Resume templates to steer clear of

Estimated read time: 2 minutes

What’s in this letter 📧

• Don’t use these 2 resume templates

• How to get referrals online using Team Blind

Steer clear of these two resume templates

So this advice may ruffle a few feathers. If you’re an Etsy seller or the owner of one of the many resume builders out there, sorry not sorry 🤷🏼‍♂️.

🚫 Dual-Column/Graphical Resumes 🚫

What it is:

As you can tell from the sample above, a dual column resume is just that, a document with the information split between two vertical columns.

Why you shouldn’t use it:

1. Applicant Tracking Systems (aka ATS) can't always decipher the content in fancy, dual-column/graphical resumes (especially older ATS, which a lot of companies still use). So, while your visually stunning resume may make you feel like Picasso, it could be invisible to the ATS. And you don't want that, do you?

2. While it's tempting to show off your design skills, remember that a resume's primary goal is to present your qualifications and achievements. Dual-column and graphical resumes often have too much going on, making it difficult for the reader to quickly digest your credentials. Keep it clean and straightforward, folks!

🚫 Functional Resumes 🚫

What it is:

For those of you who aren't familiar with functional resumes, they're a format that emphasizes skills and experiences rather than job titles and employers.

The idea is that by grouping skills and experiences together, you can showcase your expertise in a way that's more attention-grabbing than a chronological resume. But, here's the thing - they're not all they're cracked up to be.

Why you shouldn’t use it:

1. Hiring managers and recruiters are a savvy bunch. When they see a functional resume, they know you're trying to hide something. Instead of being impressed by your skills summary, they'll be busy trying to decipher your employment history like it's the Da Vinci Code.

2. Most hiring managers prefer a chronological resume format. Why? Because it clearly presents your work history, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Functional resumes often leave them scratching their heads, wondering how your experience translates to the role they're hiring for.

How to get referrals online from total strangers using Team Blind

To be clear, this will only work for companies that provide their employees with a referral bonus (why else would they refer a complete stranger?!).

You may be wondering if this option is even ethical - yes, it is. The person that’s referring you doesn’t need to lie or do anything shady. All they need to do is submit your resume and cash in their bonus.

How to do it:

First, go to TeamBlind.

Then, type in ‘referral’ in the search bar (see image below). Type ‘referral’ in the search bar.

Then, look through the results to get a handle on etiquette. Read through a few referral posts. See the next image below to see what I mean. The results page will show you posts by other people looking for referrals - read some to get an idea of what type of information you should include in your ask.

Make sure you include relevant information, such as your role/industry, years of experience, and compensation. If you’re looking to work at specific companies, include them at the bottom of your post in hashtags.

Have the following information ready if/when someone reaches out to refer you:

• A copy of your resume

• Your LinkedIn URL (make sure your LinkedIn is looking polished)

• Email and phone number

And that’s a wrap. I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s issue and I’d love it if you left feedback in the poll below.

Don’t forget to email your craziest and strangest interview questions to [email protected] to get them featured in the weekly newsletter.

About the Author

I’m James, Cofounder of Final Draft Resumes. I’ve been in the career consulting space for 13 years, and before that, I was a recruiter for AECOM.

I’ve helped thousands of job seekers, from industries like software engineering, IT, sales, marketing, manufacturing, and more generate job opportunities through well-written resumes that translate unique backgrounds into coherent narratives.

If you’re struggling with your resume for whatever reason, reach out - I just might be able to help!

If you’re more of a DIY person, then check out Resumatic, my free-to-try resume builder.