Canva Resume Templates: Pros, Cons & Alternatives

Exploring Canva Resume Templates and Alternatives

Canva is a user-friendly design platform that allows anyone to create visually appealing graphics without requiring extensive training in advanced software like Photoshop or Illustrator. Founded in Australia in 2013, Canva offers both free and Pro versions. Pro subscribers gain access to an expanded library of graphics, audio, and video resources. If your work frequently requires graphic design, a Pro subscription can be a worthwhile investment. Otherwise, the free version provides ample tools for basic design needs. With millions of active users monthly, Canva has become a popular tool for various design projects.

Here, we'll examine five Canva resume templates, along with some alternative options to consider for your job search.

Canva Resume Examples

Canva Pastel Pink Light Blue Clean UI Web Developer CV

This template incorporates a subtle, colorful aesthetic that highlights your experience without being overwhelming. It uses a two-column layout, placing your work history on the left and your contact details and skills on the right. The white background and black text ensure readability, and the font choice is clean and straightforward. This template is ideal for candidates who want to add a touch of color while maintaining a professional appearance.

Canva Beige Dark Green Bold Modern Web Developer CV

If you have a substantial amount of skills and experience to showcase within a single page, this template provides ample space. It prioritizes clear communication of your qualifications over elaborate design elements. The bold font, rendered in a deep green, immediately draws attention to your work history and education, complemented by a concise skills section. This template is well-suited for individuals with notable work experience and impressive academic achievements. Note that the icons included in this template may cause issues with applicant tracking systems, making it best suited for situations where you are directly emailing your resume or using a platform that does not parse resume sections.

Canva Purple Grey Clean UI Copy Editor CV

This template is suitable for candidates with a diverse range of experiences. In addition to sections for work history, education, skills, and contact information, it also includes a dedicated space for volunteer experience. Highlighting volunteer work can capture the attention of recruiters, and this template provides sufficient room to showcase your contributions. You can effectively highlight two relevant volunteer roles. If you have more, select the ones that align most closely with your target job opportunities. While including a headshot on your resume is generally not recommended, this template provides an option for those who wish to do so.

Canva Blue Bright Yellow Color Blocks Salesperson CV

For those seeking to inject personality into their resume, this template incorporates bold colors while maintaining a professional balance. Ample whitespace ensures that your accomplishments remain the focal point. Similar to the previous example, this template includes a space for a headshot or a representative graphic, though we advise against including a photo. The template positions your headshot, contact information, skills, and portfolio link on the right-hand side, with ample space for your work history, volunteer experience, and certifications on the left.

Canva Black Grey Color Blocks Project Manager CV

This template features a simple, monochrome color scheme and a strong, readable font. The design avoids distracting graphics and uses color blocks to guide the reader's eye from your skills to your work experience. Contact details are prominently displayed at the top, maximizing space for your professional history. However, like many Canva templates, this one may present challenges for applicant tracking systems due to the inclusion of images.

Finding Free Resume Templates in Canva

To begin browsing templates, you'll need a Canva account. Setting up a free or Pro account is quick and easy, though you'll need payment information if you opt for the Pro version. Once your account is set up, you'll find "Templates" listed on the left-hand side of the screen, just below the home icon. Clicking on "Templates" will take you to a page with various template formats, including resumes. Canva prominently features its resume templates, marketing them as ATS-optimized CVs. After clicking the button to browse these templates, you'll find a wide selection to choose from.

Premium Resume Templates

As mentioned, Canva offers a Pro subscription that unlocks additional features. A Canva Pro account is a worthwhile investment for individuals who regularly create graphics or need a simple way to edit audio and video. However, Canva isn't the only source for resume templates.

Is Canva a Good Choice for Resumes?

Canva is a useful design tool that provides professional-looking, ready-made templates. However, some Canva resume templates are not ideal for job applications. You don't necessarily need graphic design software to create an effective resume, and your resume doesn't need to look professionally designed.

Here are some pros and cons to consider:

Pros of Using Canva

User-Friendliness: Canva's intuitive interface makes graphic design accessible to everyone. It offers alignment and editing tools to ensure a polished design, as well as video-editing and sound capabilities.
Extensive Template Library: Canva provides a vast selection of templates for resumes, social media posts, flyers, and more, with custom sizes to eliminate the need to search for the correct dimensions.
Free Option: A free Canva account provides access to the essential tools needed to create an attention-grabbing resume.
Customization: As you gain experience with Canva, you can modify template layouts and create personalized designs by changing colors, fonts, and adding or removing graphics.
Simple Collaboration: Canva's Teams feature allows you to invite others to collaborate on your designs. Sharing is also simple, as each design has a shareable link with editing permissions.

Cons of Using Canva

Common Templates: With so many users, it's easy to encounter duplicate designs across various platforms. A free account limits your access to tools and designs, increasing the likelihood of repetition. While less common with a Pro account, it can still occur.
Potential Alignment Issues: Software like Photoshop and Illustrator offer more precise alignment options, resulting in perfectly centered graphics and documents. Canva's simpler alignment feature can sometimes lead to misaligned designs.
No Local File Storage: Without local file storage, users cannot access their designs when Canva is offline.
Limited Mobile Functionality: Canva's mobile app offers fewer features than the desktop version.
Not Always ATS-Friendly: Despite claims of ATS optimization, not all Canva resume templates are formatted correctly for applicant tracking systems. For example, images and icons, which are common in Canva templates, can cause parsing errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main pros and cons of using Canva resume templates?

The primary advantages of using Canva resume templates include their visually appealing designs, user-friendly interface, and diverse template selection. However, the disadvantages can be significant for job seekers. These templates may not be ATS (Applicant Tracking System) friendly, which can reduce the likelihood of your resume being seen by a hiring manager. Additionally, customization options may be limited, potentially resulting in a less distinctive resume.

How can I make a Canva resume more ATS friendly?

To enhance the ATS compatibility of a Canva resume, prioritize simplifying the design by avoiding graphics and tables, using standard headings for sections (e.g., "Work Experience" or "Education"), and selecting a traditional font. Save the resume in a text-based format like .docx or .pdf, and verify that the text can be highlighted and copied to ensure that ATS systems can accurately read it.

Are there any specific Canva resume templates that are known to be more ATS friendly?

While Canva doesn't explicitly identify templates as ATS friendly, you can look for templates that feature a simple, clean design, minimal graphics, and clear section headings. Opt for templates that emphasize text over design elements and avoid using columns, as these are more likely to be compatible with ATS software.