Resume templates

It's funny how often people ask for this stuff. A recruiter commented on my post about the one page resume saying that if you used the resume template in Microsoft Word, you have a 75% less chance of being interviewed (grrr, throwing out random, unsubstantiated numbers...wait, is this a political debate? I digress...). So I wanted to check out the templates so I could have a somewhat informed opinion and here I am back again to let you know what my opinion is.

First, let me tell you about my opinion of templates in general. Most often when someone refers to a "template", my reaction is less than positive (especially when they pronounce it like "tem-playte"...can't we all get together and agree on one pronunciation?). I've met people in life who can't get through a day without several templates. I like an occasional template, but over-standardizing can be mind-numbing.

As a recruiter, I love e-mail templates that I can use when I am sending out the same message to a number of people (like thanks for applying, etc.) but to use templates for some of the more creative aspects of the job bothers me. I've adapted though. For example, we do have some phone interview templates we use for certain types of roles. This allows us to ask consistent questions of our candidate pool. The negative side of this is that the recruiter can get so focused on the template that they forget to listen and forget to ask question probing for certain talents. So I'm a big proponent of flexible templates; which include some "must-have" questions ("Are you open to relocation, are you authorized to work...") and some additional questions you can use if you need them, but flexibility to ask questions based on the candidate's resume and then probe the answers. I don't want templates to become a crutch. I still want to use my brain in my job.

So let's talk about resume templates. I did check out the resume templates in Microsoft Word. Specifically, I looked at the resume templates for a "Marketing Manager" Resume on the Microsoft Office Online template page and I have to say that what I saw was pretty darn good (really like that first one for an experienced candidate). At the very least, it's better than most resumes that I see. There are a bunch of different templates there from different sources (independent sources...not Microsoft's recruiting department, of course). Just make sure that you pick templates that work for your background versus trying to make your background work using a specific template. Let me explain what I mean. Let's say that you are a relatively new grad. It will not make a bunch of sense to a recruiter reading your resume of you start out with a "career profile". But it would make sense if your education section came first.

The templates should just make you think about how you might want to present your background so don't feel like you have to adopt a particular template format outright. You don't have to use just one template (I would encourage you not to). I would recommend flipping through the templates available and finding elements of different templates that you like. Think about why you like them and how you can incorporate them into one document. Think about what the different formats say about how you position yourself. But don't let the templates take the creativity out of marketing you. Find the right combination of the info you want to say and how you want to present it.

Early in my recruiting career I heard some information about how the eye scans the resume. From what I remember, someone (a recruiter) reading a resume actually "reads" the top third of the first page and then scans to the bottom of the page. Then they read the very top and bottom of every subsequent page, scanning what is in between. So taking this type of thing into account is what you want to do when selecting a resume format. Develop a format that highlights strengths (don't forget to highlight results) in the top third of the first page and think about where you place the rest of it.

So the answer to the question of whether I have "a good resume template"  to use is "sorry, but no". However, realizing that most of you don't stare at resumes for the better part of the day like I do, I think there is some value in reviewing some templates online to help you visualize what your resume should look like. So by all means check them out. But make the resume yours. Put your stamp on it and make sure what people are noticing isn't the sophisticated resume format, but the sophisticated professional it represents.

PS: Gerry Crispin posted recently on the "personal" information most often found on resumes. Moral of that story is leave that stuff off your resume.

Comments

• Anonymous
  October 11, 2004
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  October 11, 2004
  Sean..OK, now that I agree with ; )

• Anonymous
  October 13, 2004
  I hate mispronunciation too. Let's get everyone to talk the way we do. Especially people from Rochester.

• Anonymous
  October 20, 2004
  I remember the conventional wisdom about leaving out the personal information on resumes, but I'm not so sure that it's still right. Certainly, there are some--ok, many--kinds of personal information that should not appear, but the harmless ones have occasionally been helpful to me. I think the key is to keep it short and at the end. Every once in a while, they help form a connection with an interviewer. And in this impersonal market, any personal connection is good.
  
  Isn't that why we know about your boots?

• Anonymous
  October 20, 2004
  Nathan, Rest assured that nobody will be reading about my new boots on my resume; ) Blogs are another matter entirely. I agree with a lot of what you said. If you think about adding personal stuff, definitely keep out the stuff that Gerry talked about in his post (height, weight, kids, marital status because frankly, it's nobody's beeswax). With other stuff, like affiliations, consider 1) whether the entry has the potential to alienate a reader and 2) if there's something that the reader can glean from the entry that presents you as a better candidate (like Toasmasters if you were applying for an evangelist position). The kind of things that could potentially alienate a reader are political afilliations, religious affiliations, fraternal organizations (you know what they say about opinions...we all have them). Those are all personal things that people feel strongly about (which is why I think some people put them on their resume), but they do open up the possibility of a reader reacting negatively based on their own feelings (which means they might not call you). People may be concerned that since you put those things on your resume, they also follow you into the workplace, so I would just advise to tread carefully but make up your own mind. I'm not trying to make a point about what people do in their lives, but whether that belongs on a resume which I believe represents what you are offering a potential employer. So the stuff on the resume needs to pass the relevance test.
  
  Like I said, blogs are another matter, but you still won't see me talking about religion, politics (even though I think about it a lot and would love to share my opinion...just not appropriate here in my opinion.) and other stuff that I think is personal. That's just me. Other people do.

• Anonymous
  October 20, 2004
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  October 21, 2004
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  January 17, 2006
  There is a great deal of antipathy amongst recruitment professionals about resume templates, and dire warnings that the use of such devices is akin to "shooting yourself in the foot". I can't help but feel that there is a degree of professional snobbery in this.
  
  The purpose of a resume is to provide information and to provide it in a way that can be easily accessed by the recruiter. A well designed template such as the sort my company provides, is perfectly capable of doing this, and is far superior to many "home grown" resumes based on misinformation and lack of knowledge about what is required.
  
  Like you Heather, I believe a template of any sort is a sound starting point for the user. There is nothing to prevent the user from exercising a degree of discretion and creativity in amending the template in order to better meet thier needs.
  
  Sadly, many templates are of poor quality, and are not based on sound principles. If you are unfortunate enough to be using one of these then most of the horror stories will become your reality.

• Anonymous
  January 17, 2006
  There is a great deal of antipathy amongst recruitment professionals about resume templates, and dire warnings that the use of such devices is akin to "shooting yourself in the foot". I can't help but feel that there is a degree of professional snobbery in this.
  
  The purpose of a resume is to provide information and to provide it in a way that can be easily accessed by the recruiter. A well designed template such as the sort my company provides, is perfectly capable of doing this, and is far superior to many "home grown" resumes based on misinformation and lack of knowledge about what is required.
  
  Like you Heather, I believe a template of any sort is a sound starting point for the user. There is nothing to prevent the user from exercising a degree of discretion and creativity in amending the template in order to better meet thier needs.
  
  Sadly, many templates are of poor quality, and are not based on sound principles. If you are unfortunate enough to be using one of these then most of the horror stories will become your reality.

• Anonymous
  July 23, 2006
  I think templates can work particularly if they're supported by strong, clean words that describe their asets.
  
  There are but only so many formats one can use. I'm a recruiter who likes a simple, professional layout that embraces a marketable work history.  

• Anonymous
  August 20, 2006
  i am a mba student at present i am in 3rd semester. i hv my specialisation in Marketing and IT .I want a new and good resume format or template ,so that i can be able to register myself in various job sites. already most of my friend has got some interview calls where i am just waiting for the same moment.

• Anonymous
  August 21, 2006
  Debendra- I'd recommend checking in with the career center at your university. They should have some recommendations on templates appropriate for new MBA grads. Otherwise, you can use the templates I linked to.
  
  Good luck

• Anonymous
  October 31, 2006
  I would like to endorse the comments made by Sondra Jordan, regarding a "simple, clean layout". "Bling" might be a great companion to evening wear, but has no place in a Resume or CV.  Recruiters want to get to the information quickly and easily. The look to strive for is simplicity, organisation and professionalism. Excessive formatting and colour on a Resume or CV is a "turn-off".  I think it tells a recruiter that you don't believe you can win a job on your merits and are trying to mask this.  Might not be true in fact, but perception can be as important as reality.

• Anonymous
  February 07, 2007
  I differ with Sean Kent (the recruiter that threw out the "75%" comment). If I am into technical field then one should assess my technical knowledge, not my resume writing skills. I will do the best what I am supposed to do and I will take others help if it is not my job. Using a resume template does not mean hurriedly composed resume. One takes equal pain in filling his/her personal information in that template. Also, I feel that if everyone follow certain standards for resume writing then it will be easier for the recruiters to scan and compare them in less time.

• Anonymous
  December 06, 2007
  This time of year, I'm burning excess vacation days and you may be doing the same or hiding from in-laws

• Anonymous
  December 06, 2007
  PingBack from http://msdnrss.thecoderblogs.com/2007/12/07/what-to-do-during-your-holiday-down-time-polish-up-your-resume/

• Anonymous
  February 03, 2008
  I am doing a resume for the first time. I would like to send it to you so you can tell me if its good or not. And if theres anything I should include or improve on.

• Anonymous
  February 05, 2008
  What an interesting conversation!  First, templates are simply a guide to formatting.  If the right information is in a resume, any template or clean format will work for you.   I'd like to bring up the #1 mistake that I think candidates make is having only one resume -- whether or not you use a template.  A resume should be different for each job application.  You want to showcase the skills that are required for the opening that you want.  You want to pump up the key words that you feel really showcase your strong suits.  A resume is a "living document", a sales tool, to get you an interview -- it should be fluid and dynamic -- not one rigid document.   Employers want to know what you will bring to the table -- why are you worth the money.   You must include accomplishments and responsibilities -- not simply job descriptions. Remember that in this Google age, Recruiters are searching for key words to find that perfect match.  A key word rich resume leaps to the front of the search results.   Whether or not you use a template to set up your resume is irrelevant.  

• Anonymous
  February 08, 2008
  Hi All, I am some one who always thought that Resume will not do much unless if you dont have the knowledge to deliver.After seeing this blog there are different things going on to my mind i am a finance guy with nearly six years of experience,i need your help in building a good resume my e mail id is vshnu_22@hotmail.com i appreciate if you can send me a good resume format please. Regards Vishnu

• Anonymous
  July 07, 2008
  Please assist me in finding a site that has resume templates so that I may build a professional resume.

• Anonymous
  September 14, 2008
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  March 23, 2009
  I understand the fact that you get bored seeing the same template over and over, but the fact is, it helps keep people organized. I see TONS of resumes that are "made by hand" that are disorganized and scattered. The templated ones are boring to look at, but at least I can find what I'm looking for quickly.

• Anonymous
  March 23, 2009
  My point was not that resume templates are boring. I don't count on getting my excitement in life from looking at resumes. My point is that some templates are very helpful but that if someone is going to use a template, they should pick out one that is appropriate and then make it their own (with unique content about themselves). Depend on the template for structure, but not content.

• Anonymous
  April 06, 2009
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  April 07, 2009
  So you like templates, but they are a sign of robots. And you don't like recruiters. Got it. Whatever.