Should I Use Free Resume Templates?

Google ‘free resume templates’ and you’ll find many pages. There are lots of people offering free resume and CV templates to help you land a job interview. Question is, do they work?

Many people find they don’t. They fill in the boxes, quickly and easily, print the results and send the resume or CV to employers, expecting to hear back. Many are disappointed when they get a negative response and, in some cases, no response at all!

Why is this?

Firstly, free resume templates are rather boring. When recruiters get 50 or more resumes for every job, they get fed up seeing the same old format, time after time. When they find a resume or CV that’s different, it grabs their interest and they pay attention. It's not rocket science.

Secondly, free resume templates can be a little general. With so many people chasing every job these days, your resume or CV has to stand out. It has to be tailored to the particular job you’re applying for. Why send your potential employer three pages describing your skills, experience and qualifications when only one page is directly relevant to the job?

Resumes and CVs must be original and relevant to get you noticed and free resume templates usually aren't. Just like a job application form, your resume or CV is the very first impression you make on your potential employer, so make sure it’s a good one. Show him or her that you are serious about the job and better than the other 49 candidates whose free resume templates he’s just read.

One way to do this is to ask a professional resume writer to write a resume for you. Another is to get some good help and advice on writing a resume or CV that separates you from others and gets you interviews. Check out our resume help resources, where you’ll find lots of information and advice to help you write a CV or resume that wins you interviews.

Read more about resume and CV templates here.