CV, Cover Letter & Resume Questions

Do you staff experienced resume writers?

All members of the Hloom team stay informed on the best practices in resume and cover letter writing, as well as the recent employment trends for finding jobs, interviewing, and building a career. Content strategist, Gabriela Barcenas, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and is a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches.

How to Identify Job Scams and Recognize Fake Recruiters?

Online job platforms have made it easier for scammers to reach job seekers, especially when many people are job hunting remotely. Scammers often impersonate actual companies, taking advantage of job seekers who may be focused on securing employment and not notice warning signs of fraudulent activities.

What is a free downloadable resume template?

Our downloadable resume templates are professionally designed, preformatted documents that you can download to your personal computer or cloud storage. You can choose to keep our preformatted fonts, page layouts, and color schemes or customize them using your preferred programs. Our downloadable templates are compatible with popular word processors, including Microsoft Word, Google Docs and Open Office.

Do I have to pay for the downloadable resume templates?

No, there is no charge for our free downloadable templates.

How do I use a downloadable resume template?

What is the difference between a downloadable resume template and the Resume Builder templates?

Hloom offers two types of resume templates: Resume Builder templates and free downloadable templates.

How many builder resume templates does Hloom offer?

At the time of publication, we’re proud to announce that our Resume Builder offers 29 resume templates with over 2,300 customizable options, along with additional cover letter templates.

• 29 resume templates
• 9 font treatments
• 9 color schemes
• 2,349 customizable resume templates options
• 14 cover letter templates

What style templates does our Resume Builder feature?

Our builder offers resumes and cover letter templates in the following design styles:

• Recommended
• Traditional
• Modern
• Creative

What is a resume example?

A resume example is a tool you can use to see how other people have chosen to style and format their resumes so that you can understand the best way to do it yourself. You can also learn how other job seekers have used certain phrasing on their resumes and adapt this wording to fit your situation.

How do I use a resume example?

Use examples to see what you like and don’t like. Then make decisions about how you want your resume to look. Hloom has hundreds of up-to-date resume examples.

What are the main resume formats?

Recruiters are familiar with and prefer these popular resume formats:

1. Chronological: The most common format, this layout prioritizes your past employment and suits job seekers with over 10 years of experience and evident career growth through promotions and increased responsibilities.
2. Functional: Known as the skills-based resume, this layout suits job seekers with strong technical knowledge but unconventional employment such as career changers, contractors, freelancers, job re-entrants, and job hoppers.
3. Combination: Also known as the hybrid resume, this layout combines the strengths of the previous two formats to elevate the skills and experience of less experienced job seekers and recent graduates.

How do I select a resume format?

Although we mention which job seekers might benefit from each resume format, choosing a format depends on your career path, professional experience and skills. We have an in-depth guide on the three main formats as well as specialized writing guides for chronological, functional and combination resumes to help you write the perfect resume.

How long should a resume be?

A well-written resume should be detailed, concise, and no more than two-pages long. We recommend that you dedicated one page for every 10 years that you’ve worked.

• One page: Ideal for a recent graduate or job seeker with less than 10 years of experience.
• Two pages: Ideal for experienced job seekers with over 10 years of experience.
• Three pages: We don’t recommend submitting a three-page resume unless you’re applying for an executive position.

How does your Resume Builder work?

Our Resume Builder streamlines the writing process by using a simple step-by-step process. You simply select a resume template that you like and follow the automated process to fill in each resume section. In addition, our builder will:

• Correct grammar and spelling mistakes
• Use formatting optimized for readability and ATS systems
• Incorporate advice by industry experts
• Suggest relevant skills
• Advise on best keywords

Do I need a different resume for each job?

You need a personalized resume for each job application to pass an ATS successfully. You need to customize your information for each job opening, company and industry using the open job post as your resume-keyword guide. Read the job description carefully, locate repeated or emphasized responsibilities, and carefully reflect that in your new resume if you have matching experience.

Can I easily customize my resume for different jobs?

Our Resume Builder makes it easy to customize a resume based on job requirements. One of our main features is a job match program –– type in the job title you’re pursuing, and our builder suggests everyday responsibilities and requirements related to that job. You can further tailor these suggestions by reflecting the job ad’s description.

Should I add my photo to my resume?

Although some jobs benefit from this, such as acting or modeling, we advise that you avoid adding a photo to your resume.

Should I use graphics and fancy fonts to stand out?

At Hloom, we strongly encourage you to break away from the standard Times New Roman font while writing and designing your resume. Although it’s a tried and true font, Times New Roman has become an expected cliche in the hiring world and can lend a boring narrative to your professional history. We recommend trading out this generic font with simple, professional san serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, Futura or Calibri. Avoid elaborate fonts that might strain the eyes or distract from your professional experience. We also advise against using graphics like rankings, bar graphs, charts or infographics if you’re applying online. Most online applications are powered by ATS that can’t read these graphics. Feel free to include graphics if you’re applying in person or have a direct referral.

How do I show my accomplishments on my resume?

It’s one thing to describe your job qualifications; it’s another to prove your experience with quantifiable evidence of your accomplishments. You can demonstrate your achievements by using data or statistics to show how your experience and knowledge resulted in increased profitability or productivity. For example, if one of your responsibilities was to maintain office supplies and reduce budget, hiring managers can learn more about how you analyze solutions by stating that you “executed and organized a new system for ordering supplies” rather than writing that you were “responsible for placing orders.”

How do I determine the skills to show on my resume?

Your resume’s primary goal is to demonstrate how your skills and knowledge match an open position’s requirements. Carefully analyze the job ad for any responsibilities or keywords. These repeated or emphasized responsibilities are known as resume keywords and should be featured prominently under your skills section.

How many years of experience should I show on my resume?

We recommend that you dedicate one page of your resume to every 10 years of experience, with a higher focus on your most recent and relevant experiences. Since resumes should not extend beyond two pages, you should cut off your resume after 20 years and focus less on those earlier experiences.

How long does it take to write a resume in your builder?

You can build a resume in 15 minutes using our Resume Builder.

What is a CV?

More commonly known as a CV, a curriculum vitae isn’t as expected in the U.S. as a resume. However, you’ll use this format when applying to any of the following industries:

1. Academics
2. Research
3. Medical
4. Entertainment
5. Federal Employment

This detailed document is much longer than a standard resume and includes publications, research projects, speaking engagements, conference attendance or participation, grants and lectures.

What is the difference between a resume and a CV?

A resume is a concise summary of your professional experience. It is commonly used in the United States to rank and access job seekers. It typically includes the following information:

• Name and contact information
• Professional summary statement
• Work history
• Skills
• Education

A CV is a lengthy and detailed description of your entire professional and academic experience. You’re more likely to use a CV for job applications outside of the U.S. as well as the industries in the U.S. we mentioned above. It can contain any combination of the following sections:

How many pages should a CV be?

Unlike a resume, which should end at two pages, a CV doesn’t have a restricted page length. You will determine your CV length by your years of experience and professional participation.

When do I need a CV?

If you’re applying for a job in the following U.S.-based industries or abroad, you’ll need a CV:

1. Post-graduate degree
2. Academics
3. Research
4. Medical
5. Entertainment
6. Government
7. Any international job opportunity

What is a CV template?

A CV template is a useful tool that can provide a defined layout, design, and document structure to help you create a professional CV. Although our Resume Builder doesn’t offer pre-built CV templates, we offer customizable features that allow you to add CV sections to a standard resume layout.

How do I use a CV template?

What is a CV example?

A CV example is a tool you use to see how other people phrase and format their documents so that you can discover the best way to do it for yourself.

How do I use a CV example?

Use examples to see what you like, don’t like, and which CV section combinations you can use to highlight your experience. Generate ideas for information you want to include in your CV. Then make decisions about how you want your document to look. You can see some of our educational and academic templates as a starting point.

How do I use the Resume Builder to create my CV?

To create a CV in our Resume Builder, follow the standard instructions to build a resume. You’ll build on this foundation by adding sections to tailor your CV. Once your resume document is complete, you’ll edit it into a CV by following these steps:

1. Click the left-hand drop-down menu.
2. Click “Add a section.”
3. Click the “Add your own” option and name your section. For demonstration purposes, let’s say you’re creating a Language Skills section.
4. Name the section “Language Skills,” and click NEXT.
5. Follow the same structure as a general skills section.
6. Highlight your spoken language in bold, followed by your fluency level in regular font.
7. Repeat this formula until you finish listing your languages.
8. Click NEXT: FINALIZE and move to the next section.
9. Repeat until you add all the relevant skills.

What is a cover letter template?

A cover letter template is a pre-formatted document with an optimized design so that all you have to do is input your personal data. You can search through our database of hundreds of cover letter templates that are compatible with Microsoft Word. Once you find a format and style that you like, input your personal information and you’re ready to start applying for jobs.

How do I use a cover letter template?