tasks, responsibilities, anything you accomplished

Education:

• School or university name
• Degree or diploma earned
• Graduation year (or expected graduation)

Skills and certifications:

• Software or tools you use (Excel, QuickBooks, Salesforce, etc.)
• Technical skills (programming languages, machinery, equipment)
• Certifications or licenses (CPR, PMP, CDL, real estate license, etc.)
• Languages spoken

You don't need to make any of this sound fancy. "Managed a team of 5 people at a warehouse" is perfectly fine. Our AI rewrites your raw descriptions into achievement-focused, keyword-optimized bullet points that hiring managers and ATS systems want to see.

Option 1: Create Your Resume on a Computer

Using Google Docs (free, no software needed)

1. Go to docs.google.com and sign in with your Google account
2. Click the + (blank document) to create a new document
3. Type your information using the sections above — don't worry about fonts, spacing, or formatting
4. When done, go to File → Download → Microsoft Word (.docx)
5. The file saves to your Downloads folder — upload it here

Using Microsoft Word

1. Open Word and select Blank Document
2. Type your information in the sections above
3. Save as .docx (File → Save As)
4. Upload the .docx file

Using Apple Pages (Mac)

1. Open Pages and choose Blank
2. Type your information
3. Go to File → Export To → Word to save as .docx
4. Upload the .docx file

Option 2: Create Your Resume on Your Phone

iPhone — Using Google Docs App

1. Download Google Docs from the App Store (free)
2. Open it and sign in with your Google account
3. Tap the + button to create a new document
4. Type your information — use the sections listed above as your guide
5. Tap the three dots (…) → Share & export → Send a copy → choose Word (.docx)
6. Save the file to your phone, then upload it from our site

iPhone — Using Apple Pages App

1. Open the Pages app (pre-installed on iPhones)
2. Tap + → Blank
3. Type your information
4. Tap the three dots (…) → Export → Word
5. Save to Files, then upload

Android — Using Google Docs App

1. Open Google Docs (pre-installed on most Android phones)
2. Tap + to create a new document
3. Type your information
4. Tap the three dots → Share & export → Save as → Word (.docx)
5. Upload from your phone's file manager

What Your Document Should Look Like

Here's a simple example. Yours doesn't need to look exactly like this — just get the information down:

Jane Smith
(555) 123-4567 | jane.smith@gmail.com | Austin, TX

WORK EXPERIENCE

Shift Manager — Target, Austin TX
March 2022 – Present
Managed a team of 12 associates. Handled scheduling, inventory counts, and customer escalations. Trained 8 new hires. Consistently met weekly sales goals.

Sales Associate — Best Buy, Austin TX
June 2019 – February 2022
Helped customers find electronics and accessories. Processed returns and exchanges. Hit top 10% in monthly sales twice.

EDUCATION
Austin Community College — Associate of Arts, 2019

SKILLS
POS systems, Microsoft Excel, inventory management, customer service, Spanish (conversational)

That's it. No fancy formatting, no bullet points, no design. Just your real information in a file. When you upload this to resumesXai, our system analyzes it and our team rewrites it into a professionally formatted, ATS-optimized resume with targeted keywords for your industry.

What Happens After You Upload

1. AI analysis: Our system scans your document and identifies your industry, experience level, and target roles
2. Keyword optimization: We map the right industry-specific keywords to your experience so ATS systems rank your resume higher
3. Professional rewrite: Your raw descriptions become achievement-focused bullet points with quantified results
4. ATS formatting: We apply a clean, ATS-compatible format that passes automated screening
5. Delivery: You receive your finished resume in both .docx and .pdf formats

Key Takeaways

• You don't need an existing resume — just your career information in any document
• Google Docs is the easiest free tool and works on any device
• Save your file as .docx or .pdf before uploading
• Don't worry about formatting, fonts, or making it look polished — that's what the rewrite is for
• Include contact info, work history with dates, education, and skills
• Raw, honest descriptions work better than vague, padded ones

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a resume on my phone?

Yes. Google Docs works on both iPhone and Android and lets you export as .docx directly from the app. Apple Pages on iPhone works the same way. You can type your information, save the file, and upload it to our site — all from your phone.

What if I don't know what to write on my resume?

Start with facts. Your name, phone number, email, job titles, company names, dates, and education. For each job, write 2-3 plain sentences about what you did every day. Don't try to make it sound impressive — our AI transforms raw descriptions into polished, keyword-rich content that scores 90+ on ATS systems.

Does my document need to be formatted perfectly?

No. When you upload to resumesXai, we handle all formatting, layout, keyword optimization, and ATS compatibility. Your document just needs to contain your career information in any readable format — plain text is fine.

What file format should I save my document in?

Save as .docx (Microsoft Word format), .pdf, or .doc. These are the most widely accepted formats. If you're using Google Docs, go to File → Download → Microsoft Word (.docx). Avoid uploading .pages files — export to Word first.