Writing. Not everyone enjoys writing. Writing a resume? That’s even worse, especially if you’re a beginner. It can be overwhelming and frustrating. You have to consider formatting, rewriting content, and information organization, which can be time-consuming and difficult to understand.
An excellent solution is using a resume template, which can provide you with a straightforward and customizable structure to follow. This blog post aims to guide you through the process of using a resume template, from choosing the right one to tailoring it to fit your skills, knowledge, and experience.
Step 1: Choose a Template You Like
The first step is selecting a resume template that suits your style and profession. You’ll find a variety of specially designed Canva templates in our Resume Realm shop that are designed to pass the ATS. When choosing a template, prioritize its readability, simplicity, and visual appeal, as it can make a difference in impressing potential employers. Since the design is set up for easy use, all you need to do to write the resume is move your information over.
Plus, our Canva resume templates are designed to not move or shift as you update your content. That way, none of the design elements are moved around, which can leave you frustrated.
Step 2: Tailor the Template
Start by inputting your personal information, such as your name, contact information, and location. Pay attention to the template’s placeholders. They’ll show you exactly how the information should be written. For example, the address section in these templates only includes the City and State abbreviation. Due to privacy reasons, we avoid including your full address. Once you’re done with personal information, move on to the professional summary section, which should briefly describe your work experience, relevant skills, and career objectives.
However, don’t just include the information solely about you. This area is a perfect opportunity to include keywords and relevant skills that you’ll find in the job description.
Step 3: Add your Work Experience
The next step is to add your work experience, including company names, dates of employment, job titles, and job descriptions. Keep in mind to quantify your achievements, mention your duties and responsibilities, and highlight any accomplishments. Don’t forget to list your skills, qualities, and certifications, as they can boost your chances of getting hired.
Step 4: Include your Education
In the following section, list your educational background, such as your degrees, diplomas, or certificates obtained. Mention the institution name, degree name, the dates you attended, and your major or concentration. Do not forget to add any academic excellence, such as honors, awards, or scholarships.
One tip for this section: Only include your most recent and highest degree achieved. It’s not necessary to include your HS diploma or associate degree if you have a bachelor's degree.
Step 5: Review and Edit
After you have added and customized your template, review and edit it thoroughly, ensuring it is error-free, concise, and well-organized. Check for spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors, use bullet points, and ensure consistency in formatting, font size, and style. Additionally, ask someone else to proofread it for feedback and improve it accordingly.
Once you’ve had it reviewed and are pleased with the final product, we recommend you save your Canva template as a PDF. The reason is that a PDF can easily bypass the ATS platforms. And, none of your information will shift around like it can in a Word document.
Using a resume template is an effective, economical, and faster way to create a new professional and attractive resume without investing much effort in its design. We hope this simple guide has helped you understand the process of choosing and using a resume template to your advantage, and we wish you good luck with your job search, knowing that you have now equipped yourself with the knowledge to succeed.
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