Resume, Cover Letter and ResumeHelp Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely! ResumeHelp features only experienced career coaches and resume writers creating all the information about resumes and cover letters on the site.

ResumeHelp’s resume builder makes it easy to build an impressive resume in mere minutes. Here’s how it works:

• Choose your favorite resume style from a vast array of professional-quality templates.
• Fill out each section of the template — we’ll help you!
• Proofread and edit your resume.
• Save and download it.
• Customize your resume to suit the job for which you’re applying.
• Send it to the employer along with your cover letter.

You can write a resume in just 15 minutes using our resume builder.

Whether you use a resume builder is a personal decision, but there are clearly benefits to using builders. Benefits include:

• Streamlining the resume creation process after you enter some basic information.
• Having a professional-quality resume in minutes.
• Getting pre-written suggested text that’s been approved by experts.
• Choosing from hundreds of attractive resume designs.
• Having a document that’s guaranteed to pass the applicant tracking system (ATS).
• The ability to quickly customize your resume for each job you apply to.

The best resume builder is the one that fits your needs and helps you land a job. A great builder will help you do all of the following:

• Create a stellar resume in a matter of minutes.
• Allow you to customize the resume as you apply for a variety of jobs.
• Offer pre-written phrases to match your experience and help you pass the applicant tracking system.
• Make downloading in multiple formats quick and easy.

Absolutely! You can download and save your resume in multiple formats, including Word.

A resume template is a useful tool that:

• Provides the overall structure and design of a resume.
• Organizes your professional information within a professionally designed framework.
• Gives your resume a polished look.
• Is a reliable blueprint for a successful resume.

The best resume template will be designed differently depending on your career path. Accountants, for example, should use a clean, basic design, whereas copywriters or graphic designers may want a template that is a little more unusual or daring.

After choosing the best resume template for your needs, then it’s time to write your resume. ResumeHelp’s resume builder helps you do this section by section quickly and easily. Just click “Build Your Resume,” and we will walk you through the steps to fill out each section. We’ll even provide relevant keywords and give you tips throughout the process. You’ll have the chance to save your progress along the way and edit your work before you save and download your final resume.

ResumeHelp’s professional resume and cover letter templates are created by certified professionals and are recruiter-approved.

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a software program that recruiters and hiring managers use to scan resumes and cover letters for relevance to job openings. They look for keywords and phrases that match the job description and rank candidates based on how much their resumes and cover letters meet the employer’s requirements for the position.

Yes! ResumeHelp’s resume templates are optimized for (applicant tracking system) ATS software. Our professionally designed, recruiter-approved templates ensure proper placement of your information, correct use of headers and footers, appropriate fonts, and clear margins. Having all those pieces in place makes it easy for ATS programs to accept resumes.

A resume example is a guide for job applicants who want inspiration for writing their resumes. Resume samples show job seekers how to format their resumes, help them choose the best design for their experience level, industry and job title, and can provide insight into resume writing best practices.

To get the best use of a resume example:

• Think about the type of job you want.
• Consider your work experience.
• Select the appropriate format to showcase your accomplishments.
• Review the design, the template used to build your resume.
• Study the resume example and apply what you learn to your resume.

The resume format you choose depends on your career level, work history, skills and professional goals.

Resumes should cap out at two pages. Most job seekers will only use one page, but applicants who have 10+ years of experience may find two pages useful. A well-written resume will always be brief and direct while getting across a candidate’s qualifications accurately and clearly.

Yes! You need to create a new resume for every job you apply to. You must customize your information for each position, company and industry. No job is identical: Even when applying for roles with the same job title in the same industry, there will be variation. Ultimately, every company has varying perspectives and goals and your resume should speak to those things first and foremost. So read each job description closely and customize your resume to match it

ResumeHelp’s resume builder makes it easy to customize your resume for each job. You can start from scratch by picking a new template for every application or you can edit and rewrite a previous resume after you’ve saved it and downloaded it. Just make sure you save it with a new file name for the next job.

Transferable skills are the skills valuable in a variety of occupations, and having such skills allows you to seamlessly transition between jobs. You can transfer your skills by reading the job description. Hone in on the most important skills and highlight them. Now, rewrite your resume to include those skills wherever possible.

You can make your resume stand out by matching your skills to the job description. Employers will be impressed if you highlight your most relevant skills and experience.

Unless you are an actor or a model, you should not add your photo to your resume.

Here are the top five reasons why:

• It’s not necessary. Your resume has to be succinct and fit all your relevant qualifications, so you need all the space you can get. A photo won’t help you get an interview, but it will eat up precious space.
• It’s distracting. You want hiring managers to focus on your relevant attributes and work experience, not your photo.
• It can be used to discriminate. Whether intentional or not, a hiring manager might discriminate against you based on race, gender and age. Most companies have policies to reject resumes with photos instantly to avoid accusations of discrimination down the line.
• It is not applicant tracking system (ATS)-friendly. ATS’s which most companies use to parse and scan resumes for relevance, can not read images. If an ATS can’t scan your otherwise perfect resume because it has a photo, then it will reject it immediately, eliminating your chance to get the job.
• It is considered unprofessional. It’s true. Many hiring managers think resumes with headshots are unprofessional, primarily due to the factors listed above. Those hiring managers won’t take you seriously as a candidate and will reject you without even bothering to read your credentials.

There are several reasons to avoid using graphics and fancy fonts on your resume, including:

• Applicant tracking systems (ATS) can’t scan resumes filled with graphics and inappropriate fonts, so it’s likely your resume won’t make it to a hiring manager, and all your effort will be wasted.
• It will look like you are trying too hard, making hiring managers view you as desperate. Hiring managers don’t want desperate candidates.
• Some hiring managers view fancy resumes as showy and narcissistic — traits that are often frowned upon.
• They detract from your qualifications. Hiring managers are busy, so they need to be able to read through your resume quickly. Don’t make them look for your relevant information, or they may just move on to the next candidate.
• Some hiring managers see graphical resumes as unprofessional. Sure, a highly stylized resume might get you noticed, but not in a positive way.

Accomplishments are vital to your resume because they tell employers precisely what you can achieve for them. Add them to your work history instead of listing your responsibilities and quantify them with numbers for the most significant impact.

For example:

Instead of: “Takes vital signs, records health data, and performs procedures including venipuncture, measuring blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration, weight and height.

Try: “Measures and records health data and performs routine procedures such as venipuncture for an average of 65 patients per day with a consistent patient approval rating of 100%.”

The best way to determine which skills to use on your resume is to read the job description carefully and take note of which requirements match your skillset. List those skills on your resume, taking care to use a mix of soft and hard skills to convey that you are well-rounded.

The general rule of thumb for how much experience to show on a resume is no more than 10 years to stay current and keep your resume at the recommended two pages maximum. It is possible to show 15 to 20 years of experience if you think it’s necessary, but if you do, then keep it concise. It helps if you’ve only worked for a handful of jobs in that time and if you use a combination resume format.

Irrelevant personal details and work experience that bears no relationship to the job you’re targeting have no place on your resume.

Unless the job application instructions state “Do not send a cover letter,” you should always send a cover letter, even if the instructions do not ask for one or if they imply that one is not necessary. When coupled with a strong resume, a good cover letter can be the critical factor in getting an interview. This is because cover letters help you stand out, provide the opportunity to introduce yourself, and give depth and context to the information on your resume.

Cover letters accompany your resume and give you an opportunity to explain why you’re the right person for the job. You can do so by highlighting your skills and career achievements. Cover letters are also a great way to differentiate yourself from other, similarly-qualified candidates who neglect to include one in their application.

Employers look to cover letters to see whether you have the right skill set, professional achievements and ability to communicate that will make you an effective employee.

Yes, you do need a different cover letter for every job. Read each job description closely, and customize your cover letter to match the skills and demands listed in the description. This will show you are truly interested in the position.

Your cover letter should include the following components:

• Header that includes your contact information
• Name and address of the person you are sending it to
• An opening paragraph that intrigues the recruiter and outlines why are you are qualified for the job
• Two or three short paragraphs that expand on key points in your resume and explain how you’ve used your most relevant skills
• A closing paragraph that summarizes important aspects of the letter

You should always address the cover letter to the hiring manager or recruiter who works with the company. However, there may be occasions when you don’t have a name, in which case you can write “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Hiring Team.”

Cover letters should never be longer than one page. Hiring managers are busy. They may be reading dozens (sometimes hundreds) of applications. Brevity shows that you’re clear, concise and respectful of the hiring manager’s time.