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Q: A friend of mine has a really fun resume, with all sorts of color, interesting fonts, and images. She said she gets loads of interviews with it. But I heard the best resume style is ‘strictly business.’ Should I use a ‘fun’ resume, or will I hurt my chances at a new job?
A: When developing your resume, you need to determine what is best suited for YOU – and your career. You want to get noticed and stand out from other candidates … in a good way. Using something that’s not appropriate for your industry – or your potential employer’s brand – could help you garner attention that you don’t want.
Is your friend in a creative industry, where nontraditional resumes are more acceptable? For example, a graphic designer has more of an opportunity to go out-of-the-box with their resume than, say, a chief compliance officer. A marketing or advertising specialist could create infographics <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infographic>, use unique fonts, images, colors, and styles to showcase expertise in their field, while an accountant wouldn’t necessarily go this route.
Some take it even further. For example, this designer created his own interactive video resume that you “play”: http://mashable.com/2013/10/25/super-mario-bros-resume/. And see how a photographer created his own action figure to include a fold-out portfolio: http://www.thedailymuse.com/job-search/we-want-this-resume-for-christmas/. If you are using a highly creative style such as these, you are taking a risk – it has to be perfect so it doesn’t backfire!
Always use a resume that is most applicable for you. Ask yourself: what makes the most sense for the available job I’m applying for? If you’re not in a creative field, then it should be “strictly business”, and keep to a more traditional format. Don’t go crazy with fonts, bolding, imagery, or including details that are unnecessary. Depending on your industry, your resume could go through an ATS (Applicant Tracking System), which screens it to help determine if you’re a good match. If you’re using more of a creative resume format, it’s difficult for an ATS to pick up your specific experiences, skills, and keywords – hindering your chance for an interview. This is something to keep in mind!
No matter what type of resume style you use, always follow the application directions in the job description. Don’t make it appear you can’t follow instructions – this is a sure way to land in the reject pile!
If going the nontraditional route will help you stand out in a good way, then go for it! When putting your resume together, think about what works best for YOU … and YOUR career path.
Have a question for Job Q&A From The Trenches? Tweet us @InspiredResumes or email deidre@inspiredresumes.com
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