Why using a Professional Resume Template is better than a DIY Resume
There is so much information out there regarding resume advice that it can be difficult to know what advice to follow and which to discard. There is no doubt that your resume is a vital part of your job search requirements. You will want to make sure that it is the best that it can possibly be. But where do you start? Do you begin with a blank screen and try to build your resume by yourself from scratch? Do you begin with a blank screen and try to build your resume by yourself from scratch or do you get a helping hand by making use of resume templates?”
Your resume has the job of creating a first impression with your prospective new employer. You will want that first impression to be a positive one. Presenting them with a badly laid out, difficult to read resume will quickly see you consigned to the rejection pile. So will handing in a generic resume that hasn’t been updated for a long time and isn’t specific to the role that you are applying for. Let’s take a look at some important resume pointers to make sure you don’t waste your best opportunity to make a good first impression.
Do You Need A New Resume?
If you have been sending out the same old and tired resume to multiple job applications, then it is definitely time for a shake up. It is time to get yourself a fresh new resume. The next question you should ask yourself is whether to use a free resume template or pay for one.
A quick online search for a resume template will land you with thousands of results. Pretty overwhelming, yes? Next you will need to narrow down your results. You need to be a bit more specific about what you want. Searching for ‘free resume templates’ will cut your results down a lot. So will searching for ‘premium resume templates’ if you want to pay for one.
Next you will have to make sure that you are being offered fully-customizable templates. The great thing about using a customizable resume template is that once you have entered all your crucial information and all the key skills your resume needs, you can go back to your template and easily tweak it to tailor it to each new job that you apply for. This is much easier than having to create a whole new resume over again for each job application that you send out. Because you can customise the content you will avoid the trap of having to send out an identical resume for everything you apply for.
Resume Format
Resume examples come in all sorts of different formats and styles. This can be great because you can choose one that is attractive to the eye and suits your personality. You can also choose a more specific style of resume to fit in with the type of job that you are applying for. You will want the presentation to be clean, easy to read but also attractive. Remember that a prospective employer or HR officer will spend approximately 20 to 30 seconds on a first skim of your resume. Having a style and layout that is more suitable for the job you are going for will have a better chance of being read and retained for interview.
Monitor Your Results
Keeping up with all of your job applications can be job in itself! It can be really useful to keep an eye on your results and respond to any replies you have swiftly. If you were turned down for a position, then it is worth sending a follow up message. Thank them for their reply but also ask politely for some feedback from them. You can use the information you get back from them to help you with future applications. Also, by sending a polite thank you in response will create a further good impression. It may even lead to an invitation for an interview should another position open up in the near future.
When your resume has worked well for you and you are invited in for an interview, then it is well worth checking out the great interview tips and advice at the Freesumes.com blog to give you an added advantage of winning at your interview.
It will not take long for you to land your dream job when you make good use of professionally created customizable resume templates.
