VertoCV

VertoCV is a free resume builder I created because I was frustrated with the existing options. Most resume builders either charge a subscription fee, require you to create an account, or store your personal data on their servers. I wanted something that respects privacy by keeping everything in the browser using local storage.

The core idea is simple: you fill in your resume sections, pick a template, customize the styling, and export to PDF. But making that experience smooth and reliable took more work than I initially expected. The real time preview was one of the first features I focused on because it creates a much better editing experience. As you type in the left panel, the preview on the right updates instantly, so you always see exactly what your final resume will look like.

I built VertoCV with React and TypeScript, using Tailwind CSS for the styling. The templates are designed to be ATS (Applicant Tracking System) friendly, which means they use clean formatting that automated resume scanners can parse correctly. This was something I researched extensively because a beautifully designed resume is useless if it gets mangled by an ATS before a human ever sees it.

The export system supports both PDF and JSON formats. PDF is obviously what you send to employers, but the JSON export is useful for backing up your data or transferring it between devices. Since everything lives in local storage, there is no cloud sync, so the JSON export fills that gap. You can import a previously exported JSON file and pick up right where you left off.

One thing I learned building this project is how tricky PDF generation in the browser can be. Getting consistent formatting across different browsers and ensuring the output matches the on screen preview required a lot of testing and iteration. Font rendering, margin handling, and page break logic all had their own quirks.

The styling customization lets users adjust colors, fonts, spacing, and section ordering. I wanted people to be able to make the resume feel like theirs without needing to write any CSS. The controls are straightforward sliders and color pickers that update the preview in real time.

VertoCV is live and free to use with no sign up required. Just open the site and start building your resume.