Resume Writing Tip: Don’t Copy Resume Samples Verbatim

People love to see samples, especially resume samples. A quick search for resume sample books on Amazon.com returns nearly 1,000 titles. Search Google for “resume sample” and you’ll see nearly a quarter of a million results. A well-written resume sample in your field can provide guidance and inspiration, but be sure not to copy the content word-for-word. If you do, you could end up with a resume that doesn’t adequately represent you or one that employers have seen before. You won’t be making a good first impression if an employer recognizes your resume from an online or book sample.

I see popular online samples regurgitated quite often — a resume arrives in my inbox for review, and it sounds good until I realize that I wrote it, or one of my writers or colleagues wrote it. Resume writer Teena Rose (author of cover letter sample book Designing a Cover Letter to ‘WOW’ Hiring Personnel) said it best, “Use the samples as a guide for ideas, but take pride in writing a resume that has your own unique content and visual appeal.” Well said, Teena!
By Kim Isaacs and courtesy of ResumePower blog.