Introduction
So, a job seeker asked, “Do employers look down on resumes using pre-made templates?”
Response
Well, I don’t know that employers look down on resumes developed using templates. As a hiring manager who is also an HR professional and a job search coach, I usually think that the applicant unintentionally sold him/her self short by using a pre-made resume template. Instead of using a simple straight-forward resume layout and opting for the template, they may have sacrificed the some important points that impact how effectively their resume showcases their qualifications. So, I recommend not using premade resume templates for the following six reasons: 1) Content; 2) Space; 3) Layout; 4) Fluff; 5) Relationship; and 6) Focus.
Reasons Explained
Reason 1 – Content is King
Remember that content, not pretty packaging, that gives your resume high impact. How well your resume’s contents are directly related to your target job is what captures and maintains hiring managers’ and recruiters’ attention.
Reason 2 – Space is Limited
Next, space is an important commodity. Premade resume templates typically offer limited space, determined by someone else. So, this limits how well you can share your job-related experience and other qualifications that are key to enabling the hiring manager or recruiter to make an initial assessment of your chances for on-the-job success, before they speak with you directly.
Reason 3 – Layout
Layout is another resume characteristic within pre-done resume templates that restricts how you can present your job-related qualifications. Also, usually when you try to adjust tab settings, margins, spacing, etc., it often throws the content off terribly. Then, it ends in a exercise in futility that raises your level of frustration and makes you want to give up on the developing your resume.
Reason 4 – Cut the Fluff
Unless you are a creative, such as an artist, actor/actress, writer, etc., you don’t need the fluff that many premade resume templates offer. The scroll design, the heavy borders, typically take up precious resume real estate, and the bright colors are unnecessary.
Reason 5 – Relationship
My next to last reason is relationship. Remember, your resume is your initial introduction to your potential new employer. So, think of your resume as the beginning of the employer/employee relationship. You want it to be a positive one. You don’t want them to remember you as the candidate whose resume is cluttered, disorganized, or difficult to read.
Reason 6 – Focus
Then finally, your resume should help the hiring manager or recruiter continue to focus on what’s important. What is most important are your qualifications for your target job. Your resume should not contain distracting elements that take their focus away from that which sometimes comes with premade templates.
Conclusion
It is very possible, and recommended that you use a very simple resume format. I have seen candidates who have used the most plain resume format, using targeted bullet points to effectively relate their background to their target job. They nudged out the competition and got the job.
So, I hope that you’ve found this information helpful to you along your job search journey. If so, do me a favor. Where ever you’re viewing, scroll down and leave me a comment, or ask me your very own job search strategy question. Who knows it might become the focus of one of my future blog posts.
As always…
Career Search Success to You. Go Get Your New Job!
