|
Writing a Resume: To Template or Not To Template?Are free resume templates a viable answer to preparing akiller resume? It's a fact that if your resume doesn't stand out--both interms of content AND appearance-- you'll find it verydifficult to get the job you seek. Hiring managers get hundreds of resumes for every openposition, but usually have time to interview only a handfulof applicants. So, they'll scan through the resumes asquickly as they can, looking for candidates to "jump out" atthem. At best, your resume has mere seconds to make animpression. The best way to raise instant interest is with an eye-catching and clean design that enhances your content. Somepeople, such as those with experience in graphic design ordesktop publishing, may be able to produce a great-lookingresume on their own. But most people need a little help. If you don't have theinnate talent or desire to play around with resume design,you have 2 basic choices: * Use a resume template * Hire a professional resume writer Let's start with the second option. It's a great one, if youcan afford it. Pick the right resume writer or writingservice and you'll get help not only with design, but alsowith your content. Plus, a professional can help you zero inon a well-focused resume for your desired career path, givenyour skills and experience. It's a great way to go, but itcan be pricey. If you can't afford to spend the money right now for aprofessional writer (no matter how much value it may beworth) OR you're one of those "do-it-yourselfers," then aresume template is another way to go. You can buy resumetemplate software, but it's not necessary. If you know how to use Microsoft Word, then you can whip upa striking resume! Many experts warn against using MS Word resume templates.They argue that your resume will look like many others thatwere also prepared using Word. But what they're reallyreferring to with those comments are the 3 standard Wordformats that come with the program. It's true, they're notparticularly inspiring in appearance. However, here's another option. Use an MS Word template thatis different from the standard ones. There's nothinginherently wrong with using free resume templates. The keyis to find unique templates. Here are some of the benefitsof using templates: * They guide you in the correct format and organization,with the right headings and sections in the right order. * They come preset with fonts, formatting, and white spacefor a pleasing and sophisticated design. * They're easy to use. Just type in your personalinformation, save and go. Also, if you want, it's easyenough to change fonts or almost anything else to get a moreunique design--if you wish. Of course, the key is to spend enough time to find highquality free resume templates. There are many sites thatoffer sample resumes that they call templates, but you'dhave to cut and paste them into Word to use them. Othersites, such as www.Powerful-Sample-Resume-Formats.com,provide true "click and type" templates that are all set upfor you to start filling in the content. Ultimately, how you prepare your resume is a personaldecision. But, if you're looking for an economical solutionthat still gives you a measure of control, think about freeresume templates. If you choose the template wisely, it'sstill possible to have a standout resume that is uniquelyyours. Kathi MacNaughton, a freelance writer andeditor, has years of management and recruitment experience.For unique, eye-catching MS Word free resume templates that are truly "Click and type" and that include tips and advice on content, seehttp://www.powerful-sample-resume-formats.com. Copyright 2004 Kathi MacNaughton. All rights reserved. |  | | | RELATED ARTICLES What You Should Never Put on Your Resume Liars Get Caught! What NOT to Put on Your Resume Staying In The Game The message came from Human Resources. There's nothing to worry about with the newly announced organizational changes and pending merger, it reassured. The changes will be good for the company and good for the people who work here it coached. The Career Athlete: What It Takes to Manage Your Career Managing your career, just like managing your life, requires preparation and ensuring that your time is directed meaningfully. Don't wait and see; make things happen. Just like athletes who prepare for the "big game" or a marathon, designing your career requires goals, planning, work, and above all, commitment. Think of yourself as a Career Athlete. Dont Be Defeated - Be Empowered Taking a job out of fear and desperation will never satisfy you for very long, nor will it last all that long either, and before you know it your back to square one. As I said; a job is nothing more than "just over broke", and who wants to live like that! The Recruiting Truth...Time Is Not On Your Side In today's marketplace things are constantly changing and so are the needs of just about each and every organization. Whether your company is growing organically or inorganically, whether your company is growing domestically or internationally or for one reason or another you just have pain, your organization must be in a position to attract top talent and attract it quickly! But attracting it is only the first part of the equation. The bigger problem is what you do once you attract talent to your organization. Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Career Opportunity and Employee Retention This article relates to the Career Opportunities competency and explores issues such as internal growth opportunities, potential for advancement, career development importance, and the relationship between job performance and career advancement. Evaluating the Career Opportunities competency in your organization will determine whether your employees believe they have a chance to grow within the organization. Studies show that lack of career opportunity is one of the top reasons why employees leave an organization. Also, continually hiring open positions from outside the organization can be detrimental to morale when a qualified candidate is available internally. Topics covered in this competency are: perceived opportunity for advancement, existence of a career development plan, and organizational commitment to staff development. Moving Without A Job: Should You Move to the Location of Your Dreams and THEN Look for a Job? Moving without a job will challenge your identity -- but for some people, it's the best way to go. How Can Qualifications Help Your Proof Reading Career? For those who are looking for a career as a proofreader, it is important to have the right qualifications. It is important to remember that this is a proper job. It is not just an easy way to make some money from home. For those who are serious, it will require a lot of diligent work to get into the field. And, when they do, it will take time to build your freelance business to the stage where it is profitable. Nevertheless, here are some of the basic qualifications that you will need: Employment Screening Today ? Are Online Database Searches Enough? In today's employment environment, HR managers are faced with the monumental duty of hiring and maintaining, as well as the ongoing development, of employees. But the single most difficult task lies first in hiring the right people. De-Bunking The ?Follow Your Bliss? Myth Hello Fellow Seekers! Why Become A Truck Driver? There are a great number of good reasons for someone to become a truck driver. First and foremost among those reasons would be the great pay. Did you realize that most truckers, their first year out on the road, earn an average of $35,000 a year? And, that after just a few years out, those same truckers are making an average of $45,000-$50,000 annually? And finally, veteran drivers who own their own trucks make average salaries that are over $100,000 a year. What other profession can you get into, where the pay is that good? Finding Your Ideal Career In the current climate, many people are looking away from the traditional job market towards working for themselves. The massive redundancies and job-insecurity has caused many people to radically rethink their career plans. With the ever rising cost of living, many would be happy just earning extra money to support their family and to pay the bills. Job Search Campaign Tip: An Activity Diary Looking for a job involves a wide range of responsibilities: preparing a resume, looking at ads, contacting employers, calling and visiting friends and acquaintances, follow ups, interviews. While none of us ever plan to be out of work for very long, it can be very useful to immediately start documenting your activities and your feelings to provide a road map of where you have been and where you want to go. It helps to have a central location for recording your daily actions so you don't miss anything important or forget a critical deadline. It is also reassuring to have somewhere to go when you're feeling blue and too lethargic to go anywhere or do anything you consider "productive." Waiting for Lightening to Strike Author and management guru, Peter Drucker says, "People adjust to the level of demands made on them." I would add, we also adjust to the level we demand of ourselves. At some point we grow up and pass for adults by how we look. To match that look with action requires both discipline and determination. Interview Tips, How to Get the Job You Want Enter into a state of relaxed concentration. This is the state from which great basketball players or Olympic skaters operate. You'll need to quiet the negative self chatter in your head through meditation or visualization prior to sitting down in the meeting. You'll focus on the present moment and will be less apt to experience lapses in concentration, nervousness, self-doubt and self-condemnation. Master Responding to Selection Criteria and Win Your Next Job! As a human resources specialist for many years, I've seen it all when it comes to job applications. Most disheartening were those applications in which applicants had not addressed the specified selection criteria ... they went straight into the 'no' pile. In many cases, it was obvious from accompanying documents like the cover letter and resume, that the applicants were intelligent, experienced people who may have been good hires. However, as they hadn't addressed the selection criteria, they had disqualified themselves from further processing. In fact, an applicant has only to miss one selection criterion to be disqualified from a recruitment process. How To Become A Computer Consultant Have you ever wanted to become a computer consultant, but you weren't sure if you could cut it? Do you have a basic understanding of computer-systems, strong problem-solving skills, and a desire to help other people? If so, then you already possess the main abilities and traits that you need to become a computer consultant. Career Tips: How To Start A New Career These days most people accept that jobs are not for life anymore. People are more mobile and much more likely to change jobs every few years and even careers a number of times throughout their lives. And it is increasingly common that we may also find that we need to change jobs because of retrenchments, redundancies and closures. Having confidence in your skills and experience and your ability to deal with the challenges of starting over can give you a greater sense of confidence about your career, and whatever life brings your way. 10 Ways to Speed-Up Your Job Search Effort Today everyone knows at least one person who has lost their job to down-sizing, right-sizing, cut-backs, production reduction or a mean, vicious "bogus leader" who could care less about your family, your life or your existence at the company. This may sound a bit overboard, but everyone has probably experienced the manager, supervisor or company leader from hell, and if you haven't just stick around. How to Work Effectively With Recruiters "R-E-S-P-E-C-T / find out what it means to me" is a line made famous by Aretha Franklin, and one that recruiters have adopted as their mantra. This is probably because there is a love-hate relationship between candidates and recruiters. Specifically, candidates love what recruiters can do for them, but at the same time, aren't fond of the fact that they need their services. |
|
|
Copyright © Advancing Women (TM), 1996- 