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free resume builder or templates?

(35 posts) (12 voices)

Started 16 years ago by funkymom
Latest reply from wizzard_of_ozz2004

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funkymom
Member

hi my ever-helpful gaotd forum buddies!

this is a drive-by posting, since i am busy trying to get myself ready to find a job.

does anyone know of some free resume templates or a resume builder? i could really use something nice to help me in my return to the work force.

i will keep checking in and will hopefully have accomplished enough today so that i can catch up on all the forum goodies tonight. i hope you guys/gals are posting some exciting stuff!

thank you so much, in advance.

funkymom

(this post does belong in software talks, right?)

Posted 16 years ago #
graylox
Moderator

Good luck - good luck - good luck !!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted 16 years ago #
delenn13
Minbari Ambassador

I have pretty much run into a brick wall as far as templates/free software etc. Most of it is scamware. I even glanced through Open Office to see what I could find there. Nada. If you don't have Word, get Open Office to type your resume. I use it a lot and it is free. http://www.openoffice.org/

However, I did find some info/tips etc that might help. This is from a University..
http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/Resumes/Resume1.htm
Click on ....Purpose of the resume, Formats and samples, Software and templates etc. Lots of info there.

Then I thought..check out monster.com... :) http://career-advice.monster.com/resume-writing-basics/entry-level-jobs/Avoid-the-Top-10-Resume-Mistakes/home.aspx
Lots of good stuff there. Just look around the links.. And here too http://career-advice.monster.com/Home.aspx

Hopefully this will help since I really couldn't find any FREE software.

Oh, and..Good Luck! :)

Posted 16 years ago #
FreewareFan
Member

Many free templates here, in different formats:

http://www.collegegrad.com/resume/resumemaker.shtml

Free Online Resume Maker:

Resumizer the Free Resume Creator Online
http://resumizer.com/

Posted 16 years ago #
delenn13
Minbari Ambassador

Yeam FWF came through for us..but look at his nick. That say it all :)

Posted 16 years ago #
goodgotd
Member

Only thing I have to give is 16 years old: make it all fit on one page plus cover page. If they gotta read past that, it's usually ignored.

Although for amusement:

http://riu.com.ua/content/view/31/lang,en/
Templates of the resume
Models will help below you to compose the resume, which can be boldly sent to employer. Models are differed from each other in terms of formulation. Select any to your taste. The texts of resume are drawn off in size RTF - they edit in program Word.

3 RTF formats. from russia, with...

http://www.rockportinstitute.com/resumes.html
WRITE A RESUME THAT GENERATES RESULTS

http://www.filebuzz.com/fileinfo/34324/Cover_Letter_Creator.html
Cover Letter Creator v1.0.0

Search mission continues....

Posted 16 years ago #
delenn13
Minbari Ambassador

Yes, goodgotd is correct. Short and to the point.

I tried this search in google..... got tons of hits

http://www.google.com/search?num=50&hl=en&lr=lang_en&safe=off&q=example+resume&btnG=Search

Posted 16 years ago #
goodgotd
Member

FWIW, as well, if you have lots of different experience (especially *types* of qualifications) type it into a master document, then chop copies of it down to fit a prospective job app. :-)

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

thank you guys so much! i knew i could count on you.

i spent the whole afternoon in the library, studying the art of writing a resume and i learned a lot. i went to the library to get away from the 3year old soundtrack of my life and discovered that libraries are no longer "quiet" places. it was like a daycare center in there! not only were these children louder than my daughter, there were so many of them. plus, the woman at the table next to mine, had her cell phone ringer on loud, answered it when it rang and spoke at normal volume.

i also found some stuff on my own, including some of the links you all have referred me to.

delenn- i started using microsoft works, which was included with my computer, but they had very few options for templates/layouts. so i figured that they probably have more options online, and lo and behold i found a whole "template community"! i didn't spend too much time looking, but it seems to be people who create templates and offer them up. i think anyone can post theirs. (here is the link, in case anyone needs this info in the future: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/FX100595491033.aspx?pid=CL100632981033)
they have all kinds of templates, not just resumes (but a huge selection of resumes too).

i know that i could probably just do this myself, but i'm putting my energy into the information. and, i really want a nice (unique/creative) looking resume. i haven't worked since my pregnancy, 4 years ago, and before that i was a career waitress. which i'm not interested in pursuing now. i know that in my 17 years working in customer service (waitressing, bartending, supervising, kitchen, retail, etc.) and my 3 years of being a mother, i definitely have plenty of marketable skills. i just need to present them in the right way. that's the tricky part for me.

goodgotd and delenn thanks for the advice on keeping it short and to the point. after my day of studying, i can tell you that all the experts agree.

thanks fwf for the links

thanks graylox for the good wishes!

:D

Posted 16 years ago #
lizil
Member

http://sourceforge.net/search/?type_of_search=soft&type_of_search=soft&words=resume+builder

625 listed, there must be one good one in there

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

lizil- thats awesome! i'll check it out.
thank you.

Posted 16 years ago #
RunesageMagik
Member

Funky, check your Dadaism Reels (or Admiral Seeds)

Also, here are a couple more sites to peruse. I'm sure you've found that search terms such as mommytrack and networking, workforce reentry and resume writing guide kick out a lot of hits. (you might be much younger than the term "midlife" connotes... please don't take offense!)

http://www.midlifecareers.com/networking.html
http://www.career-tests-guide.com/
http://www.pa-awis.org/Women's_issues/gender_and_career.htm

Posted 16 years ago #
goodgotd
Member

Probably redundant, but another item: make sure your contact info is a bit bigger or bold, and right at the top, so a second pass look finds how to get ahold of you fast & easy.

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

you all rock!

i had a lot of trouble getting online today- i thought i completely broke my computer(more info in another post)! i somehow fixed it on my own, which is making me lean even closer to some sort of computer degree/certificate. i start school on thursday, for the first time in 20 years(!). i will be taking a course that is all about returning to school/workforce and continue from there.

thanks again, for all the great links and advice.

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

help!!

there is a specific job that i would like to apply for (quickly). it says to e-mail resume and (Send Microsoft Word or WordPerfect attachments only).

my computer has microsoft works- i don't think i have word. in fact, i wanted to d/l one of the resumes ,from the microsoft template link, for reference and i couldn't because i don't have word.

any suggestions?
how is works different from word?

thank you.

Posted 16 years ago #
RunesageMagik
Member

Funky, as I understand it, Works is a "suite" whereas Word is a standalone full appl. They have different architectures, so while both can handle document files (.DOC), Works lacks all the functionality and likely won't recognize any template that requires functions outside its range. If you prepare a SIMPLE resume (no bells or whistles formatting) and save it as a DOC file, it "should" open in WORD.

HR/Personnel offices often make unreasonable demands in job solicitations (e.g., MUST KNOW the latest greatest software) inadvertently reducing the pool of potentially qualified candidates. If the company minions were competent, they should have posted a broader request for DOC files instead of narrowly stating WORD. However, there's no way to know how picky they are and obviously you could make a bad impression if you send a document that won't open or appeared garbled.

I could help (I have Word), but you might try following a step by step convert from Works to Word:
http://www.av.k12.mo.us/documents/works2office.html

Another thought - did you just "SAVE" the Word template, or did you try "SAVE AS" and save it as a WORKS format? It might open that way, but then you'd have to make sure to reverse the process and also "SAVE AS" a Word DOC when you're ready to save it!

http://bizgrok.com/help/msproducts/

http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&as_qdr=all&q=convert+microsoft+works+to+word+&btnG=Search

Then again, you might find an acceptable Works-formatted template here since you're in a rush! -
http://www.collegegrad.com/resumes/quickstart/socialwk.shtml

Posted 16 years ago #
graylox
Moderator

Hi, funky, you write also about wordPerfekt. Perhaps you can download the 20-day trial-version

http://www.download.com/WordPerfect-Office/3000-2079_4-10294849.html

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

thanks guys- graylox you gave me the idea to look for a trial version.

i found this- a 60 day trial:

http://us1.trymicrosoftoffice.com/default.aspx?culture=en-US

would somebody mind taking a look to see if this will
1) suit my needs
2) is worth it

thank you so much!

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

is anyone around to help me?

i'll just have to hope and check back later.

:D

Posted 16 years ago #
graylox
Moderator

sorry, funky, I can't answer your question, but here is another, and better alternative. I could not remember it before. I think that will do it, AbiWord writes "Word" and "WordPerfect", is FREEE and not so heavy. Good Luck , I hope this will help you.
Gray

http://www.abisource.com/tour/

Posted 16 years ago #
graylox
Moderator

here is the how-to :

http://www.abisource.com/help/en-US/howto/howtoword.html

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

thanks graylox- i came across those programs, but i'm not sure that it will be acceptable for the company i'm applying to.

if i can't figure it out by tomorrow, i'll have to fax it over (i don't know why i trust e-mail and not faxes), assuming, of course, that i finish the resume itself.

Posted 16 years ago #
LeKanaw
Member

Hi Funky,
Sorry I didn't have anything to contribute or help u with...

Don't forget to tell us how u resolved it and if u succeeded in send it in time.
Pulling for you.
Also Good Luck w your school début 2morrow.
You'll see, it's going to be FANTASTIKK!!! :>)
Peace, M

Posted 16 years ago #
AlexSJ
Member

Last year I bought the Ashampoo Office version. I had downloaded one of their free programs and kept receiving offers ever thereafter (lots of them ...) I guess since they were getting ready for the 2008 version, I got the 2006 version at $ 5 http://www2.ashampoo.com/webcache/html/1/product_2_0238__.htm
Now, it can save text documents as doc (Word Documents) and on my tests I could find no problem of opening them in Word. Same goes for Excel. That might be an alternative if you don't have Office.

One other thing I like to do for resumes is to look at both job offers and actual resumes you can find on the net from whoever. This gives you plenty of VIP key words that well, the HR people scan for. Try to integrate these using a dose of caution (don't claim you are bilingual if you are not .. etc) Computer skills, don't bother putting down Windows 98 - use recent programs. Make yourself a nice header for the document - search for a nice banner grafic (nothing funky, professional looking, to do with the job you are applying for) on the web, add your name big and bold. If possible use this element in the e-mail as well (consistency in appearance)
Modify the master and use slightly different ones for different jobs, but keep a good record of where you sent what.

Pura vida, AlexSJ

Posted 16 years ago #
goodgotd
Member

AFAIK, works has Word. just not the rest of Office.

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

goodgotd- what is AFAIK and where do i find it?

alexsj- thanks for the advice. i've been reading so many resumes for basic examples, phrasing, etc. and i am way too honest a person to even consider lying on a resume. i'm getting sweaty palms just thinking about it. i'm not even comfortable with exaggerations.

Posted 16 years ago #
delenn13
Minbari Ambassador

AFAIK= as far as I know :0

Google could be your friend.

Now I am going to start dinner.

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

doh! (smacks forehead)

i sometimes completely forget about search engines, which is wierd because i use them a lot.

goodgotd- i'm checking into it now.

Posted 16 years ago #
graylox
Moderator

hi, funkymom, you know, that I'm addicted to dictionaries, here are 3 out of my collection :

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Internet_slang#F
http://www.acronymfinder.com/

most fun (but perhaps sometimes offending)
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=AFAIK

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

thanks graylox-

i forgot that i recently bought a tiny book called instant messaging for dummies (it was $1), and of course, afaik was in it.

goodgotd- works has something call works word processor, but it doesn't seem to be word. i went to the m$ website and looked at the product info for works 8. they specifically call it word processor and i just found this statement:Works 8 lets you share and edit word processing and spreadsheet files with Microsoft Word and Excel users.

that definitely sounds like it's a different program. they just want me to spend $$$ on word in addition to what i have.

Posted 16 years ago #

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