5 free resume templates | last resume templates you’ll use

5 F R E E R E S U M E
T E M P L A T E S
L A S T R E S U M E T E M P L A T E S Y O U ’ L L U S E

Your resume is your primary marketing
piece and your first chance to catch an
employer’s attention.

In order to stand out from the other
applicants and be among those
who are called for an interview,
your resume must be well written
and well formatted.

Use this guide and the templates to
create a resume that will make a
stellar first impression.

ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS
There are certain things that every good
resume must have in it’s content

T
Heading
Objective OR Personal Profile
Work Experience
Education
Essential Components

Heading
Having your contact information at the top makes it easy
for an employer to find it and contact you to schedule an
interview.

First, put your name (in a larger
font than the rest) at the top of
the page.

Underneath your name, include
your contact info (phone number,
address, and email) in the regular
font size that you will use for the
body of the resume or smaller.

Objective
OR
Personal Profile

Next, you could write an objective.
Writing a good objective can be tricky because it is intended to state what you
are trying to accomplish (specifically, which job you are trying to attain), yet it
should be focused on how you would benefit the employer.

Refer to the specific
job you are applying
for in the objective,
and make the
objective concise and
specific.

See the examples in the original resume
blog here:
www.localwork.com/blog/5-free-resume-
templates-last-resume-templates-youll-use

Objectives are sometimes seen as outdated, so you might
want to consider your other option, a personal profile.

This is a short summary of
your skills, experiences,
attributes, and unique
qualifications that make you
the best candidate for the
job. It’s a little easier to
stand out through a
personal profile than an
objective.

Another benefit of the profile is that even
if it’s all an employer reads, he will at
least get a good summary of you and
what you have to offer.

Your profile should be concise (between 1-4 sentences) and
it can be in paragraph or bullet form.

It is important to choose skills
and qualifications of yours that
match the job description.
Therefore, your profile should be
adjusted to highlight different
qualifications depending on the
job for which you are applying.

Work Experience
Put your most recent job first, followed by the
second most recent, etc.

Third, include your relevant work
experience. For each job, include
your job title, the company it was
with, the location, the dates you
started and ended, and the
outcomes of your work.

Go beyond simply listing the responsibilities you had, and
instead focus on what you were able to do for the company
and how you made a difference.

Flaunt specific numbers if
possible, like how much you
increased sales, cut costs, or
slashed the turnover rate. Also,
include some of the key words
and phrases written in the job
posting of the company you are
applying for.

If they are looking for an “experienced
sales associate to reach sales goals,
deliver excellent customer service, and
be an effective team member,” then
focus on how you reached sales goals,
helped customers with their needs, and
collaborated well with coworkers in your
past work.

Education
Include the college you graduated from or are currently attending, your
major, and the dates you started and ended.

Education goes below the job
experience on the resume, unless
you are still a student, in which
case the education section
belongs at the top.

Spelling and grammatical
errors: spell check, reread
your resume multiple times,
and have someone else
proofread it for you.
THE ALWAYS AVOID LIST

This is especially important if
the job you’re applying for is
one that requires attention to
detail.

Avoid lies and half-truths.
Don’t be dishonest about job
dates and don’t make it look
like you’ve graduated if you
haven’t. In short, just be
honest.

Pamela Skillings from biginterview.com said,
“If you lie on your resume, you’re taking a big risk. First of all, you’re very likely
to get busted during the background and reference checks. Even if you get
lucky and make it through the hiring process, dishonesty on your resume can
get you fired down the road — even if you’ve been doing a great job…Another
common fib is with languages. Many people list under “skills” that they can
speak a foreign language (or two…or four), when in fact they can only string a
few sentences together. Don’t think you won’t eventually be found out – you
will. And trust me, it’s tough to learn Japanese in a weekend.”

Don’t make it too long. Your
resume should be about a
page unless you’re a very
experienced professional in
which case your resume
could potentially be 2
pages.

Be concise and use the space on
the page efficiently, although don’t
use a font that is too small to read
and don’t take away all margins.
Some white space on the page
makes the resume look pleasing to
the eye and more reader-friendly.

Never list references directly
on your resume. List them on
a separate sheet and only
provide them if requested.

Don’t use the words “I” or “we”.
If you used one of these words on
one line, you would have to on every
line, which would be redundant and
unnecessary.

Outcomes vs. Tasks/Duties
When writing what you did at past jobs in your “Experience” section,
don’t just list generic job descriptions that describe your usual
duties and responsibilities.

If the employer reading your
resume is in the same field,
chances are he or she will
know more or less what you
did in the day-to-day just by
reading the job title.
WRITING FUNDAMENTALS

Highlight only unique and
really relevant duties from
previous jobs, and then use
most of the space to tell how
well you did your job. In other
words, tell them about your
completed projects,
significant achievements, and
specific numbers and facts
that show your success.

For example, phrases like, “Increased
sales by 15%” or “Ranked 2nd among
sales representatives in customer
retention” are specific achievements
that back up the skills and abilities
you say you have.

If you don’t have numbers
to support you, be specific
in describing your
achievements with
detailed words. Focusing
on the outcomes of your
work makes you stand out
from other people with
similar job duties and
shows you are unique in
your success.

Your achievements demonstrate that
you didn’t just do a job, you did it well,
you are hard-working and ambitious,
and you have the motivation to go
above and beyond.

Katharine Hansen, a professional resume writer at Quintessential Careers, advises to
ask yourself, “how have I helped this company to…”
make money
save money
save time
make work easier and more efficient
solve a specific problem
be more competitive
build relationships
expand the business
attract new customers
retain existing customers

Write in Past or Present Tense?
When writing about past jobs that you no longer have, write in
past tense. When writing about your current job, write in
present tense.

When writing about projects
or other things you did in the
past at your current job but
that you no longer do, write
them in past tense and only
use present tense for your
current responsibilities.

Active vs. Passive Voice
You want to show that you’re a competent, aggressive, and
active candidate. Passive voice does not reflect that!

While some people write in
passive voice on their resume
because it sounds formal, it
actually comes across as
boring, unimpressive, and,
well, passive.

Avoid phrases like
“duties included,” and
“responsible for.”
These are what would be
seen on a job description.

Instead, choose action-
oriented verbs such as:
managed, organized,
increased, created, led,
directed, oversaw,
improved, solved.

Not only do these
words sound more
impressive, but they
also help create more
concise and direct
sentences.

Passive: Biweekly sales goals
were reached 97 % of the time.
Active: Achieved sales goals
97% of the time.

Passive: Responsible for hiring
and training new employees.
Active: Hired and trained new
employees.

See more great word choices here:
http://www.careerbliss.com/infographics
/20-resume-power-words-infographic/

KEY TIPS
Here are a few important guidelines to pay attention to
beyond just the content of your resume.

Still in School?
If you are still in school and have little work experience, you can include
jobs you had in high school, volunteer experience, college
clubs/organizations you are involved in, and internships.
KEY TIPS

However, after college
and as you progress in
your career, remove
these and only include
more relevant and
recent information.
KEY TIPS

Switch Up Your Resume!!!
Avoid using one generic resume for all job applications.
KEY TIPS

Tailor your resume to each job
you apply for and the specific
skills and characteristics they are
looking for in an employee. It is a
good idea to have a few different
versions of resumes to pull from.
KEY TIPS

For example, you might
have one resume that
highlights your experience
and skills in marketing,
another in product
development, and another
in sales.
KEY TIPS

Then, depending on the job
you are applying for, you
can adjust these versions
even more to the specific
position you want to obtain.

Make it Look Good
While content is most important, making your resume visually
appealing could also help get an employer’s attention.
KEY TIPS

A resume that is pleasing to the
eye demonstrates your
professionalism and attention to
detail. A simple and thin font is
best, such as Tahoma, Book
Antiqua, or Georgia.
KEY TIPS

Keep the font size between 9-12
so it is easy to read. Be
professional and avoid making an
artsy-looking resume with clip art
or pictures, or excessive color,
designs, or lines.

Make your resume well
organized so it is easy to skim
and find the most important
information. Make the headings
clear, avoid excessive and
cramped text, and stick to short
paragraphs and bullets.
KEY TIPS

If an employer only looks at
your resume for a few seconds,
it needs to be clear and easy to
navigate so he can find what
he’s looking for.

Bullet 411
Bullets make your resume more reader-friendly and concise.
KEY TIPS

Be consistent in bulleting,
either use them throughout or
don’t use them at all. In your
“Experience” section, each job
should have 2-5 bullet points.
Make each point count! Don’t
put too many words per bullet.
1-2 lines are all you need.
KEY TIPS

USE A TEMPLATE
Once all of your content is written and in order, an easy way to
make a well-formatted resume is to use a template.
KEY TIPS

“A good template can really help you streamline your resume and keep it organized and professional
without taking up a lot of your time, allowing you to focus on the actual content, as well as searching for
your next job. It helps you add a touch of personality, stay structured and consistent and present your
experience in a chronological, easy to read manner.”
Why use a template? As explained on hloom.com,

However, when everyone
uses the same template, it
no longer stands out. To
avoid coming across as
the same-old generic
resume, use a quality
template as a guide, and
then change a few things
to make it yours.
KEY TIPS

ONCE YOUR RESUME IS
READY TO GO…

Saving Your Resume
It’s important to save your resume (and cover letter) as a
PDF file if you are submitting it electronically.
ONCE YOUR RESUME IS READY TO GO…

If a company doesn’t have the
same program or version of
Word that you have, your format
could be altered in the transfer,
and all of your hard work put
into formatting would be a
waste.

If you save your resume as a
PDF, it will definitely be received
in its original format.

Naming Your File
Include your full name in the resume title.

If an employer receives 50
resumes and they’re all
named, “myresume.doc”,
he’s going to have a hard
time distinguishing who they
belong to.

Include your full name in the
resume title. For example,
“Ashley Smith Resume”, or
“Resume for Ashley Smith.”

Printing for In-Person Submission
Spend a few cents extra and print your resume on high
quality white or ivory paper.

Consider using resume
paper, which can be
purchased at office supply
stores. It makes a
professional first
impression, which is an
especially good idea when
applying to a more formal
position/company.

Print the cover letter and
resume on separate sheets
of paper, never print double-
sided. Avoid stapling your
cover letter and resume
together. The best option is
to submit them in a folder.

Even if you don’t need to
submit a paper copy of your
resume when applying, it’s a
good idea to have a few copies
on-hand when you go to an
interview (for you or the
interviewers to refer to).

Match Your Cover Letter

Since the cover letter and
resume go together, you
want to be consistent and
make sure they match
visually. This will show your
attention to detail and
professionalism.

Here are some great rules of thumb
to consider

Use the same
font(s) in both your
cover letter and
resume.
RULES OF THUMB TO CONSIDER

For in-person
submission, print both
on the same high-
quality paper.

Match the formatting. For
example, if you use lines to
separate sections in your
resume, use those lines in
the header and footer of the
cover letter. If you use an
accent color in your resume,
use it in the cover letter.
Whatever format you
choose, use it on both
pages.

For more information on how
to write an excellent cover
letter, visit this link:
www.localwork.com/blog/best-cover-letter-ever-ultimate-
cover-letter-guide

5 free resume templates | last resume templates you’ll use

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