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Creating CV/Resume Formatting Templates

This article will help you create the Header, Footer, Cover Letter and Watermark templates which you can use while formatting a CV/Resume

Written by Sanjana Panigrahi

What this feature does and when to use it?

The Resume Formatting feature allows you to create reusable Header, Footer, Cover Letter, and Watermark templates that can be applied to resumes and CVs before sharing them with clients. These templates help you maintain consistent branding by automatically adding elements such as company logos, colors, company information, cover letters, and watermarks without the need for manual editing each time.

Use this feature when:

• You want to standardize the appearance of resumes sent to clients.

• You are tired of manually reformatting resumes before sharing them.

• You want consistent branding across all formatted CVs and resumes.

• You need different formatting templates for different clients, industries, or job types.

• You want to include a cover letter as the first page of a formatted resume.

• You want to add a watermark to protect or brand candidate resumes.

Once created, these templates can be mixed and matched during the resume formatting process, allowing you to quickly generate professionally branded resumes while maintaining flexibility for different client requirements.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Go to “Admin Settings” and click on “Resume Formatting Settings” under CRM Process Customization.

2. You will now see the options: Header templates, Footer templates, Cover letter templates, and Watermark templates. You can now create customized templates for each of these.

Create Header and Footer Templates

Header templates appear at the top of a formatted resume or CV, while footer templates appear at the bottom. These templates can be used to add branding elements such as logos, recruiter information, colors, and candidate details, helping you create a consistent and professional presentation.

Create a Header template:

  1. In the Header template section, click the New Header button.

  2. Enter a name in the Template Name field to help you identify the template later.
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  3. Choose where the header should appear:

    • Cover Page only

    • All Resume Pages

    • Both the Cover Page and All Resume Pages
    ​

  4. Upload your company logo using the Upload Header Logo option.
    ​

  5. Choose whether you want candidate details to be displayed in the header by configuring the Candidate Information option.
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  6. Under Recruiter Information, add the placeholders you would like to display, such as:

    • Recruiter Name

    • Recruiter Email

    • Recruiter Phone Number

    • Or any combination of the above
    ​

  7. Customize the template further by selecting your preferred background color and title color.

  8. You can check the preview of how the header will appear from the Preview section at the bottom. Click Submit to save the template once you are done.

Create a Footer Template

In the Footer Templates section, follow a similar process to create a footer template. Configure the desired footer content, branding elements, placeholders, and styling options, then click Submit to save the template.
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📌 Tip: If you would like your teammates to use the same header or footer templates, enable the Share with Teammates toggle before saving.

Cover Letter Templates

Cover Letter templates allow you to include a customized cover letter along with a candidate's formatted resume or CV. You can create multiple cover letter templates for different clients, industries, or submission requirements and select the appropriate one when formatting resumes.

To create a cover letter template:

  1. Navigate to the Cover Letter Templates section and click New Cover Letter.

  2. Enter a suitable name in the Template Name field to help you identify the template later.
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  3. In the editor, add the content of your cover letter by either:

    • Typing the content directly into the editor, or

    • Pasting your own HTML code into the Source section if you have a pre-designed layout.
    ​

  4. Use Candidate Placeholders within the cover letter body to automatically populate candidate information from their profile.
    ​

  5. Customize the cover letter as needed by adding:

    • Links

    • Images

    • Font styles and sizes

    • Text alignment

    • Other formatting elements available in the editor

  6. Once you're satisfied with the design and content, click Submit to save the template.

📌 Note: When a cover letter template is applied during resume formatting, it is automatically added as the first page of the formatted resume or CV.
​

Watermark Templates

Watermark templates allow you to further brand your formatted resumes and CVs by displaying custom text and an optional logo across the document.
​

To create a watermark template:

  1. Navigate to the Watermark Templates section and click New Watermark.

  2. In the pop-up window, enter a suitable name in the Template Name field.
    ​

  3. Choose where you would like the watermark to appear:

    • Cover Page only

    • All Resume Pages

    • Both the Cover Page and All Resume Pages
    ​

  4. In the Watermark Text field, enter the text you want displayed, such as your company name or other branding text.

    📌 Note: The Watermark Text field is mandatory and must be completed before the template can be saved.
    ​

  5. If you would like to include your company logo as part of the watermark, upload it using the Upload Header Logo option.
    ​

  6. Customize the appearance of the watermark by adjusting:

    • Font Size

    • Text Color

    • Opacity
    ​

  7. Use the preview section at the bottom of the page to review how the watermark will appear on the formatted resume.

  8. Once you are satisfied with the design, click Submit to save the watermark template.

Deleting a CV/Resume template

To delete a CV/Resume formatting template, go to the CV/Resume Formatting Templates section and locate the template you want to remove.

Under the Action column, click on the trash can icon next to the respective template and select Delete. Once deleted, the CV/Resume formatting template will no longer be available for resume formatting.


Troubleshooting

Problem: The header or footer does not appear on some pages

Likely cause: The display option for the header or footer was set only to the cover page or only to resume pages.
​What to check: Open the relevant header or footer template and review the selection for where it should appear (cover page, all resume pages, or both).
​Resolution: Update the selection to include both the cover page and resume pages if required, then save the template and reformat the resume.
​

Problem: Candidate details are missing from the header.

Likely cause: Candidate information was not enabled or correctly selected in the template.
​What to check: In the header template, review the Candidate’s Information dropdown.
​Resolution: Select the appropriate candidate information placeholder, save the template, and reapply it to the resume.

Problem: Recruiter contact details do not show in the header

Likely cause: Placeholders for recruiter name, email, or phone were not added.
​What to check: In the Recruiter Information section of the header template, confirm that placeholders for recruiter name, recruiter email, and/or recruiter phone number are included.
​Resolution: Add the necessary placeholders, save the template, and format the resume again.

Problem: Watermark is not visible or is too faint

Likely cause: Opacity or text color makes the watermark hard to see.
​What to check: Open the watermark template and review the opacity, text color, and font size settings.
​Resolution: Increase the opacity, adjust the color to a more visible shade, and modify font size as needed, then save and preview the watermark again.

Problem: Cover letter does not appear as the first page

Likely cause: The cover letter was not attached when formatting the resume.
​What to check: Confirm that a cover letter template was selected when generating the formatted CV.
​Resolution: Reformat the resume and ensure the appropriate cover letter template is added; it will then appear on the first page of the CV file.

FAQs

Can I create multiple templates for headers, footers, cover letters, and watermarks?

Yes. You can create multiple templates of each type and use them as needed for different clients or roles.

Where will the cover letter appear in the formatted CV?

When added, the cover letter is placed on the first page of the CV file.

Can I use HTML to design my cover letter?

Yes. In the cover letter editor, you can paste HTML code into the Source section to control layout and styling.

Can I automatically include candidate information in templates?

Yes. You can use candidate placeholders in the cover letter body and select candidate information options in the header template to auto-populate data from candidate profiles.

How do I share templates with my teammates?

Use the Share with Teammates toggle in the template settings. When this toggle is turned on, templates are shared with teammates.

Conclusion:

By setting up header, footer, cover letter, and watermark templates in Resume Formatting Settings, you can standardize and brand every CV or resume you send with minimal effort. If you need further assistance using these templates in your day-to-day workflow, contact Recruit CRM support for guidance.

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