How to Create a Resume Using Templates
An impressive resume is the first step in finding a great new job. Writing a resume can be a headache just to write. Unfortunately, that's only half the battle, because your resume has to look great too or it might not even be read because it looks sloppy or amateurish. Fortunately, using a resume template can make the whole process much smoother.
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Instructions
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Determine the type of job you are applying for. Different jobs require different resumes. A marketing job seeker might be rewarded for a creative flashy design, where an attorney applying to an East Coast law firm would likely find the same resume rejected on-site.
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Choose a template. Hundreds of resume templates are available. Most commercial word processing programs come with resume templates installed. One of these can probably meet your needs, but you can look online if you want another style.
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Start at the top and replace the existing text or sample information with your information once you've chosen the template that you will be using. In the beginning, this will just mean putting your name in the place of the sample name.
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Fill in the "big" sections. Once you've typed over all of the easy demographic information, it's time to write the tougher sections. Use the template as a guide by following its examples. Include titles, employer name and dates of employment. For duties, make general statements about your most important functions. For example, use "responsible for incoming and outgoing mail" to describe your duty to get and deliver the mail, and then to collect mail and get it to the mail room.
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Proofread your resume. Nothing makes a resume sink faster than misspelled words, repeated words or missing information--especially if it claims that you are detail oriented.
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Tweak the size of the font, margins or spacing to make your resume the appropriate length. Generally, a resume should always end on a page that is filled at least 75 percent of a full page. If your resume ends on a sheet that is less than 1/2 a page, try to shorten it back to the last full page. Conversely if your resume extends beyond the 1/2 mark on the last page, try to pad it so that it fills the page or at least extends to 3/4 of the page.
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Tips & Warnings
Literally thousands of resume templates are available for free. Consider carefully if paying for a template is worth it.
Scammers entice people to send resumes with their Social Security numbers on them to easily identity theft victims. An employer NEVER needs your SSN before it personally contacts you. Do not respond to automated or generic responses that ask for your SSN.
