When a free resume ends up costing you more than a professional one
The most searched keywords regarding resumes inevitably include “free” or “template.” No one wants to pay for something they think they can do for themselves. A quick search will turn up dozens of different services and sites that offer free assistance in writing your own resume. But before you decide to sign up for any of these services, you should first do your research on them. As with any industry, even resume writing services have their dark side.
One of the most common free resume template services involves an app where you provide your information, such as name, education, work experience, etc., and the app automatically plugs it into a prepared template. But before you’re allowed to save your document or print it, you’re asked to pay a small and insignificant fee, often around $2, or sometimes provide your credit card information for a “free” proof that supposedly you can cancel at any time. Not too bad for something other people can pay several hundred dollars for, right? Think again.
Hidden deep in the fine print, which no one seems to read anymore anyway, is the agreement you make to be charged for an automatically renewing subscription service. Before you know it, your credit card is being charged $40, $50, or even more each month. If you look at some of the consumer reviews of some of these “free” resume services, you’ll find that unfortunately many people don’t pay much attention to their credit card statements and can end up having these recurring charges for more. of a year What you thought was “free” or just a couple of dollars ends up being several hundred dollars or more, depending on when you notice the fraudulent charges.
Often you will have little or no luck disputing charges with your bank or credit card company. If the charges are recurring on your account, it will be assumed that you have accepted them. This is another good reminder to always keep an eye on your bank and credit card amounts. And good luck trying to dispute the charges with the real company over the phone or email. Why would they want to give you the time of day to cancel charges when hidden fees and surcharges are their bread and butter? Always be wary of businesses without verifiable physical addresses, and research consumers beforehand.
Many people looking to have a written resume are unemployed and looking to save money wherever they can, so they turn to “free” resume-building websites that they think will improve their chances of securing interviews. The sad reality is that there are many companies out there whose entire business model is based on scamming the poor and destitute with hidden fees and a poor product. If you’re looking for help writing your resume, always do your research before submitting any credit card information. Also, ask your friends and family what has worked best for them. Legitimate and professional resume writing services may not be for everyone, but they do help a large number of job seekers. Sometimes the initial investment is well worth the reward. A well-written, effective resume could be the difference between getting a new job in the next two weeks and landing a new job. you’ll get a job in the next few months, and all that lost income will add up.
Truly Free Resume Templates
You likely already have resume templates installed in whatever word processing software you have. There are many places where you can legitimately download them for free online and simply enter the necessary information yourself. For many people, this is as far as a resume can go. Write a simple goal, name the school you attended, describe your work experience, and list certifications. The problem is that while templates can give you a basic formatting scheme, they don’t tell you what to actually write in it or how to write it. Just as all people are different, each resume should be different.
Remember, free resume templates are designed to grab your attention, not the attention of the people who really matter, like hiring managers and recruiters. They may try to wow you with different fonts, graphics, and colors, but this is not what employers are looking for. You may think it will be interesting, creative and eye-catching if you used a unique resume template, but in the eyes of the hiring authority it will be clear as daylight that you used another generic resume template.
When I was in charge of recruiting previously, one of my most memorable examples was of a person who described himself as a “creative guy” and “proficient in Microsoft Office.” Sure, the format and style of her resume was a bit out of the ordinary, but it was also obvious that they were using a fairly common resume template. Why would you want to hire someone who claims to be “creative” and “proficient in Microsoft Office,” if she can’t even format her own resume?
When looking at resumes, hiring authorities want documents that are simple, clean, and straight to the point. With a competitive job market, an HR officer may review hundreds of resumes for a single position. They don’t spend too much time on each one, usually just taking a quick look before deciding if it’s tossed in the trash or if the candidate needs a closer look.
One final caveat about free resume templates is the question of how compatible they are with the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Many companies, especially large corporations, use ATS software to shortlist applicants. This software scans the document for things like experience level, skills, certifications, educational background, industry keywords, and more. If you have a strangely formatted resume, it will be difficult for the software to read your resume. Even if you’re the perfect candidate and have a well-written resume, it may be thrown away before a pair of human eyes sees it.