A professional resume sample is a worthy investment in your career. While some sample cv and resume writing services charge hefty fees, there are ways to achieve professional results without spending thousands of dollars.

There are many free sample job resume resources available online featuring sample resumes, cover letters and even thank you notes. If you don't have the ability to customize resume examples yourself, consider resume writing services that offer a variety of comprehensive career resources. When researching the pricing and costs of sample resumes, consider the following:

1. Shop around to find the best deals for pricing and costs of sample resumes and resume writing services. Evaluate free online general resume sample resources before spending money on resume writing packages.

2. Read the fine print to make sure you are getting the best professional resume sample or resume writing service for your money. For the best value, look for packages that include a selection of career resources.

3. Select sample resume providers who guarantee results with their resume examples or resume preparation services.

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Choose sample resume providers with competitive prices

The pricing and costs of sample resumes depends on how much you are willing to spend. There are many helpful free sample resume resources online. For truly professional results, consider hiring a resume writing company with basic packages ranging from $100 to $1,000; typically, the more advanced you in are your career, the higher the price.

I recommend: Quintessential Careers offers free resume writing tools and sample resumes online. Pongo Resume provides three subscription options (including a free trial subscription) with access to customized professional resume sample templates, resume tips and sample job resume phrases. Monster features resume packages with entry-level services starting around $100 and executive level services starting around $350.

Research the terms of your sample job resume or resume writing service

When evaluating the costs for example resumes and resume writing services, remember that the old adage 'you get what you pay for' is true. For the best value, consider packages that include cover letters, electronic resumes and quality printed resumes. Carefully review all resume service contracts before completing any paperwork or submitting online transactions.

I recommend: Blue Print Resumes and Consulting offers an affordable Mid-Level Executive package that includes cover letter, e-resume, reference sheet, five copies printed on quality paper and a CD. Vault.com provides a Resume Review with Mini Passport package ranging with prices starting at just couple hundred dollars that gives job seekers five additional reviews of their sample business resume over the course of two years. ResumeEdge.com offers a professional level resume package that includes a job questionnaire, phone consultation, expertly written resume within 48-72 hours and continued working relationship with your resume editor for up to seven days.

Look for sample resume providers that offer a money back guarantee

When sample resume providers are willing to stand behind their work with a money back guarantee, they generally produce a quality product. Select examples of resume vendors and writing services that will return your money if you're not satisfied with the final resume, or if you are unsuccessful in obtaining interviews with your new resume.

I recommend: If you do not get an interview within 30 days, ResumesGuaranteed.com will rewrite your resume; and if you are not hired within 60 days, the company will refund your money and pay you $50. Resume Samples 1-2-3 offers a money back guarantee on their package of professionally written resume samples.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Rather than traditional professional resume sample or resume writing services, consider resume editing services. Some sample resume providers will critique your current resume at no charge. Of course, most companies are seeking return business for their comments and suggestions on how they can improve your resume, but it can be a good -- and free -- place to start with improving your resume.

The job market can be a scary place. A virtual obstacle course, it’s competitive, hard to navigate and full of potential pitfalls. Lucky for job seekers, there’s a tool out there that can make landing the right position a whole lot easier. It’s called a resume, and everyone should have one.

Looking for a job is a lot like dating: Finding the right match can sometimes feel like an impossible task. A well-written resume can generate the chemistry you need to get your foot in the proverbial door. A poorly written resume, however, can just as quickly slam that door shut.

To learn how to write a resume—the kind that makes employers’ heads turn—start with the basics. Every good resume should include:

1. Clear contact information.
2. A strong objective.
3. Relevant work history.
4. Educational background.
5. A sales pitch for your skill set.

Action Steps
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Make a list of your achievements

Start by making a chronological list of all the things you’ve ever achieved or done. Include every job you’ve held, every honor you’ve received and every skill you’ve developed. This will be a long list. That’s the point. Consider it your master file of resume material; you’ll pick and choose items from this list to build various drafts of your resume.

I recommend: Your resume is your opportunity to highlight your best moments and traits; it’s to your advantage, then, to erase evidence of your worst. Type your name into search engines like Google and Yahoo! to see what comes up. If there is anything online that you wouldn’t want a potential employer to see, contact the Webmaster and try to have it removed.

Review sample resumes to decide what type of resume you need

Look at sample resumes to determine if you need a chronological resume, which details your work history backward from your most recent position; a functional resume, which is a patchwork of relevant professional and personal details; or a curriculum vitae, or C.V., which is a long-form resume common in academic and scientific professions.

I recommend: Download sample resumes by type and industry from About.com, Resume Resource and Quintessential Careers. Not enough? More resume examples can be found at Aroj and ResumePower.com.

Develop an objective for your resume

Most experts agree that your resume should include a statement about the type of position you’re looking for. An objective, however, only succeeds in telling potential employers what you’ll get from them. Instead, consider a statement that describes what they’ll get from you. For example, replace your objective with a simple, one-sentence headline that highlights your main qualifications.

I recommend: Whether you include them explicitly in your resume or not, it’s important to have tangible career goals. Flesh yours out by taking a career assessment test such as the MAPP, a free evaluation of your professional motivations, or The Princeton Review Career Quiz.

Focus on your work experience

A resume is designed to detail your work history, to show employers that your past experience has equipped you for a position with their company. Keep your job history front and center, then. Avoid providing a complete job description, however, and concentrate instead on highlighting specific achievements within your past performance.

I recommend: A resume writing service can show you a sample resume and help you effectively sell your specific experience for a given job or industry. You can hire a company from Business.com’s directory of resumes, such as Resume Edge, to teach you how to write a resume. Or, you can search for a certified professional resume writer in your area via the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches.

Promote your education

Education is an important part of any resume. Don’t just list where you went to school, though. Be sure to also mention any professional development programs or continuing education courses that you’ve completed. Highlight anything—individual courses, degrees or extracurricular activities—that might have prepared you for a position.

I recommend: For help completing the education portion of your resume, fill out the education worksheet from About.com’s Resume and Cover Letter Guide.

Sell your skills

Resumes aren’t just places to say what you’ve done. They’re also somewhere to describe what you’re capable of contributing. Recognize your special talents, qualifications and knowledge, then sell yourself on paper in as persuasive a manner as possible.

I recommend: For a list of skills that employers look for, which you can cite in your resume, download The Conference Board of Canada’s Employability Skills 2000+ brochure. Then, evaluate the skills you already have by consulting with one of the companies listed in Business.com’s directory of employment tests.

Pull out your best writing skills

It’s a resume, not a novel, but good writing still counts. Use action-oriented sentences and pay close attention to spelling and grammar. Be clear and concise, but also clever and complete.

I recommend: Further showcase your writing skills by writing a spectacular cover letter to go with your resume. For assistance with your cover letter, consult Business.com’s directory of sample cover letters.

Format your resume so that it’s easy to read

Learning how to write a resume is half the battle; learning how to organize one is the other half. Consider using bold headings, distinct blocks of text and bullet points, all in an effort at making your resume easy to scan for a busy potential employer.

I recommend: There are infinite ways to format your resume. For ideas, download resume templates for Microsoft Word from Microsoft Office Online.

Edit your resume, then send it

Never put a resume in the mail without first proofreading it. Make sure your margins are even, your formatting consistent and your punctuation correct. When you’re ready to send your resume off into the world, be sure to follow any mailing instructions that were outlined by the employer in the job ad.

I recommend: Print your resume on professional-grade resume paper, which can be purchased from a paper retailer like Southworth, and then mail it with adequate postage in a 9-inch by 12-inch envelope. If you plan to post your resume online, you can use Resume Rabbit to put it on up to 84 different job search Web sites.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  List a professional e-mail address on your resume; create a new inbox if your current e-mail address is not formal enough for your job hunt.
• •  Try to keep your resume to one page; unless you’re making a curriculum vitae, it should never be more than two.
• •  Be ready to write more than one resume; you will need several versions for different job titles, industries, etc.
• •  Show that you’re a well-rounded individual; include volunteer work, hobbies and interests in your resume to paint a more complete picture of yourself.
• •  Be as specific as possible in your resume. Examples include saying that you grew revenue by 25 percent and that you managed a staff of 10; saying simply that you increased sales or that you were a manager is too general.
• •  Cut out as much verbal “fat” as possible. Make your resume concise by eliminating as many articles and pronouns as you can and by using symbols, such as $ and %, rather than words.

In today's competitive job market, a professional resume sample can make or break your future career success. Most job candidates will be chosen or rejected for an interview based solely on the quality of their resume. Before spending hours laboring over your resume, check out the myriad of sample resumes available.

Resume examples are excellent resources for today's savvy job candidates. While there are many different types of sample business resume websites available showcasing thousands of resume samples, it is important to follow some basic rules for resumes. Before you customize an example resume, keep in mind these sample resumes basics:

1. Look for an attractive, easy to read sample job resume with a design that invites reader interest.

2. Select effective example resumes that accurately reflect your industry experience.

3. Customize a general resume sample with action verbs and powerful sentences that highlight your skills, talents and abilities.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose a visually appealing and professional resume sample design

Your resume should reflect your personal style, whether traditional and elegant or contemporary and edgy. Sample resume providers offer an assortment of attractive sample resume designs and formats to simplify your resume preparation. Be sure to use quality paper and an easy to read font; and for professional results, print your resume using a laser printer.

I recommend: Quintessential Careers offers several tasteful sample job resume designs, including the cosmopolitan, creative, classic, conservative, corinthian, modular and clean line formats. BlueSkyResumes features professionally and creatively designed resumes, with before and after samples illustrating their resume design work. WorkBloom.com provides 16 attractive resume design samples to reflect your personal style, ranging from elegant to edgy.

Select a sample job resume that is appropriate to your career and industry

A great advantage to utilizing the services of sample resume providers is access to industry-specific resumes. For best results, look for resumes that best reflect your industry and career. Industry focused resume examples will include helpful sample objectives, accomplishments and descriptions relevant to your career field.

I recommend: CareerPerfect.com offers resume examples for executives, sales management, information technology, banking, healthcare, graphic design and recent grads. Best Sample Resume features examples of resume formats for a variety of industries, ranging from agriculture and computer programming to hotel management and education. Aroj.com provides a sample of resume templates for several types of jobs, including accounting, art, computers, engineering, management, healthcare, legal, marketing, sales, science and social services.

Tailor a general resume sample to showcase your talents, skills and abilities

While the design of a resume is important, content is the key to getting an interview. When writing your resume, use action verbs (no passive tense!), specific, descriptive nouns and avoid the use of adjective and adverbs. Describe your career accomplishments -- not just your job responsibilities -- and use numbers to define success whenever possible.

I recommend: Pongo Resume generates effective sample resume phrases based on your career experience. Women For Hire outlines a standard resume template and offers helpful suggestions on how to effectively focus resume content. Top7Business offers seven sample resumes basics words and phrases to enhance your resume.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some sample resume providers may ask your which format you prefer. Traditionally, there are three formats for sample resumes -- chronological, functional or combination. A chronological professional resume sample focuses on progressive career advancement. A functional sample job resume highlights skills and qualifications, rather than employment history. A combination general resume sample format combines the chronological and the functional formats. It begins with a summary of your qualifications like a functional format and details your career advancement like a chronological format.

Reviewing sample resumes can ease the process of drafting or revising your resume. Whether you are an entry-, mid- or senior-level professional, there are two primary factors that dictate whether you’ll move forward in the interviewing process. These factors include what information you choose to include and how you highlight your skills and experience in your resume. When searching for sample resumes, you may come across various types, such as chronological, functional, combination, electronic, text-based and curricula vitae (CVs). Becoming familiar with sample resume key terms will help you choose a resume format that best showcases your skills and experience.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Chronological

A chronological resume is the most commonly used type of resume. This type of resume showcases how your career has progressed over time by displaying your most recent work experience first, followed by the next most recent. A chronological resume is typically a good choice if you are looking to showcase your experience within a specific field or industry.

I recommend: Find out more about chronological resumes at CareerOneStop.

Electronic/e-Resume

E-resume is a widely used term that involves various types of resumes delivered electronically. This may include via e-mail, Internet job websites, or company job boards. In today's job market, it's essential for jobseekers to have an electronic version of their resume.

I recommend: Read more about e-resumes at Quintessential Careers.

Text-based (ASCII)

A text-based, or ASCII, resume is an electronic resume specifically designed for databases. This type of resume removes all formatting, such as special bullets and fonts. A text-based or ASCII resume can be easily input into keyword-searchable databases by employers. These types of resumes are not susceptible to viruses and are compatible with all types of computer programs and operating systems.

I recommend: Obtain additional information about text-based resumes at CareerRecruiter.com.

Functional

Functional resumes are used to highlight relevant career skills and can be used to de-emphasize employment gaps. Functional resumes draw more attention to skills rather than job titles and previous employers. This type of resume can be a good choice if you are a first-time jobseeker, entering a new career field, or re-entering the workforce after a break.

I recommend: Learn more about functional resumes at LA Works.

Combination

A combination resumes includes characteristics of both chronological and functional resumes. This type of resume displays your least recent work experience, knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) in a reverse-chronological order. Combination resumes are typically used by jobseekers looking to switch careers or to highlight their volunteer work or skills in various career fields.

I recommend: SampleResumeFormats.com provides a wealth of information about combination resumes.

Curricula vitae

You may also run across the term curriculum vitae when searching for sample resumes. A curriculum vitae, or CV, provides a detailed statement of your skills and experience. These are typically much shorter than resumes and are generally not as targeted as a resume. CVs are usually used for jobseekers who desire international employment or a position in the higher education, medicine or science field.

I recommend: Get more information about curricula vitae at Job Central.