Wait! Don’t Use That Resume Template!

Wait!  Don’t Use That Resume Template!

If you’re going to write you own resume, resist the temptation to use a resume template.

Many people turn to resume templates as an inexpensive, quick and easy way to prepare a resume.  But beware – most of the time cheap, easy and quick delivers less than stellar results.  A resume template could hurt you more than help you.  That old adage, “you get what you pay for,” definitely applies.

Your resume is NOT the place to take shortcuts.  It’s your personal marketing tool – it’s you on paper!

Your resume speaks for you when you are not there to do the talking.  Your resume should play up your expertise and qualifications, but at the same time it communicates softer qualities such as your style, attention to detail, ability to communicate, English skills and commitment to quality.

Your personal brand is one of the most important assets you have.  You need to protect it.

A well-written resume will enhance your personal brand.  Using a resume template will portray you as ordinary, just another resume that looks like all the others in the pile.  You wouldn’t want to wear the same suit as everyone else, why would you want to use a resume that looks like all the others?

More times than not, a template resume sends the wrong message.  Not because they’re bad templates, but because they aren’t able to be customized to your particular situation.

Here are the pros and cons of using a resume template to develop your personal marketing message.

The Pros:

• Easy to find.

There are basically hundreds of resume templates from which to choose from.  You can find them on the Web, in books and in various software applications.

• Free.

Usually one of my favorite words (not so in this case) – most resume templates are available to use at no cost.

• Nice designs.

Most of the resume templates I’ve come across are aesthetically attractive.

• User friendly.

Resume templates, for the most part, are “plug and play,” meaning all you have to do is type in the words and the template does the formatting for you.

The Cons:

• You won’t stand out.

If you use a resume template your resume will look just like all the other resumes that were produced on that template.

• They can’t help you with the words.

Resume templates help with formatting, design and organization issues, but not with the words.  How you word your resume is just as important as how it sits on the page.

• You can’t talk to them.

Everybody has a unique set of circumstances in their career history.  Some are red flags for potential employers, some are not.  Professional resume writers have experience dealing with less-than-favorable situations and know how to present the good, the bad and the ugly.

• Resume templates don’t keep up on industry trends.

The job market is constantly changing.  What works today may or may not work tomorrow.  Knowing what’s going on in the business world in imperative to making the right marketing decisions for your job search.

You’re unique – your resume should be too.

My job as a professional resume writer is to make my clients stand out from the other candidates applying for the job.  I use a variety of resume styles to achieve that goal.  Some clients may benefit from one resume format while another needs a completely different style.  It depends on a lot of factors including: individual needs, current goals, past work experience and what level of position they are seeking.

Using a resume template forces you to adhere to a particular resume format that may not be the most beneficial for your particular needs.

Write the right words.

How you present your past experience is critical to how you are perceived by potential employers.  Resumes should be written in an active voice using action words to deliver the message that you’re a person that can make significant contributions.

Knowing how to write bullets, profiles and sentences is imperative to sending the correct message.  Incorporating industry keywords, demonstrates your knowledge and proficiency.  Knowing where to put your keywords is just as important.

Save email, most people don’t write much these days.  With the exception of college, their professional career is not focused on writing.  Writing is like any other skill, if you don’t use it – it goes away.  Also, writing a resume requires a completely different set of skills than writing a term paper, email, RFP or whatever.  If you have a background in SEO or marketing writing, congratulations!  This form of writing is the closest I have found to resume writing.

Problems in Your Background?

If you have problems in your career history, that’s another reason to steer clear of a resume template.  Issues like:

• employment gaps,
• job hopping,
• age concerns,
• career changes,
• too much education or
• too little education

are all items that need to be properly addressed in a resume.

Resume templates traditionally don’t offer solutions to these problems or others that some job seekers may be facing.  In fact, using a resume template in some of the above situations may exacerbate the problem, drawing attention to the issue as opposed to presenting it in the most favorable light.  A professional resume writer has experience in how to present sensitive information to downplay “red flag” items while playing up information that will help you get the job.

Resume Plagiarism

Don’t freak out on me now – I’m not talking about the resume police stopping by because you’ve used some fancy phrase out of a resume you found online.

Many resume templates come with sample resumes or you can cruise the web to find a ton of resume examples to help get you started.  That’s exactly why resume samples are provided – to give you ideas when putting together your own resume.

Please use samples in moderation.  I’ve seen some resumes that have been constructed solely by the “copy and paste” method – and it’s not pretty.  Documents constructed this way don’t flow properly, probably don’t speak to your target audience and, in the worst cases, are grammatical nightmares.   Remember, one size doesn’t fit all.

Be Original

You are one-of-a-kind.  No one else has your unique combination of educational background and work experience.  Simply plugging your history into a template that thousands of other people are using does not do you justice, nor does it make you stand out during a job search.

Your resume is your personal marketing tool.  It needs to be impeccable in every instance.  It needs to clearly demonstrate why you are the best person for the job.  You only get one chance to make a first impression.  Don’t cheap out by using a resume template packed with phrases from free samples.  Chances are your readers (potential employers) have already seen it.