Episode 253

Winning Resumes? Keep It Simple (Ep 253)

In today’s hyper-competitive job market, your resume is your personal marketing tool. Therefore, choosing a good template is quite a challenge for many professionals. Especially due to the fact that the first "thing" looking at your resume most often is a bot, not the human eye. Most employers now rely on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to sift through countless resumes, which means the template you choose can significantly impact whether or not your application ever gets seen by human eyes.

As a career coach with years of experience helping professionals apply for jobs and advance their careers, I’ve encountered countless resumes that looked great on the surface but were fundamentally flawed in terms of ATS compatibility. To investigate whether freely available resume templates are up to the task, I conducted an in-depth analysis of some of the most popular sources for free resume templates online. The results were enlightening—and in some cases, alarming.

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Timestamps to guide your listening:

  • 00:00 Introduction to Free Resume Templates
  • 00:54 Personal Updates and Episode Plans
  • 01:39 Understanding Recruiter Compensation
  • 02:33 Types of Recruiters and Their Motivations
  • 06:40 The Impact of Recruiter Compensation on Job Seekers
  • 09:58 LinkedIn Profiles: Common Mistakes and Best Practices
  • 12:32 Personal Insights on Goal Setting and Job Searching
  • 15:18 Analyzing Popular Resume Templates
  • 33:22 Creating Professional Banners
  • 34:43 Exploring Canva Resume Templates
  • 42:17 The Pitfalls of Reddit Advice
  • 45:25 Evaluating Indeed's Resume Templates
  • 47:02 The Harvard Resume Template
  • 52:34 Final Thoughts and Best Practices

Links mentioned in this episode:

About the host, Renata Bernarde

Hello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress. 

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About the Podcast

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The Job Hunting Podcast

About your host

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Renata Bernarde

I'm Renata Bernarde, a former CEO and senior executive, now dedicated to helping professionals succeed in advancing their careers. I believe that you can have the best career. One that satisfies your financial and personal needs, brings you joy, and adds value to your life.
I designed career services that can meet your needs and your budget. So, if you're a seasoned professional at a career crossroads, seeking to align your next job with your life's purpose, then let's redefine your career path together and turn aspirations into achievements. Are you ready? Let's embark on this journey together.

Warm regards

Renata Bernarde