How to Write a Resume Faster (and How Long It Actually Takes)

It usually takes between 1–8 hours (or more) to write a resume, but it can feel like days or weeks. To write a resume faster, first realize that it only needs to be good enough. Just add the essential details, use a professional template or sample as your base, make a quick outline before immersing yourself into writing your resume, note key achievements and responsibilities, list academic qualifications, and use AI tools to help you write your resume. 

Imagine spending hours perfecting a resume, only for it to be ignored by recruiters.

It’s frustrating, yet it’s a common scenario. And honestly, it makes you wonder if all that effort is even worth it.

Writing a resume is long… assuming you’re still sticking to the traditional approach. 

That’s why in this guide, I’ll show you how to write a resume faster so that you’ll be able to apply to more jobs in less time without getting stuck on a single application all day. 

How Long Does It Take to Write a Resume?

Writing a resume can take anywhere from one to eight hours, or even longer for some. It really depends on how complex your work history is and how comfortable you are with writing a resume. 

For students or recent graduates, it might take less than four hours, or even under an hour since there’s typically less experience to include. But for seasoned professionals, it can take much longer. With more experience comes more decisions: what to highlight, what to cut, and how to fit everything within your ideal resume length.

Another factor to consider is whether you’re a perfectionist. I say that from experience since I’ve spent way too long tweaking mine, double-, triple-, even quadruple-checking every little detail. If you’re the same, you know how easy it is to overthink every line.

What writing a resume could look like for different experience levels

• Entry-level resumes. If you’re just starting out and have limited work experience, writing a basic, effective resume can take around one to two hours. That includes gathering your info, picking a format, and writing clear, concise descriptions of your skills, studies, and relevant experience.
• Mid-level resumes. With a few years of experience under your belt, it may take a day or two to put together a resume that highlights your achievements and career growth. You’ll need time to choose the most relevant roles and tailor the content to the job you’re applying for.
• Senior or executive resumes. The process is usually a bit more extensive. It often includes multiple drafts, sometimes with help from a resume writer or career coach, to effectively showcase leadership, strategy, and high-level accomplishments that are directly related to the target role. This may take up to one week or more.
• Career change or specialized resumes. If you’re shifting careers or have a specialized background (like academia or creative work), it may take extra time to frame your transferable skills or unique qualifications and position your experience in a new light. Expect a few days to a week, depending on complexity.

If you’re just updating your resume—assuming it’s already well-written and well-formatted—making a few tweaks to reflect recent changes or tailor it to a specific job usually takes just a few hours.

How to Write a Resume Faster So That You Can Send More High-Quality Job Applications in Less Time

Here’s how to write a resume faster:

• Realize that you don’t need to have the “perfect” resume.
• Just add essential contact details.
• Use a professional resume template or example.
• Make a quick outline before immersing yourself into writing your resume. 
• Note key achievements and responsibilities under each role. 
• Just list academic qualifications in the education section.
• Use AI to help you write strong bullet points. 
• Use AI to edit or refine bullet points. 
• Automatically find and add resume keywords using a keyword scanner. 
• Use tools to spellcheck and get feedback. 

Keep it simple and don’t overcomplicate things. No need to include unnecessary graphics or designs. Only include what’s essential, relevant, and genuinely helpful. 

1. Realize that you don’t need to have the “perfect” resume

Your resume doesn’t need to be flawless. It just needs to be good enough to get you to the interview stage. 

Recruiters are skimming, not studying, your resume. So stop obsessing over every word or layout detail. Focus on clarity, relevance, and readability. That mindset alone can save you hours of unnecessary edits.

2. Just add essential contact details

All you need here is your name, phone number, professional email address, and location. That’s it. Other than that, you can include your LinkedIn profile or relevant portfolio or social media links. 

3. Use a professional resume template or example

Use a professional resume template or sample as your base to skip formatting headache. Sticking to a proven structure helps you stay focused on the content and keeps things moving. 

4. Make a quick outline before immersing yourself into writing your resume

Before diving in, jot down a rough resume outline of what you want to include, e.g., sections like your resume summary, work Experience, education, and skills. This helps you stay organized and avoid distractions. If you’re using an AI resume builder, this step is even simpler since the structure is built-in for you.

5. Note key achievements and responsibilities under each role

Under each role in your work experience section, simply note key responsibilities, projects, and accomplishments. Did you lead a project? Improve a process? Save time or money? Focus on relevant results and tasks, but don’t overthink it. Just list the highlights that reflect your value. 

6. Just list academic qualifications in the education section

This part’s usually easy. Just add your university degree and institution. That’s all you really need here in the education section. Things like GPA or relevant coursework can also be helpful here when you’re early in your career. 

7. Use AI to help you write strong bullet points

AI writing tools can help you write your resume. For example, Rezi AI Bullet Point Writer allows you to simply enter your job title and a few details about your professional background. Next, it generates resume bullet points tailored to your input.

If you’re not already using Rezi AI, try giving their AI writer a go. It’s a great starting point, and then you can edit as needed. You can also use tools like ChatGPT alongside Rezi for more support. 

8. Use AI to edit or refine bullet points

After using AI to write your resume sentences, you can use AI to edit and refine them. Another example is Rezi AI Bullet Point Editor, which lets you complete an unfinished sentence or refine an existing one. 

9. Automatically find and add resume keywords using a keyword scanner

To get past hiring scanners, you’ll need to include the right keywords from the job description.

Finding resume keywords manually takes time, and it’s easy to miss something important. Instead, use a keyword scanner like Rezi AI Keyword Targeting. Just copy and paste the job description, then Rezi will highlight the exact words or phrases your resume is missing. You can even use Rezi to give you suggestions on where to place some of these in your resume. 

10. Use tools to spellcheck and get feedback

Always check your resume before hitting send. You can quickly make sure it’s free from typos or grammar mistakes by using tools like Grammarly. 

To find areas for improvement, use tools like the Rezi Score and resume checker can give you pointers on making sure your resume is at its best. It gives you feedback on both your content and formatting. 

Summary

Let’s recap how to write a resume faster:

• You don’t need a “perfect” resume—just one that’s good enough.
• Stick to the essential contact details only.
• Use a professional resume template or example to save time on formatting.
• Make a quick outline of key sections and details you want to include.
• Note your top achievements and responsibilities for each role.
• Add your degree and institution for the education section, but if you’re early in your career, you can add extras like relevant coursework. 
• Use AI tools to speed up the writing, editing, and tailoring process. 

The goal is to write a high-quality resume, not the perfect resume. In other words, it only needs to be good enough. And to write a good enough resume in less time, use the right tools to your advantage.

Keep things simple, follow a proven structure, and use the right tools to save hours. By following the steps discussed in this guide, you’ll be able to submit more tailored resumes in less time. 

FAQs

How long should it normally take me to write a resume?

Normally, it can take anywhere from one to eight hours to write a resume. But if you’re using AI resume tools to your advantage, it can take anywhere from less than an hour to up to 4–6 hours. The exact time it takes depends on your experience level and how familiar you are with resume writing. Generally speaking, entry-level resumes can be done in under 2–4 hours, whereas mid-level professionals may need a few days. Senior or executive resumes can take up to a week or more due to the complexity of work histories. If you’re changing careers or have a niche background, it may take a few days to make sure you’re framing your experience in the best possible way. And if you're just updating an existing resume, it usually only takes a few hours. 

How long should I spend tailoring my resume?

Spend no more than 20–30 mins. It’s possible to tailor your resume within this time frame by using smart resume tools to your advantage, such as a resume keyword scanner to automatically identify relevant keywords. 

What are the best tools to use to write a resume fast? 

You can use smart AI resume tools to write a resume fast. Rezi, for example, offers an AI bullet point writer and editor. The AI bullet point writer can write bullet points for you from scratch while making sure it’s related to your skills, experience, and target job description. The AI bullet point editor can also help you refine existing or incomplete sentences based on your skills, experience, and target job ad. Other helpful tools include ATS resume samples and Grammarly for real-time spotting grammar or spelling errors. 

What’s the smartest way to write a good resume quickly?

The smartest way to write a good resume fast is to use an ATS resume builder that offers AI resume writing tools. Start with an ATS-friendly resume template that handles formatting for you, then fill out the sections with your details accordingly. If you’re unsure what to write, use an AI writing tool, such as Rezi AI Bullet Point Writer, to help you generate relevant content. Lastly, use a resume score to see whether your resume is application-ready and make improvements.