In the midst of a job search many job seekers are overwhelmed with the thought of writing a resume.  This is especially true if you have never written one before.  The idea of gathering all the information and composing it into a resume can seem virtually impossible. That is where many people turn to a resume builder. Most jobseekers are looking for free resume builders. Many jobseekers are looking to find this kind of service, where they can input their background information and then get a perfect resume for their job search right away. However before you jump onto the first free resume builder you come across on the web it is important to understand how they work, what a resume builder can and cannot do and how they are sometimes perceived.  Here is what you need to know about free resume builders-

What is a resume builder?
Whether free or not resume builders work pretty much the same way.  The first step is for the job seeker to gather all the information they need.  This will include:

• Personal data-This can include address, phone numbers (home and cell), email and any other pertinent contact information
  
• Objective-This is a brief generally one sentence summarize of your resume and want you are looking to accomplish.
  
• Education history-This varies greatly between resume builders some may just want your last earned degree while others may want a detailed course of study, dates of attendance, graduation dates and any other applicable degrees.
  
• Work history-Most resume builders want at least 5-7 years of work history.  This will include former (and present) employer's addresses, phone numbers, supervisor's contact information, and often a brief job description.
  
• Special skills-This most typically includes computer and language skills. For computer skills be sure to list languages, systems and programs.  For language skills be sure to specify the language and your level of proficiency. This area may also include job specific skills of any sort.
  
• Activities-You may also be asked to include any special activities, awards or special licenses.  This should only be included if they are applicable to the job you are applying for.
  

The advantages of using a resume builder
There are certain advantages of using a resume builder.  Job seeking can be a stressful experience so using any helpful tools is recommended.  The advantages of using a resume builder are:

• Organization-Using a resume builder can help you build a highly organized resume due to the very structure of the resume builder.  The resume builder will only allow you to input the information required for that specific section keeping the inexperienced job seeker from running all the information together or presenting it in a disorganized way.
  
• Clarification-A resume builder can also help a job seeker clarify what their experience is and what they are looking for.  Again, because of how a resume builder is set up (sometimes with only limited amounts of characters that can be entered) job seekers will be forced to choose high impact words.  This keep them from building a resume that runs on and on and most likely will simply be thrown away by a prospective employer.
  
• Storage-Using a resume builder online provides the job seeker with an immediate way to store their resume.  The use of paper resumes has decreased dramatically and employers are looking for online resumes.  Using a resume builder generally allows the job seeker to store and keep his or her resume online for easy access.
  
• Computer back-up-One of the greatest technology advances is the spelling and grammar check available on computers.  Employers will often screen out resumes with grammar and spelling errors. Using an online resume builder means that your computer can check your resume for spelling and grammar problems reducing the risk of an overlooked spelling or grammar error.
  
• Variety-Online resume builders can give you the chance to build several different types of resumes.  Often when trying to simply write resume the job seeker is "stuck in a rut".  By using the resume builder (along with different templates) job seekers can write a chronological, reverse chronological or skill based resume.  This way the job seeker can have the resume that is most appropriate for the job they are interviewing for.

The disadvantages of using a resume builder
While there are certainly lots of positives in making a resume builder part of your job search there are disadvantages that any job seeker should be aware of.  Some of these disadvantages of using a free resume builder are:

• Free sometimes really is not free-Many resume software programs only provide 10-14 days of free trial, if you like the service and want to continue using them, you will have to pay some fee eventually. The fee-based resume builders are generally felt to be the best ones on the web. Some job search sites do provide you free service to create web-based resumes. But some job search experts feel the quality of these resumes is not that good. It is felt that these websites' main purpose is to get your resume and information, rather than help you create a professional resume.
  
• A copycat approach-Some recruiters have said that they can easily identify a resume created by free software since they all have the same formatting.  Often these resumes will be thrown away since they think the candidates are not serious and did not spend enough time and effort on resume writing.
  
• A lack of individuality-The purpose of writing a resume is to get you noticed with a prospective employer.  Often using a free resume builder does limit a job seeker on making their resume unique.  If you are applying for a job that requires a highly creative and out of the box type resume you may want to consider using other tools than a free resume builder.

Which free resume builder to use?
So with knowing all the pros and cons of using a free resume builder you are still determined to try them out here are some the experts recommend to get you started-

• Howtowritearesume.net-This is an all inclusive resume site that offers a great deal of features.  The site has easy step by step instructions to follow. They offer one click resume formatting in a variety of resume templates. This site also prides itself on secure resume storage and does require all users to login.  In addition to building resumes this site also provides an extensive list of articles relevant to resume writing. Some of these include: Resume writing tips, Choosing a resume style and The dos and don'ts of resume writing.  This is a well-organized site that is easy to use.
  
• Webresume.com-This site states that they can help a job seeker write a resume in about 10 minutes or offers a function to edit an existing online resume. This site also offers "professional resume writing" services. These services are broken down by student, entry level, professional and executive levels. This allows the job seeker to focus on writing the appropriate kind of resume for their level of experience.  Webresume.com also offers contact numbers should you need help from a real person.  In addition the site also offers extensive career resource related information.  A great site for any job seeker to check out.
  
• Theresumebuilder.com-This is another great site for building a free resume.  This is another site that claims they can help any job seeker build a resume in about 10 minutes. At theresumebuilder.com job seekers can quickly change, add or delete anything on their resume with the click of the mouse.  This site also offers free resume hosting that allows employers to view any resume 24/7 from anywhere in the world instantly. At this site you can select from 6 professional template designs.

A great cover letter
No article on resume building would be complete without mention of the importance of a cover letter. You really want to impress the employer, so you set out to write a cover letter that really impresses but you may not be able to find the right words. You might be wondering just how important it is to write a great cover letter. The fact is, without a great cover letter, chances are you will not be able to land an interview. While a resume is certainly important, it just does not tell the full story. A cover letter introduces you to the employer, outlines why you are the best candidate for the job, and encourages the employer to find out more about you. A free resume builder often has an adjoining link that will allow you to craft a cover letter for that prospective employer that will have them calling you in for an interview.  While it may be tempting to go with the same resume and cover letter for each job it is important to really do your homework and tailor both of these documents to fit the job description and appeal to what the employer is looking for. Just be honest (you do not want to have defend your resume or cover letter after being hired) be confident and let a well-written resume and cover letter speak for you.