Ideally, you want to take time on your resume. After all, it can make the difference between landing the job and being passed over. But there are many situations where you don’t have that luxury. When an unexpected job opportunity arises, you need to take advantage of it now, or it could be filled by someone who was more prepared.

How to Put Together a Resume Fast

So how can you throw together an updated, professional, and effective resume quickly? There are many options available to you. The right one will depend highly on just how quickly you need to pull your resume together, how much help you need, and how much money you have to spend.

Select a template. Not sure how to format and design a resume? No problem. Most word processing software have pre-prepared resume templates built in, making that part of the process a breeze. If you already own that type of software, it makes this option free. The downside is that they don’t offer very much guidance on exactly what to include on your resume, and even though the resume is already designed for you, it will likely still take you several hours to locate the right template for your situation and alter it to fit your needs.

Try an online resume builder. If you need a little more guidance than a template offers or require a resume in a matter of minutes rather than hours, then this may be the best route to take. An online resume builder like Career Igniter makes the process simple. All you need to do is enter your information into a form, and it will output a professionally designed resume at the end, often offering you many common formats, such as PDF and Word Doc. For this convenience, some sites charge a fee, but if you do your research, you can find the service for free — without sacrificing the quality of the final product.

Hire a resume writer. This is the most expensive option, but it also ensures you a more personalized and error-free resume when it’s complete since you’ll have a professional working to ensure that the design and content is right for your situation. Resume writing services charge anywhere from $75 to hundreds of dollars, depending on the type and length of the resume you have. They also typically add a surcharge for a faster turnaround time.

No matter which route you decide to take, make sure to proofread the resume before turning it in. Is the information accurate? Are there any typos? It can pay to take a few extra minutes to have a friend or family member review it for anything you may have overlooked.

What do you use when in a hurry?