| |
| |
|
WebsiteAlways |
|
Free Resume Template: Beware!
Downloading a free resume template can be so alluring. No work to do! You just download it, fill in the blanks, and get the job of your dreams! If you buy that, I've got lots of other things I'd like to sell you. That's a pipe dream. Listen, folks. All you get with a template is a structure that you have to fill in. Granted, coming up with the structure can be a challenge for some people, but that's not the real head-buster. The real challenge is filling in the blanks. There's also a not so trivial set of risks involved with using a free resume template. One of the biggest risks is that there's an extreme temptation to make minimal changes. That leaves you with a "me too" resume. Nothing hurts your chances like being like everybody else. For that reason alone, I suggest you be very wary of resume templates. Temptation can be hard to resist. If that weren't so, it wouldn't be tempting! Now, just because free resume templates (or ones you buy) MIGHT be risky, doesn't mean they aren't good tools. I think they are. In fact, there are some great packages of templates you can buy for less than the cost of a family dinner and movie night these days (I dropped over $75 on my last one). If that cost saves you a single day of delay in getting your new job, it more than paid for itself. For that very reason, I'm always looking for the best-of-the-best resume template packages on the market. You can find some relatively cheap ones online, and their quality isn't bad. By far, though, I believe the best strategy is to start with a very basic skeleton, and then essentially "grow your own" personalized resume template. What you'll end up with is something that's more you than a free resume template you download from somewhere. That subtle difference may be just enough to set you apart. And that's the name of the game. In general, I'd say free resume templates, or purchased ones, are a fine place to start. But even if you buy a great product that gives fantastic advice about how to fill in a template, don't put your brain on a shelf. When you're done filling it out, assess it for uniqueness, or at least for differentiation. Always change it at least a little bit. A free resume template is a tool. Use it wisely, and carefully, and it should be a great help. (c) Copyright 2005 by Roy Miller An article by Roy Miller, creator of http://www.Job-Search-Guidepost.com. He recently developed a simple, powerful, job-winning resume template package. You can get your FREE copy here: free resume template. And if you liked this article, be sure to sign up for Roy's free weekly newsletter. This article may be reprinted for use in newsletters and on websites provided that this information box is kept intact. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required: roy@job-search-guidepost.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Careers-Employment - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
When The Going Gets Tough -- The Tough Keep Going If you've been in a job search for more than a few weeks you may be experiencing the feelings of defeat and despair, not to mention the urge to give up. It's been a tough year, and then some, for those who have lost jobs for whatever reason. F-E-A-R in the Job Search! Fear in starting a job search is a four letter word! Like any other four letter word, the word itself can create more fear, and some- times self-loathing!Look at the fear when it applies to a job search.Fear of others. Your Interview Questions Are a Serious Matter Of course interviews are mainly about you answering the questions they put to you, but at the end of your allotted interview time, the questions that really matter most are yours. You should hope to hear the interviewer ask you:"Have you any questions?"But even if they don't ask, you should grasp the opportunity and say:"Do you mind if I ask a couple of questions?" However you must be careful when planning what questions you're going to ask, and make sure that they are not ones that you should already know the answer to because it's been covered in the interview. How To Get a Job Offer From Every Interview About four years ago a friend told me one night that she had an interview the next week and was looking for some comfort as she was extremely nervous, as most people are about interviews. I thought back on my my carreer and realized that in the nine year of my career I had been to thirteen interviews and, more importantly, that I had received a job offer from every one of those interviews. From The WorkWise Collection: Job Hunting in the New Economy To succeed in today's global marketplace, companies must hire the best and the brightest. Having talented employees can make the difference between success and failure. What Every Employee Should Know About How to Overcome Boredom Do you find yourself easily becoming bored or tired at work for no apparent reason? If that's the case, then pay close attention. Research has shown that fatigue and a worn-out feeling are often caused by unproductive mental attitudes. Preparing For An Interview When preparing for an interview, you need to know your skills, experiences and achievements, and how to answer interview questions.Your Skills Become an expert about yourself. The Top Ten Strategies of A Great Interview You've just received a call to interview with your dream company. Do you know how to prepare for the interview so that you'll feel confident, have a good experience and set yourself apart from others? Try following the steps below and you'll not only be well prepared, you'll present yourself as a true professional. No Experience? No Problem! Are you a new graduate with little or no work experience? Sometimes it can be tough to get a job without experience, and how do you get more experience if you can't get a job? Well, your chances are better than you think. Even if your work experience is a little weak, you've probably got life experience that will help you. Children At Work: Looking at Child Labor in the Victorian Age Today, it isn't that uncommon for some children and teenagers to work. They may earn extra money by baby-sitting, doing yard work, or maybe even walking dogs. Top 5 Tips for College Grads Entering the Working World 1) Build a Relationship With Your Boss:Like it or not, no single individual has a greater impact on your career future than your direct supervisor. So, how do you get on their good side from the start? Managers want to feel that you truly care, and that you are "in it with them" as a team. War Time Hiring: 5 Steps to Attract Top Talent A recent report, titled "The War for Talent" stated that over the next 20 years, employee talent will be what differentiates successful companies from those going bust. The late 90's gave us a glimpse of the talent war, but was nothing compared to what's ahead. Sample Cover Letters ... The Hidden Pitfalls You can benefit from sample cover letters as they can help you learn about the constructs of a high quality cover letter.However, there are some dangers in doing this . How To Type A Resume For Employers Learning how to type a resume may feel like a daunting task. Even the most affluent writers have asked themselves, how to type a mind-blowing resume. Seeking A New Job While Currently Employed : Tiptoeing Through the Minefield So, you currently have a job but you are looking for something a little better. You are getting tired, uptight, and maybe just a little stressed out. Do You Need Help Writing A Winning Cover Letter? Your cover letter is critical to your success. It sets the tone. Thankk-You Notes: An Integral Part of Your Career There is one little practice that is vital to generating the interest of potential employers. It is critical, but very few job seekers actually do it. 7 Tips for Writing Winning Resume Cover Letters Writing a good resume cover letter is something you should seriously consider when preparing to send off your resume to potential employers.Here are seven important cover letter writing tips:Address the individual by name. Defining Success Your Way! In my career advising practice, I often find that my clients are not clear about what success means for them. Our society defines success primarily around three elements: power, money and fame. To Get Hired or Get Promoted, Attitude Is The Key When you're looking to get hired or get promoted, what do you think is your most important asset? Your experience? Knowledge? Skill? Talent?While all of those are advantages that will help you achieve your goals, there's one thing that's more important than all of them combined.Your attitude!I attended a board meeting recently.
|
| Interesting articles | Home | site map | Link |
| © 2006 |