Career XL
build your network, career,future & success.
Free Resume Templates
Getting Started with Your Resume
First let's make sure we understand what a resume is and what it is not. Then we will talk about How Many Resumes Do I need?
Your resume is essentially a product brochure and the product is you. The purpose of your resume is to get people (hiring managers) interested in the product (you) and ultimately to have them want more information. Sorry, to inform you that the purpose is not to get you a job. Only you can do that by meeting with the hiring manager in person. So again, the ONLY purpose of your resume is to get you an appointment, end of story.
What your resume is not. Your resume is not a job description of your last few positions and general duties of that position. Think about it; any hiring manager knows what a Sales Manager, Admin Assistant, Customer Service Rep, IT Director, etc. does. Think about it some more, if your resume reads like a job description how does it look ANY different from the other 400 resumes that were submitted with similar backgrounds? It doesn't.
There are two key points here; 1) your resume has to differentiate you, show your individual strength, and sell the product to generate interest, and 2) even with a great resume, it will come in electronically with a few hundred other resumes on the same day. So networking and referrals are key to getting your resume looked at and getting an interview!
How Many Resumes Do I Need
Short answer, lots and lots! Let's list a few:
First let's make sure we understand what a resume is and what it is not. Then we will talk about How Many Resumes Do I need?
Your resume is essentially a product brochure and the product is you. The purpose of your resume is to get people (hiring managers) interested in the product (you) and ultimately to have them want more information. Sorry, to inform you that the purpose is not to get you a job. Only you can do that by meeting with the hiring manager in person. So again, the ONLY purpose of your resume is to get you an appointment, end of story.
What your resume is not. Your resume is not a job description of your last few positions and general duties of that position. Think about it; any hiring manager knows what a Sales Manager, Admin Assistant, Customer Service Rep, IT Director, etc. does. Think about it some more, if your resume reads like a job description how does it look ANY different from the other 400 resumes that were submitted with similar backgrounds? It doesn't.
There are two key points here; 1) your resume has to differentiate you, show your individual strength, and sell the product to generate interest, and 2) even with a great resume, it will come in electronically with a few hundred other resumes on the same day. So networking and referrals are key to getting your resume looked at and getting an interview!
How Many Resumes Do I Need
Short answer, lots and lots! Let's list a few:
- Basic resume, your first pass.
- Customized version for each industry you are targeting, this could be another couple of versions.
- Custom tailored resume for EACH job you apply for showing how you are the right person for that job.
As you can see you will likely develop many versions of your resume during your job search. Make sure you save each one, and this is VERY important! Do not use a file name that says billgrunau-resume-v17. Think about what that says to the hiring manager!
Resume Templates
These are free resume templates in MS Word 2003 files. When you click on the link the resume file will open in a new window and you can save it on your computer.
Chronological Resume Template: This is the most common, not necessarily the best, resume format. HR and hiring managers prefer this format because they can scan it quickly to see your experience. Depending on your background, it may not be the most effective way to tell your story.
Combination Resume Template: Consider using either a functional or combination resume format when you have a broad and diverse background covering different industries or different positions. The combination resume summarizes your experience on page one like a functional resume and then details your work experience on page two like a chronological resume.
Functional Resume Template: The functional resume is a compressed or abbreviated version of the combination resume, or I suppose you could say the combination is an expanded version of the functional. It has very little detail about the companies you worked at and focuses on highlighting your skills in specific areas. The idea is to focus on your experience and skills, not the specific companies. Some "experts" say that you should only use the functional resume in very specific situations because many employers do not look favorably on this format (not enough detail). It is a good format for use with networking because you are not relying on the resume to land you the interview.
These are free resume templates in MS Word 2003 files. When you click on the link the resume file will open in a new window and you can save it on your computer.
Chronological Resume Template: This is the most common, not necessarily the best, resume format. HR and hiring managers prefer this format because they can scan it quickly to see your experience. Depending on your background, it may not be the most effective way to tell your story.
Combination Resume Template: Consider using either a functional or combination resume format when you have a broad and diverse background covering different industries or different positions. The combination resume summarizes your experience on page one like a functional resume and then details your work experience on page two like a chronological resume.
Functional Resume Template: The functional resume is a compressed or abbreviated version of the combination resume, or I suppose you could say the combination is an expanded version of the functional. It has very little detail about the companies you worked at and focuses on highlighting your skills in specific areas. The idea is to focus on your experience and skills, not the specific companies. Some "experts" say that you should only use the functional resume in very specific situations because many employers do not look favorably on this format (not enough detail). It is a good format for use with networking because you are not relying on the resume to land you the interview.
Cover Letter Templates
These are free cover letter templates in MS Word 2003 files. When you click on the link the resume file will open in a new window and you can save it on your computer.
Cover Letter for Job Posting: This is a cover letter highlights how your skills match the advertised position.
Cover Letter for Position Referred through Networking: This letter is similar to the one above except it mentions that you were referred to this position.
These are free cover letter templates in MS Word 2003 files. When you click on the link the resume file will open in a new window and you can save it on your computer.
Cover Letter for Job Posting: This is a cover letter highlights how your skills match the advertised position.
Cover Letter for Position Referred through Networking: This letter is similar to the one above except it mentions that you were referred to this position.
