Is It Bad to Use a Resume Template [5 Things to Spot]

Resumes

Apr 14

In today's competitive job market, a well-crafted resume can be the key to securing your next job. With the abundance of online resources available, it's tempting to turn to resume templates for a quick and polished result. While these templates offer convenience and consistency, some argue that they lack originality. Some say they may even hinder your chances of standing out from other applicants.

In this article, we'll examine both the pros and cons of using resume templates. We'll also explore the factors you should consider when deciding whether to use them. By the end, you'll have a better understanding of whether or not you should use a resume template.

What is a Resume Template?

A resume template is a pre-designed document that outlines the structure and formatting of a resume. It typically includes sections for personal information, professional experience, education, skills, and achievements.

Resume templates can be downloaded for free or purchased online and are available in a variety of formats. You can find templates built in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Canva, or Adobe InDesign.

Resume templates can vary in complexity and style, ranging from simple and clean designs to more elaborate and creative layouts. Some templates include pre-written content that can be customized with your own information. Others provide blank fields for you to fill in with your own content.

Using a resume template can save time and effort, as it eliminates the need to create a resume from scratch. Additionally, resume templates can provide a professional and polished look to your document and ensure consistency in formatting and layout.

However, it's important to note that not all resume templates are created equal. Some templates may not be suitable for every industry or job type. Using a generic template can make your resume look "standard" and fail to stand out from other applicants.

It's essential to choose a template that is appropriate for your field and job level. Then, customize it to highlight your unique skills and experiences.

Pros of Using a Resume Template

Save time and effort

Creating a resume from scratch can be a time consuming process. With a resume template, you can simply input your information into the pre-designed sections. This can save you time and effort in formatting and organizing your content.

Related Article: How Long Does It Take to Write a Resume

Professional and polished look

A well-designed resume can make a great first impression on potential hiring managers. Resume templates often incorporate aesthetically pleasing designs and layouts that can help make your resume look more professional and polished.

Consistency in formatting and layout

A consistent format and layout throughout your resume can help make it easier for employers to read and comprehend. A resume template can ensure that your resume has a consistent and organized look. This makes it easier for employers to find the information they need.

Related Article: 5 Resume Subtitles Your Resume Needs in 2023

Highlight relevant skills and experiences

A good resume should highlight your relevant skills and experiences. A resume template can guide you on which sections to include in your resume. It can also help you prioritize your skills and experiences, ensuring that they are easily visible to potential employers.

Related Article: Skills vs Experience in a Resume

Structure and guidance

Resume templates often provide a clear structure and guidance on what to include in each section. This can be helpful, especially for those who are new to resume writing or unsure of how to present their information effectively.

Easily update and customize

Once you have a resume template, it can be easily updated and customized for each job application. You can swap out job-specific keywords and phrases, modify the layout, and add or remove sections as needed.

Overall, using a resume template can help

streamline the resume-writing process,
ensure a professional look,
and help you highlight your relevant skills and experiences to potential employers.

Cons of Using a Resume Template

While using a resume template can offer several advantages, there are also some potential cons to consider.

Lack of originality and personal touch

Since many job seekers use the same templates, using a template can make your resume appear generic and lack originality. Additionally, it can make it more difficult to showcase your unique skills, experiences, and personality.

Templates will try to fit you into a box. If you're unsure about what template to use, it’s best to seek guidance from a skilled resume writer.

Limitations in customizations

While templates can be customized, there may be limitations to what you can do with the formatting, layout, and content. This may make it more difficult to highlight your specific skills and experiences. It can also make tailoring your resume to a specific job or industry more challenging.

Templates included with many resume builder products are difficult to customize. The best practice is to use a template that is formatted in a Google Doc or Microsoft Word. This will grant you more freedom to customize it.

Risk of looking generic or standard

Using a template can make your resume blend in with other resumes. This is especially true if you do not customize it to highlight your unique skills and experiences.

May not suit every industry or job

Some resume templates may not be appropriate for certain industries or job types. For example, a creative job may require a more unique and visually appealing resume. But an accounting job may require a more conservative and straightforward format.

Overreliance on the template

Some job seekers may become too reliant on the template, using it as a crutch rather than a guide. This can result in a lack of creativity and critical thinking. It may cause the job seeker to miss opportunities to showcase their unique skills and experiences.

Potential for errors

Resume templates may not always be error-free. It's important to carefully review and proofread your resume to ensure that all information is accurate and up-to-date. Additionally, customizing a template may lead to formatting errors or inconsistencies that can detract from the overall professionalism of the document.

Incompatibility with applicant tracking systems (ATS)

Some resume templates may not be compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS). These are used by many employers to screen and filter resumes. If your resume is not ATS-compatible, your information may not parse into the system.

If a recruiter is overwhelmed, they may skip over your resume instead of manually adding your information into the system. We’ll discuss what to look out for in the next section so you can avoid these types of templates.

What Makes a Good Resume Template

When choosing a resume template, there are a few key factors to consider. These will help ensure you select a good template that meets your needs. These factors include:

Professionalism

A good resume template should have a professional look and feel. It should use a clean, clear, and easy-to-read font and have a consistent layout that is visually appealing.

Simple and not too busy

A good resume template shouldn’t be overly busy with graphics, testimonial boxes, and charts. To the untrained eye, these things look nice, but to a recruiter, they often prove as nothing more than a distraction. It is the words that matter unless you’re a graphic designer or creative.

Customization

While a good template should have a consistent structure, it should also allow you to customize your resume to your specific needs. Look for a template that lets you add or remove sections, modify fonts and colors, and adjust the layout to fit your content.

Depending on the job description, you’ll want to customize your resume differently.

ATS Compatibility

As mentioned earlier, many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen and filter resumes.

A good resume template should be designed to be ATS-compatible. This means that it includes the formatting and content elements needed to pass through an ATS screening.

Avoid anything that uses text boxes, such as those Canva templates and some Word resume templates. When we tested resume templates, the ones with text boxes frequently didn’t parse our information into the system.

Flexibility

A good resume template should be flexible enough to work for a variety of job types and industries. It should allow you to highlight your unique skills and experiences. It also should not be too restrictive in terms of formatting or content.

Ease of use

A good resume template should be easy to use, even for those who are new to resume writing. It should offer clear instructions and guidance on how to customize the template and input your information.

By considering these factors, you can ensure that you select a good template. A good resume template should meet your needs and help you create a professional and effective resume.

ATS-Friendly Resume Templates

There is a great deal of conflicting information about application tracking systems (ATS) on the internet. You’ll see resume software companies and resume writers talking about robots eating your resume everywhere.

And it’s easy to buy into this narrative when you’re not experiencing job search success. It’s an easy answer.

But notice what you don’t see. You don’t see recruiters talking about robots eating your resume. In fact, most recruiters will tell you that the majority of resumes are seen by a human. Sure, software can help them scan resumes. But if you’re using a resume the way most people do, applying to jobs you found online, there’s not as much to worry about.

A majority of the time, someone will look at your resume. They may only look at it for a few seconds if they don’t find what they need quickly. You are in a race to communicate quickly. But nonetheless, there isn’t a robot determining your qualifications.

What about auto-rejection emails

Recruiters do program knock-out questions and if you answer them incorrectly, you could receive an auto rejection. But this isn’t a robot. It’s a human on the other end using software to determine that you answered the question wrong. Think of it like those tests you took in school with the bubbles. The teacher fed those bubble sheets into the machine and it graded the test. It’s the same idea.

Even if you get a quick rejection after applying, this doesn’t mean the ATS disqualified you. Your answer probably disqualified you.

Do you need an ATS-friendly resume template?

The short answer is no. You don’t need to pay for a template or hire a resume writer to create an ATS-friendly version of your resume.

That doesn’t mean you don’t need one of those things for other reasons, but I would never hire anyone or pay anyone to recreate a resume for applicant tracking systems. I would pay them to tell a better story about my qualifications.

Resume Builders

If you google resume templates, you’ll most likely find several resume builders at the top of the search results. If you decide to use a resume builder, here are some things to consider.

Can you customize it? You want to be able to customize it. Some of these resume builders are very rigid and you have to fit everything into their predefined template with little customization.
Does it focus on content or graphics? You want the template to focus on content. It should be written in a way that tells a story about your qualifications and leads the recruiter through what is called narrative transportation.
Does it force you to write in bullet points? There’s nothing wrong with bullet points. I use them all the time. But it’s hard to tell a story when you’re stuck with formatting that looks like a grocery list or college notes. Again, you need flexibility.
Does it have a profile picture? Unless you’re Miss America, this may not be the best choice. I know that sounds harsh, but I can promise you, my face is doing me no favors on my resume. Besides, who cares what we look like? We’re not auditioning for the Bachelor. We’re trying to interview for a job we’re good at.
Does it force you to use columns? There’s nothing wrong with columns, but it’s really hard to control the flow of information with this layout. Think about how you read. It’s in a Z pattern. You want the reader to read the most relevant things first so they don’t give up and move on. That’s hard to do with columns.

If you’re considering a resume builder, I highly recommend Huntr. It is by far the best resume AI for generating bullet points. It’s exceptionally useful if you’ve had jobs that are different from your target role. It will help you translate your information into relevant talking points.

In summary, is it bad to use a resume template?

No, resume templates can take the guesswork out of formatting and structuring your resume in a logical manner. However, not all templates are created equal. You should use a template that: