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How to Harness the Power of the Internet to Build Your Resume

Published: Nov 20, 2017

 Career Readiness       Networking       Resumes & Cover Letters       
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How to Harness the Power of the Internet to Build Your Resume

Let's be honest here: resume writing isn't exactly anyone's idea of a fun time. Figuring out exactly how to format your resume or which parts of it need to be changed can be a nightmarish experience – especially if writing isn't your forte. Luckily, there are online resources and tools just a Google search away that can make this grueling process a whole lot easier. Here are some useful resources you should consider using in order to craft the perfect resume.

Resume Critiques

No matter how meticulously you go about writing your resume, it's always important to get feedback and second opinions. There are some communities around the web that have members who, believe it or not, actually enjoy reviewing resumes and offering advice on how to improve them. For instance, there are subreddits like /r/resume and /r/critiquemyresume where you can post your resume or CV and get feedback on it from resume enthusiasts and HR professionals.

Resume Templates

Aesthetics and design matter. A professional format can often take your resume to new heights and give it a sense of professionalism that might otherwise be missing. There are resume templates all over the web – some free, some not so much. If you find the perfect one that fits your needs, it might be well worth paying a few bucks for. Usually though, there are plenty of free templates that will do the trick just fine. Hloom, for example, has a database of hundreds of resume templates that can be downloaded and used for free.

Resume Builders

Using a resume builder can really take the edge off writing your resume and make the process a bit more bearable. Many builders are designed to allow you to hone in on a certain part of your resume and guide you through each step. Oftentimes they also come with various resume templates, allowing you to switch between formats with ease. Before getting too excited and using the first resume builder you see, know that some of them do require you to pay and only notify you of the costs after you've already written your resume with the tool.

Resume Guides and Articles

If you're unsure about the basics of how to write a resume, there are plenty of websites with resume guides and articles that can be of tremendous help. Here at Vault, there's a collection of guides, resume samples, and articles all dedicated towards uncovering the secrets behind writing a job-winning resume. Other job sites like Glassdoor also offer an array of informative resume writing articles that may help as well.

Resume Keyword Optimizers

If you haven't already heard, most large companies are using resume robots to filter out unqualified candidates during the initial stages of the recruitment process. These robots work by scanning your resume for certain keywords and scoring your resume on relevance. Oftentimes the keywords these robots are looking for are the same ones used in the actual job description. This is where the common advice of mimicking the job description actually comes from. Tools such as Jobscan's, can help you determine how closely your resume matches the written description of a job you're applying for.

Internet Search

Nowadays, you can pretty much find the answer to any question you might have by doing a simple online search. This is no different when it comes to questions you might have on how to write your resume. Not sure whether or not to include your GPA on your resume? Debating between whether or not to add a summary statement? Do a quick Google search and you'll find that these are all questions that many career blogs have dedicated entire articles to addressing. 

Peter Yang is the co-founder of an online resume writing service. He’s had experience as a career coach and career counselor, as well as working as a human resource manager for multiple Fortune 500 technology companies.

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