How to use ThunderCV
From a blank page to a downloaded, ATS-checked PDF — the whole workflow in seven steps.
Open the editor
Go to the builder — there is no sign-up and no email required. It loads with a sample resume (John Doe) so you can see how every section renders before you type anything. Use the Sample button in the toolbar any time you want that example back.
Import your existing resume, or start fresh
If you already have a resume, click Import and select the PDF or DOCX. ThunderCV reads it in your browser and fills in the fields it can identify — name, contact details, summary, jobs, education, skills and projects. Nothing is uploaded to a server. Then review it: automated parsing gets most resumes largely right, but job title and employer occasionally swap depending on how the original was laid out, so check the Work Experience section before you download.
Fill in your details
Work through the left sidebar top to bottom. The preview on the right updates as you type, so you always see the finished page. Sections you leave empty are hidden automatically — a fresher with no work history will not get an empty "Work Experience" heading.
Pick a template
Use the template dropdown in the toolbar to switch designs at any point. Your content is preserved, so you can try all fifteen without retyping. If you are unsure, start with Simple or ATS — they are the safest with automated screening.
Check your ATS score
Click ATS Score for a breakdown of ten checks: contact details, summary length, number of roles, bullet count, whether your achievements are quantified, skills coverage, action verbs and more. Each check tells you exactly what to change.
Match against the job description
Before applying, paste the job posting into the JD Matcher. It compares the posting against your resume and lists the terms the employer used that your resume does not contain — so you can add the ones you genuinely have.
Download the PDF
Click Download. Your browser opens a print dialog — choose "Save as PDF" as the destination, set margins to None and paper size to A4, then save. The output has no watermark. The page counter above the preview tells you in advance how many pages you are producing.
Keyboard shortcuts
- Ctrl / Cmd + Z — undo the last change (30 steps of history).
- Ctrl / Cmd + Shift + Z — redo.
Which template should I use?
- Applying through a large company's portal or a job board — Simple or ATS. Single column, standard headings, maximum parser compatibility.
- Fresher or campus placement — Fresher. Leads with education and projects rather than work history.
- Experienced professional, corporate role — Professional, Corporate or Executive.
- Design, marketing or content role — Creative or Elegant, where a bit of visual personality helps.
- Software / data role — Tech or Modern.
How long should my resume be?
Under 3 years of experience: one page. Three to ten years: one or two pages. Beyond that, two pages is still the practical ceiling for most corporate roles — academic CVs are the exception. The page counter above the preview shows your current length as you edit, and warns you once you pass one page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my data stored anywhere?
No. Everything happens in your browser — there is no account and no server-side copy. The practical consequence is that reloading or closing the tab clears your work, so download your PDF before you leave. See the privacy policy for detail.
Why does my imported resume have the job title and company swapped?
Resume layouts vary enormously, and the importer has to guess which line is the role and which is the employer. When a resume puts the company name above the job title, that guess is sometimes wrong. Fix it in the Work Experience section — it takes a few seconds, and everything else usually imports correctly.
Do I need to pay?
Only when you download. Building your resume, editing it and previewing the exact page you will get all cost nothing, as do the JD matcher and the cover letter generator. A download is a one-time ₹49, never a subscription, and the ATS score is ₹29 — included free with any download.
Can I edit the PDF after downloading?
The PDF is final output. To make changes, edit in the builder and download again — your purchase covers one free re-download within 3 days, which is exactly what it is for.
The download dialog shows headers and page numbers I do not want
In the browser's print dialog, open "More settings" and turn off "Headers and footers", then set margins to None. Those are browser defaults, not part of your resume.