By now you're probably sick of hearing about "the economy." But if you are one of the millions who have been affected by layoffs, you can't hear enough about how to get back in the workforce.
Two online resources can help job seekers communicate their skills to potential employers via free resume templates and cover letter examples.
InstantResumeTemplates.com and CoverLetterExamples.net were launched by Kevin Savetz of Savetz Publishing, Inc. in June and September 2008, respectively, as a means to give job seekers a starting point in building top-quality resumes and cover letters that let them highlight their skills and experience.
In April 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the national unemployment rate continued to rise, to 8.5 percent at the close of March, compared to 5.1 percent a year earlier. The BLS also reported the grim news that since the recession began in December 2007, 5.1 million jobs have been lost.
"Whether you're out of work, aspiring to move up in your current field or are planning a career change, you'll need a resume and cover letter," Savetz said. "Professionally formatted resumes and well-written cover letters will give you a leg up on the competition in any job market."
The resume templates and cover letter examples can be instantly downloaded and printed for free in .DOC format. The files are fully editable in Microsoft Word and most other word processing programs. All of them are all available in both letter and A4 sizes.
At InstantResumeTemplates.com, there are dozens of sample professional resumes to choose from, in typical chronological format, as well as more informal resumes with creative variations in layout.
"You can have the job experience and knowledge an employer is looking for, but presentation is critical, too," Savetz said. "Once you know your resume and cover letter look good, you can focus on the information you present."
The cover letter examples are appropriate for someone who has been fired or laid off and there are also samples for someone seeking a career change and many other situations. (You'll also find sample cover letters for academic use, such as college applications.)
CoverLetterExamples.net also features articles with tips on cover letter etiquette, format options, a list of "action words" to use in cover letters and more.
There are nearly 40 sites in the FreePrintable.net family of free printables sites created by Savetz Publishing, Inc., a company devoted to creating useful and informative web sites of interest to consumers and small businesses.
