Are Resume Templates Bad?

When was the last time you updated your resume? Did you just add your most recent work history, or did you give your resume’s design a bit of a makeover?

Resume design is one of the most controversial aspects of resume writing. Yes, personal opinion is a huge factor in whether or not a resume design is appealing - however, there are certain best practices in resume design that will make all the difference in landing an interview.

Resume templates have been designed and made available for free or for purchase online to make resume design easier for job seekers but, depending on which resume template you choose, they can also be what prevents you from moving forward in the hiring process.

Not all resume templates are bad, but let’s chat about the pros and cons of resume templates and which ones you should avoid at all costs.

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I was surprised to learn that most of the resume templates available online were created by international designers. The issue with this is international job markets aren’t subject to the employment and discrimination laws of the US job market. While many of these resume templates are beautifully designed, recruiters and hiring decision-makers in the US may not be able to consider applicants who use them because of discriminatory details included.

But before we dive deeper into resume template red flags, let’s talk about some pros and cons of using resume templates in your job search.

Resume Template Pros

If designed by a Certified Resume Writer, recruiter, or hiring professional who is familiar with today’s hiring trends and technologies, a resume template can make updating your resume’s look quick and easy. Resume templates typically organize all the necessary details like your contact information, work history, and education sections and are often easy to customize using Microsoft Word, a PDF editor, or graphic design software.

Fill-in-the-blank style resume templates like this can free up your time otherwise spent designing the resume to reflect more on your skills and experience and craft a more effective resume overall.

Resume templates can also save you a substantial amount of money if you’re looking into options for resume help. Resume services typically include personal branding, resume designing, end-to-end writing, and editing which can cost hundreds of dollars when working with an experienced or certified professional who has helped clients get significant results.

Struggling to get through Applicant Tracking Software? These templates are designed to get through ATS and stand out in all the right ways when in front of hiring decision-makers

Resume Template Cons

Resume templates often aren’t designed with today’s hiring trends and technologies in mind. Popular resume templates are often heavily-formatted and flashy graphic designs that aren’t compatible with resume screening software. If they can’t be read, your application may not be complete or visible to recruiters on the other side of your online application.

Resume templates also restrict you with small spaces to make your skills and experience fit into to maintain the polished look the resume template is intended to have. You’re more likely to trim really impactful details that will help separate you from applicants with similar skills or years of experience and ultimately sell yourself short.

Resume templates designed by international graphic designers can also push your application into the figurative rejection pile if adding details that could lead to discrimination such as your photo, date of birth, ethnicity or race, nationality, gender, or religious affiliations. These are details that may be expected on an international CV or resume but details that get recruiters and hiring decision-makers in trouble in the US.

Resume Templates To Avoid

Resume templates created or editable using graphic design software like Canva or Adobe Photoshop are typically heavily-formatted documents that can’t be read by resume screening software. Recruiters have shared that a blank page with gibberish-like code will be seen instead of your beautifully designed resume information.

You should also avoid resume templates that organize your background information in multiple columns. Resume screening software reads your resume from left to right, so the information it reads and tries to store in your searchable profile within the ATS will store that information incorrectly. Recruiters have also said that multiple column resumes tend to have too small of font or spacing that makes the overall resume look crowded and difficult to skim.

Avoid resume templates that replace important keywords and details like your skills or achievements with icons, graphs, charts, or other graphic elements. Resume screening software isn’t smart enough to understand what images mean and needs the text.

Finally, avoid resume templates no matter how trendy they appear that indicate you should include your photo, date of birth, ethnicity or race, nationality, gender, religious affiliations, or other potentially discriminatory details.

In the end, a content-focused resume with a minimalist design will be more successful in making it through resume screening software and standing out to a recruiter or hiring decision-maker.

As a Certified Resume Writer, my job is to create a resume that positions you as the best fit for the job that you want by aligning your career story with what recruiters and hiring decision-makers want to see - which is, ultimately, that you understand and can meet the goals of the role you’re pursuing as well as what value you bring to a team based on past performance.

You can sign up for my free 5-day Resume Rescue Challenge and discover the updates you can make to your resume today to start landing more interviews.