Promote Yourself America
Résumé Templates Résumé Tips Job Interview Tips Expert Advice Career Fairs Résumé Products Sweepstakes Home

 

 

Résumé Templates

Résumé and Cover Letter Examples

Downloadable Templates

How to Have a Better Résumé

Résumé Tips

Writing Tips

Importance of a Résumé

Job Interview Tips

Job Interview Tips

Expert Advice

Learn From the Experts

Building a Network

Get Credit for Volunteering

Covering All the Bases

Critical Issues

Employment Tips

Top Ten Ways to Help
Recruiters Recruit You

Careers Now

Résumé Products

Shop For Success

Free Résumé Examples and Sample Cover Letters

Create your own custom résumés and cover letters using the free résumé examples and sample cover letters below!

From entry level to executive, chronological to functional, it's all here. Simply choose a style that you like and add in your own work experience, education and job objectives.

Here's what you need to do:

  • Choose a résumé and cover letter style based on your needs
  • Click on the underlined link for the template that you would like to use
  • Replace sample wording with your personal information
  • All templates are Microsoft Word.doc format and contain sample wording.

Samples of Résumé and Cover Letters - Chronological

The Chronological Résumé is by far the most common of résumé formats used today. It's actually reverse chronological, listing all your experience from most recent job to least recent job. The résumé examples below were created for entry level through executive and each has an accompanying cover letter. These free résumé examples and sample cover letters were written specifically for Southworth by professional résumé writers, members of the National Résumé Writers' Association.


Entry Level:

These free samples of résumé cover letters have been written with the recent college graduate in mind.

Entry Level Sample Cover Letter (24KB)
Entry Level Sample Résumé (26KB)

Courtesy of: Best Résumés
www.ebestresumes.com

Template

Sales Professional:

These free samples of résumé cover letters are perfect for business professionals.

Sales Professional Sample Cover Letter (41KB)
Sales Professional Sample Résumé (51KB)

Courtesy of: CareerStrides
www.careerstrides.com


Senior Executive:

These free samples of résumé cover letters are appropriate for senior level executives.

Senior Executive Sample Cover Letter (21KB)
Senior Executive Sample Résumé (27KB)

Courtesy of: Advantage Résumés of St. Louis
www.reswriter.com


Free résumé templates are only the beginning. Learn how easy it is to create a better résumé

Samples of Résumé and Cover Letters - Functional

The other résumé format, functional résumés, organize your work experience by functions, experience or competencies, rather than by calendar dates. They were generally favored by new job seekers with little work history and often ignored by recruiters. They focus on what you can do rather than where you worked. Today with career changes becoming more common, functional résumés can make a lot of sense. If you've worked in diverse industries or careers, you can use this résumé format to tie things together to show how your talents and experience span broad industry disciplines. Functional résumés can also help cover some embarrassing gaps between jobs if you were caught up in the downsize debacle. The key to a good functional résumé is making it quick and easy for the reader to understand what you're looking to do and what experience you have to offer that's relevant, without the reader having to spend much time and effort—because they won't!


Functional Style 1:

Sample Cover Letter Template (22KB)
Sample Résumé Template (23KB)

Courtesy of: Career Directions, LLC
www.CareerEdgeCoach.com


Functional Style 2:

Sample Cover Letter (21KB)
Sample Résumé (69KB)

Courtesy of: Best Résumés
www.ebestresumes.com


Functional Style 3:

Sample Cover Letter (24KB)
Sample Résumé (28KB)

Courtesy of: Write Away Résumé and Business Support


Don't forget to write a cover letter!

Cover letters are important; they are the salesman who gets your résumé read and gets you the interview. The sample cover letters above coordinate with the résumé examples. When you are writing your cover letter, keep the following points in mind:

Try to address your cover letter to the hiring manager. If you don't know who that is, put in a little effort to find out. Personalizing your cover letters will go a long way.
Your résumé should contain the details of your experience; so, keep your cover letters brief and to the point. A long cover letter will most likely be discarded or ignored.
Focus on answering the following questions: Why should they grant me an job interview? What can I do for their company if hired? How does my experience match with the job?
Keep your cover letters positive and enthusiastic.
Finally, and most importantly, you should end the cover letter by asking for an interview! Hey, that's the purpose; that's your desired result. Write something like, "I am looking forward to meeting with you at your earliest convenience. I'm really excited and appreciative regarding this opportunity."

Still need help?

Your résumé may be one of the most important documents you create. Unsure of what to write, how to say it or what words to use? Southworth's Guide to Writing Résumés features suggestions, résumé examples and high-impact words to help you create a résumé that stands out from the rest. Click here for résumé writing tips!

OK, you downloaded the free templates and you read the guide but you're still having trouble...

Don't despair! Résumé writing is a specialized form of copywriting that requires many years of practice to perfect. While the majority of job seekers write their own résumés, many struggle with the process. If you need assistance, contact The National Résumé Writers' Association for the name of a professional résumé writer in your area. www.thenrwa.com

Promote Yourself footer
Promote Yourself America