Greetings Uganda and East Africa,
Allow me to address a trending topic in today’s job market, the use of templates in the CV writing process.
Are templates bad or good?
The answer is not a simple yes or no.
However, as reflected in the title of this article, CV templates can be limiting, especially when applying for traditional roles such as accounting, education, and government positions. In many cases, these templates compromise readability.
They often lack sufficient white space, rely on text boxes, incorporate excessive graphics, and use multiple colors. More importantly, many are not ATS compatible, which significantly reduces one’s chances of being shortlisted.
According to a study by Jobscan, over 98 percent of Fortune 500 companies use ATS software to filter applications. If your CV is not structured for such systems, it may never even reach human eyes, no matter how qualified you are.
Yet, there is a growing trend. AI tools and online CV writing services are promising aesthetic CVs through predesigned templates.
This, in many ways, is a psychological play.
Candidates are naturally drawn to visually appealing CVs. A well designed document feels professional, polished, and impressive.
However, beneath that appeal lies a number of structural limitations. Templates often come with rigid formatting, fixed sections, constrained spacing, and predefined headers. You are forced to either squeeze your experience into tight spaces or stretch content unnecessarily just to fit the design.
As research from Harvard Business Review highlights, recruiters typically spend six to seven seconds scanning a CV on first review. Clarity, structure, and relevance matter far more than visual decoration.
Let us also address a common misconception. There are no hard rules about CV section placement.
Your CV should be strategically arranged based on your strengths.
If your academic qualifications are strong and recent, place your education section immediately after your professional summary.
If your strongest selling point is your work experience and skills, then education can come later in the Resume, maybe after work experience.
Your CV is not a template. It is a reflection of your unique professional story.
Another myth often pushed is that one should only include university education.
In the East African context, this is misleading. You can include multiple levels of education, diplomas, certifications, and even relevant secondary education, depending on the available space and relevance.
This brings me to an important structural principle.
When writing your CV, aim to utilize at least three quarters of every page. Ideally, fill the entire page with meaningful content.
If your CV spills onto a new page with only a few lines, then it is time to rethink your formatting, structure, or content balance.
Now, to be fair, predesigned templates and aesthetic CVs do have their place. They can be effective in creative industries such as design, marketing, or digital roles, where visual presentation is part of the job requirement.
But for the majority of roles in Uganda and East Africa, it is safer and far more effective to stick to a clean, plain Word document.
Focus on:
ATS compatibility
Clear section headings
Consistent formatting
Readable fonts such as Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman
According to guidance from University of Cambridge Careers Service, simplicity and clarity consistently outperform overly designed CVs, especially in formal and competitive job markets.
If your application is being submitted online, which is increasingly the norm, then a simple and structured CV is your strongest asset.
However, if you are hand delivering your application, there may be some room for aesthetic enhancement. In such cases, you can print a slightly designed or colored CV. Even then, moderation is key. Black and white versions should always remain clean and text based.
Many candidates have fallen prey to the allure of templates. It feels comfortable. It feels guided. But in reality, that comfort can be dangerous, because it limits your ability to present your experience strategically and effectively in a modern job market.
Your CV should not be confined by a template.
It should be built, intentionally, thoughtfully, and strategically, around you.
Article written by:
The Job Vaccine Dr.
Komakech Edwin Donald
Career Coach and Professional Resume Writer, East Africa.