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Luckily, there are now tons of resources available that make resume writing much easier. In particular, online resume builders and downloadable writing software can do more than samples and templates ever could in guiding you through the writing process. So if you're looking for assistance in writing a resume, you may want to look into using an online or downloadable resume builder.
What is an Online Resume Builder?
An online resume builder is a tool that offers user-friendly, step-by-step guidance for writing resumes. Usually providing assistance through a wizard, you are asked questions about your career and background to help you create a resume specific to your field. The reason resume builders are so popular is that many help you sort out problems like determining whether to choose between a chronological, functional or hybrid style. Also, most offer spell check tools and other writing tips to help keep you on track.
Most effective online resume builders come with a price tag attached; you usually can expect to pay a one-time fee of anywhere from $10 to $15 to create one resume. And if you want to go back to edit existing resumes or create more, you may have to pay a monthly fee – but for that monthly fee you are likely to get extras like the ability to apply for existing jobs, post your resumes online, and even create cover letters and follow-up letters.
Resume Writing Software Packages
In addition to using online resume building services, you can download software packages that work similarly to help you write and edit your resume. Many of them, once downloaded, offer the same types of job-searching tools and help with resume distribution that the online resume builders offer.
In fact, there doesn't seem to be a huge difference between the resume software package and the online resume builder except that one you download to your hard drive and the other you have to visit the website to work from. And most fall into the $20 to $50 price range, which is not bad for the service you're receiving.
Don't Forget the Essentials
While the resume builders are great at helping you organize and write clean, error-free resumes, you still want to remember resume-writing essentials like conducting research on the company, and using action words instead of duty-oriented phrases during the writing process. Though the resume building website or software can give you writing tips, it cannot do the extra work for you that will heighten your chances of getting called in for an interview, so keep this in mind throughout the writing process.
Using a resume builder or downloadable writing program is a quick and easy way to create a professional resume. So the next time you need to write yours - and you're short on time and money - you might want to try one out. The added expertise and guidance may be just what you need to increase your chances of landing your next great job.
It's a dog pile of bad news - plants closing, banks foreclosing, thousands more out of work just today. If you're somewhere in the middle of that pile, you already know that "recession" has a human face. Maybe you've got a resume, but it's getting you nowhere. Or maybe you haven't yet started to work on that resume, and you're wondering how to make it the best it can be. It's got to be the best it can be - competition demands it.
What About Resume Software?
A resume builder (i.e., resume software) is an interactive tool to help you craft your own resume. Some you buy off the shelf at your office supply superstore. Others are downloadable straight from the internet - and available to use within minutes.
There's Good News, And There's Bad News
The good news is that many of them work well, quite well. Of these, if you can compose a straightforward sentence and follow step-by-step instructions, you can create a resume to be proud of. The bad news is that a lot of these resume builders are junk. Here are 3 things to keep in mind when looking for a product that will deliver real value.
1) Relevant Bells And Whistles
There are a lot of bells and whistles out there, with each product trying to distinguish itself in the marketplace. The question is, what is relevant? Some are obvious. Help with phrasing is relevant. Spell check is relevant. A list of action verbs is relevant. The ability to work up a companion cover letter is relevant. One company's online resume builder displays thumbnails of all the resumes you've created, organized by the modification date. And it keeps track of which companies you've submitted to, and which resume version each received. Those little extras become more and more valuable the longer your job search.
2) Formatting Options
MS Word remains the standard format for resumes. But a resume formatted in MS Word won't always cut it. For example, if you plan to post your resume to an online job site, you'll likely need that resume formatted in ASCII text. If an employer requests a resume as a PDF attachment to an email, clearly you'll have to be able to accommodate. So give extra points to the resume builder that offers or facilitates formatting in ASCII text, PDF, HTML, and RTF.
3) Ease Of Use
Often you can't tell how easy a product is to use until you use it - then it's too late to discover it's no good. You can get an idea, though, with a bit of study. For those companies offering online resume builders, visit their websites and see that they navigate smoothly, that key information is readily available and well organized. Odds are their builders will be likewise well organized and easy to use. At least one company I reviewed lets you build your resume before paying for it; you can study the finished product from every angle before deciding if it's worth the money.
Final Thoughts...
Can resume software make a difference? It can. Keep in mind that it won't write the resume for you. Still, a good resume builder can do the heavy lifting of template design, layout and organization, formatting, help with phrasing, and error checking. And that might be just enough to fight your way out of the dog pile.