Did you know that recruiters spend an average of six seconds scanning over your resume before deciding whether you’ll proceed in the hiring process? That doesn’t leave you a lot of time to make a strong, lasting first impression, but it can be done – you just need to know what tools to use to create the best and most diversified resume possible.
One of the handiest tools you have at your disposal is resume templates. These easy-to-use (and often free) templates are designed to make the typically tedious task of job hunting a whole lot easier. Wondering how resume templates can benefit you? Let’s take a look at three of the key advantages to using resume templates.
1. Eye-catching and Aesthetically Pleasing
If employers are only looking at your resume for an average of six seconds, it’s likely that the visual layout of your resume will be the first thing they examine. With that in mind, you want to ensure that your resume has an eye-catching and sleek design that recruiters will want to keep reading. When you use resume templates, achieving that kind of aesthetically pleasing layout is simple, since it’s been done for you already. The only thing you need to do is change the information in the template to your own personal details.
2. Saving You Time
It’s no secret that job hunting and sending out applications can be a mundane and time-consuming process. In fact, some statistics have indicated that it can take between 100 and 200 job applications to receive one job offer. Considering the fact that you need to tailor your cover letter and resume to each individual job posting, you can only imagine how lengthy the whole process could end up being.
This is where resume templates come in handy. Since they are already formatted, the only thing you need to do is replace the generic template text with your own information (such as your contact details, your professional experience, and your educational background). Rather than having to start from scratch, you’ll just need to fill in the blanks, which is a huge time-saver.
3. Offering Inspiration
Just by browsing through some of the professionally written templates, you’ll see how experts have described certain job duties, which can provide some stellar inspiration. For example, you may notice some buzzwords or key phrases that grab your attention and that you want to integrate into your own resume. When you read these templates, think about the words that jump out and immediately catch your eye. It’s advisable to use those terms on your resume, as they’ll likely have the same effect on recruiters.