When you submit your resume for a position, you should highlight your accomplishments with previous companies, focus on your strengths, and present your information in a neat, clear, and concise manner. Sounds easy. How do you decide what format to use for your resume and what font would be most appropriate? How do you find examples or resume templates to use so you have a sort-of blueprint that you can simply cut and paste your own information into without having to be a professional graphic designer or computer whiz? Finding a template is actually very easy, and I'll show you a number of different places to find just the right one to use for that dream job application. Here's how to find fee-based and free resume templates.
Since you have found and are reading this article, I'll assume that you know how to navigate in this crazy, mixed up cyber-world. There are many websites out there that offer professional resume writing advice and examples to benefit everyone from high school and young college students to those "more mature" job hunters. If you are a recent college grad or are soon to be one, check out www.collegegrad.com. This site has over 30 different FREE downloadable templates which focus on all kinds of degrees from Accounting to Zoology, and there is plenty of advice to be had on creating the perfect resume.
One of the more well-known websites for job seekers, www.monster.com, offers a few templates that can be used to see how a basic resume should be set up, but the examples are formatted to be presented on Monster's website, so none of them show off interesting fonts or different ways of organizing your resume. However, both Monster.com and other sites like www.hotjobs.com and www.careerbuilder.com do offer links to several resume-writing services websites (These sites will do all the work for you - for a fee of course).
Lastly, in the cyber-space category, you will find tons of templates at online stores and resume-writing websites that will charge you a pretty penny for their advice and cut-and-paste skills, but if you own or have access to a PC with Microsoft software, skip those sites and head straight to www.microsoft.com. The all-encompassing web page has all sorts of purchasable downloads for games and home-office programs, but in the "for your job" destination category there are tons of FREE downloadable templates for resumes, cover letters, references and recommendations. Best of all, just like the How To Do Things website, Microsoft rates all of the templates from one to five stars, based on votes from customers. Who could ask for anything more?!
There are quite a few ways to find resume formats, templates and outlines to follow, but if you don't have 24/7 access to the Internet, you can access similar tools right in the privacy of your own home computer. Using Microsoft or Macintosh Software, take advantage of the "Wizards" and "Help" applications; both Macs and PCs have built-in software that may have some useful resume patterns to follow. And if everyone else in your family tends to monopolize the electronic marvel, there are places called libraries that have real, live books with tons of information. Amazing! All of these tools separately, or combined, can provide you with the information and outlines necessary to create an elegant or elaborate, sleek or sophisticated, concise or cut-and-dry resume that is sure to impress.
Quick Tips:Check your own home computer's word-processing software for helpful information and templates
