Entry Level: These free samples of resume cover letters have been written with the recent college graduate in mind. 

Courtesy of: Best Resumes
www.ebestresumes.com
resumesbest@earthlink.net

Sales Professional: These free samples of resume cover letters are perfect for business professionals. 

Courtesy of: CareerStrides
www.careerstrides.com
evaluation@careerstrides.com

Senior Executive: These free samples of resume cover letters are appropriate for senior level executives. 

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

The other resume format, functional resumes, 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 resumes can make a lot of sense. If you've worked in diverse industries or careers, you can use this resume format to tie things together to show how your talents and experience span broad industry disciplines. Functional resumes can also help cover some embarrassing gaps between jobs if you were caught up in the downsize debacle. The key to a good functional resume 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:

Functional Style 2: 

Functional Style 3: 

Don't forget to write a cover letter!

Cover letters are important; they are the salesman who gets your resume read and gets you the interview. The sample cover letters above coordinate with the resume 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 resume 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 resume 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 Resumes features suggestions, resume examples and high-impact words to help you create a resume that stands out from the rest. Click here for resume writing tips!

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

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