Last updated: November 25th, 2023
Should you use a resume template that you download from the Internet? Well, it depends because most advice you get from career experts about the pros and cons of using resume templates in Australia is nothing short of conflicting.
Let me make it easy for you. If you want a winning Australian resume in September 2023, you have three options:
- Download a resume template and use it as a departure point for writing your own Australian resume.
- Use a good resume builder (I recommend Resume.io).
- Hire one of the best resume writers in Australia.
Pretty straightforward. Now, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of these options.
1. Download A Resume Template.
Resume templates offer convenience and structure, which can be used as a starting point for your resume’s layout and design.
Important!
Under no circumstances should you copy blocks of text from an existing resume template that you find on the Internet.
Before we continue, let me provide you with a couple of attractive, modern yet simple and easy-on-the-eye resume templates specifically designed for the Australian job market.
They are Microsoft Word-friendly and are available for instant download:
A. Contemporary Australian Resume Template.
B. Classic Australian Resume Template.
You’ll notice that these templates provide graphic design elements and layout but not content.
This is intentional, as copying another person’s achievements and profile is a recipe for creating a resume that gets ignored by Australian recruiters and rejected by recruitment software.
Important!
Instead of plagiarising your resume examples from the Internet, I strongly urge you to use one of the resume templates above as a starting point for writing your own Aussie resume (examples and tips for winning Australian resumes).
Yes, from scratch.
Even if you’re a skilled writer, crafting a stellar resume/CV is very different to writing a blog, email, poem, short story or content for your LinkedIn profile.
Don’t assume you’ll breeze through the task because you like writing. It will take effort, time and focus.
Here’s the good news.
My team has created helpful guides to help you write your own resume like a champ. Start with these two:
Of course, if you’d like to save yourself time (and/or writing headaches), you always have the option to…
2. Use A Good Resume Builder.
Resume builders are great because they offer a compromise between downloadable resume templates and professional resume writers.
They also save you hours by keeping you within a proven resume structure, while offering writing prompts that help you write your resume quickly.
Their resume templates are often attractive and modern, like these examples from Resume.io:
All you have to do is select a resume template that you like best and start customising it.
Caution!
While resume builders can technically write your resume end-to-end, I highly recommend that you don’t let the robot write your resume 100%. Spend a few hours editing and tweaking the draft produced by the resume builder for optimal results.
3. Hire A Professional Resume Writer.
If you’re a time-poor professional, this option can make a lot of sense.
You need a highly personalised, targeted marketing tool that communicates your value proposition and positions you as a clear answer to a specific employer’s commercial needs.
- Only a top professional resume writer can elicit that kind of detail, and communicate it on a page.
- Can’t afford a good resume writer? You can write a reasonably good DIY resume using a good resume builder and advice on this website.
How To Succeed In The Australian Job Market (And In Life).
Before we wrap up this post, I’ll leave you with one final thought.
Whatever you invest your time and energy is now — a resume template, a writing project or a new job – creates your future.
I encourage you to do your best with what you have at your disposal.
– Irene
