Should I follow a resume template?

Anonymous

December 5,2022 at 10:04PM UTC

Welcome to Fairygodboss!

We’re the largest online career community helping women achieve their career goals. Gain access to articles, jobs, events, and a supportive network of women and allies. Membership is free, always.

Should I follow a resume template?

I've received advice that resume templates are more ideal than starting from scratch. Do you use a resume template for job applications?

Why women love us:

Daily articles on career topics
Jobs at companies dedicated to hiring more women
Advice and support from an authentic community
Events that help you level up in your career
Free membership, always

5 comments

Share your insight

Join an authentic community that helps women support each other at work. Share your professional experience or ask for advice — you can even post anonymously.

5 Comments

Join the conversation

AnonymousDecember 6,2022 at 2:26AM UTC
I've used resumegenius.com to create/update my resume and got a new role with it. I highly recommend it.
AnonymousJanuary 1,2023 at 3:05PM UTC
No. Have your base resume professionally written and then tailor it to each position you apply for, using key words from their job posting and requirements.
Concentrate on your accomplishments rather than just listing job duties.
Good luck!
Brittany Wilson, Transformational Career CoachJanuary 4,2023 at 4:52PM UTC
Hi there! I agree with comments below. I use a resume template, meaning I keep the same format for every job, but I do customize the wording in my resume for jobs that I apply to.
If you're looking for templates, I recommend using something simple in Microsoft Word. If you open a new word document click File > New > Templates and search for "resume" and there will be several that pop up.
If you ever want support, feel free to reach out via DM or LinkedIn. I'm a career coach and I provide resume reviews to help people land interviews. My sessions are only $40 USD a session.
Lindsay MorrisonJanuary 4,2023 at 5:04PM UTC
If you're not familiar with the automated talent systems that rely on keywords, it's worth working with a resume company that is. I also understand the way that hiring recruiters (not external) use LinkedIn has changed a lot in the last year. There are a lot of search capabilities in LinkedIn that scan your LI profile. I've been told that 80% of interviews are from people the recruiters find that way rather than through application / resume submission unless you have really great keyword matches with the job description.
Krystin MorganJanuary 5,2023 at 11:09PM UTC
You don't need a template that looks a specific way, but having a template can make it easier to add and change your info. I'd be wary of overly graphic templates (unless you're a designer and design it yourself to show off your skills) as they can cause confusion and be difficult for systems to parse.
MS Word and Google Docs both have resume templates; I'd advise making slight changes to font or structure so it's not an obvious template, but otherwise they're a great starting point.
Please reach out if you are looking for additional resume support - I offer rewrites and reviews at https://www.amplifycareerservices.com.