Is Canva the Right Tool for Your Resume? Here's What You Need to Know
Canva is an enticing option for those looking to make their resume stand out visually. But before you hit the "download" button, let's take a closer look at whether it's the right choice for your job search.
What Canva Gets Right
One of the key selling points of Canva is how easy it makes resume creation. With hundreds of templates to choose from, you can select a style that matches your professional identity. Whether you need a modern, minimalist, or even an infographic resume, Canva allows you to craft a document that looks polished and professional.
Canva is ideal for quick, aesthetically pleasing resumes that you need for networking or career fairs. It's easy to use and free, which makes it perfect for people with little design experience.
The Downsides of Using Canva for Your Resume
ATS Compatibility Issues
While Canva excels in design, it falters when it comes to passing through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Many companies rely on these systems to sort and rank resumes before a human even sees them. Unfortunately, Canva's use of text boxes, tables, and images makes it difficult for these bots to parse your information correctly.
If you submit a Canva resume through an ATS, there's a high chance it won’t get past the system. Stick to simpler formats if you want your resume to be ATS-friendly.
Limited Space for Essential Information
Although Canva's templates look great, they often lack adequate space for critical resume details like work experience and skills. Many templates allocate too much space for contact information or aesthetic elements, which leaves little room for you to highlight your accomplishments.
If you want to showcase your skills and experience effectively, you may need to customize the template extensively or choose a more traditional format.
One-Page Limitations
Another limitation of Canva is that many of its templates are built for one-page resumes. While this is fine for entry-level candidates or those with limited experience, more seasoned professionals may find it hard to fit everything they need onto one page. Canva doesn’t make it easy to extend the template to a second page without messing up the design.
When to Use Canva
Canva can be great for resumes that you’re handing directly to a person, such as at networking events or career fairs. In these cases, the design is what counts more than the technical aspects of ATS compatibility. However, if you're applying online, especially for larger companies that use ATS, you might want to stick to a traditional Word or PDF resume.
If you choose to use Canva for an in-person submission, be sure to get the contact details of the person you're handing it to so you can send them the real, ATS-optimized version afterward.
Is Canva Worth It?
Canva can help you create a visually appealing resume with minimal effort, but it's not the best choice for everyone. For most job seekers, it's more effective to stick to a clean, traditional resume format that ATS can easily read. If you're trying to showcase creativity or design skills, consider using an online portfolio instead.
Using Canva could harm your job search success if you're applying to roles that require an ATS-friendly format. A professional resume writer can ensure your resume is formatted correctly to pass through these systems and make a better impression on hiring managers.
Key Takeaways:
- Canva resumes often fail to pass ATS.
- Limited space in Canva templates makes it hard to showcase experience fully.
- Canva is great for in-person submissions but not for online job applications.
- For a successful job search, focus on clean, simple designs that will pass ATS and highlight your skills and experience clearly.
Ready to refine your resume? Consider using a professional resume service to ensure your resume works for both ATS and human readers.