The template matters less than the first 6 seconds
Recruiters scanning a stack of CVs decide in seconds whether to keep reading. A clean, well-structured template earns you those seconds — a cluttered one loses them before your experience even gets read. But the template is the frame, not the content that fills it.
What actually gets scanned first
Job title and company name, in that order — recruiters pattern-match against the role they're hiring for. Dates, to check for gaps or job-hopping. And one or two concrete numbers — team size managed, revenue impacted, users served — that separate a real contribution from a job description copy-paste.
Formatting choices that quietly hurt candidates
Dense paragraph blocks instead of scannable bullets. Inconsistent date formats. Photos and personal details taking up space that could hold achievements. And templates with heavy graphics that break when opened in different software or uploaded to an applicant tracking system.
Why a properly designed template still matters
A well-designed, ATS-friendly template removes all of the above as a variable, so the only thing left to judge is your actual experience — which is the point. ITfy's CV templates in the digital store are built editable in Word and Canva, structured for both human recruiters and applicant tracking systems, and available as a one-time download.