Pongo Resume

A subscription-based business model helps keep this resume builder extremely affordable, so long as that great looking resume it produces does it's job and lands you a job within a few months. Otherwise, as time goes on, well--the monthly subscription fees do start to add up. Still, there are some very real benefits with a Pongo Resume, not the least of which are customized templates, activity tracking, superior customer service, and access to your resume from any computer anywhere in the world, 24/7.

How it works:

Decide right off the bat whether you want the annual subscription ($59.95), the monthly subscription ($9.95), or the FREE trial, which lets you create a resume at no cost and pay only when and if you think the product is worth it. Hint: Go with the free trial!

Once logged in, the software evaluates your unique occupational status and creates an individualized template specific to your career stage--from entry level to seasoned pro. That said, the template remains fully customizable by you (add or remove headings, select different headings, etc.).

Step-by-step, the system prompts you for information needed for each section. Your unique profile determines what information you're prompted for next. An experienced professional, for example, will be prompted for different information than a student. And by the way, if you've got employment gaps, if you're light on experience, if your skills come from a variety of sources, you don't need to worry which format (chronological, functional or hybrid) will best present your credentials. Pongo's software figures that out for you.

The resume and cover letter you create remain on the company's servers, accessible to you from any computer anywhere in the world, 24/7. Subscribers create a resume (or multiple resumes), edit the resume whenever needed, and print, email, download and fax their resumes directly from the company's online application.  

Here's what we liked:

• Each resume created is a unique template--though fully customizable by you.
• Formatting is automatic. Pongo's software decides if you are best served with a chronological format, a functional format, or a hybrid of the two.
• Create as many variations of your resume as you need. And keep track of them easily.  
• Subscription includes cover letter. And the sample cover letter template contains pre-written text to help you get started.
• Employers receive both text-only and formatted versions of your resume (Word, HTML or PDF) when you email directly from the application.
• Fax directly from Pongo's website. All subscriptions include 20 free faxes per month.
• Tracker feature keeps track of all the "who, what, when and where" of resume submissions.
• Excellent customer service: telephone and get a real person.
• It's free to try. If you're happy with the resume you create, and want to be able to print, email, fax, download and track your documents, simply upgrade to a monthly or annual subscription anytime.

Here's what we didn't like:

• Monthly subscription charges begin to add up after a while. Pay the annual subscription of $59.95 if you believe your job search may take more than 6 months. That breaks down to about $5 bucks per month for the 12 months--half the price of paying monthly. Then again, if you think you can wrap this job search up in two or three months, subscribe by the month. You can cancel at any time.  

In summary, PongoResume.com offers a lot of bang for the buck--if you can succeed in landing that new job within the national average of 3 to 6 months. If you anticipate a job search running into years rather than months, it becomes more expensive. But whether it costs you $10 bucks or $60, a Pongo resume is easy to create, professional while remaining unique, bundled with an effective cover letter, and accessible from any computer 24/7.

With no charge to create a resume, you can look at the finished product before you buy. That makes Pongo an easy call.

Go To PongoResume.com