By David Alan Carter

Free resume samples… the Internet is full of resume examples there for the taking. So, how about we copy and paste the content from these free resume samples directly onto your resume? Not so fast.

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Free resume samples can be found at any number of websites on the Internet. Whether you’re an accountant or a wellhead pumper, a little bit of Web surfing will uncover a treasure trove of free resume samples. And if you listen closely, you can hear the gentle sound of the sirens singing. Yes, it’s tempting to simply copy and paste content from those samples directly onto the resume you’re struggling to write. It’s tempting. It’s easy. But is it smart?

Those Resume Samples Are Free – For A Reason

Here are two points might seem obvious, but are too often ignored in the heat of the moment (that moment when you uncover that seemingly ‘perfect’ resume sample that all but has your name at the top).

1) You don’t know where that sample has been.

OK – I sound like a mother scolding a child to take that shoe (or pencil, or dirt clod, or toilet brush) out of his mouth. But sometimes, mothers know best. In the case of the free resume samples you might uncover on the internet, there’s no telling how many times that text has been copied and pasted onto documents. In other words, you don’t know where it’s been.

If a recruiter has seen the exact same objective and summary language on eight resumes that have come across his desk

that morning

, how do you think he’ll react when he sees the exact same text on your resume? Not favorably, I suspect.

2) You don’t know if the sample you’re tempted to copy was effective.

What’s the background on the resume you’re tempted to copy? Did it land its owner an interview? Or did it scare away every potential employer until the owner finally gave up and went back to school? You likely don’t know. And even if the outcome of the owner’s job search is posted, the internet is notoriously untrustworthy. Here’s a question: if you copy text straight from a lousy resume, what does that make your resume? There’s a reason for the old axiom,

garbage in, garbage out

.

Unless you have it on good authority that some particular resume sample is a real gem, it’s just as likely a lump of coal. The trouble is, many folks who aren’t trained in resume writing simply can’t tell just by looking at a resume if it satisfies all the criteria that hiring officials are looking for. Is it formatted for maximum benefit of the candidate’s qualifications? Is it keyword rich? Does it demonstrate subtle branding techniques that set the candidate apart from his/her competitors? Is it sufficiently promotional without seeming biased?

So, Is There Any Use For Those Free Resume Samples?

You don’t need to be afraid of the free resume samples that you might find on the internet. Check them out, by all means. But instead of copying text verbatim, put those samples to better use by studying the different formats (the style and structure of the resume, including the breakdown of categories) and the content – with respect to the way the author chose to phrase responsibilities, accomplishments, etc. Use resume samples as a source from which to glean ideas, and as an opportunity to immerse yourself in the language of the craft.

Take the lessons learned from studying those samples, and apply those lessons

with originality

toward the crafting of your own document. By avoiding the look-alike text that every Tom, Dick and Harry has glommed onto, you’re more likely to build a professional tribute to an actual individual, and subsequently attract the eye of a hiring official. And that’s the goal.

About the Author: David Alan Carter is a former recruiter. Writing for the website

BestResumeServices.org

Carter has identified the

Best Resume Writing Services

on the Web. And for those happy with their resume, consider

Resume Distribution Services

to save time and gain exposure.

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=602463&ca=Career