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Resume apps: pros and cons of creating a custom CV

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Alicia Peters
Resume apps: pros and cons of creating a custom CV

Many online resume builders and similar services are popping up and promising amazing results. These sites can be a great asset if used properly. However, some situations may occur when you will want to create your resume from scratch. So, without further ado, let’s talk about custom CV pros and cons.

The good

Most good resume creators have the goal to streamline the writing process and make it as easy as possible. They are a great solution if you are intimidated or not sure how to craft and format your CV. The resumes you will end up with are also usually highly professional and polished. This can be seen through multiple aspects of the process and the finished product itself.

Speed

One of the biggest advantages of using a resume builder is the time you will be able to save. This is especially important if you are applying for multiple postings in different companies at the same time. If this is the case, you will want to improve your chances of getting a chance for an interview. Tailoring the content and format of your resume to highlight what makes you a great candidate for each individual position is a great approach, and a resume maker will make sure each version is finished quickly and ready to send off. 

Clear instructions

The standards have changed drastically in the last decade when it comes to resume formatting standards. The problem is, writing a resume isn’t an exact science and while some guidelines exist, there is always a chance of not getting the latest information or misunderstanding it. Most high-quality resume makers make sure you showcase your certificates properly and follow all the necessary, albeit unwritten, rules.

This is also a great benefit if you don’t have a lot of technical knowledge since all you will have to do is type the information into the fields and still end up with a well organized and attractive resume. Speaking of that…

Visual quality

Most resume makers offer multiple templates to try out and see which one works best for you. 

These templates look crisp and polished in most cases, with a predetermined structure and color scheme. This is especially useful if you aren’t sure where to start and have a hard time visualizing the finished document. You can enter your data into multiple templates and see which one looks best. 

Whether you want to make your resume highly visual, more minimalist, or anything in between, there are some great template options for you. This way even people who aren’t highly artistic or visual can make an eye-catching resume and improve their chances. At the end of the day, it would be unfair for your resume to be ignored only because the recruiter didn’t like how it looked.

Convenient formatting

Formatting is another component of the overall impression your resume will leave. This is also one of the difficulties you will face if you decide to create your resume on your own. However, resume builders make sure each section and bullet point of your resume are formatted in the same way. This kind of well-organized resume leaves a great first impression and show you are diligent and well organized. 

Resume makers also prompt users to enter all relevant information, so you won’t forget any key details because you are under stress or in a rush. Additionally, you may get inspired to enrich your CV with another section you may have not thought of on your own. 

As we stated previously, the current employment climate makes having multiple versions of your resume a must. We all know how a single small change can make a Word document lose all structure and flow. In contrast, the formatting features of most resume makers allow you to make changes quickly and effortlessly and have each document properly formatted and attractive. Additionally, these sites usually offer the possibility to download your CV as a PDF, so you can be sure the formatting remains the same when you print it.

The bad

As you can see, resume building sites offer a lot of benefits. However, it would be dishonest to say they are the perfect solution for everyone no matter their situation. Here are some negative aspects of using a resume builder.

Freedom of expression

The creative field doesn‘t bode well with mass production. If you are involved with visual arts, you probably want to showcase your capabilities right from the start. That is why many artists choose to incorporate their work into their resumes, making them a mini portfolio of sorts. Ready-made templates don’t offer this freedom of expression, so we can’t recommend them in this case. You should, however, still browse templates for inspiration, even if it regards different fields you can include.

Same old, same old

While an attractive template can help you stand out, it can also be less than original if the different applicant(s) use it as well. The number of resume making sites is great, but the number of templates is still limited. Of course, having the same template isn’t going to stop you from getting an interview, but it may hinder the wow factor you were aiming for. Additionally, recruiters and hiring managers see a huge number of CVs on a daily basis, so they will probably be able to recognize you have used a pre-made template.

Inconvenient formatting

While having your resume automatically formatted can save a lot of time and effort, sometimes it can also hinder your effort. This is the case when the site you are using doesn’t have the formatting options you need. For example, many templates don’t allow changing the position of different sections. Additionally, if the job posting doesn’t require a certain section, or you, for example, are looking for your first job ever, you may end up with big gaps in the document. That is why we suggest seeing how the finished document looks before you commit to a resume building app.

 

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Alicia Peters
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