In today’s competitive job market, standing out is essential, and a visually appealing, professional job application can set you apart. A well-designed resume not only grabs the attention of hiring managers but also showcases your creativity, organization, and attention to detail. To help job seekers elevate their applications, I’ve created customizable resume templates available on Behance and Dribbble. Here are seven smart tips to use these templates effectively and craft a winning job application. For advice on ensuring ATS compatibility, explore our guide on creating an ATS-friendly job application.
1. Make a Strong First Impression
First impressions matter, and your resume is often the first interaction a hiring manager has with you. A well-designed resume immediately captures attention and makes your qualifications stand out.
How to Use the Templates:
The Behance Resume Template offers clean lines, modern fonts, and an intuitive layout to guide the reader’s eye. Use it to highlight critical information like your name, contact details, and professional summary.
Pro Tip: Customize the colors to reflect your personality while maintaining professionalism. For example, subtle blues and grays convey calm and trustworthiness.
2. Showcase Your Personal Brand
Your resume is an extension of your personal brand. Use the templates to communicate your unique identity while aligning with the company’s culture and expectations.
How to Do It:
- Incorporate a professional logo, monogram, or signature into the design.
- Use a consistent font and color scheme across your resume and LinkedIn profile.
The Dribbble Resume Template provides options to add design elements that reflect creativity, making it perfect for roles in marketing, design, or other creative industries.
3. Organize Information for Readability
Hiring managers spend an average of 6–8 seconds scanning a resume. A clutter-free layout ensures they find the most critical details quickly.
Example from the Template:
The Behance Template separates sections with clear headings and ample white space, making it easy to navigate.
Pro Tip: Use bullet points to summarize your achievements and responsibilities, keeping descriptions concise and impactful.
4. Prioritize Visual Hierarchy
A strong visual hierarchy ensures that the most important information, such as your name, professional summary, and key skills, stands out. Use fonts, bold text, and spacing strategically.
How the Templates Help:
The Dribbble Template allows you to highlight sections like Skills, Experience, and Education with bold headings and subtle color contrasts.
5. Tailor for the Role
Each job requires a tailored resume, and the flexibility of these templates makes customization easy. Adjust the layout and content to match the specific requirements of the role.
Example:
For a graphic design position, you can use the Behance Template to include a portfolio link or samples of your work. For a corporate role, emphasize accomplishments and metrics that align with the job description.
Pro Tip: Save different versions of your resume for various industries to streamline future applications.
6. Highlight Your Achievements
A good resume focuses on achievements rather than responsibilities. Use metrics and specific examples to demonstrate your impact.
Example:
Instead of: “Managed a team of designers,”
Use: “Led a team of 5 designers to complete 10+ client projects, increasing customer satisfaction by 20%.”
The templates allow you to present these achievements clearly and concisely in sections like Experience or Key Accomplishments.
7. Ensure Digital Compatibility
With many job applications submitted online, it’s crucial to ensure your resume looks professional in digital formats. Both templates are optimized for PDF export, ensuring consistent formatting across devices.
Pro Tip: Always save your resume as a PDF to preserve the design and layout when sending it electronically.
How Job Application Builder Can Help
Job Application Builder enhances your beautifully designed resume by ensuring the content aligns with industry standards and job-specific requirements:
- Keyword Optimization: Helps tailor your resume for ATS compatibility, ensuring it gets past screening systems.
- Professional Guidance: Provides suggestions for aligning your personal brand with your resume’s tone and design.
- Cover Letter Integration: Guides you in crafting a cohesive application by pairing your resume with a matching cover letter.
Pair these tools with your custom-designed templates from Behance or Dribbble to create a job application that stands out.