You’re sitting in a coffee shop or maybe just killing time on the train when that perfect job notification pops up. You need to apply. Right now. But your laptop is miles away, buried under a pile of laundry or sitting on your desk at home. Most people think they're stuck. They assume you need a "real" computer to handle formatting, margins, and PDF exports.
That's just not true anymore.
Learning how to make a resume on iPhone is actually about knowing which built-in tools to leverage and which "resume builder" apps are just trying to suck monthly subscription fees out of your wallet. Honestly, you probably have everything you need already sitting in your "Utilities" folder. Apple’s ecosystem has evolved to the point where the Files app and Pages are more than enough to create something that looks like a professional designer handled it.
The Secret Weapon Already on Your Home Screen
Most people ignore the Pages app. It’s sitting there, pre-installed, probably tucked away in a folder you never open. Open it.
When you start a new document in Pages, there’s a "Resumes" category. These aren't the cheesy, neon-colored templates you find on sketchy websites. They are clean. They use standard fonts like Helvetica and Georgia that ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) actually like. If you're wondering how to make a resume on iPhone that doesn't get instantly tossed by a robot, this is your starting point.
Pick a template like "Modern Resume" or "Business Resume."
Here is the trick: Don’t just type. Tap the "+" icon. You can add tables, but make sure to remove the borders. Tables are the easiest way to keep your dates aligned on the right side while your job titles stay on the left. If you try to do this with spaces or tabs on a touchscreen, you will lose your mind.
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I’ve seen people spend three hours trying to align a bullet point on a 6-inch screen. Just use the "Format" paintbrush icon. Tap "List" and choose the bullet style. It handles the indentation for you. Done.
Google Docs is Good, But Files is Better
Maybe you’re a Google person. That’s fine. The Google Docs app is decent for text, but it’s notoriously finicky with margins on iOS. If you’re using Docs, always switch to "Print Layout" mode by tapping the three dots in the top right. If you don't, what you see on your screen is absolutely not what the recruiter will see in their inbox.
But let’s talk about the Files app for a second.
This is where the magic happens. If you have an old resume in a drawer, you don’t even need to type it all out again. Open the Notes app. Tap the camera icon. Select "Scan Documents."
The iPhone's document scanner is world-class. It uses the same technology as high-end flatbed scanners to deskew the image and turn it into a crisp PDF. Once you scan it, you can use the "Markup" tool to white out old info or use "Live Text" to copy the words directly into a new document. It’s a massive time-saver.
Why Most "Resume Builder" Apps are a Trap
If you search the App Store for how to make a resume on iPhone, you’ll see dozens of apps with 4.8-star ratings. Be careful. A lot of these apps let you build the whole resume for free, then hit you with a $19.99/week subscription the second you try to hit "Download."
It’s predatory.
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If you absolutely must use a dedicated app, use Canva. The mobile app is surprisingly robust, and their free tier is actually usable. Just keep it simple. If you add too many graphics, charts, or "skill bars" (please stop using skill bars), the software companies use to read resumes will see a giant garbled mess.
Recruiters at companies like Google or Amazon often use systems that strip away formatting. If your iPhone-made resume is too "pretty," it might end up looking like a pile of random letters. Stick to a single column. Use 10pt or 12pt font.
Managing Your PDF Like a Pro
Once you’ve finished typing, you cannot—under any circumstances—send a .pages file or a .docx file.
Why? Because if the hiring manager opens a .pages file on a Windows computer, it won't open. If they open a .docx on a different version of Word, your formatting might jump around.
On your iPhone, tap the "Share" button. Tap "Export." Select PDF.
Now, here is the expert move: Name the file correctly. Don't leave it as "Document 1.pdf." Long-press the file in your Files app, select "Rename," and call it Firstname_Lastname_Resume.pdf. It sounds small. It makes a huge difference in how professional you look.
Quick Checklist for the Mobile Job Hunter
- Check your margins: Keep them at least 0.5 inches all around.
- Font choice: Stick to San Francisco (system font), Arial, or Times New Roman.
- The "Email" Test: Before you send it to a recruiter, email it to yourself. Open it. See if the text is readable without zooming in 400%.
- Links: If you have a LinkedIn profile or portfolio, make sure the links are clickable. In Pages, you just highlight the text, tap "Link," and paste the URL.
Actually making a resume on iPhone is less about "designing" and more about "organizing." You’re working with limited screen real estate. Use it wisely. Use bold text for job titles and italics for company names. That’s enough hierarchy to make it readable.
Actionable Next Steps
- Open the Pages app and browse the "Resumes" category to see which layout fits your experience level.
- Locate your old resume—whether it's an old file in your email or a physical paper—and use the "Scan Documents" feature in the Notes app to digitize the text.
- Create a "Job Hunting" folder in your iCloud Drive via the Files app to store your updated PDF, a generic cover letter, and a professional headshot.
- Update your "AutoFill" settings in Safari (Settings > Safari > AutoFill). This allows you to quickly populate job application forms with your contact info so you can spend your time tweaking the resume rather than typing your phone number for the hundredth time.
- Export everything as a PDF and do a test send to a friend to ensure the formatting holds up on both desktop and mobile screens.