CV Templates - Are they any good?

Your CV is your only chance to make an amazing first impression. Using a one-size-fits-all CV template is a sure fire way to send the clear message “I am pretty much like everyone else.” 

Even if you don’t use a template, you might be tempted to steal a CV format you find online:

Here’s why not to do that…

When you use a CV template, or copy someone else’s format, you’re allowing someone else to dictate what you say about yourself and how you say it. You’re squeezing yourself into a box that may or may not be a good fit for you. That doesn’t make any sense. That’s not to say you shouldn’t take ideas from other CVs, but we would always suggest getting a free review from a professional CV writer.

3 steps to a successful CV...

1. Don’t be afraid to take ideas from more than one CV, so that the resulting document suits you and not someone else.
2. When determining how to lay out your CV: consider what message you want to convey. What are your main selling points? Why should employers be interested in you? What makes you different from other candidates?
3. Once you know these things, you can choose a CV format that fits you, rather than trying to shoehorn your background into a set template.

Finally…

The number one key to a successful CV, one that grabs attention and makes employers want to call, is that it stands out from the rest. The only way to do that is to create a document that is as unique as you. And you can’t do that if you’re copying what someone else already did.