Resume templates: a good idea?

When you need a resume in a hurry, software templates can seem like godsends. For a small fee, you can plug your information into a pre-designed format, saving both time and headaches.

The problem is that this tool is one-size-fits-all. The very thing that makes it easy to use also makes it less effective in communicating your unique story.

In truth, slotting your data into the template isn’t much different than having your picture taken with your face poking out of the oval-shaped hole in a plywood cutout of someone famous. It’s you, but it really isn’t.

If you do want to go this route, start by deciding which template service to use. TopTenReviews.com has done some of the initial comparison for you, so go to their site and type “Resume Templates” into the search engine for a sideby-side ranking of the features and downfalls of different systems.

In the meantime, here’s some broader advice on using templates to create your resume.

3 Reasons to use a resume template

1. If the template is provided by the employer you’re contacting, you should use it.

2. If you’re traveling and have no access to your regular resume, making a template on your phone can be a lifesaver.

3. When you’re networking heavily, or attending job fairs, the eye-catching, polished look of a templated product can help you stand out. In this case, stay on one page, highlight key features of your background, and finish with this line: “Complete resume provided upon request.” Print copies in color and on high-quality paper and include your contact information.

6 Reasons NOT to use a resume template

1. Template resumes are problematic when they are accessible only in the cloud, in storage controlled by the service. Edits can only be done while logged in, and the product can only be downloaded as a pdf file. This isn’t good for active job seekers, who need their resumes available at any time, in multiple formats. It’s also not a good longterm bet, as the service could fold, marooning you without access to an editable resume. Plus, it often costs a monthly fee to maintain access.

2. Templates are space hogs. Once you account for all the thick lines and special columns or boxes, a typical template resume contains about 30 percent less room for content. It’s hard enough to explain complicated work histories without losing a third of the page to the graphics.

3. Templates that are accessible only as pdf files are problematic for online applications. Systems that request an uploaded resume will work fine with the pdf template, but applications that request your resume be pasted directly into their form will give you problems.

4. Template features can be difficult to disable. For example, some templates leave a cutout space for a photo, which looks odd when no picture is dropped in. The problem? Photos really aren’t a great idea for resumes. But try telling that to a template that won’t let you use the space for another purpose.

5. Template design features that look good on screen may not transfer well to the printed page – which is what your interviewer will be using in a face-to-face meeting. For example, all the great-looking colors will turn into four shades of gray if your document is reproduced on a standard copier.

6. All the other reasons to be wary of resume templates pale beside this one: You give up too much editorial control with these tools. Everything from the length of your job descriptions to the number of skills you want to highlight in a bullet list may be pre-determined, regardless of what you actually want to say.

Alternatives to resume templates

All is not lost. If you still want the convenience or design of a template, just make your own. You can create an actual fill-in-theblank template using that feature in Word, or you can just design a resume you like and then back over / rewrite different sections to make revisions.

Alternatively, you can skip the template concept altogether and go online with this simple search request: “Resumes for ___” (fill in the job title). You’ll be inundated with sample resumes for nearly any job you can imagine, giving you ample ideas for wording and layout.

And, if all this seems like too much work, you know that you can reach out for help. Workforce centers, professional associations, college alumni departments and professional resume writers are all standing by to help you write or polish your resume.