Job Corner: Resume Templates Are Killing Your Job Search

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Monday, February 02, 2015

Lea McLeod, GoLocalPDX Careers Expert

A new client sent me the resume she was using, a sanitized version of which is shown here. 

I knew right away it was a template. 

You know, those “free downloadable templates” that populate Microsoft Word and the sidebar of nearly any site about job search? 

How could I tell? 

First, it just LOOKED like a template. I mean, come on, can’t you tell?

Secondly, part of her work experience was truncated because the template field limited the text. She hadn’t even noticed that. 

The sections included outdated headers like “objectives” and even “references” at the bottom (do not do this, it makes you look out of touch).

Let’s not even talk about the swirly design at the top wasting a whole bunch of marketing space. 

The format was difficult to read and didn’t favor the quick 7-second scan recruiters use in the initial resume parsing process. 

Goodness knows what an applicant tracking system – the automated system into which you often submit your resume online for optical scanning - would have done with it. 

To Template, Or Not To Template?

Search the term “resume template” online. I get 7 million results in a fraction of a second. And I’m heartily against job seekers using them.

Full disclosure: I write resumes for clients – who get interviews and dreamy jobs. 

But that’s neither here nor there. There are simply issues that, if you are using templates, I want you to be aware of so that you can best position yourself in the job hunt. 

1. The biggest challenge most people have with a resume isn’t the template. It’s the content.

Using a free template doesn’t help you with that.

Though you can fill in the template, it doesn’t coach you on examining and distilling your experiences and presenting your competitive advantages as a job seeker.

Spending a lot of time shopping for templates seems like a big work-around to avoid doing the real resume work.

Do the hard work around your content first.

2. It forces you to design and edit in one document.

I never design and edit in one step. It’s a 2-step process, often with numerous revisions.

I use a “Super Resume” to capture all professional evidence. Then I tailor resume messages for that specific job and capture that in a final, more simplified document. If you do the same it will allow you to organize your thoughts and messages more completely, and target them to the employer.

3. You’ll look dated.

Many pre-fabricated templates – including the example above - use outdated words, phrases or content that simply don’t apply today.

Often, they plop education right at the top, which can be a detriment if it isn’t correlated precisely to the work for which you’re applying.

Many templates have a similar look and feel, so managers may think, “meh” when yours crosses the desk. Visually, you aren’t standing out compared to any other resumes.

4. They can be difficult to work with.

Templates have text, margin, formatting, and spacing limitations that can be difficult to work with or customize.

If you want a template because you’re not a wiz on Microsoft Word, you might be in for a surprise. Because you may have to be one to manipulate a template.

5. The employer may want you to have killer MS Word skills!

Using a template might be a hint that you didn’t have the tech skills to do it yourself. It also might look like you didn’t want to put the work into creating a strong business and marketing document, and took a shortcut.

That could get you eliminated from contention! 

There you have it. The bottom line is I don’t believe templates allow you to put your best resume foot forward. And, they can prevent you from showing up as a highly qualified candidate – even if you are one.

Before you think “template,” consider your core marketing messages and what you want the world to know about you. Because if you don’t master those, it doesn’t matter what template you use. 

Lea McLeod helps people learn how to develop job search strategies that get them confidence and dreamy jobs. As mentioned, she writes resumes (and LinkedIn profiles) to help people get interviews faster.

She also developed The Resume Coloring Book and E-Course  to help you write a powerful, professionally done resume, at a fraction of what a professional would cost. 

Formerly a Director Level manager at Hewlett-Packard, she hired, fired and managed people around the world. You can find her at LeaMcLeod.com. Follow her on Twitter and get connected on LinkedIn. 

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