Ready-Made Professional Resume Templates

The Benefits of Using Professionally-Designed Resume Templates

Building a resume is no easy feat. For every position we apply for, we need to carefully curate the necessary information that goes into the document to fit the job. Templates exist to ease the burden of the process. Below are two more reasons why using templates can benefit job seekers.

Quick and Easy

It's a universally known fact that applicants should tailor their resumes to fit the job they are applying for. Those who opt for resumes will find themselves having an easier time, regardless if they have applied to one position or more.

Such is the case because users can effortlessly customize their resume templates of choice and insert their details. Using templates can result in applicants sending out more than one resume a day.

Not only that, but multitalented individuals can even pursue more than one industry. It's just a matter of finding the right resume for the right job.

Tried and Tested

Many are wary of using templates in fear of hiring managers believing that they are cop outs.

It's important to point out that hiring managers typically don't mind the use of resume templates. In fact, most hiring managers find templates pleasant since they help create easily reviewed resumes. As a result, templates make their job easier.

In short, resume templates are reliable formats that are fine to use. Users just need to customize each template that they choose carefully.

The Do's and Don'ts of Resume Writing

Do: know your audience

Researching the company one is applying for is imperative.Customize each resume you send out to fit the description and requirements for a job. Identify the company you’re applying to and the format of resumes they prefer, if you can. Doing so gives you the chance to learn more about the company’s work culture; and if the company uses Applicant Tracking Systems in its hiring process, which leads us to the next rules.

Don’t: be generic

Do not use the same resume for different job applications. Doing so will drastically reduce your chances of getting an interview. Also, define the important resume keywords from the job listing, and make sure to include them in your resume. For instance, you would be setting yourself back if you apply for a ‘Graphic Designer’ listing with a resume job title that reads ‘Visual Artist’ or ‘Digital Artist’. Applicant Tracking Systems will scan resumes for these keywords and remove those that do not have keywords in title and experience.

Do: keep it simple.

Traditional companies and conservative industries usually prefer clean, straightforward resume designs. This means a resume that has a neat structure and print fonts like Times New Roman; with little to no colors or graphics in sight.

These elements combined are also highly recommended for companies that use ATS since the program doesn’t recognize information inserted into graphics.

Don’t: do too much

Some companies allow the use of non-traditional resume designs, allowing applicants to show a little creativity. In this case, it’s important to remember that balance is needed. Using too many colors or difficult to read fonts may turn off hiring managers from one’s resume.

At the end of the day, the resume serves to market the owner, which is why going overboard is a bad idea. Choosing a muted color palette or simple graphics is more than enough for a resume to stand out.

Do: keep it precise.

Write a one-page resume if you have little experience and a two-page resume if you have a lot. Use bullet points to keep things short and highlight only the most important experiences of your career.

Also, include only job experience that is relevant to the job you are applying for.

Don’t: ramble

Keep your wording very precise- do not ramble or repeat your points. Do not include every single job position you have ever held just to appear more experienced. In fact, including past experience that is irrelevant will make you look unprofessional. If you have similar job experience at two previous positions, you don’t have to mention it in both instances. That’s one way to keep your resume clean and precise.

Do: quantify your achievements at previous positions

Define your experience with measurable accomplishments at your previous jobs. Numbers don’t lie, so let them speak for you. ‘Increased social media engagement by 40%’ sounds so much better than ‘Posted 3 times a day’.

Don't: just list your responsibilities

Instead of just stating what you did, let recruiters know how well you performed your duties at your former jobs. Anyone can have a list of functions that they carried out at their former jobs, so what will make you stand out is the value you added while carrying out your duties.

Do: use action verbs

Use action verbs to describe your duties and achievements at former jobs. Begin sentences with ‘managed’, ‘improved’, ‘increased’, ‘supervised’ etc. That comes off as professional and is more accepted in resume writing.

Don’t: use personal pronouns

Avoid using personal pronouns like ‘I’ or ‘Me’ when giving details of your work experience. Doing so will make you come off as someone who likes to toot their own horn. Yes, a resume is supposed to do that for you, but in a more sublime, professional manner.

Do: proofread your resume before submitting

Before you send in your resume, read through a few times. The last thing you want is to notice a typo in your resume after you’ve sent it in.