Surely it is Easier if I Just Download a Template?

[Joywtseo421]

There has to be a very good reason why you would do any of this, and I have seen some wonderful examples. For example, for a web developer, a website that portrays the skills of the developer as a CV, I have seen graphic designers demonstrate their skills in their CV. These are all amazing, but just keep a couple of things in mind. Most Applicant Tracking Systems expect to see a text-only file, they may be able to handle some basic formatting within a file, but nothing will throw a digital spanner into the works quicker than a file that is full of tables, grids, charts, Jpegs and so forth, so give it what it wants.

Having said that, if your skill-set does warrant such artistry, do it! Just make sure it is going direct to a person…you know…a human being…he or she is more likely to be impressed than the cold, unreasoning lines of code embedded in a piece of software.

Pardon me while I give you a gentle Biff Tannen-style knock on the head, and roar a sarcastic ‘Hello!!!???’ in your ear. Whoever said you can use a shortcut in your job search?

I’m joking of course, I have seen some excellent templates available online, but I would encourage some caution if you decide to do this.

Going back to the previous section, make sure there is no weird formatting within afghanistan phone number resource the temple that could de-rail the ATS process, also, make sure the template doesn’t contain data points that are irrelevant on a CV in the geographical region you are applying for work. To give you an example, a student I once worked with had downloaded a helpful template that contained data fields to include her date of birth, nationality and marital status. Perhaps she had downloaded it from 1985?

Also worth considering is the layout of the template, does it use more premium space than it needs to, is the default font an acceptable one? Personally, I use a bespoke layout for every CV I produce, but that’s just me…just make sure you don’t cut corners that you can’t afford to cut.

This is just a sample of myths that I wanted to challenge, there are others. If you have any concerns about your current CV, feel free to send it to me for a free Health Check, you can also connect via Linkedin or Twitter, or just get in touch for a chat, I really, really appreciate feedback!!

David Smith [that's me] is a Professional CV Writer | Linkedin Builder and Optimiser and Job Search Coach with Careervisa.co.uk, I am not very photogenic, I think I should limit the number of times my image should appear online, so feel free to visit my Linkedin profile if you feel a burning desire to put a face to a name!