Doesn't every job search start with Google?

Way back in another lifetime, I was looking for a job after one of my startups failed. Conveniently, everything went to pot in early 2000. I've always had good timing.

Google was the place to start. I knew all I needed were some free resume examples.

Doesn't everybody?

I mean, come on, I'd been writing in a business setting for years by then. When I was at Andersen Consulting, keeping your "internal resume" updated was a cottage industry. If you were on lots of short projects, you had to update the thing at least once every quarter!

I was convinced I was an expert resume writer. If I could just find some free resume examples, you know, to see the state of art, I could whip out a stunning resume in an hour or two.

I found some in short order. Most of them were at websites that screamed at me to use their template. They almost (but not quite) guaranteed untold wealth in ten minutes, if I'd just look at their free resume examples...and then buy their product, whatever it was.

Very little has changed.

The web is like a big carnival. There's a barker on every corner of every search hyping this or that. Job search has become particularly carnival-like, especially five years ago when the economy hit the skids.

How do you know if a particlar job search website's claims are true?

It's very simple. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Free resume examples are fine tools. I'm here to tell you, though, that looking at a resume example (free or otherwise) and suddenly thinking yourself the world's greatest resume writer is nuts.

Back in 2000, I wrote a resume myself, and it wasn't bad. Then I called, networked, and interviewed for six months with bupkis to show for it.

Was it the resume? Not entirely. Remember, the economy crashed and Donald Trump probably would've found it tough to get a job in real estate.

But I know two things for sure.

First, I made some mistakes on my resume. Those often simple mistakes cost me time. Copying those free resume examples didn't work out like I planned.

Second, good or bad, pretty or not, my resume obviously didn't compel anybody to call me for a job interview. That means it stunk.

In the end, my job search lasted seven months. The typical job search takes 4-6 months now. It probably was a little longer back then. But that doesn't excuse my being stupid.

I found some free resume examples, saw dollar signs, and turned my brain off. Just plain dumb. You can avoid my mistakes.

I highly recommend that you hire professional help to shorten your job search, and help you find a fantastic job.

If you're going to do it yourself, though, be smart about it.

By all means, look at free resume examples. But at least invest the $20-$50 it typically costs to find some high-quality products to help you avoid dumb resume mistakes that'll lengthen your search time.

Those products won't give you untold wealth, or career fulfillment in 10 minutes, but they could give you a fantastic resume very quickly.

Every minute your search takes costs you money. Don't dawdle!

(c) Copyright 2005 by Roy Miller