Free Resume Template: The ONLY One Youll Ever Need

WARNING: This article is likely to make you mad.

In fact, I'm pretty sure it will.

I imagine you were hoping for a free resume template in this article that you could download and fill in. Well, you won't find one here. I had planned on including a link to a free resume template or three, but I decided against it.

Why?

Because I'm not sure recommending a resume template, free or otherwise is a good idea. That's really for two reasons.

First, with a resume your goal is to stand out. Using a template can make that harder to do. It doesn't necessarily do that, but in a world of hundreds and thousands of resumes for a single position, the odds are already against you. Why make them worse?

Second, there are only two primary options with a free resume template (or a purchased one).

You can try a "one-size-fits-all" template. Or you can try to find a "several-sizes-fit-most" template that's as close a match to your situation as possible.

The third option, the one EVERYBODY wants, is the "perfect-for-my-personal-situation...um...template." Um, nope. You won't find it. That's what you hire a professional resume writer for. The best you can hope for is a "several-sizes-fit-most" flavor that results in a solid document.

Don't worry, though. I won't leave you hanging completely. In the future, I might just break down and add some templates. In the meantime, you have two options if you choose not to get professional resume writing help.

You can Google for "free resume template" and see what's out there. It's likely you'll find some good ones. You'll also find some relatively cheap resume template packages (not free, but close). They might cost you $50. That's not even dinner and a movie for a family of four. It's well worth the investment if it helps you create a job-winning resume that reduces your job search time.

For now, I recommend a different approach to maximizing the results of a "several-sizes-fit-most" free resume template. I suggest you use a bare-bones resume skeleton, just as a place to start. What you're looking for has almost no "sample content," but it should come with instructions.

In almost all cases, your free resume template should be chronological. In other words, it should present your career accomplishments newest-to-oldest, with no gaps. There are always creative ways to deal with gaps.

Functional resumes aren't necessarily the kiss of death, but they're close. They increase your odds of failure. Those odds don't need any help! Usually that format gets used by folks who have a "resume challenge."

If you have a complicated, delicate, or challenging resume situation (or if you're changing careers), I strongly recommend you hire a professional. Those situations are tough. Going it alone is a strategy for getting it wrong. That causes delay. Delay costs serious money.

Whatever free resume template you choose, make sure it helps you put your best foot forward. When you put meat on the bones, you want to end up with a solid document that's as all-purpose as it needs to be for an online job search. Beyond that (and I recommend you go WAY beyond that), you'll need a more customized resume for each targeted job.

At least you'll have a place to start. That's all a free resume template is good for anyway.

(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.

Related News

New committee working on five-year plan to improve job prospects - Kawartha Media Group New committee working on five-year plan to improve job prospects Kawartha Media Group, Canada -Oct 14, 2008 Employment Ontario is part of the $1.5 billion Skills to Jobs Action Plan to train Ontarians for new careers and build on the province’s competitive edge in ... Shifting Careers In Hard Times, Lawyers Advise Cautious Steps - New York Times Shifting Careers In Hard Times, Lawyers Advise Cautious Steps New York Times, United States -Oct 11, 2008 By MARCI ALBOHER AS the turmoil on Wall Street continued, I sat down with two employment lawyers — Zachary Hummel, who represents employers, and Mark Risk, ... Green Jobs Transition Must Accelerate - Policy Innovations Green Jobs Transition Must Accelerate Policy Innovations, NY -8 hours ago The report forecasts that millions of cleaner careers could be generated by 2030, with as many as 20 million new jobs in the energy alternatives sector ... Arbitrability of USERRA Claims: Battle on the Home Front - Law.com (subscription) Arbitrability of USERRA Claims: Battle on the Home Front Law.com (subscription), CA -Oct 14, 2008 For those who do not seek a lifelong military career, the costs include the forgone opportunity for advancement in civilian employment. ... Apprentices start building a career - Bradford Telegraph Argus Apprentices start building a career Bradford Telegraph Argus, UK -10 hours ago Mohammed, 18, and Shaun, 19, were both recruited by Lovell from Accent Community Partnerships, which delivers construction-based training and employment... City Expands Job Training For Public Housing Residents - NY1 NY1 City Expands Job Training For Public Housing Residents NY1, NY -12 hours ago Building careers, that's what the city says it's trying to do by helping public housing residents land jobs and training opportunities. Something employment... Bye-bye to career employment for Baby Boomer men - Examiner.com Examiner.com Bye-bye to career employment for Baby Boomer men Examiner.com -Oct 1, 2008 "Career employment – meaning employment with a single employer from middle age to retirement – is no longer the norm. So if workers are to remain in the ... The Grades recruitment event: White men in braces need not apply... - Independent The Grades recruitment event: White men in braces need not apply... Independent, UK -5 hours ago The title is an acronym, its aim being to promote graduate careers to all, irrespective of Gender, Religion, Age, Disability, Ethnicity or Sexuality. ... Springboards for life in careers elsewhere - Financial Times Springboards for life in careers elsewhere Financial Times, UK -4 hours ago Although the small state offers only restricted employment choices for graduates the average expected wage in the oil-rich country is the second highest in ... Health Care Marketing Industry Day to offer employment opportunities - Hattiesburg American Health Care Marketing Industry Day to offer employment opportunities Hattiesburg American, MS -8 hours ago ... Sanofi Aventis and others will have booths to meet and recruit students and local residents interested in pharmaceutical and health care sales careers. ...