Category Archives: Resume Builder Template

Sample Resumes: Make Sure the Information is Your Own

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The use of sample resumes is becoming more and more common amongst resume writers who are looking to ensure that their own personal resumes are 100% legitimate and laid out properly. In fact, experts recommend that resume writers take advantage of these sample resumes in order to adhere to industry standards in resume writing. Just make sure the information is your own when you look at your completed resume.

Many resume writers will simply take a sample resume and will blatantly steal the information that is provided in these sample resumes. They will simply change individual specific information and a few words here and there, but will more or less plagiarize every aspect of their resume. This includes stealing a resume ‘objective’ and using it word for word, or taking a cover letter from a sample resume and claiming that it is their very own.

There are two major issues with this type of information theft. First off, this type of ‘borrowing’ is not ‘borrowing’ in reality. It is rather considered ‘stealing.’ Most sample resumes are covered by a creative commons copyright or a professional copyright. If you are using the information from these sample resumes without changing them, you are simply in violation of copyright laws and are literally stealing from another writer.

The second major issue is that many companies will actually scan resumes and will check them against other resumes and sample resumes found online. If a potential employer discovers that 95% of your resume is pulled from a sample resume they have found online, they will immediately lose trust with you and will most likely no longer consider you for their open position. 

This is why it is of the utmost importance that you make sure the information is your own when you submit your final resume to a potential employer.

How Can I Be Sure The Information Is My Own When Using Sample Resumes?

The best way to make sure the information is your own when using sample resumes is to write your resume section by section simply using the sample resumes as a model. You can then read over the sample resume section and compare it to your own resume. You should be able to quickly determine how “like” your resume is with the sample that you have used. Make sure that you don’t use direct quotes or phrases from the sample resume. Find a way to take these ideas and put them into your own words.

The idea is to take the information that you have found and like in these sample resumes and “spin” them, in order to make them unique and more aimed at your personal specifics and skills. You need to basically take the general ideas you like in the sample resumes and completely rewrite them so that they don’t resemble the original version. With a little practice and a little patience this entire process is very simplistic and will ensure that the information is your own.

To double check yourself you should have someone read over the sample resume you used and your personal resume to see if they can spot any instances of plagiarism.

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Be Careful with Sample Resume Templates

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The popularity of using sample resume templates to create personal resumes has risen manifold in recent years. More and more people are discovering how simple it is to use sample resume templates when putting their own resumes together. In fact, using such templates can greatly decrease the total amount of time that it takes the average person to create their resume.

However, in their eagerness to get their resumes done, many people make the basic mistake of using the sample resume templates without giving it careful consideration. They do not make the necessary changes in order to personalize these templates and make it their own; instead they simply use the pre-plugged in information and attempt to pass it off on their own. This is especially true when it comes to drafting objectives and cover letters for their resumes. Many people are flat out plagiarizing these sections of their resumes and are unknowingly violating copyright laws in doing so.

Most applicants are not aware that employers will actually scan their employee’s or applicant’s resumes and will run them through copyright checks in order to determine if the content included in them is original or if it has been taken from a website. If this happens to you, you could lose your current job for dishonesty or may be turned down for a position which you are applying on grounds of dishonesty. This is why, you must be very careful that when using sample resumes. It is crucial to ensure that you only use them as an outline for your own resume but do not blatantly rip these templates off.

How To Be Certain That Your Information Is Original When Using A Template

When creating your resume, download at least two copies of the particular template that you are looking at. When you do this, you are less likely to make common mistakes that result in copyright violations. With the first copy of the template you have downloaded, go in and delete all the pre-plugged responses to each section. Then use the second section as a general outline as you compose the rest of your resume.

It is more than okay for you to draw inspiration from the objectives and cover letters of these sample resumes. However, you should be sure that when you read your version of these sections that they don’t match up.  They should be different enough and unique enough even after borrowing ideas for no one to be able to tell that your version was inspired from the first.

People who only download one version of a sample template will also make the mistake of accidentally forgetting to delete a sentence or word from the template. When they do this, their resume will not appear professional and will include wording or phrases that have nothing to do with them or their skill sets. You need to be very careful to avoid these kinds of errors when using such sample templates.

Just use sample resume templates as a springing board for ideas and formatting assurance. Other than that, delete what is included within the template and you should be fine.

Use one of CareerRush’s free resume samples or take advantage of our free resume wizard and build a professional resume from scratch.

The Importance of Resume Proofreading

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resume proofreadingThere are many things that potential employers look for when they are reviewing your resume. First and foremost, they will look at your objective to ensure that your objective and goal together with their open position meets their standards and fits well with their own goals and objectives. Secondly, they will focus on your skills and prior work experience in order to determine what you will bring to the table if they hire you for one of their open positions.

Another thing the majority of employers look for when reviewing resumes is spelling and grammar mistakes. This may seem like nit-picking but a great deal can be gained from weeding out applicants who have not taken the time to proofread their resumes. If an employer notices that your resume is packed full of spelling and grammar mistakes, they are likely to put a stop to your application process and may pass up your resume all together.

Why Do Employers Care About Spelling And Grammar?

When an employer notices an onslaught of spelling and grammar mistakes they may come to the conclusion that you are not serious about the position that you are applying for. Additionally, they may come to believe that you are not a person who puts a great deal of effort into your work. Instead,  they are sure to get the impression that you are the type of person who “can get the job done” but are not the type of person who cares about “getting the job done right.”

When a person does not focus on the spelling and grammar within their resume, it simply shows a potential employer that you don’t follow things through. Instead, you are the type of person who likes to get the job done, even if the job isn’t done 100% correct. This is a very bad first impression to present a potential employer. That is why it is 100% vital that you ensure that you fully and completely proofread each and every aspect of your resume to ensure that there are no mistakes with your spelling or grammar.

How Can I Be Sure That I Have No Grammar Or Spelling Mistakes In My Resume?

First and foremost, if you use a software writing program like Microsoft Word you should very easily be able to tell if you have any spelling mistakes. You can also check your basic grammar with this software program. However, the best way to catch mistakes is to simply read your resume out loud after you have composed it. When reading something out loud you can easily find mistakes and can correct them.

Additionally, you should have a third person read your resume for you. Other people who have not been focused on the creation of the resume may be able to look at it with fresh eyes and find mistakes that you may have missed even if you have followed the two previous steps.

There is no doubting the importance of creating a resume that is free of all grammar and spelling mistakes.  Never submit a resume to an employer unless you have completely proofread and corrected your resume from the first word to the last.

For help in developing your resume, try the free CareerRush Resume Builder. Our template based, printable resume wizard can help you create a professional looking resume in a matter of minutes and is free to jobseekers.

Resume Writing Help: Free Printable Resume Builders Online

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resumeThere are several elements that go into creating a dynamic and effective resume. Each of these elements must receive proper attention in order for your resume to be professional and in order for it to be an effective tool that you can use to acquire the job of your dreams. If a single portion of your resume is out of place or is not formatted properly, you can be certain that your resume is not going to be effective at assisting you in acquiring gainful employment.

When crafting your resume, you are simply building a written representation of yourself. This will include your work history, special skills, references, and even your personal objective in the workforce. Each of these elements must receive great care and consideration. If a single element proves to be ineffective, your entire resume will greatly suffer.

With that in mind, you should consider seeking out and obtaining free printable resume builders online. With these free printable resume builders you can create a sturdy and effective foundation for your resume and can rest assured that your resume will generate the type of results that you so desire.

How Do Free Printable Resume Builders Assist In Resume Creation?

Free printable resume builders act as guides to ensure to that you don’t miss a single thing when you are putting your resume together. Additionally, most of these free printable resume builders are built with the beginner in mind. They include descriptions of what should go in each section and can assist you in successfully building your resume with very little effort. They act as outlines which you can simply complete in order to put your entire resume together. This will not only ensure that your resume is 100% accurate and formatted properly, but it will also ensure that your resume is completed in the quickest amount of time possible.

You can also obtain resume builders that are directed at specific industries. This will once again further your chances of creating a dynamic and rich resume that is specifically aimed to target the type of career that you are seeking out. With the use of a printable resume builder there is no reason why your resume you can’t be created with ease and with and accuracy.

Where Can I Obtain Free Printable Resume Builders Online?

There are literally hundreds of resume building websites which feature downloadable printable resume builders that you can take advantage of. With a simple web search you will be able to find these websites and can immediately begin downloading the printable resume builders that are directed at the specific type of job that you desire to obtain.

Just be sure that you are downloading these free printable resume builders from websites that are considered to be reputable and legitimate. You want to ensure that you are obtaining professionally designed and up to date free printable resume builders. Otherwise you will simply be wasting your time when using them to create or update your next resume.

Check out the Free CareerRush Resume Builder today and take advantage of its printable resume template wizard.

How To Use Graphics On A Resume Properly

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 In the world of resumes, there is such a thing as “overkill.” Most resume overkills come in the form of excessive images. Many people who craft their resumes attempt to be original and attempt to gain the attention of potential employees by filling their resumes with bold and eye-attracting images.  However, most people who use images in their resumes fail to use them properly and actually end up creating a resume that is cluttered and disorderly.

 This is why you must be very careful when using graphics in your resume.  There is a time and a place where it is appropriate to use images in a resume.  However, the best word of advice is not to use graphics at all. Some employers believe that people who use graphics in their resume are just attempting to distract them from a poorly formatted resume or from a resume that does not meet their standards and requested skill sets.

 Don’t use graphics at all in your resume. If you must, use them only where they are appropriate and absolutely necessary. Otherwise you will create a resume that is so loud and bold that an employer will simply not take it seriously enough and will chuck it into the trash bin. If you are serious about your resume and you want to obtain a good paying job, then you must be very careful when you use graphics of any kind.

 Are There Any Industry Standard Graphics That I Can Use?

 Last but not least, if you are set on using graphics in your resume then use graphics which are small and simple. For instance, having a simple border around the pages of your resume is acceptable. This is of course if the border does not disturb the formatting of your resume or distracts a reader from focusing on the information which you have placed in your resume. Light borders are acceptable as long as they don’t disrupt the formatting and just as long as they are not so loud that they cause distractions.

 The majority of employers just want the facts; they don’t want to read a comic book! Therefore, apart from fancy and tasteful borders, there are no industry standard graphics that are considered acceptable in resume writing.  Stick with focusing on the content and information that you are placing in your resume and don’t focus on graphics. You should be more concerned with the quality and effectiveness of your resumes ‘objective’ and cover letter, and should be less concerned with the basic artistic look of your resume.

 But I Have This Real Cool Graphic That I Really Want To Use!

 If you just have to use graphics in your resume, choose very small graphics.  In fact, limit your graphic size to images that are quarter size. This will ensure that your graphics are not too ‘in-your-face’ or cause formatting issues with your general resumes layout.

 Overall, 90% of all employers frown upon the use of graphics in resumes.  Keeping this in mind, you may wish to discard this idea no matter how cool you think your graphics are. It’s just not worth it!

Free Resume Examples In Word And Text Format

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If you are a jobseeker that is in the process of putting together your resume for the first time or are simply going about updating your resume, then you should seek out free resume examples that are in Word or Text format. The best way to go about creating your jobseeker resume is to rely on the examples of other professionals who have already had great success with their own resumes. This will allow you to discover and learn the many little and large factors such as proper formatting and what you should or shouldn’t include in your resume.

 Most people are completely clueless as to where to begin when they are putting their first resume together. However, with free resume examples in Word and Text format, you can quickly begin to take note of what these examples include and can then begin to gather this information as it relates to your own work experience. You can also be sure while using these examples that your resume will be professionally formatted so that it will immediately grab the attention of potential employers who may have the opportunity to view your resume in full.

 You should be aware that many employers will instantly discard or tuck away resumes that are not presented in the proper format or that don’t include the important information that they are looking for. Therefore, if you want your resume to truly increase your chances of getting you that dream job, then you must seek out and obtain examples which you can use to model your own resume after.

 The Importance Of Job Centric Resume Examples

 Not all resumes are built the same or should look the same. If you are currently looking for employment in a specific line of work then you will want to seek out examples of resumes that were fashioned around this specific line of work. A resume for a person looking to obtain a job as a chef will be much different than a resume for a person looking to obtain a mechanics job. The good news is that you can generally find a resume example in either Word or Text format that is focused around the type of job that you desire to obtain.

 However, if you are uncertain what type of job you are looking for or are in search of numerous types of jobs you may wish to create a general resume in addition to a specific or centric resume. This way you have a resume ready for any opportunity that may arise during your job hunting.

Learn From Those Who Have Been There

With resume examples you can rest assured that you are properly formatting your resume in a way that will grab an employer’s attention. You can also be sure that you are keeping up with the latest changes in resume structure that employers are looking for. A resume structure that may have been acceptable five years ago is probably very outdated today.

This is why it is very important to rely on resume examples to ensure that you properly formatting your resume in a respectable and professional manner.

Free Resume Examples In Word And Text Format

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If you are a jobseeker who is in the process of putting together your resume for the first time or are simply going about updating your resume, then you should seek out free resume examples that are in Word or Text format. The best way to go about creating your jobseeker resume is to rely on the examples of other professionals who have already had great success with their own resumes. This will allow you to discover and learn the many little and large factors such as proper formatting and what you should or shouldn’t include in your resume.

Most people are completely clueless as to where to begin when they are putting their first resume together. However, with free resume examples in Word and Text format, you can quickly begin to take note of what these examples include and can then begin to gather this information as it relates to your own work experience. You can also be sure while using these examples that your resume will be professionally formatted so that it will immediately grab the attention of potential employers who may have the opportunity to view your resume in full.

You should be aware that many employers will instantly discard or tuck away resumes that are not presented in the proper format or that don’t include the important information that they are looking for. Therefore, if you want your resume to truly increase your chances of getting you that dream job, then you must seek out and obtain examples which you can use to model your own resume after.

The Importance Of Job Centric Resume Examples

Not all resumes are built the same or should look the same. If you are currently looking for employment in a specific line of work then you will want to seek out examples of resumes that were fashioned around this specific line of work. A resume for a person looking to obtain a job as a chef will be much different than a resume for a person looking to obtain a mechanics job. The good news is that you can generally find a resume example in either Word or Text format that is focused around the type of job that you desire to obtain.

However, if you are uncertain what type of job you are looking for or are in search of numerous types of jobs you may wish to create a general resume in addition to a specific or centric resume. This way you have a resume ready for any opportunity that may arise during your job hunting.

Learn From Those Who Have Been There

With resume examples you can rest assured that you are properly formatting your resume in a way that will grab an employer’s attention. You can also be sure that you are keeping up with the latest changes in resume structure that employers are looking for. A resume structure that may have been acceptable five years ago is probably very outdated today.

This is why it is very important to rely on resume examples to ensure that you properly formatting your resume in a respectable and professional manner.

Access resume examples by industry and take advantage of CareerRush’s free resume distribution resources.

The Importance of Including Names of Prior Employers on Your Resume

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Prior work experience is always a good thing for anyone to include on their resume, as it will demonstrate that you have the necessary skills as well as the time to understand the job which you are applying for.  Whether you are looking for a job which is a step up from what you currently have or one that will challenge you more, showing where you have come from should always be an important part of your resume.  In addition to simply mentioning the kind of experience you’ve had, you should also include the actual names of prior employers on your resume for added impact.

Why Are Company Names Needed?

You may question why including the names of prior employers on your resume may be so important.  There are a few different answers to this question.  One of them includes the fact that employers will naturally want to do some research on anyone who they are hiring to make sure that they are as good as they say they are.  Some employers will also go so far as to contact a potential employee’s former companies to see how good of a worker they are likely to be.  This could be a scary thought for some individuals, although most companies will be more thankful that an employee was upfront about this scenario rather than trying to hide it.

There will also be circumstances where hiring companies are using a recruiter to help them find potential new employees.  These companies may be looking for people who have specific experience in their field, which is where listing your former company names can come in handy.  Larger companies may be looking for people who have experience at their rival companies, which is where you may get a leg up over the other types of competition.  The better that you are able to sell yourself, the more likely you will be to get the job.

Your Experience is an Important Quality

While there will be cases where a company may hire a less experienced person for the job, this is rarely the case.  In case a less qualified person is hired, that person will still almost certainly have high education levels, making them qualified for certain reasons.  You are going to want to sell yourself as much as possible when hunting for a new job, which is why listing specific examples of past job experience will be recommended.  That can help you to become a more attractive candidate to any recruiter or hiring employer.  Ultimately, it can help you land the job that you want.

Once you figure out how you can best sell your past job experience, you can use this to your advantage to make sure that you are as desirable a candidate for the job as you can possibly be.  The job market is a difficult one to break into, so you will need to sell yourself the best you can.  That means using every advantage that you can get, especially in the names of the companies who you worked for in the past.  In the end, it can be this single factor that helps you stand out better and get that job.

 If you are looking for a resume example that allows you to list employers, CareerRush has one for you. Download all examples for free and more now!

The Power Of A Job Interview Thank You Letter

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You know how competitive the job field can be and you understand how vitally important it can be to stand out above the rest of the crowd.  Whereas jobs have never been easy to come by, in today’s economy it is even more difficult and this means that you will want to do everything you can to call attention to yourself and set yourself apart from the rest of the competition.  One of the best ways to manage this is by sending a job interview thank you letter.  The job interview is normally the last stage that you will go through before being hired, although it may still take a little time for the decision to be made.

What Do You Need to Get Across With a Thank You Letter?

The job interview thank you letter will help you accomplish a few things.  The first and perhaps most important is that it will show that you are a courteous and conscientious worker, someone who will be thankful that they are being considered for a job and who will always show respect.  Those are qualities which any employer will want to find in the people they hire and you can prove that you are a smart addition to their team.

The thank you letter can also give you an opportunity to have one final platform where you can speak directly to those people in charge of making a decision.  You can re-iterate your most important points and use this as an opportunity to mention anything that you may not have mentioned during the interview itself.  This additional chance to speak to the employers can often be exactly what you need as a tipping point where you can make their favor swing toward hiring you.  It should be considered as a vital opportunity to make a lasting impression.

Get the Thank You Letter to Them in Time

You will need to make sure that you send off this thank you letter in a timely fashion, however.  It should be postmarked by the next day at the latest, so that the executives will get the letter before the decision has been made.  If you have the ability to email the thank you letter, you will want to make sure that you do this quickly.  That can give you the chance to get that extra little attention paid to you before a decision has been made.  You should take this as a chance to stand out a little more.

Without this thank you letter, your resume and job interview alone will be all that an executive has to consider.  While you should be able to prove that you are the best candidate with these factors alone, you must consider the chance that another applicant is just as qualified as you are.  It could be that you are second in running to this other candidate. However, thank you letter will keep you fresh in the minds of those people who interviewed, which could very well tip the scales in your favor.

Are you looking for that perfect thank you letter? CareerRush has free downloadable thank you letter examples as well as resume examples and more.

The Importance of a References Page for Your Resume

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Whenever you start to fill out a resume, you will need to collect a few people who can serve as personal references.  The idea of personal references is to help employers get a general impression of how good of a worker you were in the past and your special qualities and benefits, as well as how well you fit into a team.  Some people feel that references are just useless parts of a resume, as in the past it was rare that references were actually called.  This is no longer the case, however, as employers are paying more attention than ever before to references on resumes.

Why Are References Important?

You may wonder why references are now becoming a more important feature of completing a resume.  The answer is that turnover rates are now much higher than ever before and companies are ideally trying to cut this number down as much as they can.  Therefore, they are interested in seeing how any given applicant has behaved in the past so that they can get a better idea of how that person will fit into their team and how long that person is likely to stay on.  This means that you will need to make sure that you provide some of the best references possible.

The references that you list on your resume may or may not be called, but you are going to want to make sure that you list people who will provide a good impression of you.  In the event that these individuals are called to give a statement about you as a worker, you will want to make sure that they are going to say something positive about you.  It is important to make sure that you collect the contact information of people who are sure to give you a positive recommendation.

Contact Your References First

It is always a good idea to let your references know that you are planning on using their name on a resume.  You should tell them about the job that you are applying for and explain what the position may entail.  This can help your references give you a better recommendation based on the factors that the new employer may wish to hear about.  This can help you to best prepare your references for helping you to land the new job and ultimately better your career.

There are sure to be people from your former working experiences who may not like you that much.  Sometimes people will just rub each other the wrong way.  Make sure you avoid mentioning any of them and only mention those references who did like you and who would be willing to give the best possible recommendation to your future employer.  That is going to help you to make the best impression that you possibly can.  Your references may be a final decision maker toward you landing the job which you are after; make sure that you think long and hard before you include just anyone as a part of your resume.

CareerRush offers examples of every part of a resume. From the resume itself all the way to the follow up thank you letter. Download free resume examples and more now.