Your CV/Resume is often the very first thing a hiring manager or recruiter will have of you. While the content of the CV is important, the design and layout can also make that content shine (Or bury it!).
Picking the wrong CV template can mean your application doesn't get the attention it deserves, even if you were a great fit for the role.
Here are some key do's and don'ts when it comes to selecting a CV template
1. Keep it clean and professional
A simple and uncluttered design will always win. Basic white backgrounds, clear headings, and consistent font choices will make your CV easy to scan quickly. That last point, scanning a CV quickly, is exactly what a hiring manager will be doing when you apply. So making it clean and concise is more important than you may think.
2. Use a standard format
Your standard personal summary, work history (In reverse chronological order), and education (In that order) is still your go to format. It can be tempting to mix it up, but your CV is the foot in the door, the absolute basics of what someone needs to know about you. By changing up the format, you are much more likely to be put into the "I'll check this out later" basket, which quickly turns into the "I ran out of time to check this out later" basket.
3. Make your contact details obvious and right at the top
Sounds silly right? Of course you are going to include your contact detials, but you would be surprised at how many fail to include a phone number, an email, or even sometimes both. If a hiring manager wants to give you a call, and you've left out your phone number, you aren't going to be selected.
4. Check for consistency
Over time, you may edit your CV multiple times with years in between. Sometimes when you do this, you will forget the font, size, maybe even the bold/underline formatting that you've used in the past. It can be very jarring when your latest role is in one font, but the rest of your career is in another. Always double and triple check for consistency.
5. Submit as a PDF
Unless specified, you should always send your CV as a PDF to ensure consistent formatting. While a Word doc mostly works, it can be inconsistent between versions of Word, or across different operating systems. With PDF, you are more or less guaranteed to have it look the same anywhere that CV goes.
1. Don't use a black or dark background (Or any background)
We see many CVs with black backgrounds, or even dark blues, and it just doesn't work. It can be difficult to read for starters, but the actual issue is that lots of hiring managers and interview panels will print off your CV to have a hard copy infront of them, often to take notes. That can be difficult unless they are prepared to write notes on your black CV in white-out!
2. Don't fall for gimmicky templates
Some online templates promise to "stand out" by using unconventional layouts (2 or 3 column layouts, excessive colors etc). These do more harm than good. Simple is best!
3. Don't cram it all on one page at all cost
Your local LinkedIn Lunatic (TM) will say that you must only ever have your CV as a one pager. As your career grows, this just isn't realistic. Make your CV concise, but don't remove need to know details just to keep it under the page limit.
4. Don't add unnecessary personal details
You do not need to include date of birth, maritial status, race (With the exception of specifying your visa situation), or a photo. These details are never required in the NZ Job Market and should be avoided on your CV.
5. Don't include portfolio websites and/or empty Github profiles
Hiring managers *will* click on links in your CV. You will never lose out on a job by not including a portfolio, but it can make a bad first impression if you do include one, and it looks like rubbish. If your portfolio is a WIP (Or plain empty), just leave it out.