Why I love a good template
Thinking about using Resume Templates to support your resume writing business?
Let’s take a look at some of the important factors of template use.
A good resume template can be one of the best investments in your business and writing process as a resume writer. However, it is important to understand how to best leverage such a resource - and how NOT to fall into the trap of skipping over the important parts of the creative process.
First - let’s define a resume template.
A resume template is a pre-designed format or layout that individuals or resume writers can use as a starting point to create resumes. It provides a structured framework for presenting personal and professional information to potential employers. Resume templates are often used to streamline the resume creation process, ensuring that essential details are included and presented in a visually appealing and organised manner.
Sounds good, right?
The industry seems to be a little bit divided over this - depending on who you ask and where you look, you could be having templates sold to you left right and centre, or you could be told it is a big no-no if you want to be a ‘good’ resume writer.
There are some resume writing ‘gurus’ out there shaming us for using templates. They’re yelling about ATS Compliance and the recruitment bots that reject our resumes… They’re telling us that we MUST build our resumes from scratch every time, or we are not ‘real’ resume professionals (and in the next breath they’re promoting a special on resume templates on their website - eye rolllllll).
Spoiler: Every recruiter I’ve asked about ATS has not had much to say - because they don’t know why I’m so concerned about it. The myth of resume rejection by AI is one that resume writers and career coaches have conjured up over the years, to scare folks into buying their services.
(insert vomit emoji!)
The IMPORTANT thing to know about using a resume template: it must be tailorable to your clients’ needs, so that you can focus on building content that builds the clear bridge between what your client brings to the role, and what the recruiter is actually looking for.
In other words: you need to know how to change and edit your template for it to be an effective step in your process. There is no right/wrong templates, but you have to understand best practice for writing to make sure you choose the right fit for you and your client! (Best practice is a whoooolllllleee other conversation - let’s focus back on the actual template).
Let’s be clear - I’m on team templates, but that’s enough ranting - I’m here to share some pro’s and con’s of using templates as a professional resume writer.
In this article, we'll delve into the pros and cons of using resume templates in your resume writing business and discuss how they can be a valuable tool when approached with careful consideration.
CONS
We will start with the argument of “resume templates are bad”. I disagree, but these points must be considered to ensure you don’t fall into the traps of a stale template!
1. Generic: One potential drawback of using resume templates is the risk of producing generic-looking resumes, or sending out very similar documents from client to client. Templates, if not customised thoughtfully, can fail to capture the distinct professional brand of your clients. If you are sticking to the script every time, I can guarantee some of your clients’ documents are missing the mark - not because the template sucks, but because you must be able to adjust your formats accordingly as the application needs.
2. Inflexible: Pre-designed templates might limit your ability to cater to specific industries, roles, or individual career paths by shielding your creative sight. Rigid structures can sometimes hinder creativity and prevent you from tailoring the content to meet unique client needs. It also creates a silo – you will limit your approach to what you know rather than your client's needs.
3. Unlicensed: This is a big one that I witness all the time. If you are using a template you purchased online to use in your business, you MUST have a commercial licence. The document may have been created for your personal use only, and it is important to make sure you are paying for permission to use it over and over again. Many writers think they can get away with it, but honestly, it’s poor conduct and unethical. Some graphic designer is not getting the compensation they deserve for their IP!
PROS
I’ve kept this to three points so that the cons list doesn’t feel bad, but if you understand how this can go wrong, then you can remain aware of your use of templates to ensure you’re only using them for good.
1. Become more efficient: Utilising well-designed resume templates can significantly save you time in the resume creation process. Instead of starting from scratch, you can focus more on content and customisation while avoiding repetitive formatting tasks. My advice: Have 5-10 different templates that you can choose from in your resources, that way you can make informed decisions on client needs from the get-go. Templates can be a lifesaver for those of us who offer tight turn-around times.
Side note: Having a few resume templates up your sleeve will reduce Step 1 & 2 of the RWA 5-Step Writing process from hours to 10-15 minutes. When you are looking at how this affects your pricing, you are increasing your hourly pay-rate significantly! To learn more about the 5-Step Writing Process, Enrol in our Resume Academy® program
2. Consistency and Quality Assurance: Resume templates offer a consistent framework for presenting information. This helps you maintain a high standard of quality across all your resume writing projects, ensuring that each client receives a polished and professional-looking document. If you’re someone who isn’t confident in all the formatting features in Microsoft Word, a template can allow you to use these without fear of failure.
3. Professional Presentation: Templates often incorporate modern design elements that can give your resumes a sleek and polished appearance. This professional presentation can enhance your clients' confidence in your services and help their resumes stand out to potential employers. With a new template up my sleeve, I feel like I’ve bumped up my professional edge! Confidence is key in business, so this is always a plus.
So, what’s the key to best practice with a resume template?
“Our job is to be able to create something that is perfectly professional and usable once handed over. Templates gives you the space and confidence to play and push further, and create more powerful content … all because you are starting from a solid foundation!” - Marianne Tansley, Microsoft 365 Expert
Click here if you’d like to check out Marianne’s suite of Masterclasses
My point is, as long as you are able to adjust and change your templates to suit your client’s needs, then you’re doing it right. This is an important skill for any resume writer.
TL;DR
- There is some division about whether a professional resume writer should use templates in their writing practice, however RWA fully endorses the use of templates to streamline your writing process.
The cons of using templates include the trap of generating generic resumes, becoming inflexible in your approach, and using templates commercially without a licence to do so (which is unethical).
The pros of using templates include creating efficiencies in your process, quality assurance, and ensuring professional presentation everytime - even if you’re not a Microsoft Word Wizard!
The key takeaway for this blog is that templates can be good or bad for your business, it is all in how you use them!
Here’s some resources for you:
The VAULT: RWA’s document vault and resource pack with 6 resume templates, client interview run sheet and a recently added BONUS of Resume Template Masterclass and Resume Building Onboarding Form! This is everything you need to get started - Click here to purchase
Velocity: Join us to learn best practice with Resume Template creation in Microsoft Word! Delivered by our Guest Expert, Marianne Tansley from ThriveAdmin. Click here to join Velocity