Why creating your resume on Canva isn't always the best idea

Creating a resume is often a laborious and time-consuming task. Fortunately, tools such as Canva have made this step more enjoyable, allowing everyone to give free rein to their creativity. But as appealing as it may seem, a resume created on Canva is not always the best option, especially depending on the companies you are applying to.

The role of applicant tracking systems (ATS)

To understand why, we need to look at how companies recruit. Above a certain size (usually 100 employees or more), most companies use HR software, also known as HRIS (Human Resource Information Systems). These all-in-one tools manage many aspects of company life: time, payroll, employee files... and, of course, recruitment.

The recruitment module is called an ATS (Applicant Tracking System). This is the famous online portal that opens when you apply for a job, and sometimes asks you to re-enter all the information from your resume (a real pleasure, isn't it 😉). Other times, you just need to send your resume as an attachment, and everything seems much simpler!

The problem with Canva resumes

What you need to know is that ATS don't just store applications: they extract data from your resume. By analyzing the text and keywords, they are able to rate your resume or highlight those that best match the job criteria.

The catch?

Resumes created on Canva, even when exported as PDFs, are often treated as images. As a result, the ATS cannot read your information or detect your skills. Your application may therefore be poorly ranked or rejected before a human even sees it.

A human always gets involved... but not right away

Of course, there is always a recruiter at the other end of the process. But when hundreds of applications come in for the same position, the ATS serves as a first filter. This saves time for companies, but poses a risk for candidates who use formats that the system cannot read correctly.

So what can you do?

I'm not against Canva, far from it! Resumes made on this platform can be very attractive and reflect your creativity, which can be a real asset for certain professions (design, communication, marketing, etc.).

On the other hand, if you are applying to larger companies or more traditional sectors, a resume made in Word or Pages and then exported to PDF will be more effective. It will be readable by ATS, which increases your chances of being noticed.

In conclusion

The most beautiful resume is not always the most effective. Sometimes it is better to have a simple, readable resume that is compatible with recruitment tools than a perfect design that is invisible to recruiters!